PAGE 6A
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
Sara Kennedy, left, and Collin Stephens rehearse a scene from "The Maderatt," a University Theatre play that opens Friday.
No rest before finals week for actors in 'The Maderati'
CASSIDY RITTER critter@kansan.com
There are only a few weeks left in the semester, and students are spread thin between work, classes and studying for finals. Maggie Boyles, a junior from Les Brouzils, France, is no exception, but she adds an additional two to three hours of acting a day on top of it all.
Boyles is currently taking 15 credit hours, working about 15 hours a week and rehearsing 12 or more hours per week as Rena deButts, the wife of a novelist, in the University Theatre's upcoming performance of "The Maderati."
"I eradicate everything I do not need and focus on my goals." Boyles says. "I have no social life."
Boyles has been acting since she was young, but starting taking it seriously around the age of 12. She says that acting is her passion and obsession. This obsession, along with her own personal drive, is what keeps Boyles motivated.
"I act because I want to inhabit another person and not be myself, or rather be myself in a different direction," Boyles says. "The best part, for me in acting, is probably having a chance to live and experience life through another's eyes."
"The Maderati" is a comedy about "a bunch of art-society types in New York in the 1980s", Boyles said. "They never listen to each other and they medleed in each others lives to make themselves
look better."
the play then leads to a series of miscommunications when one of their own, Charlotte, is placed in a mental hospital. From there, the information about her whereabouts is misunderstood, and it begins spreading that Charlotte is dead.
"The Maderati" is open to the public and will be performed in the William Inge Theatre in Murphy Hall. Performances begin this weekend. Dec. 6 and 7, at 7:30 p.m. There will also be performances Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m. and Dec. 10, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for the public, $14 for students/faculty and $10 for children aged five to 18. These tickets are on sale now at www.kutheatre.com.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
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CONCERT
American Jazz Museum to host 'Jazz Border Showdown'
KATE MILLER
kmiller@kansan.com
The University and Mizzou continue their centuries-old rivalry in a "Jazz Border Showdown" at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Mo., this Saturday, Dec. 7. The University's Jazz Ensemble I and MU's Concert Jazz Band will perform various pieces in the historic Blue Room for two concerts at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10.
"It's something I've been thinking about doing for years," said Dan Gailey, director of the University's Jazz Ensemble I.
"It's not really a competition," Galley said "What you really can expect is two really great college big bands performing a lot of different music."
jazz Ensemble 14
Gailey, who has directed the ensemble for 24 years, coordinated with Arthur White, director of Jazz Studies at Mizzou, to put on the event. The two have been friends for years, a friendliness that represents attitudes of the bands for the Showdown. The Mizzou band will play two of Gailey's compositions, while the University ensemble will play two of White's to extend a feeling of goodwill for the holidays between rival schools. Gailey will play as a guest soloist for Mizzou, and White will do the same for the University.
Each band will play four tunes for each show. These songs will include recognizable jazz arrangements, including a challenging arrangement of "ingle Bells" to create a holiday feel.
"I think they feel the need, as individual musicians, to be as good as they can."
DAN GAILEY
Director of Jazz Ensemble I
The University's Jazz Ensemble I and Mizzou's Concert Jazz Band both fall under the category of big band groups. They usually consist of 13-14 horn players, five saxophones, four trumpets, four trombones, as well as piano, guitar, bass and drums.
Gailey explained that the rivalry between the University and Mizzou does not play as large a role in his
students' preparation as much as their own desire to excel.
"I think they feel the need, as individual musicians, to be as good as they can," he said. "I think they're looking at it in the right spirit, as a chance to measure themselves against another really good college big band. We're all excited about doing it for all the right reasons."
rart of the need to perform their best comes from the prestige of playing in such a legendary jazz club. The Blue Room in the American Jazz Museum is named after the famed 1930s Street Hotel club in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City. It honors its historic past through an exhibit highlighting the countless musicians who created "Kansas City Jazz," and also showcases some of the biggest names in jazz today.
"I'm hoping both bands play really well," Gailey said. "It's a big opportunity for us."
Tickets can be purchased by calling the American Jazz Museum box office at (816) 474-6262 or by visiting the website, americanjazzmuseum.org.
Edited by Jessica Mitchell
CONGERT REVIEW
Wilco frontman opens latest solo tour in Kansas City, Mo.
DUNCAN MCHENRY
dmchenry@kansan.com
Jeff Tweedy, Wilco frontman and former member of the nearlegendary group Uncle Tupelo, is the epitome of an unlikely rock star.
the epitome of the
Aside from rotating through a
carousel of gorgeous, customized
guitars, he left no room for flair
or pretense of any kind during
Tuesday night's show at the Uptown
Theater in Kansas City, Mo. Dressed
in his signature charcoal-colored-
shirt-and jeans stage garb. Tweedy
remarked to the crowd. "You guys
all paid to see me try."
Tweedy's onstage authenticity, wit and resourcefulness easily matched his musicianship on the opening night of his solo tour. The prolific songwriter with a knack for injecting emotion into his songs via the higher, reedy range of his voice played an array of Wilco favorites. Uncle Tupelo throwbacks and other projects such as "One True Vine" — a recent collaboration with soul singer Mavis Staples of
The Staple Singers.
And although Tweedy stood onstage above the seated crowd, sometimes strumming furiously, other times plucking a single string and even managing the impressive feat of whistling while playing guitar, he maintained a steady lunch-break vibe and conversation with the audience. Possibly the most memorable part of the night was his insistent verbal jabbing at a clap-happy fan near the front row. A family man himself, Tweedy's parental experience shone through as he praised the guy for shutting up, adding that he didn't want to only give him attention when he was "being bad."
While he claimed to be a bit rusty kicking off the tour, it was quickly apparent that Jeff Tweedy feeling "rusty" with a guitar in his hands is like Colonel Sanders being a little fuzzy on what to do with a chicken leg. Standout songs included Wilco numbers such as "Jesus, Ec." and "Solitaire," and "Chinese Apple" from the side-project Loose Fur.
The encore, however, was when Tweedy solidified that his voice and guitar, the bare bones of Wilco's sound, can move a crowd without the help of a rock band. The Uncle Tupelo song "New Madrid" warmed everyone up for "California Stars," a tune with lyrics written by Woody Guthrie that's become a Wilco classic. But the real highlight was when he unplugged for the last song in Tupelo favorite "Acuff-Rose," proving that even microphones and cords are non-essential pieces of his blue-collar solo set.
On a night when he was the biggest act in town not named Kanye or Kendrick, Tweedy entertained a crowded Uptown Theater with more than just music. A big part of the charm for his and Wilco's ample fanbase is simply that he's damn good at what he does, and couldn't care less whether anybody tells him about it or not.
CAMPUS
Edited by Sarah Kramer
HANNAH SUNDERMEYER
hsundermeyer@kansan.com
It's no surprise that our beloved campus is filled with a variety of students who excel in academics, athletics, music and art. To celebrate these students, Her Campus KU is hosting the first annual showcase of hard-working men who will compete for the title of "Mr. KU."
Contestants must be well rounded individuals who represent the University in a positive light. Ranging from members of Student Senate to fraternities to cultural organizations, contestants showcase their positive leadership skills, personality, and intellectual qualities.
Her Campus KU has been tabling all week to allow students to vote for their favorite candidate. Votes are cast with spare change, and students can vote against other contestants by putting dollar bills in their assigned jars. Half of all the proceeds raised will be donated to the charity of the winner's choice.
"Over the summer I was as a camp counselor in Topeka so I love working with kids," Davis said. "I feel that it would be a great way to give back to the Lawrence community that I've called home
Dillon Davis, a senior contestant from Topeka, plans to donate his winnings to the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence if he wins.
"I feel this organization gives everyone their chance to shine."
OMAR RANA
Sophomore from Broken Arrow
'Mr. KU' competition benefits charities, showcases students
THE
Davis also spreads his time between his day job, volunteering, and various recreations.
"I'm pretty involved with KU. I have worked at the Lied Center the past four years and I was in a class last semester that worked with the Willow Domestic Violence
CAM
Jona Earl
over the last four years."
Center. Along with regularly volunteering for the Big Event I also have played intramural sports over my last couple of years here. Overall, I feel like I would be a good representative for what KU is all about," Davis said.
"In our world today, there is so much focus on the negatives, and I feel this organization gives everyone their chance to shine," Rana said.
Omar Rana, a sophomore from Broken Arrow, is also competing, and hopes to donate to The Make A Wish Foundation if he wins.
While the title of Mr. KU is an incredible honor, the charity work that both the candidates and Her Campus KU have promoted brings to mind the real meaning of not only holiday spirit, but the generosity of others.
You can visit http://www. hercampus.com/school/ku/mr- ku-finalists to view additional information and photographs of this year's other Mr. KU contestants.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
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