Music, dance and drama converge this weekend for the University of Oklahoma's President's Festival of the Arts.

The OU Schools of Dance, Drama and Music each will present performances representing the theme of "Saints and Sinners." Fine Arts Dean Rich Taylor said each college will host its own evening of on-campus productions, including some combined performances.

"It's a series of performances by students in the Schools of Dance, Drama and Music that we hope will become an annual tradition," he said. "Moreover, we hope to involve the talented students of the Schools of Art and Art History and Musical Theatre in future years."

 The festival begins Thursday with performances of opera scenes from "Don Giovanni" and dramatic pieces of "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Steel Magnolias" and "As It Is in Heaven." Admission is free to the show, which begins at 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center, 560 Parrington Oval.

Festivities continue Friday when the OU Symphony Orchestra performs classics like Mozart's "Sonata in D major" and "Etude-Tableau in A minor." These songs will be accompanied by choreography from the School of Dance. Admission is $8. The show begins at 8 p.m., also in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center. Seating is limited.

The grand finale features the OU Symphony Orchestra and the OU Combined Choirs performing Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah." The show starts at 3 p.m. in the Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd.

Taylor said the finale will be dedicated to the work of OU President David L. Boren.

"As a continuation of this OU tradition, 'The President's Festival of the Arts' is our way of saying 'thank you' to the president and Mrs. Boren for another wonderful year in the OU Arts District," he said.

For tickets and more information, call 325-4101. "Luke Atkinson