Section C·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, March 11, 1999
Students scrounge through closets, stores to find material for costumes
Jessie Schwartzburg, Edina, Minn., sophomore, sews a vest for the Kappa Kappa Gamma/Beta Theta Pi Rock Chalk Revue show. The show, "In 'Two' Deep," will have a casino theme. Photo by Corie Waters/KANSAN
By Kelly Clasen Special to the Kansan
From showgirls to super heroes, spectators at the 50th annual Rock Chalk Revue will have the opportunity to see a dazzling variety of costumes in this year's performance.
When the curtain rises tonight, spectators may look at all the time, hours of brain storming and amount of money it takes to outfit about 200 students for this event. The show must go on — whether it means sewing, buying or borrowing the outfits.
swing, buying Hope Bruce, Kansas City, Kan., fresh man, has a sewing machine in her room this semester. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega and has volunteered to make all the women's costumes for her house's joint production with Sigma Phi Epsilon. The show is called "Swinging to Victory."
The show is called *Swinging to Vettsy*. Bruce said the house participants in the production would be outfitted as nurses, mechanics and pilots.
"We got started a little late this year, so I've been a little overwhelmed," she said.
Bruce also said the cast had been having problems finding enough pastel knit material to make all the nurses' outfits. But she said she still expected to finish them all in time.
time.
Chris Jones, Prairie Village senior, said there was an interesting mixture of attire in the works for the performance of "Captain Was Here" by Phi Delta Theta and Delta Delta Delta.
He described the two leading performers' costumes in their production as "super goofy, super-heroish with a cape and a makeshift super belt."
Jones said the chorus members would be dressed as construction workers and police officers.
pome officers.
"They're pretty basic costumes, but I think sometimes the costumes can take away form the acting," he said. "We're not expecting ours to be the neatest, and we wanted them to be a little muted to focus more on our acting and music."
more on faculty. Sarah Sinlayson, Wichita junior, had a different take on the costumes for the production of "In 'Two' Deep" by Kappa Kappa Gamma and Beta Theta Pi. She said they had some elaborate costumes, which she hoped would set their production apart from the others.
"Our flashiest outfits are those of the Vegas showgirls," Sinlayson said. "We wanted them to stand out and have visual appeal — sort of like eye candy."
Although the typical Las Vegas showgirl dressed in an elaborate and revealing outfit, Sinlayson said members of her sorority tried not to make the ensembles too uncomfortable for the students wearing them.
"They're still sexy, but we tried not to show as much as you might see in Vegas," she said.
Jessie Schwartzburg. Edina, Minn.
sophomore, also helped design the costumes for "In Two 'Deep.' She said many
of the accessories for the costumes we borrowed from other students.
borrowed us.
"It's really interesting because a lot of people have these costumes and stuff they've had since high school or before that we've been able to use," Schwartzburg said.
Morgan Wilson, Wichita junior, said the production of "Clouded Judgment" performed by Delta Gamma and Delta Chi, will be set in the clouds.
"Everything will be heavenly looking," she said.
sue said.
Wilson said the chorus members would be wearing shimmering silver outfits, and the lead character will have an outrageous costume, accessorized with fur and sequins.
sequence
Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Sigma will perform a call called "Three Ex-wives and a Funeral" in which they will attempt to change costumes while on stage. The story is about a man who
fakes his own death and attends his own funeral disguised in a suit of armor so that he can see the reactions of each of his three ex-wives.
Carrie Pickering, Overland Park sophomore, said the costumes for the production were very difficult to design. She said the entire chorus will go to the funeral wearing brightly colored and sequined outfits, but they would transform into more proper funeral attire while on stage.
while on stage.
"It was incredibly difficult to come up with the ideas for the costumes," she said.
"We brainstormed for two days."
After brainstorming, Pickering said they decided to use reversible vests and black tube tops to aid in their transformations.
"It has all been a real group effort," she said. "It has helped to discuss everything in a large group of people when making decisions."
Erin Passman, Lenexa sophomore, applies a layer of "hardener" to a backdrop. The hardener is made up of glue and water and allows the fabric to stiffen so it can be painted. Photo by Matt Daugherty/KANSAN
Backstage crew works hard to make performance perfect
By Matt Daugherty Special to the Kansan
Special to the Kansan
Every year the Rock Chalk Revue seems to come off without a hitch from the audience's perspective.
ice's perspective. The musical production showcases living
The musical producer organizations — mainly greek groups — singing and dancing,but some of the show's most important work goes on backstage.
The crew has to prepare for three nights' performances. And each night, five different groups put on five different shows. Every show has its own set.
Working behind the scenes, literally, the stage manager, production manager and set workers make sure the show runs smoothly. They move heavy scenery, position stage props, direct the spotlights and work the cur
This scenario provides plenty of opportunities for mistakes.
"There are a lot of people, like me, who realize we can't sing and dance, so it's fun for us to work backstage."
"There's always a crew versus cast con-
Erin Passman
Lenexa sophomore
rights and work the sound and light boards. Stephanie McNeil, Topeka sophomore and Revue production manager, said preparation time was tight.
In addition to time challenges, the stage crew faces other potential problems. The production and stage managers, two to four cast members from each performance plus stage, light and sound technicians from the Lied Center have only a few days to learn how to work effectively with each other.
"We actually move into the Lied Center on what we call 'Super Sunday,' which is March 7," McNeil said. "The groups can move in at noon, and we're basically going to be there all day working really hard. The rest of the week, we have to be there at 5 p.m. until everything is cleaned up."
a crew versus cast conflict. Everyone sees the cast, and they don't think about how much really goes on backstage," said Erin Passman, Lenexa sophomore.
And Passman said it was difficult to convince people to work behind the scenes because most people wanted to be seen.
"There are a lot of people, like me, who realize we can't sing and dance, so it's fun for us to work on said.
backstage," Passman said.
backstage. Passage stage. McNeil said that the first few nights of rehearsal that the crew worked together were usually a nightmare.
were usually a naughty one.
"Coordinating everything the first night is definitely hard because you have all these new people trying to work together who have never worked together before. Plus, I'm a first-year production manager." McNeil said. "I think we'll be OK, though."
Danny Rogovein, stage manager for the Lied Center during Rock Chalk Revue, said he thought the performance would run smoothly. ...
"Through rehearsals we'll work out all the glitches," Rogovein said. "I think by the time we get to performances, we'll have everything worked out."
To the Women of Alpha Chi Omega, X $ \Omega $
Thank you for teaching us the pretzel - double-dip triple spin through the legs - across the hip, and those other crazy moves... wink, wink.
It has been a semester we will always remember,and swinging to victory will be a moment we will never forget.
S F E Love, The Men of Sigma Phi Epsilon
BREAK A LEG!
Student Senate wants to Congratulate everyone participating in ROCK CHALK REVUE STUDENT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SENATE Good Luck this Weekend!
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign USED & New Sports Equipment
841-PLAY
1029
Massachusetts
We Donated like it was 1999!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL ROCK CHALK PARTICIPANTS!
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered and donated in this year's blood drive!
1
American Red Cross
Blood Services,
Wichita Region