street sounds - University of Dayton

Oct
2008
Mother Courage and Her Children
UD Theatre Program Taking on the “Mother” of all Dramatic Plays
By Michael Kane
The actors have been cast, the lines have been
memorized, the costumes and sets have been made,
and all of the hard work and dedication of UD’s theatre
program is about to pay off.
Act I of the 2008/2009 UD theatre season will open
with Mother Courage and Her Children, a play that tells
the story of a desperate woman’s struggle to survive in
the midst of the seemingly endless war.
“The character Mother Courage uses the Thirty-Years
War to make a profit, which is a good thing for her,”
said Tristan Sample, a cast member who plays the
cook. “Her attitude, however, changes when the army
comes to take her sons away to fight in the war.”
Written by German playwright Bertoldt Brecht,
Mother Courage is considered one of the twentieth
century’s landmark dramas. The anti-war play
combines both suffering and mockery to evoke
reflection and insight on the perpetual effects of war.
“You start out liking the characters in the play, but
by the end of the show you realize that they are all bad
people, yet you have sympathy for them,” said Philip
Titlebaum, who plays Mother Courage’s eldest son. “It
shows you what war does to people, which is what
makes this play so interesting.”
The opportunity to see Mother Courage on stage is
a great honor for UD students. Professional theaters
rarely perform it for the public because the play is so
expensive to produce due to the extremely large cast
of characters.
“The play is not performed frequently in the U.S.
so you may never get another chance to see Mother
Courage in your life,” director Linda Dunlevy said. “For
college theater, it’s such a difficult and challenging
work, but completely worth it in the end.”
This notion is not lost on the cast and crew who
have been preparing for opening night by rehearsing
from 7-11 pm every weekday.
“Rehearsals have
been going very well
so far,” Dunlevy
said. “It’s delightful
to work with
students who take
their job seriously
and work hard.
There are days when
they are terrified of
what they need to
do, but they hang in
there because they are more prepared than they think.”
The cast consists of students with a variety of
majors from freshmen to seniors, showing that there
are plenty of opportunities for all UD students to get
involved in the theatre.
Aside from its provocative storyline and large
cast of compelling characters, Mother Courage also
separates itself from the norm by featuring 12 dark
songs throughout the play, yet it isn’t considered a
musical. Having so many songs to memorize is another
challenge the cast of Mother Courage are tackling to
bring this unique play to life.
“Kelly Amshoff is taking on a huge role as Mother
Courage,” Tristan Sample said. “Along with being
in almost every scene and having tons of lines to
memorize, Kelly has six songs to sing. She’s got a
huge responsibility as the lead character but she’s
taking it on head first.”
continued on pg. 3
OffBeat- Volume 5, Issue 2
Behind the Curtain
By Kelly Amshoff
Millions of butterflies are hitting the inside of your
stomach. Your throat is parched and your tongue feels
five sizes too big for your mouth. Palms sweaty, mind
racing, waiting; then they call your name. You stand
up in front of the director and read lines that you have
not seen before and try your hardest to make the twodimensional character on paper become 3-D. They thank
you for your audition, and then you leave with the
hopes of seeing your name on the cast list that will be
posted in a few days.
This is the usual audition process for most hopeful
actors. The ones that do not see their name on the cast
list are left with the experience and opportunity for
shows to come. Those that do see their names on the
list are in for many busy and exhausting weeks before
the show opens.
The rehearsal period is a continual period of growth
for the actors themselves, and for the characters that
they are portraying. The first rehearsal is almost always
a read-through, which means all actors are present
and the entire script is read together. Actors then get
on their feet and start moving around on stage to the
designated spots when they say certain lines; this is
called blocking. All actors are fitted for their costumes
and learn when to wear which ones during which
scenes. Memorization of lines, where they should
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move on stage, the costume changes are all extremely
important and mandatory steps that must be taken, but
there are so many other vital parts that have to fit within
the puzzle of the show before it is ready.
The actor has to get to know their character and
help it grow. The rehearsal period is the time when
they are thrown into many different emotional trial runs
of how their character should react, talk, laugh, and
walk. It takes a long time before the actor can embrace
the person that they become within the play. After
the draining rehearsal period comes to an end and the
actors are left with a week before opening night, they
begin tech week. This is the week where each night
is treated as opening night. They can no longer “break
character” or stop acting to ask a question. They are in
costume, the lights are on them, and they perfect their
performance. Opening night always approaches rapidly.
The actor, after performing the show that they have
worked tirelessly on for months, stands at the end
of the night in front of their audience, accepting the
applause and breathing deeply because they realize that
what they did, what they are, is completely worth every
second.
Editor’s note: Kelly will be playing the title role in UD’s
upcoming production of Mother Courage
Want to be a part of OffBeat? Email your
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from Flyer Radio). We offer high quality recordings at the best rates
around. We also function as an organization that educates students
in Audio Production.
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Contact us now and setup your next project. As a student at UD, Street
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For
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OffBeat- 2
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Mother Courage continued from pg. 1
Except on Sundays at 7 pm, all performances
take place in the Kennedy Union Boll Theatre at 8
pm. General admission is $10.00 and UD student,
faculty and staff tickets are only $6.00. Performance
nights for Mother Courage are on October 24th, 25th,
26th, 30th, 31st, and November 1st. The final dress
rehearsal on October 23rd is also open for students to
attend and admissionis “pay what you can.” “It’s
a wonderful piece of drama to be working on,” said
Dunlevy. “It’s got everything from the excitement of
good theatrical drama to thought-provoking ideas,
which deal with issues on our mind today.”
Don’t forget that UD’s theatre season will continue
in late January with another play called Speed the
Plow, which is the story of two hardnosed Hollywood
producers and their callous attempts to generate a film
blockbuster, all the while debating over the significance
of art versus profit.
In March, the season will come to an end with
the performance of Bat Boy: The Musical, a satirical
rendition of an actual “Weekly World News” story
about a half-boy, half-bat found living in a cave in
West Virginia.
So don’t miss these great opportunities to see a
variety of musicals and dramas this year. Without a
doubt, Mother Courage is one of the most ambitious
plays UD’s theatre group will ever perform. When the
curtain goes up on opening night, the audience will get
to see a lot of hard work pay off.
For more information about the upcoming theater
season or tickets, contact the Kennedy Union Box
Office at 229-2545.
Senior Exhibition Preview!
By Sara Garchar
Every year the senior visual arts majors get the
chance to showcase their hard work in the Rike
Center Gallery. The visual
communication design
students will be featured
from October 7 to October
29, while the fine arts, art
education and photography
majors will have their work
displayed from November
4 to November 21. This
show not only celebrates the
work produced from four years
of art studies at UD, but is
also organized through student
committees that devote their
time to publicity, preparation, and
installation. “I have no doubt that
every single senior represented
will be successful in a variety of
endeavors,” said art education senior
and show co-chair Ellen Schneider, “and
this show is just a milestone in the span
of what will be long artistic careers for
many.”
Make sure to stop by and see the
amazing paintings, prints, sculptures,
and more created by your peers.
(Photos, top to bottom: Sara Garchar, Ellen Schneider and
Kristen Lauer)
SATURDAY
SPECIAL EVENTS
ArtStreet partners with campus
organizations to produce a different
student-hosted event each week.
ArtStreet also hosts a variety of
concerts at the outdoor amphitheatre
throughout the year.
Funding assistance is available.
For more info:
ArtStreet Office:229-5101
Email: [email protected]
Waterfall- Martin Carver
OffBeat-3
Eight Things to Keep October Exciting!
By Kelly Amshoff
1 If you haven’t been to Yellow Springs yet,
October is a great month to check it out! On October
11 from 9am-5pm they are hosting a Street Fair
with an assortment of fun things to keep you busy.
International food, jewelry, crafts, clothes and candles
will all be on display, plus much more. There are over
200 booths, so there is sure to be something that will
interest everyone!
2 The Ohio Renaissance Festival, located in
Harveysburg, is having a Harvest Festival Weekend
on the 11th and 12th of this month; enjoy plenty of
entertainment and try their amazing apple cider!
3 The Human Race Theatre Company is performing
Ears on a Beatle, a play set in the 1970’s dealing
with President Nixon, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s
involvement with Vietnam. The show opens at the
Loft Theatre in downtown Dayton on October 16 and
finishes in November.
4 If you are craving to be downtown and want to
see a show that’s a little different, then make sure
you head to the Victoria Theatre and see STOMP,
which will be there October 18 and 19. Make sure
you also come to the workshopwith the cast of
STOMP on Friday October 17 at 4 pm in the ArtStreet
Amphitheatre!
5 Before you get too wrapped up in the Halloween
buzz, mark your calendars for October 18 which
is Sweetest Day! Dorothy Lane Market is having a
Sweetest Day Rose Bouquet booth set up all day on the
18th for last minute gift giving.
6 Also at Dorothy Lane Market, there will be the
delicious caramel apple making booth set up two
weekends in a row on Oct. 18, 19, 25, and 26. You get
to pick what toppings go on your apple after they dip it
into warm, thick caramel. Don’t miss it!
7 Still wondering what to be for Halloween? Well don’t
fret, Foy’s Store in Fairborn has EVERYTHING you could
ever need for the best costume ever! It is located on
Main Street in Fairborn, exit 22 off I-675, and takes up
most of the block! Check out their website
www.foyshalloweenstore.com if you don’t believe me!
8 And finally, once you have your costume, have
tasted apple cider and caramel apples, given your
flowers on Sweetest Day and seen some shows
downtown, make sure you complete the autumn season
with a haunted hayride at Young’s Jersey Dairy. It is
guaranteed to leave you a little spooked for this month!
CHECK THIS OUT:
Check out our signature
paninis, the Dali and Van Gogh!
KARAOKE NIGHT
Parents Weekend
October 25, 7-11 pm
Mary Gaynier
The Amazing Art of Cut Paper
Now through Dec. 5, 2008
Marianist Hall Learning Space
OffBeat- 4
Food for Thought
Jack O’Lantern Jello
2. With each orange, slice off the stem end and
carefully hollow it out using a butter knife and
spoon.
Ingredients:
6 large oranges
2 boxes of Jello
3. With a small, sharp knife, cut out eye, nose, and
mouth shapes.
4. When it’s firm, chop the Jello into small cubes,
and scoop it into the orange pumpkins.
Directions:
1. Prepare the Jello according to the package
instructions, but use slightly less water so the Jello
ends up extra firm. Refrigerate.
Courtesy of Parent & Child Magazine, Oct. 2008 issue.
Thursday Night Live:
Music for Performers and Audiences Alike
By Julie Roth
Looking for a way to wind down the week? Held every
Thursday night from 9-11pm, ArtStreet Café’s Thursday
Night Live offers the perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy
friends and food, and support UD’s finest performers.
With a casual atmosphere, the event features student
musicians and poets sharing their creativity with both
friends and new audiences. This semester, TNL has
updated its weekly schedule to provide students with the
unique listening experiences as well as opportunities to
display their performing talents.
As always, TNL will showcase the musical abilities of
students wanting to share both original pieces and works
by other musicians. While vocal, guitar, or piano numbers
are the most common, performers are encouraged to
display their creativity through the use of a variety of
instruments.
Some notable student singer/songwriter performances
in the upcoming weeks are juniors Kelly Fine on November
6th and December 4th and Drew Morrison (dates TBA).
Along with student performers, Thursday Night Live
will host Dayton musicians as well, including Joe Anderl
on October 30th. Giving a taste of Dayton’s rich musical
culture, Joe combines his legitimate guitar and vocal
skills with a folk rock style to produce a unique sound
and thoughtful lyrics. Joe brings musical experience
and maturity to the Thursday Night Live lineup, which
can be appreciated by UD’s music-lovers and admired by
student performers. In order to provide opportunities for
the campus’s amateur poets and musicans, the Café will
also be partnering with several student organizations to
host open-mic events this semester. Instead of performing
a full-length set, students can share a few songs or a
single piece of poetry with the Café audience. The next
open-mic night will take place on Oct. 23 and is open to
any students wanting to participate. (Contact rothjula@
notes.udayton.edu for more info or to sign up!)
The Café is always looking for musicians, poets, writers,
and new audience members. If you are a performer and
would like to share your creativity with other students or
just a student who wants to enjoy the talent UD has to
offer, give Thursday Night Live a try!
OffBeat-5
The First Physics Love Poem in
the History of the World
By Kristen Hammaker
In some odd, detached way
Physics called to me
Saying something seductive about resonance, tone,
and the fourth harmonic interval
Before, I had been the node, where the wave never
touched
The part that stood alone.
Then the radiant heat of your smile
Warmed my tiny heart
Until I couldn’t help but laugh at my vulnerability
Allowing me to believe in something
That seemed magical, that I hadn’t learned about
A tiny wave
Just some silly oscillation
Anything to get your attention.
Heat is the kinetic energy of molecules
Sublimation, convection,
Connection
All that separates us is a layer of electrons
You can’t touch without being touched
Opposites attract.
Vectors have speed and direction
But where are they going?
To that land of scientific
Self-actualization?
And you
Are you already in love
Do pendulums and transverse waves
Occupy your every thought
Are you making your own charm quarks
Am I just a change of phase
Upcoming Events
Wednesday Workshops:
October 15: Paper Collage with Jane Bickford (6-8 pm)
October 22: Acrylic Painting with Nicole Rottmueller
October 29: Ceramics- Part 2 with Dave Chesar
All workshops held from 7-9 pm in ArtStreet Studio E
(except where noted!)
FREE for UD students, staff and faculty.
Email [email protected] to reserve your spot!
F R I DAY N I G H T F I L M S E R I E S
October 17: Across the Universe
October 24: Waitress
October 31: The Exorcist
November 7: Persepolis
FREE and open to the public. All films at 9 PM in ArtStreet Studio B.
For more info: 229-5101 or http://artstreet.udayton.edu
Join the ArtStreet email list and receive
weekly event updates!
To join, email [email protected]
Could we ever be together
In our own world of knee-high neap tides
Are we just isotopes of the same element
Or will the law of universal gravitation
Always keep us apart
Happy Halloween
from ArtStreet!
OffBeat- 6
Mail- Lauren Mack