arts & culture
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KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 2016
Aries
(March 21-April 19)
Balance a full schedule by postponing what you can and preparing for an endurance, rather than speed, race. Minimize fussing. Take in healthy foods and regular
Taurus
Gemini
(April 20-May 20)
Fun is your main priority.
Get together with some favorite people to play an exciting game. Encourage a mutual obsession. Share the latest. Level up your skills and practice your arts
and practice your arts.
Cancer
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Focus attention on family and home matters. Plumbing repairs take priority. Finish what you begin. Make messes and clean them. Dig in the garden. Have fun
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Use your persuasive gifts
Use your persuasive gifts.
Share your view and
invite others to participate.
Anticipate logistical needs,
and make arrangements.
Organize and network for maximum connection. Reach out and touch someone.
Leo
(July 23-Aug. 22)
There's potential for an income surge. This could be a lucky break; make a dash for it! Ask for support, if necessary. Brains beat brawn.
Focus on love.
Virgo 23-Sept. 22
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You're on top of your game. Another goal accomplished! Start a fresh page. Make personal changes that you've been wanting. Study from an expert. Consider tactics and strategies.
Alex Robinson/KANSAN
Libra
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Complete previous work before launching anew. Clean, file and put away supplies and equipment. Strengthen organizational structures and routines. Recharge
Scorpio
and routines. Recharge spiritual batteries with peace and beauty.
Sagittarius
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Team games are more fun than solo efforts. Others can see what you're missing.
Your skills improve faster with coaching. Throw parties and meetings for brainstorming.
Savannah Rodgers on the set of "Welcome to M.A." Rodgers' newest project, "Poly," is in preproduction.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Practice makes perfect. A challenge requires honing your chops. A rise in status is possible. Keep studying and use tested tricks. You're bigger than your fears. Go
Capricorn
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Make dreams and plans for the future. Don't fall for a con. Research different opportunities, and select for durability and long-term value. Travel is a distinct
option.
Aquarius n. 20-Feb. 187
(Jan. 20-Feb.18) Join forces with another for funding. Changes necessitate budget revisions. Financial planning eases a worry. Be strategic, rather than impulsive now. Provide motivation and encouragement.
Pisces
Pisces (Feb.19-March 20)
A partner's opinion is important; coming in loud and clear. Love can resolve a challenge. Give it your full attention. Have a meaningful conversation. Confess
your true feelings.
University filmmaker uses crowdfunding to create 'Poly,' an LGBTQ+ comedy series
CAMERON MCGOUGH @cammcgough
Savannah Rodgers, a senior from Olathe studying film and media studies, has been making her own short films for the past two and a half years. Rodgers has served as a writer, director and producer on most of her projects, among many other roles.
Rodgers is now using her filmmaking experience to take her career to the next level. Her newest project, co-created along with Riley Oregard, is "Poly," a comedy that follows a group of three polyamorous individuals: AJ, Cricket and Jake. Together, they try to navigate the struggle of leading an unconventional lifestyle in the heart of conservative Midwestern suburbia.
The project will be produced under her own film company, Professional Amateur Productions, which focuses mostly on LGBTQ+
issues, social commentary and feminism. She said she aims for her projects to highlight issues that are not commonly included in mainstream television and film.
"Marginalized people feel underrepresented on TV. I know I've never seen a character that I thought represented me on a TV show or in a movie," Rodgers said. "So what I'm trying to do is provide representation and tell interesting stories and kind of subvert expectations through the LGBTQ genre. If they [the audience] have a strong reaction to something I did, then I did my job right."
The pilot for "Poly" is currently in preproduction, and the funding to produce the project is still being collected via the Seed&Spark New Voice Rally, a crowd funding initiative dedicated to raising money for the production of new independent television programs.
In addition, this platform provides increased visibility for the project. In order for the vision of Rodgers and her team to come to fruition, the goal of raising $12,000 must be met. Rodgers said this first step in raising funds is incredibly crucial to the success of the project.
If sufficient funds are raised via Seed&Spark, the
"Entertainment has never, ever been free. I don't know why people would think that this could be free There are tangible goals at the end of this campaign We have a plan," Rodgers said. "We are marketable, and we are trying to build our audience ... If you support our show by contributing funds to this campaign, it will make an important impact that will allow us to make the show because executives don't think that marginalized folks are going to show up for shows that represent them."
pilot for "Poly" will be shot in the Kansas City area. Rodgers said she intends on entering the finished product into the festival circuit, most notably SeriesFest, an international television festival. If accepted into SeriesFest, "Poly" would has the potential to be picked up by major television producers. The project would also have the potential to earn a straight-to-series order through the media company Fullscreen.
Patrick Rea, producer of "Poly," has been working with Rodgers on various projects of his own since 2014. Rea said he is confident in Rodgers and this project.
"I think Savannah has a very cool and fresh concept with 'Poly' that will lend itself brilliantly to the web series format, and I am very excited to be involved," Rea said. "Savannah has proved to not only be a very talented up-and-coming
filmmaker, but also a great person."
In the current preproduction stage, the success of "Poly" is still largely dependent on the success of the crowd funding campaign. Without sufficient funds, "Poly" is unlikely to be made. Rodgers said she believes her project is a worthwhile investment that has the ability to positively impact society.
"I think the nature of 'Poly' is something that the world needs. There needs to be more LGBTQ representation, intersectional feminism within media, and that's what I'm striving for," Rodgers said. "I have a lot of confidence now because I've done some shorts and they've been successful, but I also have the most amazing crew and actors that I work with to where I think that even if everything went to hell, we would have each other and we would have something we're proud of."
Review: Theatre Lawrence's 'A Chorus Line'
▶ ALYSSA HOEDL
@AHoedl
Theatre Lawrence began its 40th season with a classic, "A Chorus Line," a musical about dancers auditioning to be in the chorus of a new show. It was first produced in 1975 and played on Broadway for 15 years. The musical won nine Tony Awards as well as the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, one of the few musicals to win this honor.
Because of its hardcore dancing and touchy subject matter, many theaters shy away from performing it, however, Theatre Lawrence embraced the difficulties and performed the show just how it should be.
Before announcing any sort of start to the show, actors start coming out onto the stage to stretch as if they were at an audition. After a couple minutes, they are called offstage, and an announcement is made regarding the show starting.
The cast of "A Chorus Line" performs the iconic final number of the show.
Having the actors come on stage before the show actually started was a nice intro to the show. Although it took you in and out of the show quickly, it was fun to see the actors as if they were really preparing to audition for a show.
Alyssa Hoedl/KANSAN
The ensemble vocals throughout the entire show were strong and the acting was solid. Although the dancing wasn't quite as challenging as the original Broadway production, the entire cast danced full-out and was engaged the entire show.
Standouts from the cast were Cassidy Ragland (Diana), Robert Crone (Paul), Josh Eisenhauer (Bobby) and Amanda McCoy (Val).
Ragland's song "Nothing" and her leading vocals in "What I Did For Love" were two of the best songs in the show. Her strong vocals matched with her intense acting created scenes
Crone, though he didn't have a song to himself, was definitely one of the strongest actors in the show. Paul's monologue at the end of the show moves people to tears and Crone performed it exactly how it should be.
that pulled the audience in and didn't let them leave until the songs were over.
Eisenhauer and McCoy provided some of the comedy relief in the show and were well-rounded performers that were enjoyable to watch. Peter Hansen (Zach, Director) was a good actor but he seemed a little old to be playing Zach.
All in all, Theatre Lawrence's production of "A
Chorus Line" was satisfying and stayed true to the original Broadway classic. The musical's final performances will be this weekend. For tickets and more information, visit theatrelawrence.com.
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