Columbia Theatre’s annual month of Fanfare will celebrate its 25th year in Hammond this October.

Events are scheduled almost every day both on Southeastern’s campus and around Hammond to celebrate Fanfare, the cultural staple of performance and visual arts in Hammond.

“As always, the events include a wonderful mix of music, theater, art, lectures and readings – all made possible by the incredible talent that exists among our own Southeastern faculty and student body,” said Kenneth Boulton, Columbia Theatre director.

A few highlights of this year’s Fanfare include a production of the musical “South Pacific,” concerts by the Southeastern Wind Symphony and Chamber Orchestra and an exhibit by three renowned artists in the Contemporary Art Gallery.

Other Fanfare events include the premiere theatrical production of “Only in Louisiana,” the annual “Then and Now” lecture series by the history and political science department and the “Louisiana Connection: Readings in Poetry and Prose” series by the English department.

This year, special guest speaker U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré will offer a lecture called “See First, Understand First, Act First: Leadership and Preparedness in the 21st Century.”

“Few leaders in this country possess such a combination of charisma and authority as Honoré, and I know this is not an event to be missed,” said Boulton.

Honoré’s lecture will take place at the Columbia Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Fanfare is a university-wide celebration of the arts, with  many departments and volunteers putting forth time and effort throughout the year to conceptionalize the event. Several of Southeastern’s organizations sponsor or underwrite Fanfare, such as the Student Government Association, the Alumni Association and the college of arts, humanities and social sciences.

In the beginning, Fanfare was created to showcase the work and talent of Southeastern’s students and faculty. In the 25 years since, the event has grown to showcase a collection of mediums from across the nation.

“To celebrate this milestone, we have chosen to return to Fanfare’s roots and once again highlight the amazing creativity and scholarship that surrounds us,” said Boulton. “In the last two and a half decades, Southeastern has grown to become a formidable force in the arts, with many faculty and students having achieved national and international reputations. I can think of no better platform or occasion to feature these incredible individuals.”

This year marks Boulton’s first year as director of Fanfare and of Columbia Theatre, stepping into the shoes of former Columbia Theatre Director Donna Gay Anderson.

“She exemplified fabulous creativity, management skills and vision, which helped establish and enhance the Columbia Theatre’s reputation as the cultural beacon of the Northshore,” said Boulton. “Therefore, when Southeastern’s administration approached me about the idea of stepping in as interim director, I was understandably reluctant.”

Fanfare events are free to Southeastern students with valid university ID.

Details concerning Fanfare events are available by calling the Columbia Theatre at 985-543-4371 or 985-543-4366. Further information is available on Columbia Theatre’s Web site, www.columbiatheatre.org, though a 2010 Fanfare schedule has not yet been posted.

“Ultimately, the future of both the Columbia Theatre and Fanfare is in the hands of our students and community residents,” said Boulton. “It is sometimes said that any great country deserves great art. Well, the same can and should be said of any great university community, like Southeastern and Hammond. Come out and support your arts!”