Thursday, December 19, 2024

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Features

FEATURES

Riverdance energetic, entertaining performance

Whirling dancers clad in sparkling, vivid colors swept over the Wharton Center stage in an enthusiastic opening to their 20th anniversary “Curtain Call” season. An energetic, lushly designed performance, “Riverdance - The Show,” attempts to introduce East Lansing audiences to Irish dancing while tossing in flamenco, American tap and Russian ballet for good measure. Michael Patrick Gallagher and Tara Barry lead the North American touring cast of “Riverdance,” a show that opened in Dublin in 1995 and last played Wharton three years ago.

FEATURES

Friday the 13th

Everybody has a “thing.” Some can’t open umbrellas indoors because it’s bad luck. Others think a broken mirror causes seven years of tormenting misfortune and some still believe beer before liquor equals never been sicker.

FEATURES

Ann Arbor frst brings seasoned musicians, Grammy winners

The Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary this weekend and will be hosting an extensive mix of talented performers. “This year they have a nice flavor of acts from around Michigan as well as international artists,” said Rodney Whitaker, an associate professor and director of jazz studies, who has played at the festival several times. “It’s a great festival and people will have a good time,” he said.

FEATURES

Weekend Guide

Friday The University Activities Board presents movies at Wells Hall. “Spiderman” is showing at 7 p.m.

FEATURES

Community responds to Sept. 11 with films, paintings

One year ago, many people sat stunned in front of their televisions unable to move or respond to the images they saw played over and over again.Many turned to the arts to express those feelings of confusion, pain and horror.“I sat there, and they kept playing it over and over,” Williamston artist Anita Saviko said.

FEATURES

Whats happening

Events • The Red Cross Club will hold blood drives in remembrance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Thursday and Sept.

FEATURES

Beenie thrives with Neptunes

Beenie Man takes the world of hip-hop, electronica and garage rock and blends it with the subtle ambiance of reggae with “Tropical Storm.” Still in his 20s, this Jamaican dancehall DJ firmly left his mark on the music world in 2000 by winning a Grammy for his previous major label release, “Art and Life,” which won Best Reggae Album. On his new album, Beenie enlists a colorful spectrum of artists who keep the vibes soaring with feel-good tunes and beats to keep you movin’. Producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes have co-written an album of memorable grooves, such as the first single “Feel It Boy,” which features Janet Jackson’s signature voice flowing beside funky electronic riffs. The airy guitar track “Street Life,” adds a nice R & B flavor to the storm.

FEATURES

Fallon album annoying, unfunny

When listening to Jimmy Fallon’s “The Bathroom Wall,” I am reminded of the several reasons I stopped watching Saturday Night Live. The departure of Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri and Molly Shannon were a big loss to the show.

FEATURES

City by the Sea smart, detailed

In this world of typecasts and the same old song and dance, it’s refreshing to see actors placed into new storylines. Fortunately, “City by the Sea” comes as close as humanly possible to meeting the criteria for new ideas. The film portrays New York City police officer Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) unwilling to face his past.

FEATURES

GrooveLily pleases with jazz, violin, rock combination

Lansing - Valerie Vigoda flicked the bow across the electric violin’s strings, threw her head back and sang, her clear notes slicing through the crowd.To her left, shoeless keyboarder Brendan Milburn laughed as his fingers flitted across the keys, and behind them both, Gene Lewin closed his eyes and seemed to lose himself in his drumming.The group of strangers who packed into Old Town’s tiny Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St., on Friday saw not a performance, but friends laughing and playing their music.The musicians come from different backgrounds with Vigoda’s classical violin, Lewin’s strong jazz influences and Milburn’s rock-style keyboarding and vocals, but the three individual styles blend into a spectacular fusion of sounds. East Lansing resident Laura DeGuire described the trio as “fantastic.”“The energy the audience had was a reflection of the energy the group gave us,” Deguire said.