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Weekend Guide
FRIDAY: “The Marriage of Figaro” will be presented at 8 p.m. at the Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre.
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The life of a professional cartoonist takes more than some may think
“I get up at about 6:30 and start downing caffeine, and then I listen to the news all the way to work.
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Writers strike in Hollywood likely, studios worry about advertising money
By LYNN ELBER The Associated Press BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - A writers’ strike that could have lasting effects on the entertainment industry appears likely, said Viacom President Mel Karmazin, whose company owns television networks and a movie studio. “I worry about it a lot now.
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Crowe gets flack for obscene gesture
PRINCETON, N.J. - First Russell Crowe won a best-actor Oscar for “Gladiator.” Now, he’s won the support of Ron Howard after making an obscene gesture. The director defended Crowe, who stuck out his middle finger at a 21-year-old Princeton student who snapped his picture on campus as he prepared to shoot a movie scene on Tuesday. “He’s not a bad guy,” Howard told The Trentonian on Wednesday on the set of the film, “A Beautiful Mind,” which co-stars Jennifer Connelly and is due in theaters in December. “It was out of character for him.
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Spears perky Pepsi spot highlight of Oscar night
A trendy way of legitimizing teen pop nowadays is by considering Britney Spears a young Madonna. Looking at their promotional deals alone is enough to prove the theory.
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Spanish poet inspires artist
Being able to transform a thought into a work of art is a challenge - a challenge Freshteh Parvizi thrives upon. On Sunday, Parvizi will unveil her art exhibit, “bones & flutes at 5 in the afternoon,” from 1 p.m.
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Leader of the Pack brings 1960s hits to U
The crackle of a record needle emanated purposefully from Wharton Center’s main stage speakers, and several audience members turned to each other and murmured versions of the phrase “It’s just like a record” - a record no one had heard in years, judging from the head bopping, clapping and stomping that was soon to follow.The spotlight hit Jewel Tomkins, draped in a floor-length, flashy pink sequin number, who belted out, “I Can Hear Music.”This song, by Ellie Greenwich, was one of roughly 30 numbers performed by the 13-member cast of “Leader of the Pack” at Wharton Center on Tuesday.
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Story of Anne Frank hits Wharton
“The Diary of Anne Frank” will explore the lives of seven people trapped in a small attic for two years, fighting stir-crazy tensions and discovery, while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War II and the Holocaust. MSU students have been rehearsing since February for the show, which debuts tonight in the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. Megan Milota, a theater freshman, plays Anne. “The most important thing about Anne is her intelligence,” Milota said of Anne’s portrayal.
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Tupacs music here until the end
2PAC Until the End of Time (Interscope Records) Tupac Shakur wasn’t lying when he said “When I die, I’ll come back.” Shakur surged back into the rap game with his fifth posthumous release, “Until the End of Time,” a set of 29 songs recorded in the final year of the slain rapper’s life. In an era where rappers are often found boasting on material success, Shakur continues to set the record straight on his most recent release.
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Drummers deserve credit
What did the drummer get on his final exam? Drool. How do you know a drummer is at your front door?
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Band misses musical mark on album
Semisonic All About Chemistry (MCA Records) Sometimes when a band puts emphasis on the production of their record, it is a clever idea.
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Aussie band proves staying power
Powderfinger Odyssey Number Five (Universal Records) Australia never sounded so good. The outback natives, Powderfinger, who have had their last two albums “Double Allergic” and “Internationalist” reach triple-platinum and quadruple platinum status in their homeland respectively, are coming to America. Its most recent album is a mesmerizing piece of work blanketed with soft vocals and whiny guitars.
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U explores Japanese culture
Though they claim the name Animosity, members of the MSU Anime/Manga Club seem to be full of anything but, at least for the anime world. “That name dates from before I was really in the club,” Paul Corrigan said.
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Musical combines new look with classic 1960s pop favorites at Wharton
“Da Doo Ron Ron,” “And Then He Kissed Me” and “Chapel of Love” mark the feel-good, doo-wop era of times gone by, and are just a few examples of hits to bee-bop their way into Wharton Center this week in “Leader of the Pack.” The musical will highlight these and other songs by Ellie Greenwich, the composing powerhouse behind much of successful 1960s pop, and arranger of this musical. “Her success has not only to do with the way she wrote the songs, but the way they’re performed, and the way other artists selected her songs to be performed,” said Bill Schurk, a sound recordings archivist at Bowling Green State University, whose license plate reads “Doowop.” “It’s a litany of top performers, many of whom recorded some bombs, but when they picked up one of her songs, there was always a wonderful performance, a successful hit.” Joe Machota is one of the vocalists in “Leader of the Pack” and said the musical offers a 1960s sound with a 1990s look. “It’s more of a celebration of the time period, set currently.
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Brothers focuses on true love and friendships
There aren’t many movies that capture the true meaning of love, but Gary Hardwick’s new film’s attempt may be the best yet.
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Film festival highlights work of Michigans own
The 4th annual East Lansing Film Festival ended Sunday in the same home-grown way it began - by celebrating Michigan. “It was just kind of great to see real people working in film - non-celebrity status teasing dreams to be the next Spielberg” said Morgan Howard, a senior at Okemos High School. Howard, whose “2 1/2 Shorts” won first place in the high school division of last week’s East Lansing Children’s Film Festival, attended a morning panel discussion on making and financing films in Michigan. “It’s kind of a wake-up call,” he said.
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SN staff members choose Oscar favorites
Despite the daily grind that comes along with being a State News employee, a few staff members still had time to offer-up their opinions about who should and shouldn’t take home an Oscar on Sunday. S’News employees who work the artsy E.L.
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U-M gets lesson in hip-hop culture
When University of Michigan graduate student Shawan Wade first came to school, she remembers sitting around and talking about hip-hop with her friends, one of them being R.
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Weekend Guide
FRIDAY: David Mallett will perform at 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St., for the Ten Pound Fiddle concert series.