Fine Arts Week at Fayetteville State University is right around the corner. This Fine Arts Series features music, visual art and drama and runs from Sunday, April 3 to Sunday, April 10. It is a week of activities that features Eleone Dance Theater, art work by former Black Panther Emory Douglass, percussionist Ndugu Chancler and a theatrical performance of A Raisin in the Sun. There are several opportunities throughout the week to see top-notch entertainment for little or no cost.

The celebration kicks off Sunday, April 3 with the FSU Jazz Express featuring Leon “Ndugu” Chancler. The group will perform music by Duke Ellington, Gerald Wilson, Don Radar and Juan Tizol. Chancler is a studio jazz and rock percussionist who has performed and recorded with Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Carlos Santana and Herbie Hancock. The performance is in the FSU Jones Student Center at 4 p.m. Admission is free. 

FSU’s Concert Choir will perform Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium. The department’s vocal ensembles-Mane Attraction, Men of Distinction and FSU Opera Workshop will also perform. Admission is free. 

On Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m., FSU’s Percussion Ensemble featuring Chancler will perform at Seabrook Auditorium. Admission is free. 

The evening of Wednesday, April 6 is in honor of Charles Chesnutt, one of the founding fathers of FSU. Student musicians will perform solo literature in recital in the Rosenthal Recital Hall. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is free. 

The FSU Theater Company will open the award winning play, A Raisin in the Sun, on Thursday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Theater. It is Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 drama about the American dream and the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. The play won the Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics’ Award.  Call 672-1724 for ticket information. 

Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m., the Eleone Dance Theater will provide a dance experience that inspires and motivates audiences of all ages. The professional dance company has a diverse repertoire of works that are contemporary modern, spiritual, rhythm and blues, African and hip-hop in theme. The performance is in Seabrook Auditorium and the cost is $10. This is a one-time performance. Call 672-1724 for information. 

On Saturday, April 9 The Rosenthal Gallery will close its exhibition of Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglass with a reception and panel discussion from 1-3 p.m. Douglass created iconic images that represented Black America’s struggles during the 1960s and 1970s. The exhibition opened March 19. Admission is free. For more information, call 672-1795. A Raisin in the Sun will opens at 7:30 p.m. at Butler Theater. On Sunday, April 10, the performance is at 2 p.m. at Butler Theater. 

The campus of FSU also has exhibition space for public art from April 3 through May 30. The Fine Arts Season is sponsored by a grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the FSU Office of Title III and the FSU Friends of the Arts. 

For more information, visit www.fsuarts.com or call 672-1571.