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Volume 114 Number 15 Wednesday, January 21, 2009 ield, Kan.Winf
The Student Voice of Southwestern College
Briefs
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By Katie GomezStaff reporter
Have you ever been sitting through a movie or driving in the car and find yourself in desperate need of a rest-room? What if you finally got out of the theater or found a roadside gas station and they charged you to pee? What would happen if you didn’t having any spare change? “Urinetown” is the latest production by the theatre de-partment. Originally directed by John Rando, the play is a Tony award-winning musi-cal satire about a small town going through a water crisis caused by a lengthy drought. To control water consump-tion, private toilets have be-come illegal, causing all rest-room activities to be done in public toilets for a fee. These public facilities are controlled by a large corpo-ration called “Urine Good Company.” Because the town has such harsh rules to ensure the people pay to pee, anyone caught breaking the law is sent to a supposed penal colony called “Urine-town,” where offenders are sent and never return. When the townspeople decide their rights are being infringed upon, they fight for their freedoms and they fight for their right to pee freely. There is also a side love story between the daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell, the president and owner of the UGC, who falls in love with Bobby Strong, assistant to the warden of the filthiest urinal in town. “Urinetown” is unique in the sense that it rejects nor-mal theatre conventions, par-odying famous shows, such as “Les Miserables,” “West Side Story” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” “It’s funny, wonderful, young satire…it’s so con-temporary,” said Roger Moon, director of theatre. “It
By Jessica Bernhardt and Cameron SiefkesStaff reporters
It may look like a jumble of letters to the average per-son, but for theatre students KCACTF stands for excel-lence. Kennedy Center Ameri-can College Theater Festival is an organization of 18,000 students from more than 600 colleges and universities across the 50 states. The network is divided into eight regions. Southwestern College is part of Region V, which includes institutions from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. This year the Region V fes-tival is hosted by the Univer-sity of Kansas. Roger Moon, associ-ate professor of theatre and speech, traveled to Lawrence with several theatre students on Sun. Moon said, “The organi-zation helps support and en-courage theatre programs to produce quality work.” There are two ways a the-atre program can be consid-ered for selection to compete at the regional festival. First, a program can enter as an associate production, which means that a college theater critic would attend the production to evaluate the show. The other way is for a program to pay to enter as a participating entry. In this situation a respondent and selector attend the produc-tion to decide if it’s going to be included in the festival. Before determining which productions will be selected to be showcased at the festi-val, they are held for further consideration. Both “The Comedy of Er-rors” and “Inheritance” were held. A scene from “Inheri-tance,” in which Moon was
writer and director, was se-lected for the festival. This will be the third show selected in the past 10 years. “We are competing against all colleges and universities in our region no matter what size including KU, Emporia, K-State, community colleges, and private colleges. It’s like Southwestern’s basketball team is going to play KU. If we can be held, it’s kind of like feeling we made it to the playoffs,” said Moon. Moon realizes the signifi-cance of being selected. He said, “I know the qual-ity of stuff they bring and this is the first piece that I’ve written and to have it held for selection, I was stunned, thrilled, and then real hon-ored to take a scene.” Respondents were not only critiquing the performance aspects in the production. They also pay close attention to the way the shows are de-signed. The costumes from “Into the Woods” were nominated for the costume parade at the festival. Aside from showcasing productions, students are also given many different opportunities to participate in the festival. Kyler Chase, theatre se-nior, Cody Davis, music edu-cation junior, Sarah Frazier, music education junior, and Abram Rankin, theatre junior were selected to audition for the Irene Ryan Scholarship. Jordy Train, business admin-istration sophomore, Jamie Garrard, music senior, and Kevin Mnich, theatre junior, were also selected for audi-tion but will not be compet-ing in the event. There are three rounds for the auditions. Frazier said, “In the first round participants perform a two-minute scene with a partner and the next round is that scene plus another. In the third round both scenes
are performed and the par-ticipants are required to do a monologue.” Out of 600 competitors, one actor and his or her part-ner are chosen to go to the Kennedy Center this April in Washington, D.C., to com-pete against finalists from the other seven regions. Here they will be seen by directors, agents, and pro-ducers. Chase, Frazier, Rankin, and Brooke Rowzee, theatre junior, will also be partici-pating in summer stock audi-tions and interviews. Rowzee will also be com-peting for a stage managing fellowship. To be considered for the competition, Rowzee sub-mitted a paper and resume of her work. During the festival she will be required to display a prompt book, stage manage an event, participate in inter-views with the judges, and attend a workshop. Garrard will be partici-pating in the lighting design workshop. Brittany Cook, theatre sophomore, built a cow for “Into the Woods” which she will be submitting into the design expo. Finally, Elizabeth Higbee, theatre junior, will be participating in the management competi-tion. Winning awards will not be the most important thing for the students. Instead, the chance to showcase their tal-ents with others will be the top priority. Moon said, “It gives our students the opportunities to be seen.” Jessica Bernhardt is a se-nior majoring in communi-cation. You may e-mail her at [email protected]. Cameron Siefkes is a ju-nior majoring in communi-cation. You may e-mail her at [email protected].
has music of all styles. It has a lot of excitement, it feels a lot like “Les Mis,” fighting for our freedoms…but it’s the freedom to pee.” Auditions for the play were Jan. 13-15. Those who auditioned had to be able to sing, act, and dance. “It’s a musical that every-body could be in. It’s a great opportunity for anybody who’s never done it before, but always wanted to try it.” said Moon. Costumes for the play are being designed by Miwa Ishi, technical theatre senior. Ishi, spent the fall semester at the Chicago Center for Ur-ban Life & Culture. She in-terned as a seamstress in the costume department at the Goodman Theatre. “When I work on the cos-tumes for Urinetown, I often channel my work in Chicago and draw inspiration from some of the costumes I saw there and my dressmaking background,” said Ishi. “I also draw a lot of inspiration from old movies and art-work and Norman Rockwell paintings. I’m excited to be in charge of all of the cos-tumes, but I’m also nervous because this is my first time and I chose this as my senior project for theatre.” Moon said, “I’m really ex-cited to see what Miwa will do. She’s already showing exceptional talent in her de-sign and construction work. She’s taking a great leader-ship role in the costume de-signs.” The production of “Urine-town” is full of guests. Rachel Prohasken, a re-gional scene designer, will be in charge of set design and Donna Donley, of Winfield, will be the guest choreogra-pher. “Urinetown” is directed by Allyson Moon, professor of theatre. It will be performed March 27-29 and April 2-4. Katie Gomez is a sopho-more majoring in communi-cation. You may email her at [email protected].
By Samantha GillisFeatures editor
Standing in the same area where an American president is being sworn into office, is a rare occasion. Most will never experience the event beyond their living room. One invitation to Barak Obama’s inauguration Jan. 20, has been extended to our very own. Kyger Veatch, marine bi-ology junior. “I believe I am going to enjoy the historical significance and being at the
event it’s self,” said Veatch. Veatch left Winfield last Friday to fly into Washing-ton D.C., and he would be staying for four days at the capital. Veatch said, “I’m defi-nately most excited about attending all the events that come with the inauguration, like the Ball and different seminars. There’s one semi-nar about environmental is-sues and policies that Al Gore is presenting.” Veatch qualified for the opportunity when he went
to a national young leader’s conference in Washington DC the summer between his sophomore and junior year. He was chosen along with a select few out of a 400 stu-dents. His name was chosen for unknown reasons to Ve-atch, but the teachers and some congress men were the ones whom selected from the 400 applicants. Other students on campus took interest in the inaugura-tion. Russ Lester philosophy and religion junior, and Lau-ra Morgan, secondary educa-
tion and history senior, both watched the event in Linda Schultz’s office. “There were quite a few people there in her office,” Morgan said. Morgan had class at the time of the inau-guration but her teacher let them out to watch it. She believes even if you did not vote for the candidate it is still important to take an interest in what is going on. “It’s history in the making and a huge step in general, because he is the first Af-rican American president,”
said Morgan. Lester doesn’t think it’s vital for Americans to watch the inauguration. He said, “Although this is the first year I’ve taken an interest, if you have to miss work then no, you don’t need to watch it.” Veatch said, “Although it’s not necessary for students to watch the inauguration, it’s pretty valid to know what the person whose leading our country has to say.” Although Veatch voted for the independent candi-
date, he said that he is just as equally excited about at-tending the inauguration as someone who did vote for our first African American president in the U.S. He’s unsure what part of this experience will be most memorable, but he did say, “I’m pretty sure that whole Tuesday will be spectacu-lar.” Samantha Gillis is a soph-omore majoring in journal-ism. You may e-mail her at [email protected].
Theatre back in the act
Blake Carter/Collegian photographer
Blake Carter/Collegian photographer
Festival to showcase talent
Auditions take place for satire
Movie NightTonight is the first movie night of the semester. Movies will begin at 9:30 p.m. at Cowley Cinema 8. Student ID’s are required for admittance. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Movies that will be showing include “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Notorious,” “Hotel For Dogs,” “The Unborn,” “Gran Torino,” “Marley & Me,” “Bride Wars,” and “Valkyrie.”
BasketballThe men and women will be taking on Kansas Wesleyan beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday in Stewart Field House.
Indoor TrackThe men’s and women’s track teams will be traveling to Oklahoma Christian College for an invitational Saturday.
2009-2010 RA Applications
AvailableInterested in being a Resident Assistant next school year? The position pays $2,000 for the school year and has many extra bonuses such as making friends, making a difference and building a resume. Applications are available in the Student Life Office in Sutton. For more information, attend an informational RA Game Night at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the third floor lobby of Cole Hall. If you have any questions, please feel free to see any member of the Residence Life Staff or contact Sarah Hallinan at ext. 6392.
Junior chosen to take trip to Washington for Presidential inauguration
Emily Stephens, biology junior, Brooke Rowzee, theatre junior, Elizabeth Higbee, theatre junior, Jamie Garrard, music senior, and Samantha Mitchell, theathre freshman, read through the script for “Urinetown” Jan. 14 in the Helen Graham theatre. “Urinetown” is a musical satire about a small town struggling with a long drought. It will be performed March 27-29 and April 2-4.
Miwa Ishii, theatre junior, Marilyn Craft, theatre sophomore, Kevin Mnich, theatre junior, Caitlynn French, theatre sopho-more, listen to the Broadway recording during the “Urine-town” reading.
