MONDAY,APRIL28,2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Greeks compete in step show, support scholarships
Scott Revnolds/Kansan
From left, Jenni Valadez, Kingston alumna, Felicia Orozco, Kanopolis alumna, Kristy Croom, Independence junior, Rosie Lopez, Kansas City, Kan., junior, and Melanie Weiser, Dallas junior, perform in the step show competition at the Lied Center. The Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority produced the show Saturday.
By Jessica Palimonio
jpalimenio@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Screaming, cheering and applause filled the Lied Center Saturday night as chapter members from the surrounding areas came to support the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show, which included five groups stomping, clapping and chanting in unison.
Greek letters and colors were worn with pride by both the participants and audience members.
The audience interacted throughout the show with the traditional calls and signs of each of their groups. Masters of ceremonies Angela Luttrell, Kansas City, Kan., senior, and Gabriel Roland encouraged the groups to give "shout outs" and represent their groups.
Roland, Kansas City, Kan., senior, had to do double duty as he performed in the show as well.
Rowland said he enjoyed having to do both. Backstage, nerves built up as groups prepared to take the stage.
"I'd be lying if I said we weren't nervous," said David Interiano, Wichita sophomore.
Each group was given 15 minutes to perform. Some groups used poles or canes to add to the rhythmic nature of their shows.
The show integrated the diversity of several cultures. Among the stepping and chanting, groups added traditional African dance and a Latin salsa flavor.
"I liked the variety of representations," said Kajuan Cummings, member of the Mu Omega graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in Kansas City. "I was just glad to be a part of it."
In addition to the six fraternities and sororities, the Unity Hip-hop Dance Troupe and the Dimension Steppers, a high school-age step troupe, also preformed.
The five groups were judged by
graduates from each of the chapters. Representatives from each of the groups were called on stage while the fraternity and sorority winners were announced.
Screams and applause filled the stage as Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta sorority were given first place trophies.
Daniel Crenshaw, Wichita junior, was excited about the award during his first step show.
"It's nothing but pure excitement and overwhelming joy," Crenshaw said. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Overall, organizers were happy with how the show turned out.
"The house was full and the audience was great," said Enjolie Dixon, step show coordinator.
Theater alums 'come home' to Lawrence to present film
In the end, the group raised almost $11,000 for scholarships and operating costs, said Mike Conley, graduate intern for fraternity and sorority life.
Edited by Anne Mantey
By Cal Creek
ccreek@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Normally it's considered rude for an audience to applaud during the opening credits of a movie, but Friday night the audience at Liberty Hall hooted, hollered and clapped as they saw the names of two University of Kansas alums appear on screen.
"It's a pleasure to be back in Lawrence," LaBute said to the
Neil LaBute and Paul Rudd brought their new film, The Shape of Things, to Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., as a part of the department of theater and film's "Alums Come Home."
crowd of about 350.
LaBute received his master's degree in theater studies from the University in 1989. Rudd attended KU in the early '90s.
The 96-minute film began as a play in London written by LaBute. The cast for the play was the same as the movie. The movie tells the story of a couple, Evelyn, played by Rachel Weisz, and Adam, played by Rudd, who meet in a museum. The audience watches their strange and quirky interactions with each other and another couple. The film climaxes into an emotional and controversial ending that comments on art, love and relationships
After the film, Rudd and LaBute
took questions from the audience. The questions ranged from comparisons to LaBute's first film In the Company of Men to how LaBute directed Weisz as Evelyn.
"I thought this was the book-end piece to In the Company of Men," Rudd said.
LaBute said the roots of Evelyn came from In the Company of Men.
"I'm also lazy and try to make money off the same idea," LaBute said.
Rudd and LaBute mingled with the crowd after the questionand-answer session.
Charla Jenkins, public relations director for University Theater, appreciated the perspective
LaBute and Rudd brought. She said both men had matured beautifully since their time at KU, and it was refreshing to see KU through their eyes.
Assistant professor of theater and film Matt Jacobson said the film was going to spark a lot of discussion. He said it was well-made, well-crafted and devastating in its emotional payoff.
"I think Rudd's performance was absolutely phenomenal," Jacobson said.
The evening concluded with an open mike night during which past and present theater and film majors performed on stage.
- Edited by Ryan Wood
John Nowak/Kansan
KU alums Neil LaBute and Paul Rudd answer questions after a screening of their new film, The Shape of Things, at Liberty Hall Friday night. Both actors were on hand as a part of the theatre and film departments' "Alums Come Home," which brought more than 75 working Jayhawk alumni back to Lawrence this week.