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arts & features
HOROSCOPES
Because the stars
know things we don't.
Aries (March 21-Agril 19)
Today is an 8
You're sharp as a tack for the next few days. Figure out what you want, get the tools you'll need and inspire your team.
Expect the best from them. Love goes both ways.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is an 8
You're spurred to take action.
With study and a loved one's
backing, you can win. You're
good at finances now, so estimate your income and expenses.
Ask your partner's advice. Score
ton billing.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 7
genim (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 7
Spend less and save more.
Don't argue about money (or anything else). Increase self-discipline and gain productivity.
Practice looking at things from a different viewpoint.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is a 6
Definitely cut costs wherever possible. You're under pressure with deadlines, but don't let them get you down. Keep chugging along. When in doubt, breathe deep. Oxygen does wonders.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is a G
Consult with your partner.
Leadership comes with listening.
Love wins again to surprise a cynic. Don't be afraid to ask others to contribute. Likewise, offer to make a difference for
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is a 7
You're a true artist and have a lot to say. Say it. Don't worry if you're misunderstood, that's part of the process. Repeat yourself using new words and different expressions. Friends help you get the word out. Follow
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is a 6
It's adventure time! Water is definitely involved. Set social priorities. Postpone a romantic interlude, but don't obsess.
When in doubt, consult with your team. Study options. You'll know what to do.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today is a 7
If you're not sure what you want next, ask your partner or someone that knows you as bigger than you see yourself. Take a survey. Circumstances open up time in your schedule. Gamble later. Gather opportunity ideas.
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Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is an 8
Don't fall for a trick. Anticipate
some friendly ridicule. Take it
slow to get farther. Spend time
with your partner now. Repay a
favor. Limit sweets in your diet
for balance. Follow a strong
recommendation.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today is a 6
Fantasy clashes with facts. Offer your wisdom to a person who's feeling sad. Work interferences with travel. Call upon energetic friends. Your idea may take several tries. Avoid frivolous distractions. Add to your holdings.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today is a 5
Anticipate disagreement. Your partner may misunderstand you.
Just talking really does help.
Don't travel right now. Answer questions directly. Your luck's improving today and tomorrow.
Take your work home with you,
and stay respectful.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is a 6
Learn something new. Watch for hidden agendas dotting the trail. Take a breather. Expand later. Don't be stopped by failure; you're gaining skills.
Check instructions for errors or changes. Replenish reserves. Get the facts.
ASSJAMZ hosts special Halloween event
ALEAH MILLINER
@alaaheileen
ASSJAMZ, a themed party in Lawrence, will feature former University students, dancing and Halloween treats at the Granada this year on Oct 31.
The popular dance party, hosted by DJs and former University students Cameron Birdsall from Overland Park and Jon Marzette from Lawrence, happens once a month in Lawrence. This month's Halloween themed party is expecting a growing crowd and will be at a bigger venue. There will be official #ASS-JAMZ merchandise available, including posters, T-shirts and shorts. The second edition of the Halloween party will be different than last year.
"We are going to play some old movies in the background, something spooky, there will be crazy lights, a fog machine and a photo booth," Birdsall said. "We will be playing a few Halloween songs and I'm even going to invite a few ghosts."
This year, Birdsall will dress up as Super Mario from the popular video game series. Marzette said he hasn't yet decided on his costume. All attendees are encouraged to wear a costume.
The duo have been performing together for two years and have put on about 25 events. Marzette's favorite music to play currently includes "Nae Nae" by We are Toonz and "Lifestyle" by Rich Gang.
"It really makes me feel a certain type of way," Marzette said. "I can't wait to incorporate that into all the oldies."
Marzette predicts a crowd of 1,000 people for Friday's show. With such a large number of people attending, a lot of risk is involved.
"There are so many people that tables start shaking," Marzette said. "With so many people, it gets hard to control, but we still love for people to go wild. The most dangerous risk is our DJ table falling over."
Birdsall said he feeds off the crowd's energy. "It's all about the crowd," he said. "Without
the crowd, I'm just playing tunes and messing around. With the crowd, they are giving me energy so I can give it back to them. The relationship between the performer and the crowd is symbiotic."
ASSJAMZ continues to see more and more people attend its events. The DJs are planning for the future and are talking about taking the show into other college towns, music festivals and possibly on tour.
"It has been really successful and I'm really appreciative," Marzette said. "I love when people tell me how good of a time they are having and that they look forward to [the event]."
Both Marzette and Birdsall
said they still feel nervous before each show. But after, they said the feeling is totally different.
Birdsall said the ending is always positive. "Even if I'm super tired, I'm always leaving with a smile on my face."
"During the show, everything is a blur," Marzette said. "Afterwards, I always check Twitter with the #ASSJAMZ hashtag. I really like the positive reinforcement. It's incredible."
The #ASSJAMZ Halloween party starts at 9 p.m. on Halloween. The cost is $7 for attendees under 21 and $5 for attendees over 21.
Haunted houses to visit before end of Halloween
Edited by Logan Schlossberg
RYAN WRIGHT
@RyanWrightUDK
Halloween is finally here and haunted houses have been open for more than a month. Here are a few haunted houses in Kansas City you should check out before they close until next year.
THE BEAST
According to Full Moon Productions, the Beast is the largest haunted house in America. The attraction has run since 1991. The attraction has an open format that dares guests to find their way out in complete darkness without any instruction. Every 30 minutes, werewolves search the forest to find guests who haven't made their way out vet.
For the past three years, Libby Smith, a freshman from Leawood, has visited the Beast.
"Every year it has been a different experience, but I still love it," Smith said. "Definitely recommend for anyone this fall."
The Beast is located at 1401 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo. It will be open until Nov. 8 and opens at 7:30 p.m. Closing times are subject to change.
and the attraction closes any time between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Tickets start at $27. For more info visit www.kcbecast.com.
EDGE OF HELL
Edge of Hell is the oldest running Halloween attraction in America, open each year since 1975. Edge of Hell is a slide that focuses on phobias.
"The theme is timeless," Amber Bequeaith of Full Moon Productions said. "If you're a person of faith then you make a choice, to go to heaven or hell. If you walk on the edge [of hell], you see many different types of frightening things."
Tristan Coker, a freshman from Shawnee, said the experience was enjoyable because it was entirely new.
Edge of Hell is located at 1300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. It opens at 7:30 p.m. and closes any time between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. Tickets start at $27. For more info visit
"I do get scared easily though, and I was on edge the entire way through the attraction," Coker said. "I had a death grip on my friends, and at some points I wouldn't even open my eyes, but it was still a great experience."
www.edgeofhell.com
HALLOWEEN HAUNT
Halloween Haunt at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo., is an annual Halloween event offering a myriad of different activities. The activities include live shows, mazes and rides.
The mazes and scare zones are most similar to traditional haunted house attractions and have several different themes.
One of the themes for a maze is called "London Terror," which takes place in London where villains of the night are terrorizing townpeople. These villains include lack the Ripper and Dr. lekkill.
Halloween Haunt is located at 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave., Kansas City, Mo. The attraction ends Nov. 2 and is open from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets begin at $32.99. For more info visit www.worldsoffun.com.
Kansas City is known for its haunted houses, and these three are among the best. Before you go to a haunted house, remember to be respectful to the actors and actresses who are performing, and above all else, be safe.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
Symphony Orchestra hosts annual Halloween Concert
ALLISON CRIST
@AllisonCristUDK
Today marks the sixth annual KU Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concert at the Lied Center from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
The orchestra will perform a variety of pieces by composers, ranging from Igor Stravinsky to Johann Strauss, all while dressed up in costume.
Before the concert, there will be a costume contest beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Lied Center lobby. The contest is free and open to the public with four categories. This year's sponsors include the KU School of Music, Kansas Public Radio, KU Bookstores and the Olivia Collection.
During the performance of the piece "Circus Polka," by
While the costume contest is a tradition for the Halloween Concert, there is something new this year as well.
The rest of the concert will utilize special effects such as lighting, comedic skits, decorations and more. There will even be special guests, including celebrity emcee Mark Edwards from Kansas Public Radio and a local high school mascot.
Stravinsky, children can bring their favorite stuffed animals and put them on stage for a "parade of the animals," according to Colby Snider, a second year master's student in percussion performance from Memphis, Tenn.
"This concert presents standard classical repertoire in a way that is really engaging and entertaining to the audience." Snider said.
David Neely, director of orchestral activities, said around 1,000 people turn out each year.
"Our normal symphony concerts have a solid, regular audience base." Neely said.
"This Halloween concert reaches not only that standard audience base, but also a group of people who might not normally come, like families with little kids."
Neely says this type of concert gives students an opportunity to have some Halloween fun while bringing attention to classical music.
"My favorite part of the concert is the overall atmosphere of the performance," Snider said. "It's very engaging and entertaining, so everyone in the audience and on stage has a ton of fun."
Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children, seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased at the Lied Center Ticket Office or lied.ku.edu. For more information, call (785) 864-3436.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
COSTUME CONTEST CATEGORIES:
youth Category (0-12): $50 The Toy Store gift card
Teen Category (13-18): $20 Jimmy John's gift card and $30 iTunes gift card
Adult Category (18+): One night stay at The Oread Hotel
Group Category: $40 Rudy's Pizzeria gift card, $20 Liberty Hall gift card and $10 La Prima Tazza gift card
Naomi Watts looks to comedy a lighter career
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HEMPSTEAD GARDENS, N.Y. — Dressed in an oversized night shirt, Naomi Watts moved stealthily across the darkened suburban house where she was shooting her new movie, stepping toward a couch where a teenage actor playing her son lay asleep.
In one swoop the actress leaned over, kissed the boy on the cheek, rested her head on his arm and gently stroked a clump of hair with a motion that also deftly moved it out of the sight line of the camera an act of soulfulness that also reminded that, at bottom, most moviemaking is just an elaborate game of Twister. As it flickered on monitors out in the garage and eerily lit the Long Island night, Watts' face evinced a mix of vulnerability and steadfastness.
It's an expression we've seen before from the actress in movies like "21 Grams" and "The Impossible," in which she played an embattled mother in hard-edged dramas. But Watts' role in this film _ a quirky dramatic comedy called "Demolition" from "Dallas Buyers Club" director Jean-Marc Vallee _ is a world away from "The Impossible" Indian tsunami. She plays a stoner employee of a vending-machine company who gets into a complicated relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal's at-loose-ends Wall Streeter.
Since breaking through as the enigmatic ingeneus in David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" in 2001 (after nearly a decade of rejection and credits like "The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer"), Watts has been making very busy making dramas. A lot of dramas. So many dramas that it almost seemed like too much. Even to her.
So she decided to make a change. In Alejandro G. Inarritus's recently opened "Birdman," she's a Hollywood-turned-stage actress who provides a foil to pretentious on-screen partner Edward Norton. And in Noah Baumbach's Toronto International Film Festival premiere "While We're Young," which hits theaters next year, she's a documentary producer who finds refuge in the hip-hop aerobics of Amanda Seyfried's eager Millennial.
Mostly loopily, Watts plays Daka, a pregnant Eastern European stripper, in Ted Mellif's new movie "St. Vincent." It's a part she not only accents with exaggerated comedy, but seizes an opportunity even most veterans never get: giving
guff to Bill Murray.
"I was doing a lot of these roles, and I just started realizing how at the end of the day it's a lot to take home," Watts said from her trailer during a break in the "Demolition" shoot. "If you keep working like that, there's a buildup of darker things in your life. It has an effect on you."
She paused. "It's not bad doing a Russian girl who goes around and says whatever she feels like."
Actor career shifts can seem like champagne problems to those of us who don't make a living in front of the camera. But given the pigeonholing tendencies of modern Hollywood, it's a daunting obstacle for those who do, and perhaps an eye-opener for the rest of us. Watts' restlessness over her past phase and difficulties in embarking on a new one illustrate how red carpets and romances with Liev Schreiber are hardly immunizations against career complacency and frustration.
She won the funnier part, though, and wound up even doing some improv, particularly in scenes where she looks to get under the skin of Murray's curmudgeon. "I was going all out, and possibly too far at times," she told The Times at the Toronto International Film Festival. "But it was new territory and I just wanted to bust out. I felt like I'd been in chains, like I was a wild animal getting out of this cage."
In fact, when Watts, 46, was first sent the "St. Vincent" script she thought she was being considered for the part that went to Melissa McCarthy. "I mean, that was the Naomi part, so I just assumed that's what I'd be asked to do." That role, incidentally, is of an embattled single mother.
Watts added she "cringed a little" when she first saw the film. "Like, here are these two comedy greats and I'm the one bouncing off the walls," she said. Though the performance has divided some critics with its outrageousness, it's earned plenty of plaudits; the Times Betsy Sharkey called her "a hooot," as Watts shuffles in stilettos telling Murray why he's wrong or why she has it worse than him.
McCarthy, herself going against type in the film, said she finds herself befuddled by these industry distinctions. "People talk about comedy and dramas these separate things, and that's rarely accurate," she said. "I think I get my heart broken in every single comedy."
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