April 3, 2006

Contact: Gordon Ovenshine 724-738-4854; gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

A KALEIDOSCOPE EVENT –

SRU CHILDREN’S DAY SET FOR APRIL 22; ALL EVENTS FREE

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – A pet parade, story sound booth and concert by Grammy-award winning folk artist Tom Chapin are new to “Children’s Day” on April 22, the main family event for Slippery Rock University’s fifth annual Kaleidoscope arts festival April 19-30.

Activities, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., are free. Events will be held on Morrow Way, next to the Russell Wright Alumni House. If it rains, they’ll be moved to Pearl K. Stoner Instructional Complex.

Chapin, brother of the late Harry Chapin, who wrote the ‘70s anthem “Cats in the Cradle,” performs at 3 p.m. at the Stoner Complex.

Chapin plays guitar, banjo and mandolin and infuses live performances with a sense of storytelling and imagination, says Parents Magazine, which wrote: "Nobody today is writing and performing better kids' songs than Tom Chapin . . . the Pied Piper of children's music."

His family albums have been recognized with awards from the American Library Association, Parents' Choice, the New York Music Awards, the National Association of Parenting Publications and Parents Magazine.

 Chapin, who sites Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie as musical heroes, has released 18 compact discs in a career spanning more than 30 years.

 SRU music majors, theater and dance majors will perform, while SRU elementary-education students will lead story-telling sessions.

 “Our goal is to heighten awareness of the arts and humanities to inspire and entertain children of all ages,” said Dr. William McKinney, dean of the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, arts festival sponsor. The Children’s Day line up:

Storytelling: 10 to 11 a.m.
Moraine Elementary School Chorus: 11 a.m.
Balloon Sculptor: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Art Activities and Story Sound Booth: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
SRU Jazz Combo: 11:45 a.m.
Children's Dance Performances: 12:30 p.m.
Children's Theater: 1:00 p.m.  
Pet Parade (pet costumes optional): 1:30 p.m.
Pet Art: 2 to 3 p.m.
SRUBrass Ensemble: 2 p.m.
Tom Chapin concert: 3 p.m.