The Fine Arts Department at Seminole State College of Florida will kick off its 2011-12 cultural arts season in September with a theater production of “The Fantasticks,” the world’s longest-running musical; a gallery exhibit displaying the works of Bradenton artist Jake Fernandez; and the return of the monthly ArtsMatters lecture series.

In addition, the Music Department will introduce “Applause,” a new Sunday recital series featuring some of the best classical musicians that Central Florida has to offer.

Art

Seminole State’s Fine Arts Gallery will focus primarily on Florida artists this season, offering an array of media, including painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking and computer-generated images.

Jake Fernandez, who will open the gallery season, creates landscape paintings and drawings in pastel, graphite and oil. Other artists featured this season are Judy Gilmer, Beau Wild, Aaron Vaaler, Jeff Hoffman, Donte K. Hayes and Idith Levy.

The annual Fine Arts faculty exhibit in November-December and the Juried Student Art Exhibit in April will give the community an opportunity to discover new talent.

The college’s Fine Arts Gallery (building G on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus) is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and also during music and theater performances. For more information, call 407-708-2040. All gallery exhibits are free and open to the public.



Theater

The Fine Arts Theatre’s season will range from the longtime Broadway favorite “The Fantasticks” to the challenging drama “The Laramie Project” and the ribald comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The season will also include a production of “The Piano Lesson,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning fourth work in August Wilson’s 10-play “Pittsburgh Cycle” chronicling the African-American experience in the 20th century.

Southern Winds Theatre’s holiday production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” and a February performance by the Yow Dance company round out the season.

Ticket information: Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 407-708-2040 or visiting the Fine Arts Theatre Box Office (building G) on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. The Box Office is open Mondays, from 9 a.m.-noon, and Tuesdays through Fridays, from noon-4 p.m.

Subscriptions: Fine Arts Theatre patrons who buy subscriptions receive many benefits, including significant savings on the ticket price for each performance, ticket insurance and exchange privileges.



Music

This year’s Encore! Concert Series opens Sept. 13 with a performance by the college’s music faculty.

Other Encore highlights include the Nov. 10 “Sounds of the Universe: A Musical Voyage through the Cosmos,” a joint presentation by the college’s planetarium and the Music Department’s Wind Ensemble and Concert Chorale; a Holiday Gala concert Dec. 6; and “Then Sings My Soul,” a Feb. 7 performance of spirituals by mezzo-soprano Cheryse McLeod Lewis.

The ArtsMatters lunchtime series will cover a range of topics, including East Indian music, art restoration, 10-minute plays, English Baroque music and presentations on “D.I.Y. Music Management” and “The iPad as a Musical Instrument.”

This season will include the debut of “Applause,” Sunday afternoon concerts by local artists. Programs include chamber works performed by Gary Wolf and Matitiahu Braun, a former violinist for the New York Philharmonic; and “Reflections of Christ,” musical selections based on biblical text performed by tenor and Seminole State Professor David Whitehead.

Concerts are free and open to the public. They’re held in the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus Concert Hall (building G). For more information, please call 407-708-2040.

For more information on fine arts events at Seminole State, visit www.seminolestate.edu/arts.

Jake Fernandez’s pastel “The Bayou” will be featured in the Fine Arts Gallery exhibit opening Sept. 1.

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Mezzo-soprano Cheryse McLeod Lewis will perform spirituals Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Seminole State College Concert Hall.