Course Catalog OLLI@UGA
January through June 2017 Close to Home and Far Away Local history and international affairs carry out the theme of “Close to Home and Far Away” in OLLI@UGA’s spring curriculum. From Stephen Scurry’s discussion of the oppositional relationship of the Creek Indians with UGA’s founding fathers to Paul Butchart’s “Athens Music History Tour,” 15 classes/tours provide insights into local people and places that influence the character of this area. Courses with an international focus, such as Leah Carmichael’s Israel and Its Neighbors and James Reap’s UNESCO World Heritage Program, promote understanding of world events. “I’m really thrilled with the variety we are offering and the contrast between close to home and far away,” says curriculum chair Penny Oldfather. New courses sure to have wide appeal include activities for grandparents and grandchildren, as well as community theater. Grandparents can learn about age-appropriate books, art projects and having fun in Athens with their grandchildren. In addition, a special workshop by Ann Blum, whose book Bugs@Play features puppet plays demonstrating the importance of insects in the natural world, gives children the opportunity to learn about butterflies and create their own puppets. Small material fees are the only costs for participating grandchildren.
Sessions on improvisation are also planned, one involving the “fun and funny” basics and the other on the relevance of improv structures in everyday life. “We would like for people to think of the two classes as a complementary pair,” explains Oldfather. Of special relevance in today’s society is “Operationalizing Diversity: I Care, but What Can I Do?” led by Dr. Dawn BennettAlexander. “It is one thing to believe that discrimination is not a good thing,” Bennett-Alexander says. “It is quite another to understand how one should go about addressing the issue. Many people of good will simply may not know what they can do to be more inclusive of those not like themselves or even understand that there may be an issue. Operationalizing diversity and inclusion addresses ways in which we, as individuals, as well as organizations can turn our good intentions into action.” “A good crop” is how Penny Oldfather describes the spring curriculum with some 180 courses in about 24 categories. She adds that “the Athens community is blessed with an abundance of people who have knowledge and world class expertise in many areas and who are incredibly generous in teaching in our vibrant OLLI curriculum.”
Town and Gown is offering a tour of Athens Community Theater led by Rick Rose and a class featuring T&G members performing and discussing how actors portray emotion.
What’s Inside?
“We hope that this session will inform the participants about the role of drama as a very special form of storytelling,” explains John Olive, who is one of the actors involved. “We also hope that it will encourage the participants to return to Town and Gown to experience our productions at a deeper level, appreciating not only the performances of the actors but the whole experience of the story that the production is telling.”
Save the Dates
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Online Registration Guide
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Luncheon Programs
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Course listing by Category
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Alphabetic listing of presenters
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Local theater is important, Olive says, not only for people with a passion for acting, directing or backstage work but because it provides “our community with artistic, dramatic and enjoyable experiences at affordable prices on a regular basis.”
Alphabetic course listing with descriptions
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Monthly Calendar with courses
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Special Interest Groups
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Alphabetic course listing with schedule
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OLLI@UGA – Maps
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