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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
arts & features
HOROSCOPES Because the stars know things we don't.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is a 9
Today is a 9 Study and prepare for all the contingencies you can imagine. A windfall rains down. Let it sink in. A hidden danger lurks on the road ahead. Be skeptical of "too good to be true".
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is an 8
The truth gets revealed. Your cleverness with business and communications serves you. Finish an old project. Stand firm regarding your commitment. Resist the temptation to show off. The financial situation is unstable. Send an unusual gift.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a R
Today is a 9 Avoid impetuosity. Seek private counsel before choosing your course. Don't get stuck with your pet theory. Learn the rules. Adaptations and compromises may be necessary. Re-assess the domestic situation. Clear up clutter without slacking.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is a 9
Financial shortages could get annoying, while resolvable. Beat a looming deadline. All does not necessarily go smoothly. Determination and will power get you farther than doubt or skenticism
Don't borrow or lend today. The pace quickens, so increase your intention level to focus on the job at hand. Let a female chair the meeting. Cut unessential obligations. Avoid a mistake by paying attention.
Leo (July 23-Aug.22) Today is a 9
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is a 9
today is a 9
Make an immediate repair and save money and extraordinary hassle. Increase your equity while you're at it. Get supplies wholesale. Cut out the superfluous next week, and delegate to your team.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is an 8
Be careful now. A work-related bonus rewards past efforts. Plan your steps before launching new projects. Arrange better storage space. Reaffirm a commitment.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Todav is an 8
Today is an 8
Call on your superpowers today.
Use your secret strengths and determination to breeze past roadblocks. Take action for what you want. Grasp an opportunity.
Meet hostility with grace. Do your chores. Push boundaries.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is a 9
Handle routine chores and mundane paperwork, especially regarding finances. Count the take in private. Ask your partner what they want. Use the skills you've been practicing, and notice new confidence.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today is a 9
Today is a 5
Play an old game you enjoy.
Don't overdo the muscle! You can accomplish some of your goals, and some need postponing. Get expert advice from a partner. Focus on basics. Keep careful records, and support team efforts.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18) Today is a 9
Today is a 9
Someone's skill level surprises you. Finish an overdue project and breathe in relief. Stand up for yourself. Don't throw money around. Today's not great for romance, but it's interesting. You're gaining wisdom. Allow time for passions.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is a 9
Show your exotic side. Practice your latest tricks. Plans may need modification. Intellect + intuition = insight. Return a question with a question... the inquiry's more satisfying than a pat answer.
Russian comedy 'Tovarich' comes to stage
MINSEON KIM
@minseonkim94
"Tovarich" will be playing at Crafton-Preyler Theatre from Oct. 17 to Oct. 26. The farce comedy is about Tatiana, a Russian grand duchess, and Prince Mikail living in Paris as a housemaid and a butler. John Staniunas, the director of "Tovarich" and a professor at the KU Department of Theatre, said it was one of the most famous plays in the world for more than 20 years. It even became a movie in 1937, but due to changes in theater trends, it lost its popularity.
He said he believes it is time to, bring this part farce, tragic love story to University Theatre.
"To come back to a classic like this, I think it's really important to our students"; Staniunas said.
In addition to its well-constructed writing, "Tovarich" illustrates the history of the Russian Revolution. With the start and collapse of the Russian Revolution as a central time element, the play can teach students about history, Stanianas said.
"The effects that it had on the rest of the world is
something that students need to understand better because if it weren't for Soviet Russia, the world would be a different place," Staniunas said.
Elissa Bowen, a sophomore from Kansas City, Mo., is playing the main character, Tatiana. She said getting used to the character of Tatiana was a challenge.
"It was hard getting into that mindset of 'OK, I am imperial. I am not from Kansas anymore,'" Bowen said.
She added that it has been very educational, despite the difficulties of playing a comedy without much experience.
"I think I've learned a lot from this show, (more than) I thought I would when I came into it," Bowen said.
Seven men and seven women, including many new students to the theater department, are making the play "Tovarich" come to real life. Staniunas said with a lot of words, complex ideas, and deeply driven characters, the cast has been trying to find the deeper meaning in the play and making sure they are telling the story in an accurate, vet humorous, way.
"All the characters are well drawn out, so it's always hard to try to get inside of
someone's skin," Staniunas said.
Despite the complexity of the storyline, Bowen said there are certain moments that will make people laugh.
Showings will be Friday through Sunday of this week and next. Tickets are available online or at the door.
"I know that there are times when I am having trouble on stage not laughing because there are times that are just so absurd and very funny," Bowen said.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
A conversation with SNL writer Colin Jost
CODY SCHMITZ
@Cody_Schmitz
Colin Jost is a busy man. The Harvard graduate joined "Saturday Night Live" as a writer in 2005, became head writer in 2012 and took on the role of co-anchor on the show's "Weekend Update" segment earlier this year. On Oct. 16, Jost will bring his comedic prowess to the University of Kansas with a performance at the Lied Center at 7:30 p.m. Recently, Jost spoke with the Kansan about everything from breakfast cereal to Tina Fey and all things SNL.
KANSAN: First things first, how did you get your first writing job at SNL?
I wrote for this magazine called the (National) Lampoon in college, so I wrote and trained a lot there. Then I worked on an animated show in New York called "Kappa Mikey," which was on Nickelodeon. (I worked there) for about halfway through one episode. Then I submitted some sketches to SNL. I was very fortunate that there was a spot available at the time. I was lucky that Tina Fey and Andrew Steele, who were the head writers, liked something in that packet. They brought me in for an interview. Then I interviewed with (SNL's Executive Producer) Lorne (Michaels), which was very intimidating. I was lucky that I got a chance, and once I got hired, I just tried to work as hard as I could to stay there.
KANSAN: Who did you write with most frequently?
JUST I kind of wrote with everyone who was there. I ended up writing a decent amount with Andy Samberg because we started at the same time. Jason (Sudeikis), Bill (Hader), we all started together. I kind of liked bouncing around and writing with a lot of different people. That's kind of the fun part of the job. You can write with Kristen (Wiig) one week and write with Bobby' (Moynihan) the next week. It was fun. And there were also writers that I liked working with, too. Rob Klein, who's now the other head writer, he and I wrote together a lot. John Solomon, who is a great writer. We ended up writing a lot together.
KANSAN: You started writing at SNL at age 22. Was it intimidating to start at such a young age?
JUST Yeah, but the nice thing is, when you're that age, you don't know any better. You're a little bit young to be overly worried. So, there's nothing else to do except try to do things that you think are funny and try not to worry about it because worrying about it doesn't really help you. You have enough anxiety with just the day-to-day without getting into an existential crisis out of the gate.
KANSAN: Do you remember the first sketch you wrote or helped write that made it on the air?
JUST Yeah, for my first episode I wrote a sketch with Eric Kenward, who's another writer, and Bill Hader. It was an idea I pitched. We wrote it, and it was the first sketch of the night after the monologue. It was Steve Carell and Amy Poehler. They were on a Jet Blue flight and they were watching their own crash happen on their Jet Blue TVs. Kenward helped me a lot with that, and it made it on which was cool to have a sketch on your first show.
KANSAN: Speaking of sketches, is there a sketch that you had a hand in or a character that you would say you're the most proud of?
JUST Yeah, it's very satisfying to write something for a cast member that works as a character. For example, writing Drunk Uncle with Bobby or even Justin Bieber for Kate (McKinnon). Cecily (Strong) too, doing "Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party." It's cool that those were something that a cast member scored with. It's fun to see.
'KANSAN: Switching over, how did you make the transition to head writer?
JOIST It was kind of a gradual thing. A few years after I was there, I was promoted to supervising writer. In retrospect, I was probably being groomed a little bit to keep moving up. As a supervising writer, I started being in different meetings with Lorne and having very minor input on the show (as to) what would make it or what wouldn't. So when I eventually became head
writer with Seth (Meyers), it was a natural process because I had already been doing the things that a head writer does. I just didn't have the full anxiety of that job.
KANSAN: As the head writer, did you find it hard to learn to say, "This is what I think and I'm standing by it?"
JUST Yeah, I think so. I think it's about both trusting yourself and it's also important to start trusting people around you. There's a balance there. I think you really need to believe in what you're doing, but if everyone's telling you, "Hey, this isn't a good idea," there's probably a reason for it. Sometimes you say, "You know what, I really have a clear vision for this and I think it's really funny and I want to push for it," and it may never get made, but you pick your battles in that way.
KANSAN: Who did you grow up watching on "Weekend Update"?
JUST I saw a decent range of anchors, but the sweet spot for me was Norm Macdonald. He was there exactly when I was watching the show the most. So he was sort of my idea of Weekend Update when I was younger.
KANSAN: Do you cite him as an influence comedically?
an influence comedically. 1057. Yeah, definitely. I feel like with SNL there's people from a bunch of different generations that really influenced me. There were people who didn't do Update too, like Chris Farley or Adam Sandler or people who were on SNL who I later discovered in a whole other way, like Chris Rock. It's a range of people who, when I was a kid, were just the funniest people I'd ever seen.
KANSAN: As far as standup goes, do you see a difference between performing at colleges and a comedy club?
JOSH Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, colleges are interesting because people at college usually have less life experience to draw on. They have very full lives, but, for example, they haven't had years at a job where you can make jokes about "how an office is." And people are just starting to have more meaningful relationships, so they haven't been doing that for years either. So it's harder to
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Kansan sat down with Colin Jost, a co-anchor for Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update." Jost will be at the Lied Center on Oct. 16
FIVE FINAL QUESTIONS:
2) What is your favorite aquatic animal?
1) Favorite and least favorite Halloween costume you've ever worn?
"Favorite is Wolverine. It was a bright yellow, very unflattering Wolverine costume that I definitely wore for like, a couple of years in college. Which is just an unacceptable costume, but I did it.
Least favorite... I think I was dressed up as an apple juice box when I was young. Like, a box of Mott's apple juice made out of a weird cardboard box."
2) What is your favorite aquatic animal?
"I've go to go shark. Shall the way. If the shark stops swimming forward it dies. That's a really nice way to think about our lives."
3) Favorite breakfast cereal?
"I would say Frosted Mini-Wheats."
4) First concert you ever went to?
"s saw Meatball in Cincinnati, Ohio, with my aunt."
5) Favorite TV show at the moment?
5) Favorite TV show at the moment?
“At the moment... I really enjoy ‘Comedy Bang Bang.’ I don’t know what else I’m caught up on right now. I’m pretty excited for the season ending of ‘Mad Men,’ exclamation clips preemptively said.”
make a joke like, "Oh, dating's so tough" because everyone in college is like, "What do you mean? It's the greatest thing ever. Why would something be wrong with it?" So it's just a slightly different set of material that I'll do at a college versus
a club. But it's also really fun because college students are really smart. You can do things that are sillier but hopefully still smart, and college students like it.
Edited by Kelsey Phillips
Alumni brings celebration of devotion to Lawrence
JOHN GRIFFIN/KANSAN
Yoga instructor for Be Moved Studios Katie Winslow practices her poses.
A festival celebrating Bhakti will be held in Lawrence this week.
DELANEY REYBURN
@DelaneyReyburn
A two-day festival celebrating devotion to the spirit of Bhakti through chanting, yoga and meditation is making its way to Lawrence on Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19. The Bhakti Festival will feature bands leading
THE KIRTAN
THE KIRTAN "Kirtan refers to call-
kirtan chanting, yoga classes,a veggie feast and a workshop led by special guest Karnamrita.
Larry Carter, a KU alum and producer of the Festival, said Bhakti is known as the spirit of deep devotion in which all its presenters embody to inspire their love and devotion as one community through an array of activities such as yoga and music.
response chanting, usually in Sanskrit and usually repeating the names and/or attributes of deities from the Hindu spiritual beliefs," Carter said. "Kirtan is much very like going to an old-time revival meeting, but without the sermons and the 'fire and brimstone' admonitions."
He said typically there is a moment of silence after a chant as the audience and performers bask in the
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