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Group garners E.L. fan base
Local band El Presidente probably could write the book on how to put together a successful gigging band.
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'Orphan Train' recruits children for majority of roles
Finding children to participate in on-campus productions can be difficult because of scheduling, hyperactivity and, well, a lack of children on a college campus. But these factors didn't hinder Bill Gordon's plan to direct "The Orphan Train," a play that follows the relocation of 15 parentless children from the East Coast to the Midwest. Gordon is a theater graduate student with an emphasis in directing and youth theater and said this student production was a great opportunity for him to combine his different interests into one play. The adult to children ratio is 7 to 15, but actor Tommy Sklut, a music education freshman, said having the younger crowd brought life back to theater. "To help these kids turn what can be this hard acting part into something that's believable and meaningful to people was amazing," Sklut said.
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MSU Dairy Store explains process behind creating frozen treats
As temperatures begin to increase, more people have a hankering for a sweet treat that's only appropriate during this kind of weather: ice cream. The line at the MSU Dairy Store was out the door Sunday afternoon, as three employees hustled behind the counter, serving up everything from bubble gum to chocolate chip. "We've been having a good year, with the weather," said John Engstrom, manager of MSU's dairy plant. While consumers enjoy the frozen delicacies, the science behind how it's made is still a mystery. Unlike what many people think, the actual process of making the ice cream begins in Ovid, a town about 30 miles north of campus. "A lot of people assume we get our milk from the farms on campus," Engstrom said. Instead, the farms, which produce about 13,000 pounds of milk every day, sell their milk to the Michigan Milk Producers Association, which is based in Ovid.
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Buried Kresge painting exhibit requires patrons to squint eyes
Kresge Art Museum has a new exhibit on hand - a miniature one at that. The exhibit "A World in Miniature: Islamic Paintings from the R.M.
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Decibully album 'inventive'
Don't let Decibully's name fool you. The band's music isn't nearly as mean as its moniker implies. Sure, this Milwaukee folk-rock septet has the "decibel" pun right: There are plenty of crank-it-up moments on "Sing Out America!" The "bully" part, however, is somewhat deceiving.
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'Upside of Anger' reflects real life
Director Mike Binder is a homebred, bona fide Michigan guy. The fact that he was raised in the mitten state and graduated from Birmingham Seaholm High School in 1976 is wholly important because his new film "The Upside of Anger" takes place in the same area. If you live in Los Angeles or New York, certainly, the idea of a film that takes place in your area would probably induce no more than a yawn.
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"Finding Neverland" showing on campus
'Finding Neverland' showing on campus The film "Finding Neverland" will be shown at 1 p.m.
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Revamped VW Jetta grows up, 'looks hot'
What does the new Jetta have in common with the new Spartan Stadium? They both have a great history and show it with improvement on what they do best. Like our stadium, the time had come for the Jetta to update and modernize.
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Umphrey's McGee to perform at Temple
Some bands are known for their masterful studio albums. Others make names for themselves through their mind-blowing live performances.
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Students rent, sew costumes for play
A Saturday afternoon rehearsal of "On the Run" had theater senior Anna Lorena surrounded in piles of silky dresses, mounds of gloves and heaps of dress shirts. Lorena smiled happily to herself as she mixed and matched various ensembles while waiting for actors to finish rehearsing. Almost the entire burden of costuming this 18-person show falls upon Lorena's shoulders, but the job doesn't darken her spirits. Instead, Lorena laughed and mocked the actors as they tried on various garments styled to match the early 19th-century haute couture, some of which fit uncomfortably. Derek Dubuque, a psychology junior who plays the smartly attired and altogether pompous Reginald Archard, walked into the basement room of the Auditorium with pants that looked painfully tight. "I feel absurd, and I love it," he said, twirling to show off the elegant jacket coattails. The atmosphere was light and fun, as Dubuque jested with Lorena about wanting a top hat "like Onkar's." But costuming the entire cast in period outfits is expensive for a student-produced play. The MSU Department of Theatre's Costume Shop is off limits for a show that is not a main- season production, said Costume Shop supervisor Karen Kangas-Preston. This is because of time, money and personnel constraints, she said.
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Landing a summer job
Résumés. They're simple pieces of paper that can make or break someone's chances for a job, and this week Heather Maynard is planning on sending out a bunch of them to prospective employers in hopes of landing a gig.
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Knot a tie
The Rat Pack. Just the name itself exudes cool. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford were in their heyday more than 40 years ago, but their class and demeanor is rare these days.
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Gorgeous 'Sin City' paints graphic novels on silver screen
"Sin City" is one of the most visually appealing films of all time. Such a statement seems pretty hefty, but when you adapt a graphic novel - a hard feat if you do it well - you'd better be sure you incorporate all of its dark novelty, slick narratives and illustrative character descriptions with the same passion initially envisioned. Co-director Frank Miller, who has written and drawn for DC and Marvel comics, transforms his "Sin City" graphic novel series into a gorgeous noir piece with this release. Noir films, with their shadowy, rainy quality, have become rarities - you can still spot their features in David Lynch films and the occasional Hollywood release - but mostly, noir has been shelved in between "Chinatown" and "The Maltese Falcon," emerging only in Flonase nasal spray commercials. "Sin City," however, takes noir and the graphic novel to a whole new level, with its creative camera shots, painted film, and accurate dialogue.
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Queens of the Stone Age new album 'bizarre, catchy'
Queens of the Stone Age seems, at times, to be more like a revolving door than a rock band. Musicians come in, musicians leave and the lineups change with every album.
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'Errors' breaks Shakespearean reputation
Although William Shakespeare did not produce a play considered a "beach book," the BoarsHead Theatre's production of "Comedy of Errors" is like a day at the seaside - relaxing and amusing. Director Geoffrey Sherman is right - it's easier to understand a Shakespearean play by allowing the outdated English words to simply sweep over you like a wave than it is to dissect every sentence. The atmosphere created by BoarsHead Theatre, 425 S.
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Student splices time for class, blogs
It's time to get a few things off my chest. As a college student, there's nothing more relaxing than cozying up on the couch and checking out what's on the tube, or sitting in front of my computer surfing the Net for hours on end. It sounds lazy, but come on - we all do it.
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'Gus & Angie' profiles family relationships
"Gus & Angie: A Tale of Life, Death and Doo-Doo," a play written by local author Dick Hill, premieres this weekend at Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive in Lansing. The play is about the relationship of a free-thinking father, Gus, and his straitlaced daughter, Angie.
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State News staffer encounters tear gas, unruly crowd, women in high heels
It's Monday and, for most of us, that means returning to the humdrum of daily existence. For me, it means returning to life after one of the most surreal weekends ever. As a writer for The State News, I had the opportunity to cover post-game celebrations in East Lansing after Saturday's basketball matchup between the MSU men's team and the University of North Carolina.
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WEB ONLY: Josh Rouse concert canceled
Fans of performer Josh Rouse will not be able to see him in concert at MSU this weekend as previously planned. Because of low ticket sales due to the upcoming basketball games, the singer/songwriter's show with Amy Correia on Saturday has been canceled.
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WEB ONLY: Video game tour makes stop on campus
Get ready to get your game on. The 2005 Game Live on Xbox Spring College Tour makes a pit stop on MSU's campus today.