Over the past 5-years the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts at Pittsburg State has become the hub of performing arts in Southeast Kansas. Since the center opened up in December of 2014 it has hosted events from former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the SEK Symphony and the Best of Broadway series. Director of the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts Joe Firman is the man behind it all with the assistance of Technical Director (and Producer of Live From the Bicknell Center) Jonathon Eastman and countless Pittsburg State students from a variety of disciplines.

Even though the Bicknell as been around for 5-years worth of performances and events, there are still collaborations that are new. According to Joe, the first event held at the Bicknell in 2020 is the Pittsburg State Opera accompanied by the Southeast Kansas Symphony. The performances are taking place on Friday February 14 at 7:30 pm and against on Sunday February 16 at 3 pm.  “Cosi fan tutte” by W. A. Mozart — a story in which two officers are convinced their fiancés will remain faithful, but a friendly wager with another officer that they will not leads to chaos.

Just 6 days after the Sunday February 16th performance of PSU Opera and SEKS Pittsburg State’s own Jennier Knapp will perform for the first time at the Bicknell. The Grammy-nominated Signer-Songwriter is originally from Chanute, Kansas and has sold more than 1-million albums in her first three releases. Knapp, who moved to Australia in 2002 has toured the globe speaking about Christianity and her LGBTQ identity. Her most recent album released in 2017 is titled, Love Comes Back Around.