University Photography file photo

Former Provost Don Randel.

'Rabbit Hole' at Risley

Actor's Workshop of Ithaca presents the 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Rabbit Hole," Oct. 6-8 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. in Risley Theatre.

The drama, by David Lindsay-Abaire, is directed by Ithaca native and Broadway actor-director Jeremy Webb. The production features alumni of the local theater training company, which marks its 10th anniversary this season.

Tickets are $10 for students with ID, $11 for youths and senior citizens, $17 for adults, available at Ticket Center Ithaca on The Commons, by calling 607-273-4497 or online at http://www.artspartner.org. Information: http://actorsworkshop.biz.

Filmmaker Dorsky visits

Cornell Cinema will host an evening with acclaimed experimental filmmaker Nathaniel Dorsky, Oct. 12, 7:15 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre. Dorsky, fresh from screenings at the New York Film Festival, presents four of his short 16mm films: "Sarabande" (2008), "Winter" (2008), "Compline" (2009) and "Aubade" (2010). Dorsky works without sound and has been making avant-garde films since 1964. His work combines Stan Brakhage's abstraction with refined montage and has been shown internationally. For more information, including brief descriptions of the films, visit http://cinema.cornell.edu. Dorsky's visit is co-sponsored with the Cornell Council for the Arts.

Open house

Towards New Destinations, an open house Oct. 13, will celebrate the opening of the Cornell Intercultural Center and the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI). The event will begin at OADI, 4-4:30 p.m., 200 Computing and Communications Center, and continue at the Cornell Intercultural Center, 626 Thurston Ave. Provost Kent Fuchs and Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy will speak. Student entertainment, refreshments and building tours will also be offered.

'Ask an Editor'

Jordan Davis, poetry editor for The Nation, and Random House senior editor Noah Eaker will offer their insights on the ins and outs of editing and publishing at "Ask an Editor," Oct. 13 at 4:30 p.m. in Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall. Free and open to the public.

Davis and Eaker will talk about the publishing industry and what they look for in submissions, and will answer questions from the audience. Eaker's second book acquisition as senior editor at Random House was "The Tiger's Wife," the award-winning debut novel by Téa Obreht, MFA '09.

Davis is a columnist for The Constant Critic website, and is a poet and critic whose work has appeared in Publisher's Weekly, Slate and other publications. His poetry collection, "Million Poems Journal," was published in 2003.

Their presentation is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program Fall Reading Series.

All about potatoes

Associate professor of plant breeding and genetics Walter de Jong will discuss the versatile potato as a food source and more in a Chats in the Stacks Book Talk, Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. in Mann Library 160. Free.

He will talk about the potato's history including its role in Inca culture, the culinary qualities of several potato varieties, disease-resistant potatoes, nonfood uses such as biodegradable cutlery, conventional and organic growing techniques, pest management, storage and other information detailed in his new book, "The Complete Book of Potatoes: What Every Grower and Gardener Needs to Know." A comprehensive resource for home gardeners and commercial potato growers, the book was co-authored by Cornell emeritus professor of horticulture Joseph Sieczka and potato breeder Hielke de Jong, a fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada.

A reception and book signing will follow the talk, which is supported by the Mary A. Morrison Public Education Fund at Mann Library.

Schools and labor

George H. Cohen '55, LLB '57, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), will lecture Oct. 13 at the ILR School on labor and public education.

Cohen's talk, "The FMCS's New Role in Facilitating Public School Reform: Advancing Student Achievement Through Labor-Management Collaboration," is free and open to the public, 4:30 p.m. in 105 Ives Hall.

Cohen became FMCS director in 2009. His office serves as a liaison to the White House, Congress and the labor relations community.

Randel on the arts

Musicologist and former Cornell Provost Don Randel will return to campus to speak at a Department of Music musicology colloquium on "The Place of Arts in a Research University," Oct. 14 from 4:30-6 p.m. in Lincoln Hall B20. Free.

Randel is president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He served as provost of Cornell from 1995 to 2000. During his 32 years at Cornell he also served as Department of Music chair, vice provost, associate dean and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.