Casper College Humanities Festival

And finally, thanks to the 2025 Humanities Festival Committee who did a great job of creating the program and sourcing speakers. You are appreciated!

Eric Atkins, Casper College Department of English and World Languages
Joseph Campbell, Ph.D., Casper College Department of English and World Languages, Co-Director
Amy Fitzsimmons, Casper College, Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Erich Frankland, Casper College, Department of Political Science, Co-Director
Renee Griffith, Casper College, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
Dalene Hodnett, Casper College, Director of Campus Museums
Valerie Innella Maiers, Ph.D., Casper College, Department of Visual Arts
Jodi Youmans-Jones, Casper College, Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance, Co-Director
Evelyn Miller, Community Member
Sarah Neubauer, Natrona County Library
Hanz Olson, Casper College, Western History Center
Jennifer Pepple, Casper College, Elevate Casper College

It was a great Festival and we'd like to thank our sponsors who made it possible!

Wyoming Humanities Council
Casper College Foundation, The Margaret Demorest Endowment
University of Wyoming at Casper
Natrona County Library
ARTCORE
Goodstein Foundation Library
Western History Center at Casper College
Casper College School of Fine Arts and Humanities
Casper College School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Casper College Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance
Visual Arts Department Galleries
Visual Arts Department
The Tate Geological Museum
The Werner Wildlife Museum
Casper College Athletics
Casper College Office of Public Relations

The Casper College Humanities Festival concluded with Fossil Day at the Tate Geological Museum. The Power of Play was evident as families learned about fossils through multiple kinetic activities.

, you won't want to miss the last event of the Festival - Fossil Day at the Tate Geological Museum. Come play as you make your very own pteranodon, hunt for shark teeth and visit the only T. rex found in Wyoming that has stayed in Wyoming! We hope to see you at this free event on Saturday, October 18th, from 10am - 2:00pm.

What a great week! But the fun is not done! Join us tomorrow for interesting panels, a delicious reception and another playful performance.

Tonight! Join us at 7:00pm at Casper College on the Mick and Susie McMurry Stage for the opening night of Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” This wild, wacky, and fun Theater for Young Audiences production is perfect for Casper’s youngest theatergoers and their families. According to Joel Shura, the play is based on Mo Willems’ award-winning book series and follows Gerald and Piggie, as well as the Squirrelles, through their most famous stories. Shura directs the production, which features catchy songs, colorful characters, lots of dancing, and a funny script that serves as a perfect introduction to live theater for young people. This rollicking children’s musical explores the themes of friendship, imagination, and the joy of play.

Tickets for each performance are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students aged 4 to 18. The musical will be performed Oct. 2-4 and 9-11 and tickets can be purchased by calling 307-268-2500 or going on line here https://onthestage.tickets/show/casper-college-theatre-and-dance/682ddb8c4f62520f43e7bbbb

🎉 This Reel is Elephant & Piggie-coded 🐘💗🐷 Don’t miss the joy, the laughs, and the fun—opening night is Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 PM! 🎟️ Grab your tickets now at caspercollegearts.cc for full showtimes + online ticketing. 📞 Or call our Box Office (Mon–Fri, 11 AM–5 PM) at 307-268-2500. ✨ Bring the family, bring the giggles—it’s a show you won’t want to miss! #elephantandpiggiesweareinaplay #theatre #musicaltheatre #dance #wyoming #casperwyoming

The Tate Geological Museum will host the Humanities Festival on Thursday evening as Russell Hawley, Tate Geological Museum Education Specialist, presents “Dinosaurs: Jumper Cables for the Imagination.” Hawley says "Many children go through a dinosaur phase when they are young. Most outgrow it at the age of 11 or 13 and go on to live normal lives. But there are avenues that this fascination can be harnessed in productive ways. Dinosaurs can be exploited to stimulate interest in many other fields of science, including ecology, zoology, and biomechanics, all of which have the potential to lead the way to professional careers later in life."

Hawley graduated from the University of Colorado in 1991 with a degree in fine art. His artwork has appeared in the America’s Smithsonian anniversary traveling exhibition, in “Islands in the Cosmos: The Evolution of Life on Land” by Dr. Dale A. Russell, in “Oceans of Kansas” by Michael Everhart, and several issues of Prehistoric Times magazine. Aside from being the Tate Geological Museum’s Educational Specialist, Russel also gives tours, writes articles for the museum newsletter, and produces illustrations for the museum displays.

The talk is in Rm 123 at 6:00 and is followed by a quick tour of the museum. Remote participants can join the presentation live on the Tate's page at 6:00pm mountain time.

Today at 5:30 at Wheeler
Hall!

Stop in, say hello, and listen to our very own Dr. Paul Maddox today at the Casper College Humanities Festival!

Thursday is a busy day for the Humanities Festival as we celebrate the Power of Play. We'll be at the Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library for most of the day and we'd love to see you there!

Join us for "Art as a Lifeline: Embracing Process, Play, and the Unfinished Journey" presented by Jeremy Jones at 11:00am on Thursday, October 2nd in the Casper College Goodstein Foundation Library.

Jones is a multidisciplinary artist working in sculpture, ceramics, and drawing. While his materials and techniques are often rooted in tradition, his practice is defined by play, experimentation, and discovery. He frequently collaborates with his children, both intentionally and organically. One ongoing project — a backyard fort that remains in a constant state of evolution — serves as a metaphor for the inseparability of art and life. For Jones, artistic creation is not just a profession but a fundamental way of engaging with the world. In this talk, he will explore how embracing unpredictability and process sustains and enriches both his creative practice and lived experience.

Originally from Casper, Jones received a BFA in ceramics and sculpture from the University of Wyoming in 2006 and an MFA in sculpture from Wichita State University in 2012. Currently, he is a ceramics instructor at Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN.

Demorest Keynote Lecture — More Than Just Fun and Games: Using Play to Explore Communication, Connection, and Self-Discovery
Presented by R. Paul Maddox II, Ph.D.
We'll see you on Wednesday, October 1st at 5:30 at Wheeler Hall to explore how play serves as the first and most natural form of communication, transcending age and circumstance. Far from serving as an optional pastime, play is an important medium through which individuals express core truths, process experiences, and forge meaningful connections throughout their lifespan. The session will examine how play creates safe spaces for vulnerability, allowing both children and adults to communicate desires, fears, and hopes in ways that may often be overlooked. Attendees will discover how intentional play can unlock insights about oneself, strengthen relationships, and provide a universal language that bridges differences—revealing play’s profound role not just as entertainment, but as an essential component of human connection, personal growth, and overall well-being. Livestream made possible with a grant from Wyoming Humanities.

We are so excited that our very own Dr. Paul Maddox is giving the Demorest Keynote Lecture at the Casper College Humanities Festival on October 1st at 5:30pm. The Humanities Festival runs September 27th through October 18th: https://www.caspercollege.edu/events/humanities-festival/

Wednesday is a day of music for the Casper College Humanities Festival! Join us in the Wheeler Hall Music Building at Casper College for a performance by the Ventis String Trio at noon. The trio is comprised of principal string players in the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra — Jennifer DePaolo, violin; Gary DePaolo, viola; and Timothy Jones, cello.

At 1 p.m. you'll enjoy “Playing for Casper College: Casper College Musicians,” led by Joshua R. Mietz, DMA. They'll perform “Playdates” by Jonathan Cohen, “Clapping Music,” and “New York Counterpoint” by Steve Reich.