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Healthy Spurt
Colorfully packaged pasta, cookies and cereal line the shelves of Foods for Living, 2650 E. Grand River Ave.
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Area band brings show to U
Local rockers Under Construction have an unusual discrepancy with its latest release, “All Access Live.” The band can’t seem to write some of its songs quickly enough. “The only difficulty we ran into is that we have so many newer songs that are fan favorites that didn’t make it on the live album,” vocalist/guitarist Jesse Young said.
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Dance troupe wins regional competition
Members of the MSU Repertory Dance Company visited Bowling Green University last month to participate in the Northeast Regional festival of the American College Dance Festival.And after a healthy dose of dance classes and workshops with professional choreographers, five MSU students were offered a chance to perform at a Gala Dance Concert, presented the last night of the four-day event.The modern dance piece performed by the repertory dancers, “Birds in the Air,” is meant to convey a sense of womanhood and community through movement, which represents quilt-making.“The dancers form positions that are representative of a wedding ring, a common quilt pattern,” said Dixie Durr, chair of the Department of Theatre.
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Red Bull sponsoring student-produced films
Film festivals come and go, but ones that offer a little financial help are hard to come by. So students interested in heading up a project this summer, but don’t know from where the money will come, should find some comfort in Lawn Shorts. Taking place next fall, the festival will showcase short films made by and featuring MSU students.
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Under Construction blends sounds perfectly for live album
Under Construction All Access Live UC Productions Many bands record live albums, moreso for another paycheck, but every now and then a band puts one out that plainly kicks arse. And for a live album, the material sounds really good on Under Construction’s latest.
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Critic pays tribute to Cusack film
I don’t know how she saw this.But for some reason a friend of mine in high school told me I looked like actor John Cusack and even went as far as to nickname me “Johnny C.”Not knowing who this dude was at the time, I was like, whatever.Eventually, I learned of his plethora of movies and became a huge fan of his acting.
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Club reminiscent of Dylan, Stones music
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (self-titled) Virgin Records Some bands know how to use fuzzy guitars efficiently, and the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club nailed it. The album opens with a 50- second stagnant and droningly fuzzy introduction which turns into a basic chord rock song with equally droning lyrics. One noticeable trait among each song is the monotone vocals of Peter Hayes.
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Duo gives audience taste of Brazil
Kathy Panoff said watching Brazilian brothers Sergio and Odair Assad perform together is like watching Serena and Venus Williams play tennis together. “Since they’re brothers they have the ability to play very complicated music, intuitively working with each other like the Williams sisters work together,” said the director of events at the Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond in Virginia. The world-renowned guitar duo will perform their revived contemporary music at the Great Hall in the Wharton Center Thursday. Sergio Assad said any formation of music requires the performers to know how it’s going to be set up. “Using the example of a string quartet, everyone writes for it,” he said.
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South Park creators go inside Bush White House
LYNN ELBER The Associated Press LOS ANGELES - In the new sitcom “That’s My Bush!” from the creators of “South Park,” President Bush plays host to beer-swilling fraternity brothers, is mocked by a White House maid and henpecked by the first lady. Bush, as portrayed by actor Timothy Bottoms, also accidentally executes a death-row prisoner and is terrorized by an anti-abortion talking fetus. The Comedy Central series is juvenile, coarse and impishly determined to offend.
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Christian, contemporary musician comes to U
Things have changed for Christian and contemporary musician Sandi Patty since she first began performing. “When I first started out, there were not these big churches that had auditoriums and sound and light things,” she said. “A lot of times concerts had to be moved to theaters or arenas, but now there are so many wonderful churches and great options.” Patty will bring her unique set-up to the Wharton Center this Friday and said her music appeals to more of a family crowd. “There’s something for everybody, from little kids to youths to the younger parent to the older parent,” she said. Fifteen years ago, Patty’s debut album was released and earned $11 million in sales.
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New action movie good for people of all ages
Until 1998’s “The Faculty,” it seemed like writer/director Robert Rodriguez had carved out a niche for himself with such big-budget bloodbaths as “Desperado” and “From Dusk Till Dawn.” With that “my high school teachers are aliens” flick, it looked like he was getting softer. But now we have “Spy Kids,” a film that helps prove your average shoot-em-up is going out of style.
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Anne Frank comes to U
The MSU Department of Theatre’s production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” was a job well done.For two years, the Franks, Van Daans and dentist Mr. Dussell hid from the Nazis in the Secret Annex, a hidden apartment above a factory.
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Hollywood strike may be best for TV, film
If you thought last year’s movies lacked good acting, writing, directing and originality, get ready for what may be coming up next.Beginning in May, the Writers Guild of America, which represents screenwriters, will likely go on strike unless it can reach an agreement with producers.
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Real World cast members talk to U about sex
Kristy Snape and her roommates got to the Union two and a half hours early and were first in line to see former cast members of MTV’s “The Real World.” But she hasn’t seen the show much. “I’ve seen it because my roommates watch it, but I saw the episode of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ with Danny,” the nutrition sophomore said.
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Miramax to launch film series worldwide, corporate sponsors may help
LOS ANGELES - Miramax plans to launch a film series that will showcase at least 10 films a year from around the world in top U.S.
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TV network looks to find new cast for reality show sequel
LOS ANGELES - Think you can survive “Big Brother 2?” CBS is looking for contestants to take part this summer in the second season of its reality television show, in which a group of strangers are confined to a house, surrounded by cameras and microphones. But this season of “Big Brother” will be different for a couple of reasons, the network said Tuesday. Instead of viewers deciding who leaves each week, the housemates will vote each other out, similar to the elimination process on CBS’ reality TV juggernaut, “Survivor.” When three players are left, the audience will choose which one walks out with the grand prize. The show also has a new producer.
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Love, deceit take center stage in Mozarts opera
Love, jealousy and deceit - not to mention a woman dressed as an adolescent boy who then dresses as a woman - will come to the stage of the Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre tonight in Mozart’s operatic comedy, “The Marriage of Figaro.” The opera will be performed in English by MSU students who have been rehearsing since January. Set in Seville, Spain, in the late 18th century, the opera revolves around the relationships between servants Susanna and Figaro, and the Count and Countess Almaviva, who they serve. “Susanna is quick and smart, and her goal in this opera is to get married to Figaro,” said music performance graduate student Lara Troyer, who plays Susanna.
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New film offers little more than toilet humor
Actor/dental hygiene model Jerry O’Connell crosses my mind a lot. I think of him twice as much as any other young actor, usually because I mistake his name for Chris O’Donnell’s in conversations. Take “Tomcats,” starring Joe of “Joe’s Apartment.” It’s about a few plucky fellas who are scared of commitment and their comedic falls into it.
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Various superstitions may provide comfort, good luck for U
It’s a typical rainy March afternoon in East Lansing - but that doesn’t bother Jim Tyler at all.An East Lansing resident, Tyler smiles broadly as he bends down to pick up a penny from a muddy puddle of rainwater.“Find a penny, pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck,” he said as he went off on his way to work.Almost everybody has a superstition of one kind or another, said Robert McKinley, an MSU professor of religious studies.“Superstitions may be irrational sometimes, but they are very attractive and comforting to people,” he said.
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Lopez needs to take a break from spotlight
Jennifer Lopez is just a simple girl. She tries to deal with the demands and stresses of a full-time career in the best manner she knows how, all the while trying to maintain close ties with her fans - however, I’m not one of them.