The American Century: Past Tense or Future Promise?
John Hamre, Rae Dorough Speaker Series
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009 at 7:30 pm
$30/$12 students
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, America has emerged as the global superpower, entering into a new international system—the third in history—with a single global superpower and a set of regional superpowers. Hamre will discuss the structure of this international system and the prospects for America remaining the global superpower. At a time of unprecedented economic turmoil and unparalleled international diplomatic and security challenges, will America emerge stronger or diminished?
An Evening with Jane Hamilton
Rae Dorough Speaker Series
Thursday, Nov 12, 2009 at 7:30 pm
$30/$12 students
Jane Hamilton lives, works, and writes in an orchard farmhouse in Wisconsin. Her first published works were short stories, “My Own Earth” and “Aunt Marj’s Happy Ending,” for Harper’s Magazine in 1983. “Aunt Marj’s Happy Ending” later landed a spot in “The Best American Short Stories of 1984.” Her first novel, “The Book of Ruth,” won the PEN/Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award for best first novel and was a selection of the Oprah Book Club. Her second novel, “A Map of the World,” was an international bestseller.
Dark Energy and the Runaway Universe
Alex Filippenko, Rae Dorough Speaker Series
Thursday, Jan 28, 2010 at 7:30pm
$30/$12 students
Observations of very distant exploding stars show that the expansion of the Universe is now speeding up, rather than slowing down due to gravity as expected. Over the largest distances, our Universe seems to be dominated by a repulsive “dark energy.” Dark energy stretches the very fabric of space itself faster and faster with time. But the physical origin of dark energy is unknown, and is often considered to be the most important unsolved problem in physics.
From Archaeology to Artistic Director: A Career in the American Theater
Carey Perloff, Rae Dorough Speaker Series
Thursday, Mar 18, 2010 at 7:30pm
$30/$12 students
Perloff explores her early roots in archaeology, and how excavating ancient sites led her directly to excavating the meaning and emotions of theatrical texts from all over the world, and to rebuilding a ruined theater in the heart of San Francisco. She is celebrating her 17th season as artistic director of A.C.T. (American Conservatory Theater), where her most recent directing credits include Tom Stoppard’s “Rock ’n’ Roll” and the upcoming production of José Rivera’s “Boleros for the Disenchanted.”
The Rae Dorough Speakers Series, named for long-time Livermore resident and community activist Rae Dorough, features renowned commentators discussing interesting and timely topics ranging from oil to iPhones, dark energy to American Theater. The series is sponsored in part by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC. Programs begin at 7:30pm and will include an audience Q&A following each speaker’s presentation, and a post-talk reception with the speaker. Rae Dorough was professionally known for over 30 years as a respected real estate broker and an active participant in and supporter of charitable organizations and City commissions concerned with health and social issues. Rae’s husband, Gus, and their seven children were pleased to provide the initial funding to create and sustain this new Bankhead Theater series in Rae’s memory.