THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2013
PAGE 9A
THEATER
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The University Theater will open "Adding Machine," Friday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in Murphy Hall.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
University Theatre to open tech adaptation of musical
PAIGE STINGLEY
pstingley@kansan.com
The University theater department is opening its show, Adding Machine, on Friday. Adapted from the original 1923 play by Elmer Rice, with elements taken from the 1995 University Theatre production, "Adding Machine" is a whole new type of musical.
"It's not your typical musical. It's more of a dark and funny, yet thought-provoking comedy," said director Mechele Leon.
The production, which lasts 90 minutes, features main character Mr. Zero. Mr. Zero, played by Michael Wysong, a freshman from Larned, has been working at the same accounting firm for 25 years when he loses his job to a mechanical adding machine. After murdering his boss, the audience is taken through the exciting ride of Mr. Zero's trial, execution, and journey into the afterlife.
"Mr. Zero is not the type of character you expect to see in a musical. He's grumpy, he's racist, he's very much an anti-hero...but he makes you think," said Wysong.
Director Mechele Leon and scenic designer Mark Reaney have created a digital 3-D-like staging effect that allows the audience to interact with the production. Using projectors and cameras, crewmembers create a "virtual reality" on stage rather than having the traditional built sets.
A live feed camera captures actors facial expressions off stage and projects them on stage, allowing the audience to feel like they are inside the show, not just watching from their seats.
"It creates more of a game environment than actual scenery. The projections change as actors move and as the story progresses," said Leon.
The cast is made up of nine students, both graduates and undergraduates.
"They all work really well together," said Leon. "This show is really challenging to put together, but their personalities have really come together and they pull it off very well."
The cast has been preparing the show for almost two months now.
The show opens this Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Murphy Hall and will continue to run through Sunday, Nov. 24.
"We're like one big family," said Wysong. "We've been together since day one and we've really grown close to each other."
Tickets are $18 for the public, $17 for seniors and KU faculty/staff, and $10 for students. Seating is very limited so advance reservations are strongly recommended.
This production includes offensive language and it not appropriate for younger audiences.
— Edited by Ashleigh Tidwell
Danforth Chapel an underutilized building, piece of campus history
KATIE MCBRIDE
kmcbride@kansan.com
Tucked away just off of Jayhawk Boulevard, there's a quiet, peaceful place that passersby often overlook every day.
Inside this quaint, limestone, redroofed building, the outside world hardly seems to exist. The only sound heard is the unobtrusive hum of the air conditioning. The stillness and subtle lighting create a "quiet, comforting spiritual oasis for students," wrote John McCool in an article for KU History.
The building is the Danforth Chapel, located behind Fraser, between 14th Street and Lilac Lane. The chapel was originally built to be used by students for personal meditation and prayer, though many people believe it is reserved solely as a site for weddings, christenings, memorial services and meetings.
The idea for building the chapel started with a meeting between William Danforth and KU Chancellor Deane Malott in 1944. Despite the country still being at war, Danforth felt that construction of the chapel should begin as soon as possible.
"While this may not be the best time for building, I have an idea that our campus is ready right now for a spiritual awakening, so I don't think we should necessarily wait until after the war is over." Danforth said.
Over time, the chapel has moved from being strictly Christian to non-denominational, and rather than acting as a place for formal worship, is available for students to decide how they wish to use it, whether that is for religious prayer or more secular reflection.
When the chapel is not bustling with the activity of ceremonies and events, it is open every weekday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.for anyone who seeks a peaceful sanctuary away from the hectic pace of campus.
Danforth's idea of a spiritual awakening was for students to have a place to go for meditation or prayer that would "never be locked or darkened," wrote McCool.
Samy Mousa, a junior from Toronto, wasn't even aware of the existence of the chapel until a few weeks ago, when he stumbled upon it one day while killing time between classes.
As Mousa walked down Jayhawk
Boulevard, he noticed the building behind a tree brimming with fall leaves, and decided to take a peek inside.
He pulled the door open and stepped inside, not sure what he would find. Immediately, he was struck by the change in energy from the street just outside its doors.
"It was completely peaceful." Mousa said.
As he walked through the entryway into the main part of the chapel, he slowly let out his breath, not realizing he had been holding it in, in an attempt to prevent any disruption of the quiet.
He took a seat in one of the short rows of pews, and observed the small sanctuary.
Although Mousa said he does not affiliate with any religion, he found that the chapel provided a
He looked around at the simple white walls, stained glass windows with intricate patterns of blue and specs of red, yellow, and green, and the carpet with swirling spirals of lines and leaves.
He noticed the tall, peaked ceiling supported by dark wooden beams.
serene place to be alone with one's thoughts.
"I have so many different things going on all the time, it's like I never stop moving or jumping from one thing to the next," Mousa said. "But that all seemed to stand still. I could just think about one thing without being distracted by anything else."
While he's not sure if he'll be able to take the time to stop by very often, he said it's good to know that it's always there if he feels like escaping from the day for a few minutes.
Danforth had ambitious visions for what the chapel would become to students, and chose to include in the inscription in the front of the chapel his hope that "those who enter may acquire the spiritual power to aspire nobly, adventure daringly, serve humely."
"I left there feeling like my mind was so much clearer," Mousa said. "I don't remember the last time I stopped and thought about all the things running through my head. It was a chance to just slow down and reflect."
- Edited by Jessica Mitchell
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