+
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY & ANSAM
PAGE 9A
arts & features
HOROSCOPES
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is an 8
Move quickly. Get technical assistance if necessary. Review your notes and fill in the blanks.
Put your muscle where your mouth is. Disciplined action sends your communications farther. Help comes from far away.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is an 8
Today is an 8
It's easier to act for idealistic causes, although the pay's good too. Circumstances cause an emotional shift. Share your experience with an activist.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Find what you need.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 9
A surprising personal revelation changes your options. New confidence inspires your work. Friends offer good advice. Postpone a fantasy trip, and handle practical matters. A dream seems within reach.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is an 8
Delegate to perfectionists while you find a moment of peace. Review the plans and discover new strategies. Don't bet on a far-fetched scheme, unless you're sure it'll work. You'll get further with help.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is a 9
Enlist imaginative partners. Together, you can achieve amazing things. Organize a work crew or committee, and magnify your efforts. It's getting easier to advance. Many hands make light work (plus, it's much more fun).
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is an 8
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2015
Inspiration hits you at work.
Unexpected benefit is available.
A career opportunity requires physical and immediate action.
Get out and go for it. Make a connection through a relative.
Walk or ride your bike. Physically propel yourself where you need to go, and exercise while saving money. Mysteries lie around the corner. Discover your surroundings newly.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is a 8
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today is a 9
It's an exquisite moment to take action on a financial matter. You can grow your assets by making smart choices now. Repair something that's costing you.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is an 8
Work together with a partner and tackle a big job. Invite others or hire help for heavy lifting. Disciplined action brings unexpected results. Teamwork pays off. Find something you thought was lost forever.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today is a 9
Work could get physical today.
Get the family to help. Hire
trusted assistance if necessary.
Redirect your personal efforts.
Share your vision with a loved
one. Be assertive, not hasty.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today is an 8
The competition's getting especially fun. Keep in action, Tweak and tune as you go. Put your heart into the game, with your energy and fire. Dreams come true by surprise.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is an 8
Renew a family tradition. You have support from loved ones. Set realistic goals together. A deadline looms. Get the tools you need. Let a dream flavor your creative efforts.
'A Raisin in the Sun' to open this weekend
KATE MILLER
@_Kate_Miller_
Nicole Hodges Persley, director of "A Raisin in the Sun," could never have predicted the relevance her play would have today. A play that focuses on the lives of an African-American family would have been important at any time, but recent events seem to have perfectly aligned with the set up for the premiere of her show.
"I picked this play a year ago, so we couldn't have predicted the 'now' and the tension that we're experiencing," Hodges Persley said. "We couldn't have predicted Ferguson, we couldn't have predicted any of these things — I just said, 'This is the play I want to do.'"
Zechariah Williams, a junior from Overland Park, plays the role of Walter Younger, the father of the family. Despite the fact that he plays a character 15 years older than he is, the character and the play both speak to his personal life.
The play centers on an African-American family, the Youngers, in the late 1950s. In a time when integregation is just beginning, the family struggles with making a better life and achieving the American dream while remaining true to themselves.
"To me personally, the play is important on two different levels," Williams said. "On an artistic level, as far as African-American literature goes, there's not a lot of characters like the characters in this play. On a social level, it means a lot to me because I'm a young black man. It
speaks to me as a young black man who comes from a low-income family and goes to college and does all these things to live that American dream."
Although the play focuses on an African-American family, the ideas and themes presented apply to everyone, regardless of race, Hodges Persley said.
Catherine Collins, a professional actress from Lenexa (left), playing as Lena Younger, Ashley Kennedy, a senior theater major from Lawrence (middle) playing Beneathea Younger and Diadra Smith, a senior theater and psychology major from Manhattan (right) playing Ruth Younger in production of A Raisin in the Sun rehearsal Wednesday night.
ALL DOVER/KANSAN
"People always want to frame ["Raisin"] as a racial play, but what play isn't a racial play as long as there's human beings in it?" she said.
"It's not just African-American students who need to know about this play; it's every student in this department that needs to know because it's American history," she said. "It's not African-American history — that's its specific endeavor — but this is American history."
However, she cautioned against simply viewing the play as a "racial play," saying there are other important issues at hand.
Despite recent events, Hodges Persley said it is also important to view the themes of the play through the era it was written in.
She mentioned nationalism,
"It's tough not to impose the lens that we have about social relations now onto that piece because what we live now is a result of what other people suffered and fought for," Hodges Persley said. "The freedom that we have now to think about race in a different way was paid at a price, and that price was people making tremendous sacrifices as artists to tell a particular type of story even though it was challenging."
feminism and racial relations as issues that affect every decision made by the characters in the play. As an actor, Williams said these issues helped him to relate to his character.
$ \bigcirc $
For Williams, the education and social commentary the play provides are important, but the characters are the strongest part of the play.
"We still fight the same battles today," Williams said. "We're still fighting racial battles; women are still fighting for equal rights. People are still trying to fight for the American Dream. These are themes that are still relevant to today's generation. Everyone has these dreams and aspirations that they want to be able to reach."
"The whole play really
"A Raisin in the Sun" Ticket Info
Performances.Feb.27-28 and Mar.6-7 at 7:30 p.m., Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall
Sunday performances March 1 and March 8 at 2:30 p.m., Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall
Tickets for students are $10 in advance or $15 at the door and can be purchased online at kutheatre.com or at the box office in Murphy Hall.
comes together at the end," Williams said. "It has a beautiful ending and people who stay for that, they're really going to root for the characters. This is a play
where you really root for this family; you want this family to succeed."
Edited by Callie Byrnes
BAND FROM PAGE 1A
entered high school, he knew singing was going to be a big part of his life. Guthrie eventually ended up attending the University and studying in the School of Music. Though, due to a few differences he had with the department, he decided to break away, but he still looks back at the music department with admiration.
Carswell, 23, has no ties to the University. He is from Ireland and met the other members of Pink Royal by stumbling across them at a piano bar in The Barrel House. He grew up in a household that enjoyed music, and said he always had an ear for music. He began playing by ear from the radio and eventually began playing piano.
each individual said they all come from a different background with different influences, and because of their vastly varying influences Pink Royal has attracted fans of many different demographics.
"Our influences and what we put in this band literally bridge generations," LaCour said. "I feel like that's how we've been able to capture bits and pieces of those eras of music."
The band's sound is not easily described. Guthrie said the band's music is "experimental groovepop," while Hartmann, 23, describes the band simply as "palatable."
Carswell said, "I think pop music is a dirty word these days, it's aligned with commercialism and phoniness, but good pop music appeals to everyone."
Pink Royal is a close-knit bunch and the band's creative process is similar to any group of friends hanging out and trying to entertain themselves.
"The most creative times are when we're just having a few beers, hanging out, then a melody will pop up," Guthrie said. "You can't ever really expect a song to be created. It's something that comes to you."
LaCour and Guthrie both credited Carswell as the person who can take spontaneous melodies and lyrics and make them flow as music.
LaCour said the process is very spontaneous and organic. "I feel like when I pick up a guitar, I'm just messing around and something may pop up that I really like, or maybe it won't," he said.
"I think the most interesting stuff we come up with
are combinations of different sounds," Carswell said. "I think that's the part of our process that I like the most, when we're presented with something that can work a number of ways, pulling it back, and making it sound good."
When something comes to one of the members of the band, they said they are not afraid to drop everything to record it on their phones or write it down. The band keeps a group chat in which members will send each other new sounds they're working on.
"I'd like to administer a public thank you to Steve Jobs for voice memos, its saved every musician's life so many times," Gurlei said.
Pink Royal will be performing April 25 at the Riot Room in Kansas City during Middle of the Map Fest. The band is also scheduling more upcoming shows, including an album release show and a stop day show.
For more information on Pink Royal, visit its website at pinkroyalmusic.com. Tickets for tonight's show at the Bottleneck are still available and can be purchased at suaevent.com/tickets.
— Edited by Lane Cofas
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Members of Lawrence band Pink Royal perform a show. The band describes its sounds in a variety of ways including "experimental groovepop" and "palatable."
Smith, Sheeran win, Kanye stirs it up at Brit Awards
JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press
LONDON — Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran each won a pair of prizes Wednesday at Britain's leading music awards — but it took Kanye West to introduce some edge, with a song that proved too strong for television.
Madonna gave the Brit Awards an unscripted moment when she took a dramatic tumble during a performance of "Living For Love."
The queen of pop, who entered wearing a long cape carried by dancers, fumbled with the garment and fell backward down several stairs during the song, which includes a lyric about stumbling.
The song continues "I'm gonna carry on" — and she did, continuing the matador-themed routine.
Elsewhere there were few surprises at the awards, which recognize international stars along with homegrown British talent.
Afterwards, she posted on Instagram that her cape had been tied too tightly, but said: "I'm fine!"
Touse-haired singer Sheeran won prizes for best British male solo artist and British album of the year, for "X." Soulful crooner Smith won trophies for British breakthrough act and global success.
"Since I was a little kid I dreamed of people all over the world singing my songs," Smith said. "This shows I'm stepping in the right direction."
Twenty-two-year-old Smith won four Grammys earlier this month, including record of the year for "Stay With Me."
Smith was sultry and
Sheeran was sensible, but West provided a dose of raw energy. He performed his raw, grime-influenced new song "All Day," whose lyrics, peppered with expletives and the n-word, were muted for the show's live TV broadcast.
West has said his new clothing line was influenced by the 2011 London riots, and the performance also had an urban-unrest' feel, involving dozens of dancers and a giant flamethrower.
It has been a big year for British music, with Smith storming the Grammys and artists like Sheeran, baby-faced singer-songwriter George Ezra and the still-ubiquitous One Direction making waves.
The Brits were once renowned for chaos, enlivened by incidents including a 1992 stunt in which British band the KLF left a dead sheep at the after-show dinner. But the ceremony has been transformed in recent years into a slick talent showcase.
West aside, the tone of the evening was accomplished but not edgy, opening with a sleekly saucy performance of "Blank Space" by a black-clad Taylor Swift.
Swift was named best international female artist, while "Happy" hit-maker Pharrell Williams was named best international male act, and Foo Fighters won the trophy for best international group. Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" took the prize for best British single.
A dash of rock n' roll was Winners in most categories are decided by a ballot of music-industry members, with some chosen by public vote, including a best British video award selected by online ballot during the ceremony. It was won by One
+