Entertainment – Page 13 – The Transcript

Senior theatre productions shock and awe

A chilling Japanese ghost story and an inspiring performance about one’s real life perseverance were the highlights of this year’s senior theatre productions.

The two acts, presented by the Ohio Wesleyan department of theatre and dance, took place in the Chappelear Studio Theatre on March 27-28.

Seniors Kristen Krak and Haenny Park performed “The Sound of a Voice” by famous professor, playwright and screenwriter David Henry Hwang. Senior Ryan Haddad performed an original solo piece titled “Hi, Are You Single?”

“I have been working with this material for about a year, it has not always been in solo performance form though I knew this was going to be my end goal,” Haddad said. “It was in my mind as a solo piece but I didn’t start crafting it like one until the fall.”

“Hi, Are You Single?” deals with Haddad’s personal struggles growing up as a gay man with cerebral palsy. The performance brought with it an element of comedy, simultaneously provoking thought about how people treat one another.

“I’ve done a lot of autobiographical performance work over the past two years but usually they have been short pieces in workshops, mostly with performance artist Tim Miller,” Haddad said.

Haddad sites Miller, who is here on a theory to practice grant, as being instrumental in the development of his solo performance.

In “The Sound of a Voice”, Kristen Krak plays a lonely man on a journey who is trying to figure out the mysterious secret of a woman (played by Haenny Park) who lives alone in the woods. As the play progresses they grow to understand and even care for one another but the ending is anything but happy as their secrets unfold.

“I enjoyed the performance,” junior Ryan Burkholder said. “I thought it was kind of weird having two women performing a story between a man and a woman.”

Burkholder was one of many – including OWU President Rock Jones – in the packed crowd at the Friday night showing.

Haddad said that many people work behind the scenes on these performances and that all are important.

“So many people have influenced the writing and the performance,” Haddad said. “I have two wonderful collaborators, Margot Reed and Ian Boyle… and Ed Kahn in the theatre, oh my god he is remarkable.”

Tim Miller explores gay identities through performance

Tim Miller is a performance artist whose work currently focuses on marriage equality and addressing the injustices facing lesbian and gay couples in America.

Miller visited Ohio Wesleyan on Thursday, March 18 and performed a lecture-rant entitled, “Sex! Body! Self!”

Miller said, “My performances over the last several years at OWU, which have explored gay identity, marriage equality and immigration rights for gay bi-national couples, were breaking new terrain. For a long time my performances would be the only internationally touring show on the subject.”

This event was made possible by a theory-to-practice grant received by senior Ryan Haddad and professor of theatre and dance Edward Khan.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, particularly the last one which was about his marriage because that occurred during a week in which I was doing a workshop with him,” Haddad said. “This was right around the time that the Defense of Marriage Act was overturned so he [Miller] went right away and got married.”

Miller said, “though Ohio remains one of only 13 states without marriage equality today, after the coming supreme court decision this June, I am sure the next time I land at CMH I will be arriving to an equality state.”

Miller said his performances have been presented all over North America, Australia and Europe in such venues as Yale Repertory Theatre, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Walker Art Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

According to his biography, “Miller has received numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1990, Miller was awarded a NEA Solo Performer Fellowship, which was overturned under political pressure from the Bush White House because of the gay themes of Miller’s work.”

Miller worked with OWU students for a week to put on an ensemble performance. This performance occurred on Saturday, March 21 in Chappelear Drama Center. Miller worked with students from the two classes, theories of performance and political/social cabaret and others.

Student artists join forces

Two friends came together to showcase their figure drawing work from previous years.

Seniors Ben Danielson and Leah Budde collaborated to put on a senior art show called “One and the Same.” The friends decided to put on an exhibit because they have grown with each other throughout their art careers at Ohio Wesleyan.

Senior Leah Budde. Photo courtesy of Facebook.

According to Danielson, he did not like Budde in the beginning of their sophomore year because her drawings were so good.

“We had figure one together and I walked by her and her work and I did not like her because it was just so good,” said Danielson. “But in the end we love each other so much and it shows in the work. It’s been a transformation for the both of us.”

There were 16 pieces in total at the art show exhibit; each artist had eight works featured.

According to Budde, the competition between the two has been helpful throughout the years.

Senior Ben Danielson. Photo courtesy of Facebook.

“Ben and I took a drawing class last semester and it was just the two of us and our model Michelle,” said Budde. “We’ve always been good friends and also in competition with each other as artists since our sophomore year. We knew in the beginning of the semester we wanted to do a show together because our work is complementary of each other and we have the same aesthetic.”

The art exhibit had a good turn out and was a success according to junior Kelly Johnson.

“In my opinion the show was a success. I wasn’t surprised by the outcome considering Ben and Leah are such talented artists.”

The exhibit is open at the Werner Gallery on the first floor of Edgar Hall now.

Junior and senior performers talk Music Department

Senior Arie Leffel and junior ZoAnn Schutte perform in the Jemison Auditorium. Photo courtesy of Meg Linebaugh via Facebook.

During their junior and senior years, Ohio Wesleyan music majors are required to hold and perform in a recital to showcase their work and talent, but these can sometimes fly under the radar.

On Tuesday, March 3, junior ZoAnne Schutte and senior Arie Leffel performed in the Jemison auditorium of Sanborn Hall. These students were also joined by Dr. Mariko Kaneda who is, “an accomplished chamber musician and accompanist.” Kaneda was playing the piano and is a part time assistant professor at Ohio Wesleyan. She teaches applied and class piano.

Schutte performed on the clarinet, which she has been playing for about eleven years and studying privately for six years. During this recital, Schutte played for about 30 minutes collectively.

“Arie and I were approached by our teacher, Dr. Gamso, last fall about performing a recital,” Schutte said. “Logistically, all we needed to do was submit an application to the department chair for approval. Everything else was in our hands to prepare.”

“I think the Ohio Wesleyan Department of Music is growing in size and quality, but needs more recognition on campus. Unfortunately a lot of students don’t even know we have a music department. Hardly anyone attends the ensemble concerts or student recitals,” said Schutte. “The department is always looking for more people to get involved in Music, and for more ways to shine a light on our corner of campus. We have a lot of hard-working students and faculty who deserve recognition from their peers.”

Kaneda played for about half the concert. Kaneda said that she is “usually the one playing for all the student performers who need accompanist.” She has been playing since the age of four.

Leffel did not respond by the time this article went to press.

Spring art show finds home in library

Beeghly Library was anything but quiet Sunday, March 1. The echo of hammers on nails filled the usually studious space.

This year’s annual spring art show has begun, and students hung the various pieces selected for showing. The show is completely student organized and created, and many students in the art department volunteered to help out.

“Everyone really felt ownership and pride in the quality of the show,” said senior Kelsie Bell. “This year was so much better than years past in terms of a team effort all around to get everything done.”

While it is not required of anyone to help out with the show, many students came in for a minimum of two hours to do whatever was needed to get things ready.

“Students can really get a professional experience being a part of this show,” junior Catie Beach said. “They invest their own time and money into this and I think that it can really help us in the art department transition into the real world.”

Beach was one of the three organizers of the show, joined by fellow juniors Ben Anderson and Luke Plazek. All three have taken the gallery management course. When comparing this show to last spring’s show, both Beach and Plazek agreed that this year was much smoother.

“The jurors selecting pieces really got along well and that helped streamline things,” Plazek said. “Most importantly they were more sensitive to the cohesion of every piece picked.”

Beach agreed that this cohesion made the process of hanging the show easier.

According to Plazek and Bell, faculty bring in outside artists that they know to select works for in the spring show. When deciding what makes it into the show, the judges also choose which of the pieces will win awards.

“The quality of this show speaks to the strength of our fine arts department here,” Beach said. “I always love hearing the people who are blown away at how good our students are.”

Plazek also added that most library patrons understood or were intrigued by the sight of the spring show going up. Also present were many families and prospective students.

“Having those visitors see the work in progress of the show was pretty cool,” Plazek said. “I know if I was a prospective student I would’ve been intrigued in seeing that.”

The spring show will have its formal reception on March 28 from 4-6 p.m. The reception is open to everyone and will be highlighted by the art department handing out awards. These include best in 2D, 3D and best in show, with cash prizes going to the top award winners.

Childhood memories come rushing back

Poster from "The Lego Movie." Photo courtesy of rottentomatoes.com. — Poster from “The Lego Movie.” Photo courtesy of rottentomatoes.com.

Thursday, Feb. 26, gave many Ohio Wesleyan students a blast from their childhood with the showing of The Lego Movie and the announcement of this spring’s Bishop Bash headliner.

Campus Programming Board (CPB) presented the third movie of the series Popcorn and Pix, along with a big surprise after the movie: the performer for Bishop Bash.

Students came to Milligan Hub in Stuyvesant Hall to see the star-studded movie, with voice overs from Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Chris Pratt, Charlie Day and Channing Tatum.

References to Lego kits filled the screen and characters straight out of those Lego boxes came to life.

The movie ended and a banner was let down. The secret was out. Drake Bell is on the way.

“It was nice to finally let everyone on campus know who the performer is for this spring’s concert,” said CPB member senior Garrett Van Schaick. “We’ve worked hard planning the event and getting the performance ready so I hope people will be excited to come to the concert.”

Drake Bell. Photo courtesy of Drake Bell's management. — Drake Bell. Photo courtesy of Drake Bell’s management.

There were mixed emotions when the banner dropped. Some of the students, along with CPB members, were cheering and clapping, while others were not sure what to make of the name.

Some people were delighted at the former Nickelodeon star’s booking. Like sophomore Jessica Sanford, who was thrilled.

“It’s my childhood dream coming true,” said Sanford. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to see my childhood hero in concert. I’m very, very excited.”

Drake Bell was the star of the hit show Drake and Josh that aired from 2004 to 2008 on Nickelodeon. He and his co-stars Josh Peck and Miranda Cosgrove were a part of these college students’ childhoods.

“I’m very surprised that the performer is Drake Bell,” said junior Bryan Ansel. “I feel like he should be performing for younger kids instead of college kids. I had to think for a second before I realized who he actually was. I didn’t know he was still around.”

Bishop Bash bringing Bell

After months of speculation and wild rumors, Ohio Wesleyan’s Campus Programming Board (CPB) announced its mystery guest for this year’s Bishop Bash: Drake Bell.

Bell, known for his role in the Nickelodeon television show “Drake and Josh,” also has musical talent. Sophomore Maddie Oslejsek, the director of entertainment for CPB, said Bell was one of the board’s top choices due to his name recognition.

Bell will be joined by Liberty Deep Down, a band from Powell, Ohio whose members met at Liberty High School. Levi Harrel, a residential life coordinator and one of CPB’s advisers, said the band has a large local following and reflect a “boy-band style.”

Freshman Elle Benak, a co-president of CPB said, “[Bell] is well-known by our generation for his work on ‘Drake and Josh’ and we knew that would draw many people to the concert. We focused on finding a name that everyone would recognize and believed that his name would do that.”

Bishop Bash will be a new addition to OWU’s entertainment roster. Previously, CPB planned events such as Spring Fest, which was not as successful as the board had hoped. Junior Nathan LaFrombois, the other co-president, said through marketing research and surveying OWU students, CPB decided it would be beneficial to revitalize a concert series, and that required a name change.

“When talking to students on campus there was great desire for a concert,” Benak said. “And even among CPB members, everyone wanted to put on a large-scale concert with an artist.”

Liberty Deep Down. Photo courtesy of Liberty Deep Down's management. — Liberty Deep Down. Photo courtesy of Liberty Deep Down’s management.

Oslejsek said CPB made a large list of possible artists and narrowed them by availability and price. CPB used a company called Concert Ideas to negotiate the act’s appearance and price.

After attending a concert management lecture last summer to learn how to put a concert together, LaFrombois said CPB had the ability to revitalize concerts and make them better than in the past.

The budget, which was provided by Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs (WCSA), was $50,000. Bell will cost CPB about $20,000. LaFrombois said the rest of the money goes toward hospitality, technology required for the concert, housekeeping, security and any “hidden costs.”

“Once you know the performer, everything else falls into place,” Oslejsek said.

Harrel said CPB plans on continuing Bishop Bash, but will rotate yearly between singers and comedians. He said future Bishop Bashes are contingent on WCSA funding.

Bishop Bash logo courtesy of OWU’s communications office.

Nancy Rutkowski, assistant director of student involvement for leadership and CPB’s adviser, said funding for next year’s Bishop Bash will be submitted in the fall before the spring budget deadline.

“Believe it or not…$50,000 really covers a small concert so if we wanted to do a bigger name someday, it would take more than that,” Rutkowski said.

The concert will take place on March 28 in the Gordon Field House of the Branch Rickey Arena. Doors open at 7 pm and parking is free. Advance tickets can be purchased at owutickets.com by OWU students, staff and faculty for $10 and the general public for $20. All tickets are $25 at the door.

One hundred OWU students will be able to purchase VIP tickets for $15. Students with these tickets get early admission through a special entrance, a Bishop Bash t-shirt and a VIP lanyard.

Big talent surpasses small stage in “Kindertransport”

The much anticipated ‘Kindertransport’ came to life for the first time in Ohio Wesleyan’s Chappelear Drama Center’s Studio Theatre last Wednesday evening.

In accordance with its namesake, ‘Kindertransport’–by Diane Samuels– draws inspiration from the many Jewish children who were pushed out of their homes in Germany before World War II in the hopes of ensuring their safety. The play focuses specifically on one child, Eva, who was relocated to England and forced to make a new life for herself.

‘Kindertransport’ fluidly travels between different times in Eva’s life; beginning with her evacuation of Germany at 9 years old, to adult life in an English home raising a daughter of her own.

Junior Katie Patrick, a non-theatre major, took on the role of portraying Eva between the ages of 9 and 17. Patrick, never having performed in an OWU play before ‘Kindertransport’, showed incredible talent within the challenging character. Believably transforming from an innocent child to a responsible and strong-willed adolescent between the opening bell and the closing applause is no easy task.

Freshman Rachel Scherrer played adult Eva, or technically Evelyn; after adapting to life in England, Eva felt the need to assimilate by claiming naturalization papers and changing her name to one with less German flair. Patrick and Scherrer established a cohesive chemistry on stage that allowed audiences to easily see how the younger developed into her older version.

A play with such a flexible timeline would seem nearly impossible to communicate on a stage the size of the Chappelear Studio. But any difficulties that the cast and crew may have had were virtually untraceable.

Freshman Hailey LaRoe served as the show’s assistant master electrician. LaRoe said the crew heavily relied on lights and sound to portray any change of setting throughout the production.

“The lights are designed to isolate different areas of a stage, and you can also use them to imply different settings,” LaRoe said.

She said that in one scene, two of the main characters are meant to be on a boating dock. To portray that setting the lights were given a blue-green tint and muffled sounds of boat horns played in the background.

“It was a lot of hours physically moving the different lighting instruments,” LaRoe said. “That is really hard to do in the Studio Theatre, it requires more physical effort.”

LaRoe said even though ‘Kindertransport’ required extensive hours of preparation, it was worth it.

“It was cool to see my work in the end,” she said. “It is one of the reasons I like doing theatre work, you get to actually see the final product that you helped to produce.”

Junior Margot Reed, who played Eva’s mother Helga, said ‘Kindertransport’ was one of the most rewarding productions she has been a part of during her time in the theatre.

“It was one of the best pieces of drama that we have had in the department,” Reed said.

“It is a really influential piece of theatre and I am glad that I can say it is on my resume.”

Reed explained when the cast and crew first began production, they weren’t entirely sure how the play would turn out. “I think we were all kind of confused how it would be done since it takes place across so many timelines,” Reed said. “But I think that it has become such a solid piece of work. None of use knew what to expect from it, but what it ended up becoming was this amazing, emotionally moving piece of art.”

“Really it has been a joy working on [Kindertransport],” Reed said. “I can’t really explain it other than that there was never a bad day.”

Getting loud at the library

Librarian Jillian Maruskin opens the show. Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey.

Ohio Wesleyan public services librarian Jillian Maruskin first began planning “Live at the Library” at the start of last semester, and it was finally held Feb. 19 in the Bayley Room.

She received assistance from library social media intern Kyle Hendershot, a senior, and fellow librarian Ben Daigle; performing groups included the JayWalkers, Babbling Bishops and Pitch Black.

“We really wanted to figure out a way to use the library’s spaces that they have, so we figured this (the Bayley Room) was kind of an under-utilized space,” Hendershot said.

They set the event up between the Grammys and Oscars, and it too had a red carpet atmosphere, with Hendershot serving mocktails and senior Caleb Dorfman taking photos.

“We really want attendees to dress up and feel kind of fancy and special,” Maruskin said before the event. “The red carpet and paparazzi will hopefully make attendees and performers feel like movie stars, at least for a little while.”

By the start of performances, the seats were all filled, with more attendees standing in the back.

“I think the attendance surpassed what we thought it would be, we had a lot of fun,” Maruskin said. “I think on this campus, performing groups support other performing groups and that helps a lot. I was really happy with the (Babbling) Bishops; that was so fun – I’ve never seen them before.”

The Babbling Bishops, a campus improv group, brought out a few new routines they had developed. One, “Story Story Die,” had direct audience participation for the first time.

In the skit, participants have to take turns telling a story; anyone who can’t keep up has to act out a death scene of the audience’s choosing.

Sophomore Dane Poppe of the Babbling Bishops explains "Story Story Die" while sophomore Jenna Chambers and senior Rhiannon Herbert listen from the center aisle. Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey. — Sophomore Dane Poppe of the Babbling Bishops explains “Story Story Die.” Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey.

Junior Spencer Dick was selected to take part with the Babblers, and together they told a story of Taylor Swift’s fight against unicyclists, Martians and ex-boyfriends.

“I thought it would be fun, I love doing skits and stuff,” Dick said; he has similar experience as a summer camp leader.

Junior Dane Poppe, who led the “Story Story Die” skit, said they’d been planning to get audience members involved in short-form games like that.

“It gets more people to come back,” he said.

“I’d heard about the Babbling Bishops before, I didn’t really know what they did but I knew they were kind of an improv group,” said sophomore Jenna Chambers, an audience member.

“It was fun seeing their different games, and everyone got really into it.”

Senior Christian Gehrke of the JayWalkers solos on "Last Kiss." Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey. — Senior Christian Gehrke of the JayWalkers solos on “Last Kiss.” Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey.

Chambers and several other members of Delta Zeta came to watch some of their fellow members in the Babbling Bishops and Pitch Black. Senior Rhiannon Herbert was one of them, seated next to Chambers, but they didn’t know in advance about the formal, red carpet aspect.

“If I knew we would have (the red carpet), I would have dressed up,” Herbert said.

The improv act was bookended by a cappella performances, with the JayWalkers leading off the event with seven songs and Pitch Black finishing with a rendition of their recent competition set.

The JayWalkers performed a series of songs – some, like All-American Rejects’ “Gives You Hell” and Fergie’s “Clumsy,” for the first time.

Senior Audrey Bell leads Pitch Black's performance of a boy band mashup. Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey. — Senior Audrey Bell leads Pitch Black’s performance of a boy band mashup. Photo courtesy of Spenser Hickey.

“Of the stuff we knew, we tried to get an even mix of fun, fast (and) slow songs,” said their president Gabe Incarnato, a senior.

While Pitch Black performed the same songs from ICCA, they added snapping to their second song “Run To You” and cut out the choreography, due to the smaller performance space.

“We had a week off after ICCA so we haven’t much rehearsals yet, obviously that’s fresh in our minds,” said senior president Grace Thompson. “We like supporting the library and Jillian’s one of our biggest fans, so of course we were willing to do it.”

Beginnings, evolvements and connecting threads: Ohio artist to be featured at the Ross

Edmund Kuehn's "The Village." Photo courtesy of kenygalleries.com. — Edmund Kuehn’s “The Village.” Photo courtesy of kenygalleries.com.

Ohio Wesleyan students, Delaware residents and anyone else interested in Ohio artists may consider stopping by the Ross Art Museum Feb. 24 to April 5.

During this time, 75 pieces by the late central Ohio-based artist Edmund Kuehn will be on display. Announced on the Connect2 OWU blog, the exhibition will be called “Edmund Kuehn: A Retrospective (1937-2011).”

James Keny, co-director of the Keny Art Gallery in Columbus and who represented Kuehn since the 1980s, said the show will have three distinct components, each showing a different phase of Kuehn’s art.

“What we’ve done with the show itself is show the many modes of Keuhn,” Keny said. “He liked that expression. He didn’t like to be confined.”

This includes the two figure paintings that won Kuehn a rare scholarship to the Art Students League of New York in 1937; figure scenes from the 1950s that blend classic elements with modern styles; and small-scale abstractions Kuehn worked on in the later part of his life.

Most are works on paper, painted with acrylics and casein, though a few pieces are oil on canvas. A few works will also be for sale.

Keny said he hopes Kuehn’s displayed works will be inspiring to students and other patrons of the museum.

“He was a very young guy who came from industrial Columbus, scrapped his way through art school…he made a career for himself,” Keny said.

Keny also said he thought Kuehn was a good complement to the liberal arts component at OWU.

“He continued learning, reading, going to galleries,” Keny said.

Kuehn was also a teacher of the arts. He taught at the Columbus College of Art and Design (then the Columbus Art School) and curated at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts (now the Columbus Museum of Art).

“He was respected for his ability to teach and inform people about modern art,” Keny said. “Which was kind of intimidating in this Midwestern town.”

Keny said he hopes the Kuehn paintings will bring more than just OWU students to the Ross Art Museum.

“Keuhn is a widely collected artist in Ohio,” Keny said. “We’re hoping patrons of his work will be introduced to the Ross. It’s a real treasure not many of them know about.”