Page 6 University Daily Kansan, February 26, 1982
Spare time
KU's Mr. Rock Chalk IBAs still going strong
By JEFF LEIGH Staff Reporter
"Mr. Rock Chalk" has been "in the spotlight" for the past six years to help produce the longest running hit show on Jayhawk Boulevard.
"I really enjoy making people happy by doing a good enjoyment," Beauford K. Woods, a Good Enjoyer.
"The crowd's applause has always been the most gratifying reward for me. I've always had the desire to perform. I guess that's what got me interested in Rock Chalk."
Woods, dubbed "Mr. Rock Chalk" by friends,
has been involved with the annual KU revue for
six years, and is now completing his seventh.
Two of those years he was in the show itself, for
three he headed the In-Between Acts, or IBAIs.
He was also choreographer and director of
the entire show.
Although he has worked with virtually every aspect of Rock Chalk, Woods' true love is the IBAs. As a result of his interest and work, IBAs commonly changed since Woods took charge of them.
"They are more professional now," he said. "The quality and material of the IBAs has gotten much better. The group has evolved from being a traditional talent show to a semi-professional team.
"The whole reason I got involved with the IBAs was because of the frustration I felt watching this group of college students, knowing they needed some guidance."
Guidance is exactly what Wools has given to the IBAs. "I have tried and changed many things with the IBAs over the years—with the hope of making the show the best it can possibly be." I'd like the IBAs to be shiny and electric—a real show, "Wools said."
"Most of my ideas have come from past experiences. One summer I worked at Worlds of Fun, and I've been in many KU productions. I work with Chalk to be new and innovative."
The KU-Y organization, which sponsors Rock Chalk, nominated Woods as one of America's Outstanding Students in 1976. And in honor of his dedication to Rock Chalk, he was presented a framed poster of the 1978 show at the final front of a capacity crowd at Hoch Auditorium.
"It has been enjoyable participating in extracurricular activities at KU.
"I've been involved with many organizations on campus--everything from marching band to residence hall government."
Having gained much experience in his extracurricular work, Woods hopes to put that experience to work for his career. He plans and dreams of making it on Broadway.
That dream almost became a reality last spring when Woods made it to the final call-back auditions of the hit show "Ain't Mis'behavin" in New York.
"New York is where I've always dreamed of
company or at other parks around the country."
"I'd like to star in a show, of course, but I'd also enjoy directing or choreographing one," he said.
Aside from being a singer, dancer, director and choreographer, Woods is also an actor. He has been in two movies: "Linda Lovelace for President" and "Suicide."
Today, Woods is here in Lawrence, keeping his hopes alive of becoming a Broadway star.
"I really look at life with a lot of hope," he said. "If people would work together like actors do on stage—then we would all end up with standing ovation."
Beauland Woods, known to friends as "Mr. Rock Chalk," supervise the dress rehearsal Wednesday night of the Rock Chalk Revue's In-Between-Acts entertainers.
TRACEY THOMPSON/Kansan Staff
Rock Chalk pleasant, but problematic
BV KATHRYN KASE
Staff Writer
The 2nd annual Rock Chalk Revue opened at Hoch Auditorium last night and proved that an amateur variety show could be good entertainment.
As always, the skirts relied upon inside jokes,
daytime television rurs and bad puns for humor.
But if it is remembered that the revue is an amateur show, the production can be enjoyed.
Carrying the show were the In-Between Acts Players, whose exuberance got them much well-earned applause. The band also shone, playing the bass and snare, and elicited the one week of practice they had had.
But this year's Rock Chalk has its low points, too. Last night's production was marred by missed lighting cues, a crochetty sound system and opening night jitters, which meant muffled lines and cardboard-stiff smiles. In fact, technical execution overall was well managed; last night was the first time the show had been run from start to finish without stoping.
But the nature of these problems are such that the revue can only improve with repeat perusal. This is because it makes the performance
technical crews. Overall, Rock Chalk isn't a way to spend an evening, and it keeps improving, it might be worth the $a-$aheader ticket price for the Saturday night performance.
Speaking of Saturday night, that's the evening the best show will be announced. If last night was any indication, the Kappa Alpha Theta-Delta Upsion production is a strong contender for first place. Titled "Potion Predicament, or, Is Your Love Life on the Slide", the skirt combines a simple plot, good staging and creative costuming into an engaging performance.
A close contender for first place is the Pi Beta Phi-Phi Gamma Delta's "Budig is in the Eye of the Beholder, or, Better Late than Neva"
Designed as a spoof of Chancellor Gene A. Budig and facets of KU life, this act's highpoint is the "Steam Heat" number.
The only weak spot in "Potion Predicament" was the "Workin' It" out musical number. The song's arrangement doesn't flatter the voice of Sally Hady, who plays Dr. Anita Goodman. But Voice 1 is much better when the cast, dressed as molecules, forms a chorus line, complete with Rocket-style sticks.
Last night, the song didn't steam, but merely puffed, thanks to technical problems and a lack of music.
however, which would make the whole skit more competitive.
Good singing was no problem with the Beta Theta Pi-Chi Omega's "Beast of the Feast" skit. Scott Roulier and Grace Willing, who star in the song, sing a duet whose sound transcends the song's subject matter. Another positive factor is that their voices seemed suited to one another.
"A Beast of a Feast," did its problems last night, though, perhaps with the same purpose. It showed lines and a general
Review
stiffness pervaded the performance, which wasn't helped when the wireless transistorized microphones did not work. The skit has promise, though, and could be a real contender if the cast
Good choreography was the hallmark of the Sigma Ch-Gamma Phi Beta "An Exchange of Ways" skit. Their show began with a neatly executed dance number with just the right degree of restraint for a stock exchange, where the story is set.
And it is the dancing that consistently makes the skirt look classy. Also of note is the closing
song, which has lyrics that sound like a cross between an anthem for the business school and EAST STUDIO.
Overall, the skirts are good, although their humor is a little trite. Several intended jokes were ignored by last night's audience, who at times seemed to tire of the continuous puns.
But the IBA's had no such problem with audience response during a tribute to Duke Ellington called "Salute to the Duke." While the IBA's handy danced to some shimmy-and-rolls, the band let loose with Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing."
Later in the evening, the IBA's introduced an audience sing-along to "Old MacDonald Had A Farm," and, surprisingly, the audience loved it, singing "E-I-e-i witho-ju."
But the IBA's reached their peak with a number titled "One Mo' Time," which included songs from the Broadway show "Ain't Misbehavin'"
Part of the credit for the IBA's success must go to the band, especially the trumpet section, which executed some wonderfully expressive solos. The band's only problem, and a small one, was the saxophone, which tended to become too enthusiastic and drowned out other musicians and the singers.
on campus
TODAY
THE UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY CLUB
THE UNDERGRADUATE BIOLOGY CLUB of the Sunflower Room of the Kansas University
Latin American Solidarity and the Commission on the Status of Women will sponsor a panel discussion on "STERILIZATION ABUSE" at the Wisconsin State Fair in Madison, U.S., on the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union.
THE CAMPUS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP will sponsor a discussion on "The Search for Happiness" at 7:30 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union.
TOMORROW
THE SIMULATIONS GAMING GROUP will
within two to four, m. to 4 p.m. in Corr II of the
Kansas Union
SUNDAY
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP will begin at
the Sacred Clemente Christian Minister's
Center, 1204 Irene Road.
The Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center will sponsor a SUNDAY EVENING SUIPPER at 5:30 p.m. at the center. Square dancing will follow the meal.
THE KU CIRCLE K CLUB will meet a 7 p.m. in 641 Mallot Hall.
THE ALL-SCHOLARSHIP HALL CHRISTIAN
SCHOOL GROUP will meet at 3:30 p.m.
in Dunbar.
Risbeck posters questionable as art form
By SHAWN McKAY
Contributing Reviewer
Once delegated to the walls of countless student lodgings, the poster is now emerging as an art form. It has been removed from the category of decorative advertisement and placed in the millie of, somewhat less than limited, limited editions.
Whether it can be accepted by the academic art world as desirable acquisitions for private and public collections has yet to be firmly decided. However, the poster exhibit at the Art and Design Gallery leaves the viewer with one impression—at least it's trying.
"Posters by Phil Riskeck: A Fifteen-year Retrospective," chronicles the artist's fascination with the poster medium. Running through March 5, as a University Arts Festival event, the exhibit offers a look into Riskeck's promotional work for Colorado State University and community organizations.
A GRADUATE of the University of Kansas, Risbeck uses his experience in the print and photographic media to his best advantage. He has created a pleasing juxtaposition of the real and the imaginary, the graphic and the painterly, and the classical and the abstract.
This mixture demands the viewer's attention and captures one's interest.
THE SUCCESS OF THE Riscke style can be seen in his design for the Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre Series. Here he has frozen the joy of dance into a flickering, sequence of moments—like the antiquated movodias that blured and blurred the individual movements.
costumed artist, with poised palette and brush, is lost in the bright array of color that represents the artists' own imagination and creativity.
Riabeck's feel for color and design can be felt in his poster for the GSU Art Faculty at University of Oklahoma.
And, they have been popularized by the college students who have found them an economical way to decorate the stark walls of a dormroom or apartment.
POSTERS HAVE INTERESTED collectors since the turn of the century. Posters designed by Toulouse-Lautrec were peeled off and placed on their way into impressive museum collections.
No matter how striking or popular, the poster can hardly be placed in the categories of museum art, bookish illustrators and vestors. While available to a market similar to the ones catered to by popular engravers such as Durer and Rembrandt, there purpose is not to make artistic works available to the middle class. Their purpose is to sell an event that generates high diminishes soon after the last ticket is sold.
One 1970 CSU graduate expressed the fondness of Risebuck's art on the college campus when he said, "I spent four years here and have only five Risebuck posters. Other students constantly 'ripped them off' before I could get to them."
The choice of the Art and Design Gallery for the exhibitions residence reflects the view of the modern poster. It is relegated to the world of graphic design, and a number of tightly guarded artistic conceptions must be altered before it can be granted a home in a more traditional gallery like the Spencer Museum of Art.
EVEN RISBEE ADMITTED. "Like it or not, the poster has a short informative life."
Family Fun stressed at Spencer open house
Clowns will give the children balloons, mimes will wander through the galleries, a harpist will set the tone and puppets will dance under the hands of Charlotte Mason, 1 N. Michigan St. Sally Hoffmann, coordinator of programs and visitor services at the museum said Wednesday.
There will be something for everyone from 3-year-old to 83-year-old at the Spencer Museum of Art Sunday when the museum presents Family Fun Day.
"It's kind of an open house in a lighthearted vein for people who have supported the museum."
IT IS ALSO a way to introduce children to the art museum. Included in the program is a story teller, a "sharp eyes" tour and a treasure hunt with clues found from paintings in the galleries, all designed to get children acquainted with the museum.
"We hope that it will be a pleasant and informative afternoon," Hoffmann said. "It's closer to an arts festival for children and with the activities that we have, you could find something interesting from three to four years of age on up."
THE PROGRAM WILL begin at 2:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. Sunday and is free of charge. There will be a photographer at the museum to take pictures but there will be a slight charge for the pictures.
Revue judging changed; show's tension reduced
By JAN BOUTTE
Staff Reporter
The house lights dim, the curtain goes up, and the audience—except for ten people scattered throughout Hoch Auditorium—settle back for an evening of entertainment, Rock Chalk style.
For the ten judges, however, the task of rating the productions has just begun.
Although anonymous before the production, the judges are a bit conspicuous the night of the
was chosen for the panel as a token audience member, Dereh said.
Dreher and John Best, director of Rock Chalk,
said that many students of judging had been tried
for insulting the judge.
LAST YEAR, judging was split between night performances, with five judges essentially
With the Thursday night performance used to iron out any kinks in the acts, the groups should be ready for the judging Friday night. They will then have a Saturday night performance without
'They all have good seats, but they have flashlights, so it kind of gives them away.'
Marthe Dreher, Rock Chalk producer
performances, Marthe Dreher, producer of the Rock Chalk revue, said.
"They all have good seats, but they have flashlights, so it kind of gives them away," she
This year, the judges will cast their ballots for the categories after the Friday night performance.
THE JUDGES ARE CHOSEN from different backgrounds. Drother said, but they all have one thing in common.
"They all have seen a Rock Chalk at one time or another." she said.
Dreber, Shawnee Mission senior, said that seeing a prior show was important because the judges needed to understand the spirit of Rock Chalk.
This year's panel includes three out-of-town judges who participated in earlier interviews and are not affiliated with any of the fraternities or sororities involved.
Two are KU students who do not belong to the participating houses and three are from the
The tenth judge is a Lawrence resident who
the strain and pressure of the competition, Best said.
"Then they can go out Saturday night and just enjoy it." Best said.
Another important reason for the change, Best said, was to avoid the delay of tailing the scores on the playoffs. "It's not a bad thing," he said.
He said that the crowd should not be kept an hour after the last act, and that the wait put an unfair burden on the performers in between acts to keep the audience entertained.
AWARDS WILL BE given for best overall production, best original song, best performers, best script, best production number and most effective use of sets and costumes.
Dreher said that best actor and actress would be awarded on merit only, so the judges may decide there is not a best actor or actress in the four acts.
To determine the best overall production, the judges rank each act on a 1-10 scale in five categories: precision, strength and performance; imagination and innovation; appeal and impact on the audience; music and choreography; and sets and costumes.