Coe College issued the following announcement.
The stage was quiet and the lights were dimmed in Sinclair Auditorium this past year, as the Coe College Marquis Series suspended events for the 2020-21 year due to the pandemic. Fortunately, the pause was only temporary.
Known for a long tradition of lively lectures and captivating performances, the series will return for a complete season during the 2021-22 academic year.
For decades, Coe has hosted nationally renowned speakers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers and theater and comedy troupes as part of the Marquis Series. Open to Coe students, staff, faculty and the entire Cedar Rapids community, the Marquis Series provides access to nationally and internationally acclaimed talent.
Some of the most memorable recent events include a 2017 appearance by renowned television host, lecturer and comedian W. Kamau Bell, who fascinated audiences in Sinclair Auditorium. Laughs were easy to come by during a 2019 performance by The Second City, the famed Chicago-based comedy group. Also in 2019, a Cirque Zuma Zuma performance kept audience members on the edge of their seats with acrobatics, contortionists and dances. In early 2020, Madonna Thunder Hawk took the stage following a screening of the documentary “Warrior Women,” which presented the story of her lifelong career fighting for Native sovereignty.
“There is a great appreciation for the variety and talent of the events the Marquis Series has brought to Coe’s campus,” said Marquis Series Committee Chair and William P. and Gayle S. Whipple Associate Professor of Humanities Brie Swenson Arnold. “It’s our intention to continue that tradition by hosting intellectually and culturally enriching events that will inform and entertain a variety of audiences.”
The lineup for next season includes three exciting and edifying events. Prominent animal behavior scientist and autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin will speak on Sept. 23, while deaf American singer and songwriter Mandy Harvey will perform Nov. 5. Harvey was a contestant during the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent.” On Feb. 2, Mad River Theater Works will present “Freedom Riders,” a musical and theatrical exploration of an important chapter in the history of the Civil Rights Movement.
The Marquis Series was created by a gift from the estate of Sarah Marquis in honor of her father, Dr. John A. Marquis, who was president of Coe College from 1909-1920.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Coe College
