The Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery at Loyola University New Orleans presents New Works by New Orleans Artists by Ron Bechet and Raine Bedsole, March 8 through April 7, 2007. There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on Thursday, March 8, from 5 to 8 p.m.

On Friday, March 9, The Department of Theatre Arts and Dance and director Janet Shea will begin their run of the captivating production Excalibur! The Story of Young King Arthur, by award-winning playwright Michele L. Vacca. In this exciting and dramatic story of how young Arthur came to be one of the most celebrated kings in history, the grandeur of ancient British and Welsh legend and lore are brought to life through the eyes of the magical and mysterious Merlin the Enchanter, the fabled master of wizardry and wit.

The Montage Arts Series will present a series of events Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, in conjunction with the annual Loyola Jazz Ensemble Festival. Highlights include a performance by The Loyola Faculty Jazz Ensemble on Friday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m., and a performance by The Loyola Jazz Bands with guest Ingrid Jensen on Saturday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. Both performances are in Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall. Since graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1989, Jensen has established herself as an artist and educator in a wide array of musical genres. Her performances as a soloist have taken her around the world, as she has performed with the likes of Steve Wilson, Marc Copland, Bill Stewart, Clark Terry, and Victor Lewis. She is currently on faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore.

For tickets or more information, please visit www.montage.loyno.edu, or contact Elizabeth Dalferes in The Office of Public Affairs at (504) 861-5882.