Volume 125 Issue 82
kansan.com
Monday, March 4, 2013
CHARITY
EMILY WITTLER/KANSAN
Alex McElvain and Andrea Schmid, students at the University of Kansas, dance on-stage March 1st during Rock Chalk Revue: All Bets Are Off, at the Lied Center. McElvain and Schmid played lead characters in Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Chi's performance "Birds of a Feather."
Students perform at annual Rock Chalk Revue variety show
EMMA LEGAULT
elegault@kansan.com
It's been a long road filled with months of planning, preparation and rehearsals for the more than 70 members of the annual variety show. Rock Chalk Revue.
The show, which took place Thursday through Saturday, has been in the works since planning began last spring. Auditions occurred in late fall, and out of 12 entries, five acts were chosen in November to compose the program.
Taylor Renft, a senior from Prairie Village, has been involved with the annual show for the past four years, holding titles from chorus member to now, co-executive director.
"After being a director last year, I knew that co-executive director was something I was really interested in going out for," Renft said. "Rock Chalk Revue has given me some of the best memories of my college career, and I wanted to be able to help people create those memories."
As a co-executive director, Renft has helped plan the show with the 19 other members of the advisory board. The board worked to promote, fundraise and coordinate the business aspects of the show.
During the last months of rehearsals, Renft oversaw each of the five original musicals. While there weren't any major issues, the process wasn't always smooth, Renft said.
"There were definitely a lot of ups and downs throughout this process, and we got thrown a curve ball a time or two." Renft said. "I think there were times when Katie Lewis and I were concerned with shows not progressing at the speed they should have been."
After a pep talk, however, things always got back on track. Seeing
the five individual shows evolve was the most rewarding experience for Renft.
"I saw where each show started, and the amount that they have all grown from that point in incredible," Renft said. "The directors put in so much time and work with each of the shows, and it definitely paid off."
Renft first saw the shows on stage during technical rehearsals at the Lied Center.
"I kind of just had a moment and sat back like, 'Wow, we did it,' she said.
Members of the stage crew were responsible for stage setup and clearing and moving various pieces on and off the stage throughout the five acts.
The 50 performers had their share of the spotlight last weekend, but the more low-key stage crew was integral to the show's success.
Working around and staying clear of the performers while moving cumbersome and heavy pieces was a challenge for the crew.
"I never realized exactly what a stage crew actually had to put into pulling off a performance and how accommodating they are to the actors and dancers," Podrebarac said.
Having previously been in performing roles, Hillary Podrebarac, a freshman from Lenexa, gained a different perspective as a member of the stage crew.
"They're (the performers) the most important part, and I didn't want any of the set parts or the crew to get in their way and mess them up," Podrebara said.
While they are a "behind-the-scenes" group, the stage crew wasn't completely hidden from the audience.
"We all act professional, but we are seen quite a bit in some shows by the audience, which I don't really like." Podrebarac said. "But we don't draw attention to ourselves, and the shows are still amazing, so it isn't a big deal."
Just like an offstage performer must keep up with what's happening on stage, the stage crew had to pay attention during the shows.
"Mostly, the crew needs to listen and wait for our cues, but it is important to have a general sense of what is going on in each show so that you don't miss something or come in late," Podrebarac said.
Once selected as a Rock Chalk Revue act, organizations must write a script and music for a 20-minute original musical. The groups then audition for individual roles and direct, choreograph and rehearse the show, sometimes for hours a day.
Having heard about the show before coming to the University, Wichita freshman India Cohlmia was determined to be a part of it early on.
"From the stories I had heard, it just sounded like it was so much fun and that it was a great experience," Cohlmia said.
Cohlma was cast as "Ant Joke" in the one act "Jokes On You" by members of Kappa Delta and Sigma Nu.
"There haven't been many shows that I've been in where I look forward to going to practice every day, but Rock Chalk Revue is definitely one of them," Cohlmia said. "We came into this as separate cast members, but we walked out as great
Cohlma said although they had to focus on staying productive, being part of an extremely close cast is something she will treasure.
As a freshman, Cohlmia said she was just happy to be a part of the experience.
friends that had an incredible time together."
"The most rewarding thing for me has been feeling like I am part of something that people love." Cohlmia said. "Rock Chalk Revue is such a wonderful tradition that encourages creativity and forces people out of their comfort zone."
Claire Inman, a sophomore from Leawood, performed in Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Kappa Phi's production of "The Catcher Gone Awry"
Music and performing arts play an important role in Inman's life, so when the opportunity to compete in Rock Chalk Revue arose, she jumped at the chance. She was cast as Luna Sanderson, a smart yet sassy young girl constantly working on a project to help a "dream factory"
Rehearsals on top of already hectic schedules meant sometimes things were chaotic, but Inman said the group dynamics and watching the show come together made the experience worth it.
"By the last show, we were so proud and so confident in our show that we could hardly contain our excitement, and that showed," Inman said.
Inman won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Luna Sanderson, but she said the most rewarding aspect of Rock Chalk Revue was the friendships she made.
"I have learned so much and have come out of this experience with so much to be proud of," Inman said. "That wouldn't have been possible without the amazing people I shared this experience with."
OBITUARY
Edited by Allison Hammond
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Courtney Newman, who passed away at Eilsworth Residence Hall last Thursday, will be remembered by the campus community as a thoughtful, outgoing and hardworking young woman.
University mourns loss of student, celebrates her life
EMILY DONOVAN edonovan@kansan.com
Thoughtful, outgoing and hard working only begin to describe Courtney Newman's legacy. Newman, who passed away at Ellsworth Residence Hall Thursday evening, was an enthusiastic student who was heavily involved in campus activities, including her role as a resident assistant. KU Alerts reported the death, stating that the campus police had found no evidence of foul play.
"Courtney was really energetic, very positive, optimistic, focused, driven," Carynn Smith, Courtney's cousin and a graduate student studying higher education administration, said. "She knew that the sky was the limit. She was really destined to do something with her life."
Smith considered Newman, who was an only child, like a little sister. The two grew up together and continued to share the University, resident assistant experiences and time spent together in their sorority.
"She was so well liked because what she did, she did with a smile on her face, because she wanted to do it," Smith said. "She never complained about anything. She didn't take anything for granted — everything that she did was something that she felt that she wanted to do to help people become better people or to get involved."
Newman, a senior from Leavenworth, was expected to graduate in May with a double major in psychology and sociology. Described as an enthusiastic
"She loved all ages of people," said Newman's mother, Lori Carrell. "From infants to seniors, she loved every age of a person."
Newman, who was also involved in groups such as the Black Student Union and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, worked to include students. She loved her job as a resident assistant, keeping a craft area in her room devoted to creating door decorations and posters to help her residents feel engaged.
As treasurer for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Newman would go above and beyond the call of duty to help organize events. Through Zeta Phi Beta, which sponsors the Stork's Nest Program, promoting prenatal medical care for low-income pregnant women, Newman had organized the Baby Shower Fundraiser to collect clothes, toys and other baby items to donate to women in need. The event, Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Big 12 Room at the Kansas Union, will now also recognize Newman's passing.
"People at KU that knew her or didn't know her, they will see her as a very generous person," Smith said. "And she loved to smile."
Index
Funeral services open to the public will be held at the end of this week at Independent Baptist Church at 601 Pottawatomie Street in Leavenworth. A date and time haven't been decided yet.
student, she worked with professors and could be found asking questions and offering insights from her desk in the front of any classroom.
CLASSIFIEDS 9B
CROSSWORD 5A
CRYPTOQUIPS 5A
OPINION 4A
SPORTS 1B
SUDOKU 5A
ents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
Edited by Brian Sisk
Don't forget
Support your seniors tonight at the men's basketball game. It's at 6 p.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
Today's Weather
Afternoon showers with a 40 percent chance of rain. NE wind at 12 mph.
Bring yo' umbrella-ella-uh