ETSU November events: music, theater, talks and holiday lights

Natalie Underwood could never imagine herself choosing any career but theater from the age of 8, when her mother enrolled her in her first musical theater class.

“After that, I was hooked,” the Crossville, Tennessee, native said. “My earliest memory is of being part of the ensemble in ‘Les Mis’ and singing at the top of my lungs. It was the most exhilarating feeling I had ever had.”

Underwood chose East Tennessee State University for its growing theater program.

“I knew I would be able to make personal connections with my professors and have my education made a priority,” she said. “Also, I love this area — it’s beautiful, and you never run out of new places to explore.”

Some of her favorite memories include the excitement of being cast in her first role in “Medea” and destroying the set of “Little Shop of Horrors” with mallets and loud music with her classmates after its conclusion.

Underwood will graduate from ETSU in December with a degree in theater, concentrating in acting and a minor in English. She plans to chase her dream of acting before pursuing a master’s degree to become a high school theater teacher and then a professor.

“The professors here at ETSU have taught me so many things and prepared me for what is expected in the world of performance,” she said. “They have also helped me plan my next steps, along with sending me job opportunities they know will interest me. The Department of Theatre and Dance has pushed me past my perceived limits and helped me grow not only in theater but as a person in general.”

You can still catch Underwood on the ETSU stage this weekend as Jo March in “Little Women.” And at that play’s conclusion, she’ll work behind the scenes helping build the sets for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Learn more about “Putnam” and many other November events at ETSU in the following listing. All are open to the public and are free unless otherwise noted.

Music

Mania: The ABBA Tribute
Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
From “Dancing Queen” to “Waterloo” and “Mamma Mia” to “Take a Chance on Me,” Mania brings the music of the Swedish supergroup ABBA to fans old and new. Tickets are $30.46 to $97.20 (including taxes and fees).

Greyscale: ‘Lucky 13’
Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
Greyscale, an ETSU vocal ensemble that challenges boundaries and delivers remarkable vocal artistry, brings its blend of contemporary, pop and jazz choral music with something for every listener. Tickets are $12.

ETSU Blue Showcase
Nov. 8, 6 p.m. — Boones Creek Opry, 632 Hales Chapel Road
Bands in ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies will take over the Boones Creek Opry for the evening. Admission is a suggested donation of $6 at the door. The event will also be livestreamed.

Matthew West: Don’t Stop Praying for America Tour
Nov. 8, 7 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
Christian artist Matthew West, accompanied by guest Peter Burton, presents a night of worship, encouragement and prayer for the nation. Tickets are $59.95 to $97.73 (including tax and fees).

Piece of 8 and Other Ensembles in Concert
Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, Powell Recital Hall
Piece of 8 and other student ensembles from the ETSU Department of Music will perform.

Percussion Ensemble in Concert
Nov. 9, 5 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
The ETSU Percussion Ensemble will showcase a wide range of literature in this powerful and dynamic performance.

Appalachian Square Dance
Nov. 12, 7 p.m. — Down Home, 300 W. Main St.
Dancers of all experience levels are invited to participate, with live music provided by old-time musicians in ETSU’s Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies. Each dance is taught and called throughout its entirety by a caller.

‘Groovy Music’: Jazz Ensemble Concert
Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
The ETSU Jazz Ensemble will present dynamic arrangements from Duke Ellington classics to contemporary big-band numbers and Latin jazz staples. Tickets are $12.

Christmas with the Celts
Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
Originally a PBS show, “Christmas with the Celts” features a combination of modern and timeless ancient Irish Christmas carols and dance music. It includes spontaneous humor, a children’s choir and more. Tickets are $36.25 to $85.62 (includes tax and fees).

ETSU Country Band Night
Nov. 18, 7 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, Powell Recital Hall
Multiple country bands from the ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time and Country Music program will perform. The concert will be livestreamed on Facebook (@etsubluegrass) for those unable to attend.

‘Friends and Lovers’: An Evening of Opera Scenes
Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. — Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
ETSU vocal students will perform a range of pieces, from tender duets to fiery ensembles, highlighting the many facets of love and friendship through some of opera’s most beloved works.

Closing Bands Concert
Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
The ETSU Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will perform their final concert of the fall semester, with a wide range of music from contemporary selections to traditional wind literature.

Guest Artist Piano Recital: Dr. Maria Niederberger
Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m. — Mathes Hall Auditorium
Dr. Maria Niederberger, professor emerita of music theory and composition and former chair of the ETSU Department of Music, returns to campus for this recital.

Fine Arts

BFA Studio Art Senior Exhibitions
Nov. 3-21 — Slocumb Galleries
Graduating ETSU art students present their capstone art displays. Closing receptions are planned Nov. 14 and 20.

‘Vintage Charm: The Collecting Legacy of Blue Ridge Pottery’
Continuing through Dec. 12 — Reece Museum
This exhibit features works produced by Southern Potteries’ Blue Ridge Pottery, which began operations in 1917 in Erwin and became the largest producer of hand-painted pottery and china in the United States. Foreign competition and the increasing popularity of plastic dinnerware led to the company’s liquidation in the 1950s.

‘The Place Speaks’ Exhibit
Continuing through Dec. 12 — Reece Museum
This exhibit explores how sacred histories are presented through visual art in Appalachia and highlights works by the Rev. Jimmy Morrow and other Appalachian and Southern artists, as well as significant artifacts from the museum’s permanent collection.

Theater/Cinema

‘Elf the Musical’: 2025 Broadway Encore
Nov. 3-4, 7 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts
Inspired by the hit film, “Elf the Musical” is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, who embarks on a journey to New York City and helps the Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. Tickets are $88.66 to $113.04 (including taxes and fees).

Bud Frank Cinema: ‘The Mastermind’
Nov. 14, 7 p.m. — Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
The Bud Frank Cinema will present the latest film by Kelly Reichardt, “The Mastermind,” in which an unemployed family man and amateur art thief (Josh O’Connor) sets out on his first heist with an airtight plan — or so he thinks.

Bud Frank Cinema: ‘In the Mood for Love’
Nov. 18, 5 p.m. — Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
This event features the 25th anniversary screening and the original short film of Wong Kar Wai’s “In the Mood for Love,” a masterful evocation of romantic longing and fleeting moments that has been a major stylistic influence on cinema for 25 years.

Film Screening: ‘The Indelible Appalachians’
Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. — Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall
This documentary illuminates the rich and often overlooked experiences of Black Appalachians, capturing the stories of individuals dedicated to preserving their history, embracing their present and shaping their future. Filmmaker Frederick Murphy and featured individuals from the documentary will participate in a Q&A session after the screening.

ETSU Theatre and Dance: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’
Nov. 19-23, performance times TBA — Martin Center for the Arts, Bert C. Bach Theatre
Further information on this performance and tickets TBA. Watch the Department of Theatre and Dance website for more.

‘Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet’
Nov. 24, 7 p.m. — Martin Center for the Arts, ETSU Foundation Grand Hall
This performance of Tchaikovsky’s timeless score features an international cast, whimsical puppetry, and opulent costumes and sets crafted by European artisans. Tickets are $42.32 to $229.95 (including tax and fees).

Public Talks and More

Observatory Open House
Nov. 1, 8 p.m. — Harry D. Powell Observatory
Visitors may view celestial objects through the observatory’s telescopes. ETSU astronomers and physicists will be available to answer questions. Dr. Beverly Smith will give a short talk on “The Amazing, Exciting, Spitting Black Hole in IC 2431.”

3 Minute Thesis (3MT®) Finals
Nov. 4, 4:30 p.m. — D.P. Culp Student Center Ballroom
In this annual competition, ETSU graduate students deliver engaging, three-minute presentations on their academic research, designed for a general audience and accompanied by just one slide.

WGS on Wednesdays
Nov. 5, 1 p.m. — D.P. Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room (Room 272)
Join the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program for a talk on “Unlearning Burnout: Examining the Crossroads of Work, Gender and Culture” by Dr. Natasha Gouge of the ETSU Department of Psychology.

ETSU Health Bikes for Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run
Nov. 8, 10:30 a.m. (9 a.m. check-in) — ETSU Health, 325 N. State of Franklin Road
Proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit the Ballad Health Cancer Patient Assistance Fund. Registration is a suggested minimum donation of $20 per bike.

Veterans Day Ceremony
Nov. 12, 10 a.m. — Veterans Memorial on the Quad
This annual ceremony honors the nation’s military veterans, including ETSU’s student, staff and faculty veterans, with guest speakers, music and a roll call conducted for the ETSU ROTC alumni who were killed in action. Rain location: Brooks Memorial Hall.

Story Slam: Feasts and Cravings
Nov. 13, 7 p.m. — Down Home, 300 W. Main St.
Volunteer tellers will be chosen from the audience to share five-minute tales related to the November theme, “Feasts and Cravings.” The audience will vote for the best story, and the winner will receive a $50 prize. Note: For mature audiences.

Community History Harvest: Spiritual Life in Appalachia
Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Reece Museum
Community members are invited to bring Bibles, hymnals, church records, photographs and other personal or unique artifacts — and stories — relating to spiritual life in Appalachia. Reece Museum staff and ETSU history students will document these materials through digital photography, video and audio interviews so they can be preserved and studied by current and future historians. Participants will take their objects home the same day.

Arctic Adventures: Cookie Decorating
Nov. 17, 4:30 p.m. — Innovation Commons, Sherrod Library (second floor)
The ETSU National Alumni Association’s popular Arctic Adventures series is back, starting with this Cookie Decorating Party before the university’s Holiday Lights Celebration. Cookies, giveaways and holiday music are planned.

Holiday Lights Celebration
Nov. 17, 5:45 p.m. — ETSU Foundation Carillon and Alumni Plaza
Join ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland, Student Government Association President Shelby Koerten and Bucky as they kick off the holiday season and turn on the holiday lights. Festivities include live music, the grand opening of the ETSU Synthetic Ice Rink, free screenings of a holiday classic, hot cocoa, cookies and more.

Notable Women of ETSU
Nov. 19, 5 p.m. — D.P. Culp Student Center, East Tennessee Room (Room 272)
Join the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program in recognizing the 2025 Notable Women of ETSU for their esteemed contributions to their fields. This year’s honorees are Dr. Christine D. Lewis of the Department of Counseling and Human Services and Cara Harker of the Department of Theatre and Dance.