Ward Beecher Planetarium ‘Firefall’ show features art, music
IF YOU GO
What: Firefall
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: YSU
Admission: Free
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The artwork and music of two Youngstown State University alumni are featured in “Firefall,” the current show at Ward Beecher Planetarium on the YSU campus.
The show, which explores how comets and asteroids have shaped the Earth’s surface, includes animation and artwork by Joe Tucciarone, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from YSU, and music by Troy McClellan, who attended YSU’s Dana School of Music.
“Firefall” will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Nov. 30. Admission is free.
Tucciarone has painted space scenes for several planetariums, including ones in Memphis, Tenn.; Richmond, Va.; Bradenton, Fla.; and Cocoa, Fla. His video animations have been featured on National Geographic television and the History Channel, and his work has been showcased in the Science Photo Library in London.
McClellan has been involved in audio visual production for more 25 years. While at Dana, he began composing music soundtracks for the Ward Beecher Planetarium at YSU, including “Serpents of the Sun,” which later was distributed to many other planetariums in Ohio. He also created music and sound effects for a video segment featured in an Apollo 11 anniversary show.