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Saturday, April 13, 2019

RVCC to Host Performance Artist in Presentation on Religion, LGBTQ Issues, Climate Change

Everything is Connected

WHEN: Thursday, April 18, from 7-8 p.m.
WHERE
: Raritan Valley Community College, Center (Room C-010), 118 Lamington Rd., Branchburg
ADMISSION: free of change and open to the public
For additional information, contact Emilie Stander at  estander@raritanval.edu or 908-526-1200, ext. 8344.

Performance artist, actor, podcast host, filmmaker and biblical scholar Peterson Toscano will playfully explore and interweave the serious worlds of gender, religion, LGBTQ issues and climate change.

Toscano (www.petersontoscano.com) is a comic actor who seamlessly shapeshifts into dozens of characters. In doing so, he asks unusual and stimulating questions such as, “What is a queer response to climate change?” and “How can comedy help us understand our most tragic losses?” “Everything is Connected” offers a unique take on how society perceives and grapples with climate change. It also reflects Toscano’s mission to connect with audiences in deeply personal ways, stirring up hope and purpose in a rapidly changing world.

Toscano has performed his hilarious and thought-provoking one-person shows all over the world, including England, South Africa, Norway, and Cuba. He has been featured in The New York Times, People magazine, The Times of London, the Tyra Banks Show, and NPR Morning Edition. His Bible scholarship has been featured in The Oxford Handbook of the Bible in America. His essay, “Transgender Gender During Passover,” appears in the Lambda Award-winning anthology, Gender Outlaws—The Next Generation.  Peterson is the host of Citizens Climate Radio and the curator of ClimateStew.com. His film, Transfigurations—Transgressing Gender in the Bible, has been screened internationally, most recently in Budapest, Hungary.

Toscano’s performance, sponsored by the College’s Sustainability Committee and supported by the RVCC Foundation, and is part of the month-long celebration of Earth Day.

Ranked by BestColleges.com, WalletHub.com, and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to  a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.