“Big Top MTC” to offer musical escape for all students

Need some positivity as finals week approaches? Geneseo’s Musical Theatre Club will be opening its biannual revue show, “Big Top MTC,” on Friday Dec. 2. Each semester, MTC gathers together some of their favorite numbers around a single theme. This year, they’re taking Geneseo to the circus. Past semesters have seen such themes as superheroes or revolutions, but this year’s “Big Top” theme is sure to please. Students should not only be prepared for crazy costumes and characters when seeing the performance—they should also be prepared to laugh.

Since the show is a revue, the audience will be treated to musical numbers from a variety of popular shows including “Hamilton,” “Legally Blonde,” “Something Rotten” and High School Musical. But don’t expect them to sound like the old show tunes you’ve heard countless times before, as MTC has hidden a few tricks up their sleeves to give the show some Geneseo flare. (Picture the cast of “Legally Blonde” hanging out at the Statesman.)

Some of these tunes are also used to introduce the audience to members of the group. All the students who joined the club this fall—who have dubbed themselves as “The Flash”—will perform the “New Kid Song.” Additionally, the entire group will perform the opening number, called “Welcome to Wonderland,” which pokes fun at the alumni who are sure to be sitting in the front row. In addition to song and dance, there will also be short, humorous skits interspersed between numbers in order to break up the evening.

While it seems to be all fun and games on stage, there’s also an incredible amount of hard work that goes into these shows. Students spend many weekend mornings rehearsing; during the final week of rehearsal, the students sometimes don’t leave Wadsworth Auditorium until after 1 a.m. But for these students, it hardly seems like work. MTC isn’t just a club—it’s a community for its members.

“It’s not so much rehearsing as it is, to me just being with my friends,” MTC member and musical theater and communication double major sophomore Erin Burris said.

But more than just a social outlet, MTC is also a team that encourages everyone to shine and to grow together by doing what they love.

“It’s a very ensemble-driven show,” Burris said, “and that kind of humbles me, and I think [it] humbles everyone because we’re all working [together] ... we’re all featured in our own ways. We’re all shining, but we’re all shining together.”

There is a place for everyone in MTC, whether or not you’re a musical theater major like Burris and others. The club welcomes many different types of students, such as education majors, English majors and even physics and math majors. MTC is a unifying force among students, according to biology major junior Yvette May.

“This one thing brings us all together,” May said.

This club and all of its performances are entirely student run. Consequently, cast members really get to experience first-hand all the components that go into putting on a spectacular show.

“Big Top MTC” has two shows: one will be on Friday Dec. 2 and another on Saturday Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. It’s sure to revive and to delight any tired brain. And who knows, you may spot the guy in your science class or the quiet girl in the library dancing in a kick line and singing their hearts out.

Harry Potter prequel: same magical world, new spellbinding story

The highly anticipated prequel to J.K. Rowling’s wildly successful Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, premiered on Nov. 18. The movie was met with overwhelmingly positive responses from critics and audiences alike. Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne expertly plays the film’s main character Newt Scamander, wizard employee at the Ministry of Magic and future author of the Hogwarts textbook for which the movie is named. The movie also stars Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, Ron Perlman and Colin Farrell in supporting roles, with a special cameo from Johnny Depp.

From the outset, this prequel is different from its famous predecessors. Unlike the Harry Potter series, which takes place exclusively in England, this movie opens up in New York City. It follows Newt as he lands in New York en route to Arizona and accidentally swaps bags with Muggle—or “no-maj”—Jacob Kowalski, played by Folger. The catch? Newt’s bag isn’t your typical luggage, but an expanding suitcase full of magical creatures. Jacob accidentally releases several of the creatures into the city and they work together to help track the missing beasts.

Newt was often mentioned in passing in the Harry Potter books and movies because his book, which details different types of magical creatures, was a staple Hogwarts textbook. This movie, however, is an opportunity to delve deeper into a tiny facet of the magical world of Harry Potter, forming Newt into a fully developed character with his own adventures, missteps and sidekicks.

The film is refreshing in its ability to avoid classic slip-ups often taken when popular movie franchises attempt to continue their success by drawing out the series. This can often result in poor direction, lack of audience interest and subpar storytelling.

With a series as widely renowned and successful as Harry Potter, this is an issue that could have easily come up in Fantastic Beasts. The charm of the original series is one that simply cannot be replicated, and this fictional world continues to enrapture audiences around the world today. The magic of the Harry Potter series lies in its novelty, and any attempt to recreate that may take away some of the enchantment.

But this is absolutely not the case in Fantastic Beasts. The prequel manages to avoid falling into these typical Hollywood sequel/prequel tropes.

Its stunning visuals and rich mythology come together in a way that makes the franchise entirely its own, but at the same time brings along with it the familiarity of a world many people around the globe have come to regard as a second home. The fundamental essence of the Harry Potter world is present, but this movie manages to stand independent of Harry and his circle of friends.

Newt was never a central character, or even supporting character in the original franchise; rather, he was a background figure. By giving him his own movie and by exploring the different facets of Harry Potter’s magical world—which so many long to be a part of—Rowling and her team are able to bring joy to magic lovers everywhere, all without exhausting a story that has already been told.

SPOTLIGHT ON: Evan Goldstein

It’s no secret that Geneseo’s art community has been put on the back burner ever since the termination of the college’s studio art department in the fall of 2014. But one student is actively working to keep artistic creativity alive on campus. English creative writing major senior Evan Goldstein works to promote and to publish student artistic efforts across campus, emphasizing Geneseo’s raw talent and creative capabilities, in addition to his own. It all started when poet Erika Meitner came to campus two years ago to discuss her documentary poetry. Goldstein, along with other Geneseo students, sat down to have lunch with her and were inspired by Meitner’s attitude toward the social responsibility of artists.

From there they hatched the idea to begin Guerrilla—an on-campus literary organization that focuses on making student’s visual art, poetry and short fiction accessible to wider audiences by publishing it in public spaces.

As one of this group’s cofounders, Goldstein strives to make student art on campus not only appreciated, but also visible.

“[In Guerrilla] we’ve been trying to get poetry and other student art out into the public so people can see it and know it’s there,” Goldstein said. It’s about letting the college community know “that the arts didn’t die with the art program,” according to Goldstein.

Goldstein also promotes student creative work through Gandy Dancer—Geneseo’s literary journal—where he acts as managing editor along with English and French double major senior Oliver Diaz. In the past, Goldstein has published his own poetry in the journal and participated as its poetry editor, leading a group of peers who select the poems to be published. The journal is run by a different group of students each semester as a part of professor of English Rachel Hall’s English 426: Editing and Production Workshop.

“The school needs to support the arts more and a lot of students want that,” Goldstein said. “People are still sad about the death of the arts department, and angry about it too. Students generally want a place where we can gather and make art.”

Goldstein joined the creative writing track during his freshman year after realizing he had enjoyed writing since middle school. Almost immediately, he took a particular interest in poetry workshops and from there decided to focus on refining his skills in the genre.

“I used poetry to hone down each individual word and learn the craft on a small level,” he said. “I like the actual act of making a small intricate thing that works perfectly. [In a poem] everything has to be right; there’s pressures on your words,” he continued. “You can almost chisel out of the page this small beautiful thing that expresses something true.”

When writing, Goldstein tends to focus on the relationship between human beings and political events. In fact, Goldstein was able to further develop this artistic goal when he obtained an ambassadorship through Geneseo’s Center for Inquiry, Discovery and Development during the summer of 2015.

After studying photographer Robert Frank—who, in the 1950s, traveled across the United States over a period of nine months while taking photographs and documenting them in his book The Americans—Goldstein decided to do something similar. He drove around the country, recording people and places in snapshots of poetry.

Over about eight weeks, Goldstein traveled to a handful of states, documenting what he could, which included landscapes, conversations, how people live and the social tensions present in our country.

While he had some ideas of where to go, he never had a concrete schedule or plan. As he was rather out of his comfort zone and far from home, Goldstein talked to and learned from local residents, finding that most people really enjoyed talking about their own lives.

From the ambassadorship, Goldstein hopes to compile his work into a poetic collection that examines the American landscape and the social conditions of our time. He hopes to publish the collection at some point, but for right now he’s just focused on getting all of his writing out on the table.

As for the future, Goldstein is not so sure. He knows that careers in the creative writing track are “limited,” but it still “brings him a lot of joy just to write.”

Hopefully he’ll be doing just that as he attempts to promote his own work and the work of others in the coming years.

Battles administration neglects FLO’s assets by defunding the program

The college administration and President Denise Battles’ recent decision to defund the Finger Lakes Opera came as a shock to many and a concern to more. This decision reflects the administration’s blatant disregard for the arts and reveals a mindset that is counterproductive to the mission of the college. Initially created back in 2013, FLO had strong support from the Geneseo administration. In the years following its formation, the company successfully staged one full-length production and one small show each summer. An incredibly valuable resource for internships, the opera company provided real-world experiences and opportunities for the college’s music majors–which are extremely hard to come by in this particular field.

Additionally, FLO offered internship opportunities for non-music majors in the areas of technical theatre, arts administration, marketing and more. Through these opportunities, FLO was able to give Geneseo students a competitive edge that prepared them for real world careers—unlike all other colleges in the SUNY system, none of which host a professional opera company. In fact, FLO would have eventually put Geneseo in the same category as private universities with similar programs.

Just this past summer, FLO developed an educational outreach program for children as well as a weeklong intensive vocal camp for high school students. Had the opera been able to continue this growth, there’s no doubt it would have doubled its internships and opportunities for Geneseo students and would have become a valuable recruiting tool for the college through its high school programs.

The main problem for the administration was the opera’s finances. Although the opera was growing financially, the college still provided a portion of the company’s funding and FLO still relied on Geneseo for the use of its facilities. The opera ran a small deficit this summer and “a feasible pathway toward financial sustainability has not materialized,” according to a statement sent by President Battles to the college community.

This statement is inaccurate, however. In actuality, the administration failed to consider all options available in order to keep FLO running at Geneseo. In a gross error on the part of the college, donors were contacted after the decision had been made to cease funding the opera. Had donors been contacted before making the final decision, the college may have been able to erase the opera’s small deficit.

The decision is also concerning in light of Battles’ recent email request, asking for proposals from students and faculty on how to generate revenue for the college. Although she requested help from the college community in this respect, Battles failed to do the same when it came to making the decision to defund FLO.

Angered and concerned, select students have repeatedly contacted and met with Battles, asking her to consider the wider impact this decision may have on both the college and local community.

As previously stated, however, the potential for future growth and internships far outweighed the potential fiscal cost to the college—a cost that could have been alleviated if donors had been contacted.

The college administration acted unilaterally and showed a blatant disregard for student interests. As students at a liberal arts university, we ought to be deeply troubled by this apparent disdain for the arts, which are essential for the complete education of any individual. It was not just an opera company being questioned, but a source of solace in troubled times, a way to improve the college’s reputation and a representation of Geneseo’s views on the arts and humanities.

The mission of the college is supposedly to “advance knowledge and inspire students to be socially responsible and globally aware citizens who are prepared for an enriched life and success in the world.” But how can this goal possibly be achieved when art opportunities and programs are being ruthlessly cut by those whose job it is to ensure that Geneseo’s students benefit from a well-rounded, liberal arts education?

Going forward, the college community must strongly and vocally oppose further cuts to the arts at Geneseo.

Revival series a welcome return to cozy, quirky town

Netflix released its long-anticipated revival series: “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” on Friday Nov. 25. Consisting of four 90-minute parts—one for each season of the year—the series takes us through an entire year of fast-talking, coffee gulping and town meeting shenanigans. The entirety of the revival was written by the original “Gilmore Girls” creator and writer Amy Sherman-Palladino and husband Daniel Palladino. The series begins in one of Lorelei and Rory’s most beloved seasons—winter. We are warmly welcomed back into the picturesque town of Stars Hollow as Rory returns home for a visit with her mother Lorelei. The beginning of the series answers all the questions devoted “Gilmore Girls” fans have been holding in their hearts for years.

In each episode we return to one of Stars Hollow’s quirky festivals—in one episode we watch as the town’s resident control freak Taylor plans a musical.

After years of wondering, we learn that our favorite bookworm has had quite a successful career as a journalist and writer for The New Yorker. Meanwhile, most will be relieved to find out that her quirky mother has been with her diner-owning boyfriend Luke for nearly nine years and is still running The Dragonfly Inn. At the Inn things are status quo, although Sookie has taken some time off and Michel is beginning to feel restless.

The series does not neglect the death of actor Edward Herrmann, who played everyone’s favorite grandfather, Richard Gilmore. We learn that his character has passed away as well, and his death serves as an important point around which the revival is fixed. The series serves up a classic Gilmore fight, as Lorelei argues with her perfectionist mother Emily over something Lorelei says at her father’s funeral.

We also learn the fate of Rory’s hilariously intelligent school friend Paris, who, after all her hard work at Yale, is working at a fertility clinic. We discover that she has broken up with her long-time boyfriend Doyle and has two children.

Although we are more than happy to simply experience the wonderfully wacky town of Stars Hollow, fans of the show knew that there had to be more in the cards for this eccentric mother-daughter duo. And the series does not disappoint.

Though some may argue that the overall plot linking these four seasonal parts may appear weak, these revival episodes were intended to give the show’s fans just a little more time with their favorite characters—and this the series achieves masterfully.

We are immersed once again in the witty banter between the Gilmore women, watch as powerful matriarch Emily passive aggressively takes down those who don’t meet her standards, worry over the fate of Luke and Lorelei and laugh at the quirks of the small town in which they live. Just like the original series, this revival captures the journey of Lorelei and Rory as they navigate professional life and personal relationships.

Each of the impressive women in this series feel lost. Although the series is known to serve up hilariously odd situations, we see that the Gilmore women are struggling with issues we’ve all come up against. Whether it be loss of work, relationship doubts or moving on to a new, unknown way of living, the revival perfectly captures the circle of life through three generations of women.

But don’t be fooled—this revival wouldn’t be complete without shocks and scandals. The final four words, which Sherman-Palladino has had locked and loaded for years now, have been kept secret since the original series began. Cementing the show’s theme of the transience of life and love that holds us together, the words are surprising to say the least, and have viewers everywhere screaming for more.

Students celebrate upcoming National Book Review Month with homemade bookmarks

The weather is getting colder, the holiday season is approaching and Geneseo students are starting to feel that end-of-semester stress. As things start to pick up, it’s important to remember to take some time for yourself—and what better way to recharge than curling up with a good book? The Geneseo Writers’ House, located in the North Village at Seneca Hall, hosted a DIY Bookmarking event on Tuesday Nov. 15. Students made and decorated their own bookmarks, drank cups of hot tea and entered for a chance to win a Barnes & Noble gift card. But besides providing an opportunity to relax and to get a little crafty, the event was also in preparation for National Book Review Month, which is coming up in February.

NaRMo is a month dedicated to the all-too-often neglected practice of reading, writing and sharing book reviews. The literary celebration was started here at Geneseo a year ago by assistant professor of English Lytton Smith, along with English major senior Nicole Sheldon and Editor and Production Manager Allison Brown. This year, junior English major Heather Molzon has joined the NaRMo team and together, she and Sheldon put on the DIY Bookmarking event.

Many readers forget to consider the importance of a good—or bad—book review. As students, we’re all on a tight schedule, so setting aside time to read may already be a challenge. This is where NaRMo comes in. Reviews can be useful in quickly finding that book you know you’re really going to enjoy.

Writing a review can also be particularly valuable and rewarding for any bookworm out there. Putting your thoughts down on paper in the form of a review can bring clarity to your own understanding of what you’ve read, and it can provide an opportunity to let the world know about a book you loved. Even if the review isn’t all positive, it encourages critical thinking, it enhances the ability to analyze a work and it can help a reader to determine the kinds of literature they like most—not to mention it helps others to decide whether or not to read a particular book.

The bookmarking event in Writers’ House was a way to encourage people to pick up a book during these busy times and to bring it home with them over break. Then, students can write a review when they come back to Geneseo at the end of January—just in time for NaRMo.

Students post reviews on the NaRMo website, with categories including fiction, drama, poetry and even children’s books. Reviews can be posted on the website at any time, but the NaRMo team has plans to fill the month of February with different literary-related events. There will be cozy, laid-back events similar to the one on Tuesday in addition to possible readings or speakers visiting the college.

Molzon and Sheldon said that although this tradition is only in its second year, they hope to grow and expand it with more campus events, the power of social media and—most of all—student support. Their goal is to put it on the map alongside other widely celebrated literary “months,” such as National Poetry Month and National Novel Writing Month.

It is projects like NaRMo that help create depth and intellectual diversity in the Geneseo campus and community. If NaRMo can encourage students to get the ball rolling in February, think of the positive impact it could have on the academic careers of its participants. So pick your book for winter break and be sure to leave room in your calendar on Jan. 31 for the NaRMo launch party—you’ll be sure to start the spring semester ahead of the game.

Alaskan poet shares traditional culture, appreciation for environment

The Geneseo Literary Forum invites international and local writers to Livingston County to give readings, run workshops and visit classes each year. The campus welcomed Joan Naviyuk Kane, an award winning Inupiaq poet who currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday Nov. 10. Kane’s poetry centers on themes of movement and nature, as well as ecological, domestic and historical shifts in time. Set in her homeland of Alaska, her work also incorporates the customs of Alaska’s indigenous Inupiaq people.

Kane grew up in Anchorage, but her family is originally from King Island, before they were forcibly relocated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the mid-20th century. Her latest collection, Hyperboreal, sits on a border between cultures and between the past and the future. Through this collection, Kane reveals a way of life that is unfamiliar to many of us—one that has developed and endured in the beautifully striking, stark conditions of the far north.

During the reading, she read poetry in both English and the Inupiaq language, flowing from one to the other so naturally that the audience was taken into the world of her people. The unfamiliar sounds and patterns of speech—so different from English—were so captivating they left the audience hanging on every word. Her voice itself had a rhythm, as if it were moving, walking and treading nimbly through the forests and landscapes of which she spoke.

One poem from the collection is titled “Legend” and is divided into four different parts. The Inupiaq people are said to have survived five disasters throughout history: an eclipse, a flood, a famine, a flu epidemic and lastly, a forgetting of the traditional ways of their people. The four sections of “Legend” correspond to the first four disasters, but Kane explained that she never writes about the fifth. She hopes that her poetry will be a remedy for the last disaster—that she can preserve the Inupiaq culture in her words and poems.

A question and answer session followed the reading, allowing the audience to interact with this transfixing poet. Upon being asked about her living environment in Alaska, Kane explained that Anchorage is the closest you can get to the “real” Alaska without leaving a city. Growing up, on one side of her home was the city and on the other was a large stretch of Alaskan forest. She also mentioned that Anchorage is one of the most diverse cities in the country, with over 100 languages spoken there.

“The north has always been a haven for people who are displaced,” she said.

But this Alaskan landscape that she grew up in is changing rapidly. Kane admitted that these changes are often disheartening. The glaciers are melting and the landscape is becoming warped.

“People’s homes are sinking … I don’t exactly have to imagine a dystopian future,” she said.

The sounds of these poems are so deeply rooted in the natural world and in a culture so connected with the land that they only work to emphasize the current political discussion of the environment.

On a more lighthearted note, when a student asked if Kane had a favorite poem, and if so, why, she curiously responded, “I really like the poems that I don’t quite understand.” Sometimes when we make art, we don’t immediately comprehend the significance that it may have.

Kane’s answer to this question created a sense of hope—we may not always have the solutions, but through insightful thought and creativity, together we can find the knowledge and understanding that we need.

If anything, Kane’s work focuses on the sense of community felt in traditional Alaskan life—both with the natural environment and the people living in it. The words of English Department Chair Rob Doggett can perhaps remind us just how integrated community is to our own everyday lives.

“You came here because you love poetry,” Doggett said. “And that is a community I am proud to be a part of.”

Kane's poetry collection is currently on sale at the Geneseo University Bookstore.

How will a Trump administration affect future art?

It’s no secret that the art world has had an overwhelmingly negative reaction to the results of the 2016 presidential election. Many artists—such as sculptor Jeff Koons—openly supported President-elect Donald Trump’s opponent Hillary Clinton, even raising millions of dollars for her campaign. But the future of American artists and the art market remains a mystery. The Trump administration may result in tax cuts for the wealthy, which ultimately could mean more people buying at art auctions. “Trump is probably better for the art market if you analyze it,” Co-Head of the Fine Arts Department at Sotheby’s auction house Amy Cappellazzo said.

Although many art collectors did support Trump, those who are mourning his victory could help to bolster the art world as well. It’s safe to say that many people feel defeated after this particularly draining election season.

“When people feel their world coming apart, they seek out beauty in any form to get through it,” Cappellazzo said.

Artist Gee Vaucher’s “Oh, America” is an image of the Statue of Liberty crying into her hands, a piece that was originally created for a 1980s album cover. This work has resurfaced, however, as a way for media publications and individuals to express their feelings about the election results.

Many contemporary artists have started to create protest art centered on Trump. Hanksy, a popular satirical street artist—whose name is a parody of his famously anonymous peer, Banksy—has depicted Trump as a pile of feces and a Mexican presidential candidate. Plastic Jesus, a street artist based in Los Angeles, built a tiny wall around Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Another street artist, Pegasus, from Britain, depicted Trump as the second coming of Adolf Hitler with the words, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” spray-painted over the work. So it seems that the Trump administration is already helping the arts just by existing.

President-elect Trump has been rather vocal about his feelings about art in the past. “Trump is not just uninterested in culture and the arts, but is actively inimical to them,” according to The Irish Times. In an article published earlier this week, the Times explains that in order to build Trump Tower in New York City in 1983, the President-elect tore down a building with a pair of art deco reliefs. The Metropolitan Museum of Art wanted desperately to keep these rare reliefs for their collection, but they were destroyed.

Trump has actually announced his dislike of the diversity that characterizes contemporary art. “As President, I would ensure that the National Endowment of the Arts stops funding of this sort,” Trump said, referring to a particular work by Chris Ofili that did not appeal to the President-elect. According to The Irish Times, other Republicans have also let it be known that they support either cutting funding for the Endowment or privatizing it. With an incoming Republican White House, this may just become a reality.

So the impact of Trump’s presidency on the arts is a sticky web, indeed. On the one hand, you have what Director of the Armory Show Benjamin Genocchio calls positive “macroeconomic realities” and fuel for creative protest. But then again, Trump’s apparent dislike of the arts may just cancel these positives.

It’s too early to tell just yet, but one thing is obvious: Trump is sure to have a powerful effect on the arts.

McClure makes progress on Antarctica musical composition

It’s been a few weeks now since composer and adjunct professor of English Glenn McClure set sail for icy Antarctica in order to embark on a project for the Antarctic Artists and Writers Fellowship from the National Science Foundation—one that will translate environmental and seismic sounds into musical compositions. Media Relations Director David Irwin and the Office of College Communications and Marketing hosted a Skype call with McClure on Wednesday Nov. 16, providing students with the opportunity to ask the globetrotter questions that pertained to their various ongoing research projects.

During this session, McClure discussed the progress that he has made on his project since his arrival at McMurdo Station, a high-end science and research facility in Ross Island, Antarctica. McClure has just returned from a trip to Yesterday Camp, which is the home for a community of tents, as camped out on the Ross Ice Shelf. There, he and a team of scientists lifted seismometers out of the ice in order to retrieve the data that they had been recording for two years.

McClure’s project relies on this data, which he will eventually turn into melodies and music notes. McClure has traveled back to McMurdo Station, while scientists from the University of California continue to dig up the data. He expects to retrieve all the data by mid-December.

In the meantime, McClure is keeping busy by recording environmental sounds, such as the snow crunch—something so loud that it obstructs conversation–and conversations between penguins and seals. He has also had the chance to record sounds from underneath the ice; he noted that while Antarctica is flat and unassuming on the surface, the waters beneath it are akin to New York City bustle. He hopes to incorporate these sounds into his final compositions.

McClure divulged that his final works would eventually be released online, accompanied by video and pictures from his expeditions. In addition, he will be writing a number of choir pieces, which will be distributed through his publisher.

Apart from working on his intriguing project, McClure has been having quite the time in his temporary home—getting a visit from Secretary of State John Kerry, participating in the vibrant art sphere that exists there and experiencing “crazy mind-twisting stuff, like time and space.” He has found the “terrible beauty” and atmosphere of Antarctica to be, while quite chilly, completely refreshing, explaining that the “landscape forces you to strip distractions away from your life.”

All in all, it seems that McClure is having a great and productive time 9,450 miles away in the icy tundra. “It’s a whole lot of fun—and the food is pretty good here, too,” McClure said.

McClure will be returning home just before Thanksgiving, weather permitting. To keep updated on his time in Antarctica, visit his “Music in the Ice” blog.

Buffalo band turns 90s influences into original, modern sound

Stress Dolls—a student band out of Buffalo—recently released their self-titled EP on Thursday Nov. 10. The release of this album comes directly after the band’s performance right here in Geneseo, with fellow student bands Ponder the Giraffe and Scarecrow Show. The album features a variety of musical influences, ranging from grunge to indie rock, but lead singer and guitarist Chelsea O’Donnell’s distinctive vocal tone helps deliver a unique twist. Even with the stylistic differences in the songs, the common theme running across the entire album is its ability to revitalize music from the 90s and early 2000s.

The album begins with “Crazy,” which starts off with heavy drums that slowly build into the chorus. O’Donnell belts, “The whole world’s gone crazy and so have I” as the song continues to describe the frustration that befits its title. “I am sure, I am sure I was better before/Are you sure, are you sure, you were better before?”

The lyrics accurately convey the emotions that accompany the song’s subject—it is definitely a song you can sing out loud.

“Pills” switches gears from the previous track; it still retains the band’s overall musical style, however, while the lyrics again reflect the track’s title. While the theme of “Pills” might seem a little familiar, this song discusses the reality of these pills, what they provide and what they mean for the people who take them.

This sense of reality can be seen through the lyrics, “I take my pills they keep me sane/Well they can save me from dying but they don’t save me from shame” and “But with those pills/He’s found his way.” O’Donnell’s voice is slightly sweeter here, but with the same inflection heard in the entire album.

“Swollen” takes on a different tempo from the previous tracks. There is more of an alternative rock influence that can be heard in “Swollen,” such as with the line, “I’m swollen from the tip of my spine to the back of my neck/And I know it/But I stand up straight so it won’t reflect.”

The song begins to talk about being “swollen,” perhaps as a reference to preventing the world from seeing your fear, as conveyed in the lyric, “Shielding ears from what is real/I know nothing is absolute so accept the truth.”

This song strikes a deeper chord, however, which is delivered well through its lyrics. “Swollen” allows the listener to understand and to relate to what O’Donnell is crooning about—all without requiring her to spell out the message of the song.

The final song on the album, “Curves and Edges,” is a combination of many different components seen previously throughout the album. The lyrics seem to discuss society and the experiences of going through life.

“If you’re young then you’re pitied/If you’re old you’re ignored,” she sings. O’Donnell speaks about her own experience with this current issue: “I’ve got no curves just edges/In case you didn’t notice.”

The Stress Dolls do an incredible job of taking musical influences from popular genres that aren’t as common today as they were a decade ago. Through EDM influences, the Stress Dolls bring back nostalgic feelings, all the while managing to stay current by rooting themselves in their own unique and distinctive style—one that is sure to stand out.

Theater department nails Wilde comedy with authenticity, dedication

Geneseo’s Department of Theater and Dance staged a production of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, “The Importance of Being Earnest” from Nov. 9-13. Directed by professor of theater Randy Kaplan, the play transported audience members to 1890s England. Through the use of beautiful costumes, a lavish set and old English accents, this famous play came to life. Such a successful production, however, does not come easily. The cast and crew faced a number of challenges while preparing for the opening night, but all were ironed out by the time eager playgoers were settled into their seats at the Alice Austin Theater.

Fancy red and white walls, a gorgeous chaise lounge and an antique wooden table created the atmosphere of an old London apartment in Act I. In addition to this authentic setting, cast members were decked out in old-fashioned and extravagant 1890s attire, which proved to be a challenge for the cast.

Theater major senior William Gfeller played Lady Bracknell, a snobbish and eccentric character. This required Gfeller to learn how to navigate naturally across the stage while wearing a corset, long train, wig and heels.

“The biggest challenge for me was learning how to walk in a dress and heels and a corset,” Gfeller said. “It was difficult to adjust to a different style of dress, but I eventually learned to walk gracefully.”

Another challenge for cast members was nailing the accent.

“I think accent and language were the hardest part of the whole production, especially because the language is so dense and the accent required a lot of concentration,” psychology and English double major senior Paige Gordon said.

In order to learn how to eloquently speak in an English dialect, Kaplan gave the actors a CD on British/Standard dialect. Since the show was cast in the spring, the cast was expected to listen to the CD and to practice over the summer so that they would be prepared by the time rehearsals rolled around in the fall. The actors were also regularly coached and given notes regarding their accents throughout the rehearsal process, according to Gfeller.

In addition to the dialect, the actors focused on enunciation and projection to ensure that the audience understood important points of the plot. Theater major senior Brodie McPherson played Algernon Moncrieff, who is one of the principal roles in the production.

Algernon is vital to the show because he reveals various elements in the plot that lead to the climatic end of the play. McPherson was able to make these important plot points clear through his enunciation, all the while maintaining his witty, somewhat selfish, but ultimately likeable character.

English major senior Mallika Shaw—who played Miss Cecily Cardew—expressed that it was the physicality of her character that was challenging for her.

“It’s a very different time period; you have to always sit and stand straight, use your hands with very flowy gestures and make sure things look beautiful,” Shaw said.

Some of the actors said that this production was especially significant because many of the cast members were seniors, including musical theater and English double major Rebecca Leville, musical theater major Alexandr Lyutenskov and communication major Noah Pfeiffer.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my collegiate acting experience,” Gfeller said. “It was such a fun show to be a part of and I’ll be looking back fondly on it for a real long time.”

Kinetic Gallery shows off L.I.V.E.S students’ photographic talent

The Geneseo Campus Activities Board debuted “A Different Point of View” in the Kinetic Gallery on Tuesday Nov. 15, located in the MacVittie College Union. “A Different Point of View” gives photographers with developmental and physical disabilities a chance to exhibit their work, portraying their unique artistic perspective. Upon entering the gallery, visitors are treated to an appealing, yet modest setup. Each of the nine photographers have four photographs on display, while their portraits—photographed by local photographer Larry Tetamore—are arranged on the right wall. Almost every photograph is a snapshot of the Geneseo campus.

Some of the photos on display include “Solitary Windmill”—which was taken below the dome in front of the Integrated Science Center—and “Worms”—which was a black and white shot of the bike racks near Bailey. The exhibit not only displays the campus through a different perspective, but it also gives the photographers an opportunity to show off their talent.

Arc of Livingston-Wyoming Habilitation Coodinator Mary Coniglio was inspired to create the exhibit about two years ago when photographer Courtney Bent came to speak at the college. Bent discussed her program and documentary, Shooting Beauty, which involved her discovering great artistic talent in a center for people with disabilities.

Inspired by Bent’s spirit, Coniglio talked with the photographer and they were able to bring a similar program to the Geneseo students who partake in the L.I.V.E.S program, which provides students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities an opportunity to learn independence, vocational and functional education skills within an educational community.

The featured photographers gathered on campus this past June with Coniglio, Tetamore and the Geneseo Central School photography class in order to put their artistic talent into action. Tetamore noticed that a lot of the photographers enjoyed taking linear photos, so he thought the architecture of the college would be a fitting subject to photograph.

One photographer, 35-year-old Virginia Eley, hails from Warsaw. Eley is involved in the L.I.V.E.S. program, enjoys photography in her downtime and appreciated this opportunity to showcase her talent.

“[My favorite part] is that people can see [these] pictures,” she said. “I’ve never actually been able to share my pictures before … and it’s nice to have other people tell me what they think of the pictures.”

Eley’s work features a variety of locations around campus, but one of her personal favorites is a shot of the Chowhound food truck on the college green, which was taken from the ground.

“I basically went for what I thought looked cool,” Eley said. “I really like the one with the Chowhound because I just saw it and I thought it looked really cool from the ground.”

Coniglio enjoyed the opportunity almost as much as the photographers themselves, reveling in the fact that parents and students will be able to see and admire the work.

“[The most rewarding part] is to see the photographers get to stand up and show off their work because, for most of them, they have not had that opportunity to show them off before,” Coniglio said.

Arts and Exhibits GCAB Coordinator sophomore Emma Belson played a vital role in helping these photographers display their work. After coordinating with Coniglio in early September to schedule the exhibit, Belson organized the opening event for the photographers, their families and their peers. The exhibit will remain on display in the Kinetic Gallery until Dec. 10.

“A Different Point of View” is a wonderful opportunity for unrecognized and innovative talent to finally come to light here at Geneseo. The remarkable skills exhibited by these photographers are distinct and give the campus a crisp, refreshing new attitude.

Photography exhibition manipulates organic beauty into unconventional collages

If you Google the phrases “crashing waves” or “blossoming tree,” what images would surface and why? Photographer Anastasia Samoylova presents such questions in her exhibit “Landscape Sublime,” which opened on Nov. 2 at the Lockhart Gallery on Main Street. Originally from Moscow, Samoylova is now based in the United States, where she can use digital art and photography to explore such ideas as “environmentalism, consumerism and the picturesque.” This particular exhibit seeks to examine landscape photography in widely circulated stock and public domain photographs that are found in online image libraries. Furthermore, Samoylova displays how these two types of photographs display the cultural concepts of nature, the environment and beauty in her exhibit.

So what does the Internet tell us natural beauty looks like? The photos you would find are idealized, as they are meant to depict the conventional notion of perfect “beauty” found in nature. Samoylova uses these idealistic pictures and creates something new, consequently challenging conventional beauty in this age where nature can be viewed from a screen.

She takes these photos—which any of us could easily find online—and distorts them, folds them and flips them. She combines the altered images with other digitally produced textures and color blocks, so it is as if the viewer is looking through a distorted kaleidoscope.

“Blossoming Trees” utilizes several stock images of what look like cherry blossom trees, only they’re bent and distorted—as if they’ve been reflected in a funhouse mirror. The images are then grouped together to seem like pages of a book or petals of an actual cherry blossom. The tableau is interspersed with geometric areas of green, yellow and other bright spring colors.

This piece takes those original, predictable and ideal stock photos of nature and presents the beauty of their subject in a way that isn’t exactly natural. The resulting image is made by the screen and for the screen, but still displays the organic beauty of nature, as well.

Another notable piece in the collection is “Forests,” which uses light in a particularly engaging way. This work—and the collection as a whole—follows a similar pattern as “Blossoming Trees,” except with the addition of different computer-generated blocks of color. These forest images, however, have more of a unique fractured quality. There are slits cut into the forest images, which give off an effect similar to rays of light that shine through the leaves and trees of an actual forest.

The “Landscape Sublime” collection takes up most of the gallery space, but there are also a few pieces from the Geneseo Permanent Collection displayed by the entrance of the exhibit. These pieces follow Samoylova’s theme of nature, but starkly contrast her modern images. These works are all done in many different media; one is a photograph of a tree on a hillside lightly dusted with snow and another is a small watercolor painting of thin tree trunks.

All of the pieces from the Permanent Collection, however, have a very gray or muted color palate, as opposed to Samoylova’s bright splashes of color. The Permanent Collection’s work provides an aesthetically different perspective on nature, but also complements Samoylova’s artistic message by highlighting those differences.

The Lockhart Gallery has been making an effort to recruit younger, more modern and contemporary artists for the space. Samoylova, who is only 32, is a great addition to the gallery’s record, as her work has received international success.

Her ideas give a fresh and thought-provoking interpretation of landscape, how it is represented in this modern age of technology and how we interpret its beauty.

Historical series misses the mark on female empowerment

Netflix recently premiered its highly anticipated series “The Crown,” an American-British television drama series written and created by Peter Morgan. The series debuted on the popular online platform on Friday Nov. 4 with 10 one hour-long episodes. Based on the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the show stars Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth, Matt Smith as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret.

The series was met with a positive reception and generally favorable reviews from critics and viewers alike. It is also reported to be one of Netflix’s most expensive series, costing over $100 million to produce.

The series opens in post-World War II England, as Prince Philip I of Greece renounces his titles in order to marry Elizabeth. From the onset, the show employs a dark landscape to reflect the atmosphere of the time period. In contrast to the rich and bright colors typically employed in television shows centered on royalty, the color gradient is gloomier.

Following their marriage, Elizabeth and Philip are set to live relatively normal lives. Elizabeth is now the wife of a lieutenant, though she will one day inherit the English throne. But her ascension to the throne comes quicker than expected when her father King George VI succumbs to lung cancer. When she takes the throne, Elizabeth is only 25 years old.

While the show is meant to center around Elizabeth, her peers are often given a more interesting and appealing role. Winston Churchill is one such character, as the show began with his appointment as the Prime Minister of England.

The series has an obvious political focus, one that reflects England’s desire to reinvent itself with modern ideals following World War II, all while struggling to maintain its powerful image of the past. The series emphasizes England’s need for strong and steady leadership following the end of World War II.

Political atmosphere aside, Elizabeth’s character is rarely explored in her entirety at the start. While she remains the center of the show, she is explored only through the perspectives of the other characters. In the beginning, Elizabeth is seen through the eyes of her father as he struggles with his growing ailment and foreseeable mortality.

King George’s failing health is coupled with his deep concern for the future, and this manifests into his increased involvement with Elizabeth. The first episode centers on this father-daughter connection, foreshadowing the death of King George, as well as Elizabeth’s eventual ascension to the throne as the Queen of England.

Elizabeth’s personality is also explored largely through her husband, Philip. With Elizabeth fulfilling the ever-important role as Queen of England, Philip is reduced to a figurehead, meant to always stand by her side—only to result in issues of compromised masculinity. Their relationship is a reversal of traditional marriage and gender roles, something that Philip continually struggles with despite his love for Elizabeth. It doesn’t help that Elizabeth oversees Philip’s position as a naval officer, leaving him caught between the roles of husband and subject.

The issue with “The Crown” is that as it tells the story of Queen Elizabeth’s relationships with the people around her, it reduces her importance as a significant and strong female figure. Ultimately, we see how the men control Elizabeth in her life, typical of female monarchs of the time. By failing to show Elizabeth from her own perspective—instead of that of her father and husband—the show lacks character progression and leaves out indication of how Elizabeth overcomes these issues of control.

Although we are given small hints regarding Elizabeth’s intelligence and competence, and while the show is visually compelling, it would benefit from a shift in narration in order to achieve the strong impact it strives for. In short, we need to live Elizabeth’s story through her own eyes in order to truly understand the powerful, strong and independent leader she was and continues to be today.

Geneseo’s first fringe festival celebrates community talent

After years of attending and participating in Rochester’s annual celebrations, Geneseo has finally gotten their very own Fringe Festival. A fringe festival is essentially a conglomeration of a variety of different artistic acts and exhibitions, from vocal performances to visual art shows. The first Geneseo Fringe Festival was brought to us by the Geneseo Campus Activities Board on Friday Nov. 4.

With performances in comedy, music, poetry and dance, the festival provided a platform for some of Geneseo’s best talent to show off their skills. Geneseo a capella groups Between the Lines, Exit 8, Hips n’ Harmony and Emmelodics brought large crowds of fans to the MacVittie College Union Ballroom, as did local bands Donner Dance Party and Woodrow Chillson.

Cultural groups Gajjda Bhangra and Slainte Irish Dance were also represented, and Slam Poetry and Gestures: Organization for Deaf Awareness added to the ensemble with breathtaking linguistic performances.

Following their performances, Slam Poetry and GODA each held workshops in the Kinetic Gallery, teaching attendees how to create their own slam poems and how to sign. It’s rare that groups such as these that focus on the spoken—or unspoken—word get a spotlight on campus, and the Geneseo Fringe Festival gave them prime time to show the student body their talent.

“[The festival] has allowed different aspects of the campus to come together and create a sense of collaboration within the community,” Geneseo Late Knight Student Coordinator English adolescent education major sophomore Neha Marolia said.

And that it did, as students filtered into the ballroom—even when initially they were on their way to Starbucks, Fusion and the Fireside Lounge, not the Geneseo Fringe Festival.

GCAB’s Valley Entertainment Coordinator communication major senior Leila Sedigh was instrumental in bringing the fringe festival to Geneseo. Working closely with GLK as well as GCAB’s advisor, Associate Director of Student Life Tiffany Brodner, Sedigh’s goal was to give students the opportunity to experience a fringe festival without the trouble of having to trek all the way to Rochester.

Sedigh brought together local performances that were “inclusive of so many students,” while GLK brought in the featured act, popular campus performer Jason LeVasseur. LeVasseur, is “the most awarded music performer in the history of campus entertainment,” according to Campus Activities Magazine.

LeVasseur is praised for both his musical skill—he plays the guitar and harmonica in addition to providing his own vocals—and his on-stage charisma. Known to crack jokes and get the crowd laughing, LeVassuer also leads several workshops and keynotes, which is a great addition to a festival bent on bringing a community together.

Although Sedigh did seek to include the visual arts in the first of what’s sure to be many campus fringe festivals, she did not receive any submissions. She remains hopeful, however, that her successors will incorporate the visual arts into future festivals. With the maintenance of the Kinetic Gallery falling under GCAB’s jurisdiction, it shouldn’t be hard to collaborate on a student exhibition for the festival.

Despite this one hiccup, it seems that Geneseo’s first fringe festival has been a success. As the Rochester Fringe Festival grows in popularity each year, there’s no doubt that Geneseo’s will as well. With so much potential to include any variety of acts, it’ll be a wonderful surprise to see what GCAB cooks up for next year’s festival.

Bono deemed first male on Glamour’s “Women of the Year” list

For the past 27 consecutive years, Glamour magazine has celebrated a distinguished group of women on their “Women of the Year” list. The award ceremony—which will be held on Monday Nov. 14 in Los Angeles—will honor inspiring women across a variety of areas, including fashion, politics, entertainment, sports and activism. This year, however, Glamour has included on the list its first male celebrity: Bono, lead singer of the popular band U2. Bono has been included on a list of truly admirable women. Among the other honorees are pop star Gwen Stefani, United States Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, the three women who founded the Black Lives Matter movement—Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi—the Stanford sexual assault survivor now known as “Emily Doe,” plus size model and body image activist Ashley Graham, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking of the United Nations Nadia Murad, human rights activist Miuccia Prada and pop culture icon Zendaya.

Yet the presence of a male in the “Women of the Year” award category has raised some controversy across social media. People have posted tweets and comments complaining that yet another male is usurping and eclipsing women’s time in the spotlight.

Yes, a male is being recognized for something that is not only embraced by and created for women, but actually has “women” in the name. One could argue that his presence in the award ceremony—regardless of Bono’s popularity—detracts from any true social or political movement forward for women.

Feminism has long been a battle fought by strictly women. Including the women listed in the category above, female celebrities have been advocating for women’s rights for a long time. Women like Beyoncé and Emma Watson have been using their fame to promote women’s rights any chance they get.

Just as Glamour said in their announcement of the honorees, this year has been monumental for women in our country. We finally had a female presidential candidate and the U.S. female Olympic gymnastics team dominated the Rio Olympics this past summer.

But the feminist movement is about social, political and economic equality between men and women—not female supremacy, as it is so often falsely labeled. So what’s wrong about a man coming to a woman’s defense?

The legendary rock singer was actually chosen by Glamour for his creation of ONE: a feminist foundation that recently launched its “Poverty is Sexist” campaign. Although he may not believe he is worthy of the award, claiming, “I’m sure I don’t deserve it,” his accomplishments and objectives prove otherwise.

Recently, Bono launched his “Poverty Is Sexist” campaign in order to help the world’s poorest women. “The battle for gender equality can’t be won unless men lead it along with women,” he said. “We’re largely responsible for the problem, so we have to be involved in the solutions.”

Surely men getting involved in feminist issues are important, but their involvement is definitely a delicate situation, especially when they are given awards in a previously exclusively female category.

But it’s the 21st century, so not only are people tired of seeing men in power, they are also more accepting of changes to the norm. Bono’s actions for feminism should certainly not go unnoticed because anyone fighting for a noble cause should not be overlooked.

There’s nothing particularly wrong with allowing Bono to be Glamour’s first “Man of the Year,” so long as next year’s award recipients are not mainly male. As long as the award remains a way to recognize people who advocate for women’s rights and advantages, why not recognize a couple of men who are trying to do just that?

Singer-songwriter Jacobsen provides fresh, funny take on meaningful messages

David W. Jacobsen may be a seasoned songwriter and performer—as he’s been in the music industry for 15 years now—and a graduate of Berklee College of Music, but don’t mistake him for your typical folk artist. Rather, Jacobsen gives us humorously realistic tracks that “combine poetry, satire and narrative storytelling.” With four albums already under his belt, Jacobsen debuts his most recent work, Begin the Chagrin. A set of 20 songs all equally as humorous as its predecessors, this album “presents a range of noble, relatable, pitiable and revolting characters” who are either “dealing with disappointment or causing it for someone else.” With this combination of ridiculous humor and relatability, Jacobsen creates a whole new genre of music that is sure to get every listener chuckling and thinking back on their own experiences.

Standouts are “Thanksgiving in West Paterson” and “Christmas in East Paterson.” A satire of the dread of spending holidays with the family, “Thanksgiving in West Paterson” presents a series of unfortunate events, from family food fights to getting arrested. It is cheekily followed by the refrain, “Happy Thanksgiving.”

Along a similar vein, in “Christmas in East Paterson” Jacobsen croons about a jailbird cousin, a fat uncle and an “Oxycotton-popping” aunt, which is all followed by a cheery “La La La Have a Merry Christmas.” It may seem odd at first to hear such unsavory characters described in such an upbeat song, but Jacobsen is able to pull it off, prompting listeners to think about their own weird relatives.

“Your Sister” provides a take on adultery—one that most music-lovers aren’t used to. Jacobsen unapologetically sings as a man who cheats on his wife with her sister: “Well now your mom just hates me/For all that I have done/But she looks great for her age/Maybe she could be the next one.” Somewhat reminiscent of Fountain of Wayne’s hit “Stacy’s Mom,” the lyrics of “Your Sister” have a shock-factor that only adds to the hilarity.

“Do You Want Fries With That?” is certainly not a song one would expect to hear on the radio. But this track is surprisingly deep, as it comments on the difficulty of making decisions.

The song starts off by dramatizing a scenario at a fast-food counter, but the listener quickly grasps its message with the following lyrics, “And how the mighty have fallen/How we find ourselves brought low/Where once we demanded now it’s/Do you want that to stay or to go?” Despite this rather serious theme, the song manages to stay lighthearted, always asking, “Do you want fries with that?”

Many of Jacobsen’s songs include such deeper meanings, making Begin the Chagrin more than just a satirical album. In fact, his humor works so well with the somber themes that it makes his work more accessible and rather refreshing.

Any music fanatics looking for something completely new, but still meaningful, should definitely give Begin the Chagrin a listen.

Currently Known As shines with themed improv night

“Yes, and…” is a famous guideline improvisation performers stand by. It not only means that you accept the reality that your fellow performer has created, but it also stresses the importance of including the ideas of everyone involved in a scene. Without these two elements, the performance can’t be successful. Geneseo improv group Currently Known As strives to take this rule to heart, as they are inclusive to all potential members who want to join. Currently Known As is one of two active improvisation groups on campus, and they formed in 2011. The group has accepted all performers—beginner and advanced alike—who merit membership.

The rehearsal process is centered on exercises and improv games that will allow everyone involved to learn and to grow as artists. The group meets every Wednesday and Sunday between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. in Wadsworth Auditorium. New members, too, are always welcome to join. The group puts on about three shows a semester.

Most recently, they held “Spoopy Murder Mystery,” a murder mystery themed performance on Friday Nov. 4. This festive performance—which came just after Halloween—allowed the audience a considerable amount of interaction. Audience members picked the theme of the story and in this case it was “Under the Sea.” The audience also determined which character would die and who would be the murderer.

That being said, the entire show was improvised, which kept both the performers and the audience on their toes. In each scene, the performers created and established their own characters, ranging from chemistry major junior Rachel Molino’s mermaid ghost to communication major junior Zooey Sorice’s puffer fish.

The plot was intriguing, but also lent itself to many laughs. This was due to the performers’ skills at thinking on their feet and the willingness of everyone in the room to accept the silliness of the characters and storyline.

History major junior Jenna Lawson expressed her joy at the club’s success and growing attendance at their performances. After her freshman year, the club lost many graduating seniors and the remaining members were forced to build the group back up, according to Lawson.

Now, however, the regular meeting times see about 15-20 people and the shows—which are audition only—have a wide range of performers, depending on the theme.

In addition, the group won the annual Rochester Gilda’s Cup last year, which is an annual improv competition that honors the comedic legacy of actress Gilda Radner. The proceeds from the event benefit Gilda’s Club Rochester, a non-profit organization that offers support to people living with cancer.

To the members of Currently Known As, inclusiveness equals success. “Anybody is capable of doing improv and doing it well,” Lawson said. “I think that there are so many different levels within our troupe, and I like that we’ve created this space for all kinds of performers.”

Orchesis exhibits range of talent with emotive dance

Student-run dance club Orchesis presented their annual fall showcase in Wadsworth Auditorium on Saturday Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. The show opened with psychology major sophomore Nikki Acierno and biology major junior Taylor Gerner’s moving “Rise Up.” Clad in military green and black, the dancers conveyed a sense of lightness and transience as they gracefully twirled and jumped around the stage. After running offstage and reappearing in groups, the dancers all came together once more for an uplifting finish.

In contrast to the airiness in “Rise Up,” psychology major junior Kat Estep’s “Tesselate” expressed a sense of grounding as she utilized simple and sharp movements in time with the musical beat. The music itself gave off an edgy, futuristic vibe, accentuated by the isolated––nearly robotic––motions from the dancers and their all-black outfits.

Early childhood/childhood education major senior Alexandra Weber’s “Elastic Heart” and anthropology major sophomore Abbie Guisbond and psychology major sophomore Sydney Klein’s “Retrogade” also gave off a darker vibe through their routines. The “Elastic Heart” dancers utilized a lot of creative partner interaction that struck an interesting balance between soft and sharp motions. The fast-paced ending featured Weber sprinting along a line of dancers that collapsed one by one. Eventually, the dancers left the stage with only Weber remaining on stage, kneeling and clutching at her chest in a powerful finish.

“Retrograde” also featured unique partner interaction, emphasized by the contrast between the dancers’ attire of white and black dresses. This was one of the more technically precise and emotional pieces. The dramatic ending of the dancers in white being shoved to the ground by those in black, who then slowly exited the stage, had the students behind me whispering, “Wow, that was really cool.”

Perhaps the star number of the show, however, was a contemporary piece: biochemistry major senior Alyssa Bowling’s “She Used to Be Mine.” The powerful choreography perfectly accentuated the song’s melancholic and heartbreaking resonance. The contrast between the sweetness of the dancers’ pink dresses and their strong movements was brilliant as well.

On a less serious note, physics major sophomore Emily Verhaeg and mathematics major sophomore Jenn Conflitti choreographed the charming and jazzy “Hairspray,” taking the audience back to the 1960s as the dancers shook and shimmied around the stage with high ponytails bouncing. The sole male dancer in the show complemented the female dancers well, entertaining the crowd with his enthusiastic booty shaking and tuxedo T-shirt.

The other jazz piece––English major sophomore Samantha Schmeer’s “Pretender”––was fun and flirtatious; the dancers blew kisses from red-covered lips and swayed their bodies to the sultry female vocals crooning, “I’m nobody’s fool. Hey, baby, you’re just a pretender.”

No Orchesis show is complete without a healthy dose of Beyoncé, however, which was found in psychology major senior Laura Dolan’s sassy “Crazy in Love.” The dancers smiled wide from the start of the routine to finish, and while the moves weren’t extremely fast-paced, the choreography was well-executed and it was heartwarming to see the dancers beaming with genuine enjoyment.

Early childhood/childhood education major freshman Melissa Maliniak’s “No Problem” and business administration major sophomore Sunny Krupnicki’s “Werk” seemed to draw the most vocal response from the audience, bringing infectious attitude and energy with their dynamic hip-hop choreography. Both pieces featured mash-ups of poppy hip-hop tracks, including Kanye West’s “I Love Kanye,” Drake’s “One Dance” and an awesomely fast remix of Rihanna’s “Work.”

The classic Orchesis officer’s dance was clever and funny, as usual. The performance featured slow, stripped-down covers of Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance” and Sia’s “Cheap Thrills.” The officers interspersed their graceful movements with overly exaggerated club moves, such as crumping and making it rain. The routine then transitioned into the finale––Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”––where all the performers joined the officers on stage to freestyle.

Orchesis gave a compelling show that allowed dancers of all experience levels to shine through the beauty, creativity and power of dance.

Students perform, write, direct original content

Have you ever wondered how your present self would interact with your past or future self? Or how your younger self would view who you are in the present? Such questions were explored in the student-run production of “Acts in Time” on Oct. 26-28 in Sturges Auditorium. Presented by Ghostlight Productions—formerly known as Cothurnus Club—“Acts in Time” features three one-act plays. The performance doubled as an educational theater workshop, meaning it was both written and directed by Geneseo students. The show was written by English major sophomore Hannah McSorley and directed by childhood with special education major junior Zachary Berube.

The first short play, “Castles,” showed the interaction between one’s past and present self. Young adult Gregory—played by physics major sophomore Corey Wilkinson—attempted to reconcile with his enthusiastic past self, “Young Gregory,” played by Berube.

In the first act, Young Gregory works to build a sandcastle, which is meant to serve as a metaphor for life. Meanwhile, Gregory’s older self—played by international relations major freshman John McDermott—criticizes his innocent view on life.

The second play focuses on five main characters dealing with the nondescript, secular afterlife in which they are trapped. Originally a short story of McSorley’s, “No ... Next” focuses on each character realizing their mortality—represented by a giant played by mathematics major sophomore Julia Tellerman—and the potential loss of their treasured memories.

The production concluded with “Linear,” which is similar in theme to “Castles,” except this play features three main characters. The characters consist of Nora, played by psychology major senior Sarah Simon, Meg, played by Tellerman and Ferne, played by art history major junior Victoria Elliott.

These three characters are all versions of the same woman at different times throughout her life. Nora is the woman’s present self. Meg serves as the past version of Nora and represents her memories. Ferne is Nora’s future self who guides others through a forest until Nora is forced to kill Meg, an act that symbolizes letting go of her past.

McSorley had been penning the plays over the past year and wanted her writing to translate onto the stage. “I wanted to present these plays because I took a theater class last semester, and I realized the opportunity of the theatrical medium,” McSorley said.

As a writer of many other literary forms, this was McSorley’s first attempt at playwriting. “[Theater] is much different from other forms of writing,” she said. “There’s the visual aspect, so you can use that to replace metaphors or descriptions. It’s also more of a team effort compared to other writing, where there’s just the author and the reader; so there’s a lot of levels of interpretation.”

Berube and McSorley collaborated in choosing the cast of students who auditioned in early October. “[Berube] did a pretty good job at interpreting [the plays],” McSorley said. “They stayed true to the writing for the most part, and it was really amazing to see my words coming out of other people’s mouths.”

A fantastic example of what Geneseo students are capable of, “Acts in Time” not only asks its audience to consider life in a different light, but also delivers comforting, meaningful messages that can easily be translated into the lives of all viewers.