Fun events at SSU and SRJC

College is about more than classrooms and diplomas. A college campus is a center for the arts of all kinds, not just for students, but for the whole community.

With both Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College back in session for the new academic year, the fall events calendar is starting to fill up fast.

The big venue on campus at SSU in Rohnert Park this fall is Weill Hall and its expansive lawn at the Green Music Center.

The fall lineup there includes soprano Renee Fleming at 3 p.m. Sept. 15; classical pianist Lang Lang at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17; violinist Itzhak Perlman at 6 p.m. Sept. 21; jazz pianist Herbie Hancock 6 p.m. Sept. 28. gmc.sonoma.edu, 866-955-6040.

There also will be a public performance by SSU's resident artists this year, the Trio Ariadne, Oct. 18 in Weill Hall. But there are shows at other venues on the SSU campus, 1801 E. Cotati Ave, as well.

The Axis Dance Company, known for choreography that integrates dancers both with and without physical disabilities, performs at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Person Theatre.

Comedian Bill Santiago performs his one-man show, "Spanglish 101 — A Total Immersion Comedic Excursion into Latino USA," at 8 p.m. Sept. 25 in Ives Hall. For more on these events, call 664-2382.

Santa Rosa Junior College opens its drama season with Lisa Loomer's "Distracted," about a 9-year-old with attention deficit disorder and his parents, at 8 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Burbank Auditorium on campus, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.

Classical pianist Rudolf Budginas plays rock, jazz and fusion music with guitarist Kenny Lee Lewis of the Steve Miller Band at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 in Burbank Auditorium. santarosa.edu/foundation, 527-4343.

On SRJC's Petaluma campus, 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, the Petaluma Cinema Series begins at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 with "Living in Oblivion." petalumafilmalliance.org.