By Amanda Dyslin

It’s that time again. Fine arts departments across the land are gearing up for fall performance seasons to give their students and the public something fun and arty to do at night.

Once again, we’ve made the rounds to those in our area. Compiled the line-ups. And printed them right here for you to cut out and put on the fridge for later.

Minnesota State University’s guest artist series has some goodies lined up. Cooker John, a folk and blues band from the Twin Cities, will kick things off Sept. 3. Piano blues musician Scottie Miller, world musicians Eastern Blok, and Harry Manx, who blends blues, folk and Hindustani classical music, are also on the roster.

Bethany Lutheran College and Gustavus Adolphus College have their usual line-ups of intimate recitals by students, faculty and alumni. And they’ve also got some good traveling talent coming in, as well as theater and dance performances. (For MSU Theatre & Dance’s upcoming season, please see the story to run Sept. 11.)

The always entertaining Theatre Physics, a vaudeville-style skit show, begins the season Sept. 18.

One of the fall highlights is guitarist Pat Donohue, said Lois Jaeger, Bethany fine arts director. Donohue is a “world-class guitarist,” she said, known for being a part of the Guys All-Star Shoe Band on MPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Al Behrends, fine arts director at Gustavus, has Kurt Elling coming back for a performance with the Laurence Hobgood Trio. Elling, a 1989 alum, is a six-time Grammy Award nominee for jazz vocals.

“His workable range is extraordinarily broad,” Behrends said.

He’ll be performing music Oct. 10 from his newest album, “Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman,” among other pieces, before heading to Washington, D.C., the next day by invitation from President Obama to perform at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass & Composers Competition.

His visit coincides with Gustavus’ Homecoming and Elling’s 20th anniversary of his graduation from Gustavus.

For various other entertainment offerings, read below.

Bethany Lutheran College

All events are in the Bethany Fine Arts Center theater unless otherwise noted. Events are free unless noted. For more information, visit www.blc.edu or call Lois Jaeger at 344-7365.

-- Bethany Fall Festival, campus wide, Sept. 18-20, featuring Arts on the Green and Theatre Physics

-- Theatre Physics, Sept. 18-20, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Sept. 18 and 19, 2 p.m. Sept. 20, $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors

-- Bethany Concert Band, Trinity Chapel, Sept. 19, 2 p.m.

-- Jazz Band Concert, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.

-- Pat Donohue, guitarist, Trinity Chapel, Oct. 6, 7 p.m., $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors

-- Reformation Choral Vespers, Trinity Chapel, Oct. 29, 4:30 p.m.

-- Moliere’s “Tartuffe,” fall play, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, 7, 13 and 14; 2 p.m. Nov. 8, $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors

-- Fall Semester Honors Recital, Trinity Chapel, Nov. 24, 7 p.m.

-- Christmas at Bethany, Trinity Chapel, Dec. 3-6, 4 p.m. daily (to reserve tickets, call 344-7374)

-- “The Bald Soprano,” senior theater project, Fine Arts Center room 113, Dec. 8, time pending

Gustavus Adolphus College

All performances are 8 p.m. in Anderson Theatre unless otherwise noted, except Sunday performances are 2 p.m. Call 933-7598 for ticket information and a complete listing of recitals and other music events. Performances are free unless noted.

-- Emily Sapa, faculty flute recital, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall

-- Mattias Jacobsson, guest guitar recital, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall, ticket prices pending

-- John McKay, emeritus faculty piano recital, Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall

-- Kurt Elling, “Dedicated to You,” with the Laurence Hobgood Trio, in conjunction with Homecoming, Oct. 10, 8 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall, $20 general admission; $17 for seniors, students ages 4-18 and Gustavus staff; and $8 for Gustavus students

-- Family Weekend Music Events, Choir of Christ Chapel, Philharmonic Orchestra & Ringers, Jazz Lab Band & Adolphus Jazz Ensemble, and more, Oct. 11, beginning at 10 a.m. with morning worship, Christ Chapel

-- One-act plays: “Far Away by Caryl Churchill,” “Seven Jewish Children by Caryl Churchill” and “Seven Palestinian Children by Deb Margolin,” Oct. 30-Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-7, call 933-7598 for ticket cost

-- Octubafest, with Paul Budde & Scott Moore, conductors, Oct. 31, 1:30 p.m., Bjorling Recital Hall

-- Dance gallery, Nov. 19-22, call 933-7598 for ticket cost

-- Liturgy of Letters and Carols, Christmas in Christ Chapel, Dec. 4-6, for ticket prices and times call 933-7520

-- Physical Theatre Project, Dec. 10-13, call 933-7598 for ticket cost

-- Michael Johnson, “4 Decades of Music,” Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Jussi Bjorling Recital Hall, $20 general admission; $17 for seniors, students ages 4-18 and Gustavus staff; and $8 for Gustavus students

Minnesota State University

The following performances are in Halling Recital Hall unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit mnsu.edu/music/events, e-mail dale.haefner@mnsu.edu, or call 389-5549.

-- Cooker John, Thursday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m., $9 MSU students, $12 general admission

-- Scottie Miller, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m., $9 MSU students, $12 general admission

-- Harry Manx, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m., $9 MSU students, $12 general admission

-- Eastern Blok, Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., $10 MSU students, $15 general admission

-- Minnesota River Valley Wind Symphony, Sept. 20, 3 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Brenda Brenner/Kenneth Huber Duo, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m., $9 MSU students, $12 general admission

-- Phillip Bryant/Carolyn Wilkins, A Stompin’ Suite, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m., $9 MSU students, $12 general admission

-- David Viscoli, pianist, Faculty Artist Recital, Oct. 11, 3 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Jazz Groups, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Concert Bands, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Solar String Band, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., $10 MSU students, $15 general admission

-- University Orchestra, Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Rose Ensemble, Cantigas of the Three Faiths, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m.,

$10 MSU students, $15 general admission

-- Greg Herriges Quartet, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., $10 MSU students, $15 general admission

-- Fall Choral Concert, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Choral Invitational Concert, Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, with Invited High School Choirs, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m., SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 105 North Fifth St., Mankato, $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Minnesota River Valley Wind Symphony, Nov. 8, 3 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- A Night Of Opera Scenes, Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Concert Bands, Nov. 24, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Jazz Groups, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- University Orchestra, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission

-- Holiday Choral Concert, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, University Chorale, Dec. 6, 3 p.m., St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 S. Broad St., Mankato, $6 MSU students, $6 K-12 and children, $9 general admission