News

Audiences will be served a Thanksgiving favorite from “Alice’s Restaurant,” when folk musician Arlo Guthrie brings his North American tour to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as part of the 50th anniversary of the iconic song by the same name.

Guthrie, whose brand of musical storytelling is known the world over, will perform “Alice’s Restaurant: 50th Anniversary Tour” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 7 in the Morris University Center Meridian Ballroom.

SIUE welcomes Guthrie back to campus. He has appeared four times at the Mississippi River Festival and once with Arts & Issues in 2008.

“We’re excited to bring Arlo Guthrie back to the SIUE campus,” said Grant Andree, director of Arts & Issues and assistant development director in SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences. “We thought it would be great to present, as part of our 30th anniversary Arts & Issues celebration, Arlo’s 50th Anniversary Tour for Alice’s Restaurant. Our alumni have a special place in their hearts for Arlo.”

Guthrie will perform with his band: Terry Hall (drums), Bobby Sweet (guitar, vocals) and his son, Abe Guthrie (keyboards). The show will be curated with a special multi-media presentation, featuring previously unseen images from the Guthrie archives.

Guthrie’s career exploded in 1967 with the release of the18-minute musical monologue, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.” The folk “song,” which is based on a true incident in Guthrie’s life, depicts odd, unexpected and comically exaggerated events that occurred on Thanksgiving Day 1965.

The musical monologue also is a satirical protest against the Vietnam War. While Guthrie made the recording on somewhat of a whim, “Alice’s Restaurant” struck an important cord with many in the 1960s era and created a recommitment to social consciousness and activism. Guthrie’s folk song was made into a film, Alice’s Restaurant, in 1969. It was co-written and directed by Arthur Penn. The movie stars Guthrie as himself.

Guthrie is the son of singer, writer and philosopher Woody Guthrie and Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a professional dancer and founder of The Committee to Combat Huntington’s Disease.

For tickets and information, visit the SIUE Morris University Center Welcome Desk, artsandissues.com or call (618) 650-5774.

Scott Credit Union in Edwardsville sponsors the concert.

The Arts & Issues series brings artistic excellence to the SIUE campus through an eclectic blend of speakers and performers. For more than 30 years, SIUE’s Arts & Issues series has showcased some of the world’s finest artists. Each season, thought-provoking speakers inspire and entertain people of all ages and backgrounds. Thanks to the underwriting of SIUE, corporations, foundations and individual donors, tickets are often highly discounted.

Arts & Issues is tied to the academic mission of the University and offers unique opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and the community, to engage with performers and speakers through performances, master classes and special sessions.