EUGENE–Central Oregon residents will be treated to a host of musical and theatrical events, and area retirees can spend their golden years in the pursuit of learning under the University of Oregon’s proposal to bring a UO branch campus to the region.

As part of its Central Oregon branch campus plan, the UO will offer a Learning in Retirement Program and a Cultural Events program that will draw from an extensive calendar of lectures by prominent speakers and events offered by the UO School of Music and Department of Theater Arts.

"A UO Central Oregon branch campus will create opportunities for us to offer lectures and major musical and theatrical presentations on a regular basis," says UO Provost John Moseley, who made the program announcements Thursday, Nov. 9, in Bend. "We’re also excited at the prospect of expanding our Learning in Retirement Program into the region, where we know there is an enthusiastic audience for lifelong learning opportunities."

The UO School of Music produces more than 150 events a year, including faculty and guest artist recitals; cabaret-style Jazz Café gigs; performances by the Opera Workshop, the University Chamber Orchestra, the University Singers and Chamber Choir, and ensembles ranging from orchestra and wind to gospel and percussion; and numerous student recitals.

"We bring singers and brass over annually to a UO Alumni Association Christmastime event at Broken Top, and have brought our orchestra to Bend. These events were very successful and well received by appreciative audiences," says Anne Dhu McLucas, dean of the School of Music. "Our annual opera production, which this year will be Britten’s ‘Turn of the Screw,’ would be of real benefit to the community, as would several of our dance productions."

The Department of Theater Arts looks forward to bringing an array of live stage performances into the Central Oregon community. The original work "Ever the Dragon" recently toured Oregon public schools, including Central Oregon, and a UO Central Oregon campus will provide more opportunities to present UO theater productions in the region.

The University of Oregon has two annual theater series. The mainstage Robinson Theatre season offers major productions such as "Streetcar Named Desire," "Guys and Dolls" and the current production of "She Stoops to Conquer." The Arena Theatre offers plays that are typically chosen to suit the intimate setting and production style of the smaller venue, often focusing on modern, small-cast plays or experimental pieces. This season’s productions include "New Voices," "Triumph of Love, a Musical" and "Aunt Dan and Lemon."

The UO’s Central Oregon Learning in Retirement Program (LIR) will be open to retirees aged 55 or older who have an interest in lifelong learning. The UO’s Eugene LIR program operates with the assistance of the Continuing Education Center and is a self-supporting cooperative, member-led organization.

"Our faculty and LIR members are enthusiastic about expanding this program to Central Oregon," says Provost Moseley. "The program will help fill an education void for retirees in this region by offering them some of the same kind of high-quality lectures and educational opportunities that our LIR members enjoy in Eugene."

LIR courses are offered in a lecture and discussion format and most are taught by UO faculty. Courses are offered in subjects including history, literature, archaeology, volcanology, law and psychology.

As part of the UO Central Oregon campus plan, the UO last month announced key leadership posts and named those who will fill them. University officials also outlined the proposed program structure for the UO Central Oregon campus. The proposal includes five divisions: science and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, education and extended studies.

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