Set in the early years of the United States, the production follows some of the country's well-known founding figures—Thomas Jefferson, John and Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton—through a clever "what if" scenario. At once balancing historicity and invention, the production takes a look at the issues that were and still are very much part of the American fabric.

“This year’s production cleverly weaves the musical style of the late eighteenth century with other periods as we get to see the effects of the founders' choices on their future, our present,” said Music Professor Antonio G. Barata, artistic director and series producer. "The show also includes characterizations of less familiar luminaries of the early American period, like Haym Solomon and Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and one of particular recent historical interest, Sally Hemmings.

The music, lyrics, stage design, acting and singing combine the creative talent of music majors and technical talent of students from Barata’s sound design courses.

Tickets are $11 and are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call SLO-ARTS (756-2787).

The shows are sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406.

The concert will also preview the ensemble’s performance in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on June 22, as the showcase ensemble for the 2010 Los Angeles International Music Festival.

The concert, at 8 p.m. in Harman Hall in the Performing Arts Center, will open with works performed by the Wind Orchestra including Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Fantasia in G Major,” Samuel R. Hazo’s “Exultate,” Percy Grainger’s “Molly on the Shore,” and Norman Dello Joio’s “Scenes from the Louvre.”

Guest soloists include W. Terrence Spiller, performing Kamilló Lendvay’s “Concertino for Piano, Winds and Percussion,” and John Astaire performing Joseph Schwantner’s “Concerto for Percussion.” Spiller is a classical pianist and chair of the Cal Poly Music Department. Astaire is a Cal Poly graduate completing his doctorate in percussion performance at Indiana University.

Guest conductors will include Anna Binneweg and Lawrence Sutherland. Binneweg is a professional conductor in the Washington, D.C., area and a cover conductor for the National Symphony. Sutherland is director of bands emeritus at Fresno State University.

The Wind Ensemble will continue with Kevin Puts’ “Millennium Cannons,” Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Fugue à la Gigue,” and the world premiere of Meredith Brammeier’s “Stitches in Time.” Brammeier is a member of Cal Poly’s music faculty and leads its music theory program.

The concert will close with Paul Woodring performing on the Forbes Pipe Organ in Jaromir Weinberger’s Polka and Fugue from “Schwanda the Bagpiper.”

A retirement reception honoring Johnson will be held immediately after the concert.

Please submit anecdotes and well-wishes for a memory book for Johnson: http://music.calpoly.edu/johnson

The Spring Concert is Take It SLO’s showcase event of the year. The 15-member vocal ensemble will premiere the students’ many new arrangements of hits by artists such as OneRepublic, Beyonce, and Lady Gaga, in addition to some of its audience favorites.

The group has received statewide recognition in recent years and competed in the 2010 International Championship of College A Cappella (ICCA) quarterfinal competition at UC Berkeley in February.

“Though this band of vivacious musicians is a versatile assemblage of future rocket scientists, CEOs and philosophers, the members share a love for music and an infatuation with having a good time,” said Take It SLO President Amy Lebetasamer. “Fifteen voices, one beat, heaps of energy, and a strive for soul might make you hear the voices of hip hoppin’, pop-rockin’ angels.”

Tickets to the concert are $5 for students with a Cal Poly ID or $7 for general admission. A discount of $2 will be given to those who wear a Take It SLO fan t-shirt. Tickets can be purchased at the door the evening of the show. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Seating is unreserved.

The event is sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department, College of Liberal Arts, and IRA program. For more information contact Lebetsamer at 310-977-9019, visit www.takeitslo.com, e-mail takeitslo@gmail.com, or call the Music Department at 805-756-2406.

Now in its 23rd year, this year’s line-up includes: Alapay Cellars, Baileyana Winery, Bayou House Catering, Big Sky Cafe, Black Horse Espresso & Bakery, Breads and Moore, Byron Winery, Buona Tavola, Cambria Winery, Castoro Cellars, Cerro Caliente Cellars, Chow, Claiborne & Churchill Vintners, Corner View Restaurant, Cottonwood Canyon Winery, Cracked Crab, Del's Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant, Doc Burstein’s Ice Cream Lab, EOS Estate Winery, Firestone Walker Brewery, Fratelli Perata Winery, Frolicking Frog Winery, Greenhouse Grill & Café at Embassy Suites, Indigo Moon, J Lohr Vineyards, Justin Winery and Vineyards, Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, Koffee Klatsch, Laetitia Vineyard and Winery, Lido at Dolphin Bay Resort, Mamma’s Meatballs, Mediterranean Kitchen, Midnight Cellars, Morro Bay Mud Fudge, Novo, Opolo Vineyards, Ortman Family Vineyards, Phoenix Fine Catering, Sage at Vista Grande, Saucelito Canyon Winery, Sculpterra Winery, Seaside Café & Bakery, Splash Café, Still Waters Vineyard, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Tahoe Joe's, Thai Talay, The Clubhouse at This Old House, Tolosa Winery, Trader Joe's, Upper Crust Trattoria, Vista Del Rey Vineyards, Windows on the Water, and Wolff Vineyards. Event Partners/Sponsors are: BGA, Coast News, Coast 101.3, Jay & Carol Devore, Morris & Garritano, New Times, Poor Richard’s Press and Mike & Indy Stenvall.

The ensemble will perform vocal and instrumental selections by some of the most popular composers and performers of Arab art and popular music, including the eminent Mohammad Abdel Wahhab and the superstar Amr Diab from Egypt, as well as the legendary trio of Fairouz and the Rahbani Brothers from Lebanon.

This will be the ensemble’s most culturally diverse program to date, with a variety of music from the shared music culture of the larger region. Included on the program are songs in Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Ladino, and Turkish, as well as folk dances directed by San Luis Obispo dance instructors Saundra Sarrouf and Jenna Mitchell especially for this performance.

Guest artists on the program will come from Los Angeles and include Kan Zaman Ensemble Director Wael Kakish on buzuq, Lana Khalaf on vocals, Adel Eskander Wassif on violin and David Martinelli on percussion.

The 35-member ensemble is under the direction of Music Department faculty member Kenneth S. Habib, a composer and performer whose doctorate is in ethnomusicology with specializations in the Middle East and American popular music.

Tickets are $10 for the public and $8 for seniors and students. They are on sale at the Performing Arts Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by phone, call SLO-ARTS (756-2787).

The concert is sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department, College of Liberal Arts and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 756-2406.

*This is a 21 and over venue.

City Park Gazebo 12th and Spring Streets, Paso Robles.

J Lohr wine, beer and food for sale. Bring lawn chairs. No dogs allowed.

City Park Gazebo 12th and Spring Streets, Paso Robles.

J Lohr wine, beer and food for sale. Bring lawn chairs. No dogs allowed.