The annual Casper College Humanities Festival is going back to its Italian roots, revisiting the Renaissance theme of the first festival, held in 1986.

The festival, which runs next Thursday and Friday, will bring together humanities experts from colleges and universities around the country for discussions on the latest scholarship in Renaissance literature, poetry, art and culture.

The public is welcome at a series of free talks on the McMurry main stage of the Gertrude Krampert Theatre on campus. According to a news release, events

include:

Thursday, March 1

n 9:45 a.m.

Casper College President Walter Nolte will give a welcome and opening remarks.

n 10 a.m.

Brian Steele of Texas Tech University will provide an overview to the Renaissance era and discuss how images of Mary Magdalene evolved during the time, due to issues involving sexuality and theology.

n 11 a.m.

Tom Empey, chairman of the Casper College theater department, will discuss the college's upcoming production of the Shakespeare comedy "As You Like It."

n 2 p.m.

Amy Vail of Baylor University will explore lute music written by Renaissance composer John Dowland.

n 7 p.m.

Kristi and George Armijo will perform Renaissance music.

n 8 p.m.

Demorest lecturer Robert Cohen of UC-Irvine will speak on Renaissance theater.

Friday, March 2

n 9 a.m.

Christine Sperling of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania will discuss the system of patronage that led to well-known works of art including Donatello's David.

n 10 a.m.

Jean Tichenor, chairwoman of the Casper College music department, and college vocal students will perform secular and sacred compositions by Josquin Desprez.

n 11 a.m.

Anne Leader from the City College of New York will look at how religious images functioned in the daily lives of Europeans in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.

n

The festival will conclude with a panel and audience discussion moderated by Bruce Richardson, associate professor of English at UW/CC, where festival scholars will expand on their presentations and take questions.

n 7:30 p.m.

The college will present "As You Like It." Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for those 18 and under.

For more information call 268-2110.