Grad Student Brings Adventure to Campus

Leah Welch jolted up from a deep sleep in the seat of her car. What she believed was an earthquake was actually another car backing into hers in a remote parking lot.

A few years later, she is attempting to hike in New Zealand. Looking like Quasimodo from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," she sustains the irritating pain radiating from her freshly tattooed foot. She trudges on in that forest and in an existence that has seen her cram a life's worth of experiences in just 30 years.

"I think life should be lived experientially," she said smiling.

Leah Welch has traveled the world and is now earning her masters in Journalism while working as a graduate assistant for the Innocence Institute. This is just another experience to add to her long list that includes travels to 48 of the United States, five countries and 30 or so jobs that have grounded in her desire to write.

Welch said she has always been a writer. She wrote a poem when she was just four years-old, and was published by the time she was eight. Her family had an old type-writer that she would write neighborhood stories on to be published in the newspaper of her hometown, Pleasant City, Ohio.

She admits that she was very shy as a child, hiding behind furniture and reading books. Reading a lot of Leo Tolstoy and Emily Dickinson, coupled with speech therapy to correct her "R" pronunciation, made it difficult for Welch to communicate with children her age. She was living in a Southern Ohio town, but talking like a 19th century noble.

However, when it came to defending her siblings, Welch threw all timidity away. Welch recalls an incident at her bus stop when "some punk kid" said something about her younger sister, Hannah.

"I jumped him and pinned him down," laughed the slight woman, who would not exactly intimidate anyone with nothing but her eyes.

That kind of fearlessness developed as she grew older and lead her to her many adventures after high school. Although her resume lists ten jobs, Welch said she has had over 30 different jobs.

"All of the different jobs that I have had, I was attracted to the story of it," she said.

She has written music reviews, been a sports photographer, edited a book, all while working to further her education. Welch received her bachelor's degree in Art and English, with minors in Sociology and Gender Studies, at Muskingum University in December 2002. Three years later, she received her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Chatham University.

"She is always willing to learn new life skills," said Edra Crow, her mother, in a phone interview on Nov. 22.

This willingness also helped encourage Welch to take on new, exciting jobs. While she said she had her fair share of boring run-of-the-mill jobs – like working in a factory, being a waitress at Denny's, a college lunch lady, among many others – the more thrilling jobs kept her interest.

Among these numerous jobs, Welch carries the title of editor of Rory Miller's "Discovering Beautiful: On the Road to Somewhere." Strangely enough, she found the author on a friend's Myspace page, and immediately became attracted to the writing style. After keeping contact back and forth, Miller invited her to edit his book in London, England.

Welch, never one to say "no" to a new adventure, found herself living in England in late 2009. She stayed with Miller's friend while she read and reread his book about his hitch-hiking adventure across America. While there, Welch says they once stole a sailboat in Essex and once unintentionally camped out on a neighbor's lawn.

"Those photos are no longer on the internet," Welch said of the crazy adventures.

Welch had worked as a stand-in for various movies in the past, but wanted to kick it up a notch by being a stunt woman. She began stunt work in the movie "Warrior" (2009), where she met Dean Pyles, the stunt coordinator for the movie.

He invited members of the stunt crew to stay with him and his family in Virginia to study Pyles Vale Tudo, a form of mixed martial arts he created. Welch was the only one who took him up on the offer and spent five months training seven hours a day. To this day she still practices this form of exercise in her spare time.

Although Welch has had unique experiences at each of her jobs, she said her favorite was her internship at National Geographic in Washington, D.C. last summer. She worked in the archive department, filing photographs from the years 1908-1910. All of the photos were either published or had the rights to be published by National Geographic.

Welch then tells a story of how she held an original photograph by Herbert Ponting, an early 20th century expedition photographer known for his work from the Terra Nova Expedition. The man working in the archives department showed it to her.

"In the tiniest voice, I said, ‘Can I hold it?'" she said, smiling and reenacting the expression on her face.

That experience is just one of the many reasons Welch would love to work there with a full-time job. She also said the people there are what really made the job; they are educated, experienced and have personality.

Her dream job would be to work as author John Irving's literary assistant, a position she recently applied for.

"I think if she got that job, she'd stay with it," her mother said.

Currently, Welch is working on her second masters. She decided now was the time to study journalism after a recent terrible car accident left her incapacitated for months. She recalls interviewing at Point Park with braces on both of her legs.

For her mother, this was the most difficult time; however, intrepid Welch would not let it hold her back. "She pretty much rehabilitated herself ... I'm very grateful to have her in my life," Crow said.

Welch was immediately accepted into the program, and now spends her days in class, studying, and working for Bill Moushey alongside Darlene Natale, while another graduate assistant.

"She's a team player," Natale said of Welch and her work ethic. They both agreed when Welch began in late August that they would divide up the work and help each other.

On the rare occasion Welch is not working, studying or attending class, she can be found exercising, volunteering, or getting inked. Her most visible tattoo is quotes from her favorite novels running vertically up her arm on a curve.

Another tattoo, this one on her foot, she got while visiting a friend in New Zealand. Impulsive and ready for a tattoo, she eagerly got it her first day there, not thinking of how irritated it would get trekking in the mountains and forests of New Zealand. Despite that, she believes the timing was right. Welch describes the tattoo as a dichotomy of her past and future, because her feet take her where she wants to go.

But most importantly, she enjoys spending time with her close-knit family on the weekends. While at home, she hangs out with her brother Dan, sister, nieces and nephews; shops and plays Scrabble with her mom; and goes to the movies with her dad John. Welch tries to spend as much time with them as possible.

Welch does not know what the future holds for her, but of two things she is certain: She will get her tattoo finished - one tattoo, head to toe - and writing will be involved.

Until then, she continues living in the moment. She sits at her desk writing a story for the "New York Times" assigned by Moushey earlier in the day. Within an hour it is written, edited by Moushey and sent off to the "Times." She turns away from the computer, relieved, and with a look of utter bliss on her face.

"Anything that makes you feel joy like that is the right thing."

Bess Rogers Performs at PPU

Indie music echoed off the walls of the Point Park Lawrence Hall Ballroom as "The Adventures of Bess Rogers and AllisonWeiss" came to a close on Friday, Nov. 9.

"I think we've been having too much fun," Rogers said of the tour, laughing with Weiss and band mates Stephanie Barker and Joshua Ingram.

Rogers performed at Point Park University last year at a Campus Activities Board (CAB) sponsored event. She enjoyed her time here so much that she asked to come back for another concert, and the Sport, Arts and Entertainment Management (SAEM) Club was more than happy to promote the event.

"Something like this doesn't happen often," Shea Smith, SAEM Club vice president, said during the sound check in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom on Wednesday.

Smith explained that most of the club members enjoy Rogers' music and could not wait to bring her back.

Since the concert fit the club's budget, they were able to book four opening acts: Eric Lutz, The Ansaris, Hunter Paulson and Bailey Park.

Club members suggested these acts, all from Point Park with the exception of The Ansaris, hoping to bring in a larger audience. than the 30 that attended last year.

That hope was fulfilled beyond expectation as 50 students and parents attended.

David Wilson, a member of the SAEM Club and Bailey Park, booked Rogers after she gave him a available date from her tour schedule. Smith found a space and proper equipment for the concert.

The free concert began at 5:45 p.m. with Lutz's acoustic set. The next band to play was The Ansaris, from Burgettstown, Pa.

Before the concert, singer Ryann Bartoletti was eager to talk about her band.

"[Performing] is rewarding," she said during the sound check.

The Ansaris formed two years ago when Bartoletti met Carter Dean and they began playing together. "We became best friends," Bartoletti said.

Although Bartoletti describes her band as a "camp fire band," they started playing shows as a favor to a friend. Now, they perform at local venues near their hometown, in Weirton and on the South Side.

"Carter has a creative mind," Bartoletti said.

She said he alters his personal experiences, translating them into lyrics.

"[They're] twisted love stories," she said of the EP album The Ansaris is working on.

The band performed a mixture of original songs and covers, Dean on guitar and Bartoletti singing and playing tambourine and ukulele.

The next act was freshman creative writing major Hunter Paulson. The Lancaster native has been performing intermittently for seven years, but Wednesday was his first Pittsburgh performance in front of his Point Park friends.

Although he was nervous performing in a new area, Paulson said he goes into another world on stage.

"[Performing] is like another level of existence for me," he said.

Paulson describes his music as "psychedelic folk" and writes about his everyday life. "Living in the city inspires me," he said over the bass.

Paulson played "stripped down" versions of his recordings, moving to the music coming from his guitar.

"[Tonight], it's just my guitar and I," he said of his set for the evening.

Next up was Bailey Park, consisting of David Wilson on guitar and vocals and Michael Cunningham on guitar and background vocals, a harmonizing acoustic group.

They played original songs, broken up by a rendition of The Beatles' "All My Loving."

After their last song, they received applause from the audience, and left them to anticipate Bess Rogers' performance.

Rogers came out with Weiss and the band. She played her set first with the full band, and talked to the audience in between songs, making sure to thank them for coming.

Rogers, the Brooklyn native has been touring professionally for about seven years, but she has been playing music since she was 5-years-old.

"It's what I always wanted to do," Rogers said before the show.

According to Rogers, her parents were very involved with music, sparking her love for music. She played the flute and harpsichord when she was younger, but started playing guitar at 13.

Rogers writes her music based on a variety of life experiences. During the concert, she explained what inspired her song "Favorite Day," an intimate song about her former boyfriend, who is now her husband.

She studied music composition at State University of New York Purchase and recorded her first three albums there.

While touring with Ingrid Michaelson, Rogers played at Madison Square Garden. Although she said it had the worst acoustics, "it was definitely one of those things [she'll] remember for the rest of [her] life."

After playing a few songs with the band, Rogers began her solo set. She played acoustic versions of songs from her new album, "Out of the Ocean." The first song, "In the Water," was soft, like a lullaby.

After Rogers finished her solo set, the band returned and Weiss had a turn to play her own music. The concert ended around 9:30 p.m. with Weiss's more electric set.

Both artists invited the audience to stick around after the show for an opportunity to take pictures and have their merchandise signed.

"[This was what made] the event special," Smith said.

'Red' Paints Picture of 'Complex' Artist

London-born Jack Cutmore-Scott has been dubbed the next Matt Damon by director Eric C. Engle. Engle directed "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" last year, Cuttmore-Scott's U.S. professional debut, and was impressed by his talent.

Jack Cutmore-Scott plays Rothko's assistant, Ken,
in Red.

Although he does not take this compliment seriously, Cutmore-Scott is excited to be playing Ken, one of two lead roles in the Pittsburgh premiere of Red under the Pittsburgh Public Theater.

"It's a very human story," Cutmore-Scott said of the play's plot outside the rehearsal room of the O'Reilly Theater on Friday.

 Red will run from Nov. 10 through Dec. 11 and is written by John Logan and directed by Pamela Berlin.

The play is about artist Mark Rothko at the height of his career in 1958. Rothko is commissioned to paint murals for Four Seasons, a new restaurant opening in New York, according to Cutmore-Scott. Rothko hires an assistant, Ken, to help with the murals.

Cutmore-Scott said the play describes the way the relationship between Rothko and Ken develops and how their artwork is affected. Rothko, as described by Jeff Still, the actor portraying him, was "serious, driven, complex [and] lonely." He also had very specific opinions of art, considering a lot was going on in the art scene during this time.

"[It's about] what two people can learn from each other, help each other grow," Still said outside the rehearsal room of the O'Reilly Theater on Friday.

Ken is much younger than Rothko, and, as a result, Cutmore-Scott said, by the end of the play Rothko becomes a father-figure, teacher and friend to Ken. He had a tough childhood and eventually becomes resilient due to the circumstances. Ken grows a lot during the play; he's still trying to figure out who he is. He is also determined and driven, and still trying to develop his own opinions of art which are inspired by Rothko.

Cutmore-Scott began acting in high school in his native London. He then attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) for a year and graduated from Harvard University in 2010.

While at Harvard, he studied English literature, but also participated in plays and theater on the side.

"It was great to get to do everything on the side," Cutmore-Scott said. "It's not about grades, but about doing what you're passionate about."
Cutmore-Scott moved to New York in February where he continued to do some acting and auditioned for Red. He auditioned for Berlin and had three rounds of auditions where he worked on different scenes.

"[They were] good scenes. Meaty, and fun, challenging," Cutmore-Scott said.

He described the auditions as a preview of what rehearsals would be like, because Berlin gave him direction, insight and made him feel very comfortable.

To prepare for the role, Cutmore-Scott spent time thinking about interesting choices about Ken's life outside the studio. Cutmore-Scott describes him as a "blank canvas."

Still also got into acting later in life, when he was twenty. "It's a long story…kind of an accident, really," Still said.

He went to an open house of a college he was not currently attending and spoke with someone from the theater department.

"I thought, ‘I'm going to give this a try," Still said.

Jeff Still plays artist Mark Rothko in the
Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Red.

Then he immediately fell in love with theater. After that, he graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's of Arts in theater, and then toured for a year in New York. Still then went to graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago where he received his Master's of Fine Arts in acting.

Still also auditioned for Red in New York and chose the Pittsburgh production because he had been here before and really liked the city. For his audition, he had to read some lines for Berlin. He wanted to participate in the production of Red because he read the play when his agent sent him a copy.

"As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to play the part [of Rothko]," Still said.

Now he is thrilled to be fulfilling that dream and did plenty to prepare for the role. Still said he read a lot about Rothko, studied his work at museums, watched biographies on him, and even read up on some of the other artists mentioned in the play.

"The dictionary was my friend," Still said. "Rothko is very articulate, with a large vocabulary. [He uses] words we simply don't use."

The costume manager of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, Kate Mitchell, is also the costume designer for Red. Although this is a period show with somewhat modern costumes, Mitchell wanted to represent the period realistically.

This is the first show she has designed costumes for since her move to Pittsburgh two years ago. When she began designing the costumes for Red, she read the play twice and then talked with Berlin to get an idea of what she pictured for the outfits.

"I looked for who was wearing what, what's going on in their lives," Mitchell said in the costume shop of the O'Reilly Theater Oct. 28.

Mitchell also had a lot to consider when it came to colors. Since a lot of the color red is used in the paintings, she did not use any red in the costume design.

"I don't want the actors to blend into the scenery," Mitchell said.

Another interesting aspect of the costumes is the actors get paint on their clothes during the scene, so they had to have multiples of the same outfits. They also could not rent costumes for this show, which they usually do from schools like Point Park University, University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University.

While Still thinks, "it's deadly to expect anything [from the audience]," he hopes people will come and get involved with the story. He also wishes the audience will come away with a better understanding of how the story relates to their own lives.

Student tickets, with valid ID, are just $15.75. To buy tickets, and for more information, call 412-316-1600 or visit www.ppt.org.

SAEM Club Presents Cult Classic 'Horror Show'

Colleen Maurer has spent the last month watching and studying Susan Sarandon's portrayal of Janet Weiss, a main character in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and reading articles about the cult classic.

On Oct. 30, Maurer will be playing Janet in The Rocky Horror Show produced and sponsored by the sport, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) club and hopes her quick and intense study will help her deliver her own portrayal of Janet.

"It [has been] such a whirlwind," said Maurer, a senior acting major, in a phone interview last Wednesday.

The SAEM Club will put on a full production of the rock-musical as a fun way to raise money for the club, and students from each academic school are being represented. Adam Field, a student from Carnegie Mellon, is also participating as both music director and Brad Majors, one of the male leads.

The club had been looking for ways to promote itself. "We thought, ‘Why not do Rocky Horror?'" said junior SAEM major and SAEM Club President Surrae Shotts in an interview in the Point Cafe last Wednesday.

This will be the first SAEM Club production. "It's a great performance opportunity, not only for COPA [students], but also for other majors," Maurer said.

The Rocky Horror Show has been a cult classic since the 1970s. It was originally written as a musical by Richard O'Brien in the early ‘70s and opened at the Belasco Theatre in New York City on March 10, 1975. It was later adapted into a movie, known as "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" that same year. This was the "first and only true" audience participation movie, according to www.rockyhorror.com.

Shotts and Rachel Norris, a sophomore SAEM major and SAEM club secretary summarized the musical as the tale of a newly engaged couple, Brad and Janet. As they leave their hometown to tell their professor about the engagement, their car breaks down in the rain. They passed a castle and decided to go there for refuge and to use a phone.

Brad and Janet quickly realized they have stepped into a bizarre place. The castle is home to aliens from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy Transylvania. The couple meets an interesting cast of characters and is thrown into this strange world.

SAEM Club had those who auditioned sing a selected song from the musical, "To Pieces." They looked for someone to be prepared, and they wanted to see their personalities really come out, according Shotts.

"Once the auditions were over, it was pretty clear who we wanted to play who," Shotts said.

While it took a while to get the money together to do the show, and the rights were only secured last week, rehearsals officially began Sept. 25th and have been running every weekend since then.

Shotts and Alexandra Mayer, an SAEM graduate student, the directors, have had to face some challenges in rehearsals. "The hardest thing was getting people to come," said Shotts.

It was also difficult to find rehearsal space, since the show requires a lot of movement.

"We've done a great job overcoming these obstacles," Maurer said.

She also said the rehearsals have been going great and they are "getting a lot done."The cast performed a full run of the show last weekend and are having their first dress rehearsal this weekend.

The show will run Sunday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. in the George Rowland White Theater in the University Center.

Maurer was not originally casted in the show, and has only attended four rehearsals. She did not audition initially because she had another audition scheduled. Her friend then told her they were still looking for a Janet.

"I thought, ‘What the heck? It's a wonderful show, so why not?'" Maurer said.

She emailed the SAEM Club and got a response from Surrae right away. Within half an hour, Maurer auditioned with an a capella rendition of two songs from the show. Field then took her to a piano and played with her range.

"They wanted to see how quickly I could handle the role," Maurer said.

After some discussion, she was immediately given the role of Janet.

Since then, Maurer has thrown herself into the role of Janet, studying the different portrayals. Since the music director made some changes and put his own twists on the music, Maurer decided to do the same, combining Sarandon's portrayal of Janet with her own to create a different interpretation of the character.

The process has been nothing but "quick pace" for her. Maurer also said this show requires a lot of energy and quick reaction. One of Maurer's favorite scenes is "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me," a very intimate scene between Janet and Rocky Horror.

"[This scene] give me the power I've never had before, and it's a great feeling," she said.

For Rocky Horror newcomers, there are different aspects to audience participation. Audiences are encouraged to dress up in drag as the characters or whatever they think will add to the experience. There are also various "callbacks" after certain lines are said, like saying "Arsehole" any time "Brad Majors" is said. Some productions even have the audience act out parts of the show. Some of the props needed for the audience include rice to throw at the wedding, toilet paper, a deck of cards and newspaper to stay dry during the rain.

If the budget allows, Shotts said they will try to provide some of these props. They will also hand out an "instruction manual" along with the playbill.

The SAEM Club also joined with Toonseum, a museum dedicated to cartoon and comic art, located on Liberty Avenue. Toonseum created the sets for the show, which will be projected on a screen behind the cast.

Tickets are $5 for Point Park students, $7 for other students, Toonseum members, and military; and $10 for general admission. The SAEM Club will sell tickets today in Academic Hall. Tickets can also be purchased from other SAEM Club members or eventbrite.com.

Shotts said audience participation is highly encouraged.

Maurer expects the show to be fun for the audience, and she is "ready for the audience to yell."

"Dress up in drag," Norris said in an interview last Wednesday in the Point Cafe, because this will only add to the experience, especially if this is the first Rocky Horror experience.

"It should be interesting … and risqué," Shotts said.

WPPJ Hosts Free Concert

The Lawrence Hall Lobby will be the place to be Friday afternoon, with free stuff, prizes, and musical talent from Point Park University students and local Pittsburghers.

WPPJ Radio is hosting its first Back to School free concert of the year on Oct. 14 in the Lobby from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Valerie Palmieri, a junior radio broadcast major and promotions director for WPPJ, said they will be holding the concert in partnership with Stage AE on the North Shore.

"This will be our first time doing a bigger version of our Acoustic Series," Palmieri said in a phone interview Oct. 7.

Last year ,WPPJ held different concerts throughout the year, including Record Store Day, the Earth Day Acoustic Series and another acoustic series at the Starbucks next to Conestoga Hall on Wood Street.

Since there was such an "overwhelmingly positive reaction" to Record Store Day, they decided to start the year off with another concert, Kelsey Kahla, senior radio broadcasting major and the music director for WPPJ, said in a phone interview on Oct. 10.

Kahla had been planning to do more concerts this year.

"I always wanted to do a ‘Back-to-School' concert," she said in a phone interview on Oct. 10. Now she is fulfilling that wish, even if it is two months later.

There will be nine local bands and artists performing on Friday, with each band or act being from the Pittsburgh area, and a majority of the acts are either exclusively from Point Park or have some members from Point Park.

The bands and acts include: Anchors End, Crash City, Toast Shaped Guns, Unraveler, Paper Politicians, Jenni Bloodworth, David Wolf, Dave Burgman, and Bailey Park.

Jenni Bloodworth, a junior broadcasting student, started out at open mic nights and has only been performing publicly for a year. However, she said, "school is one of my favorite places to play," in a phone interview on Oct. 9.

Bloodworth taught herself to play guitar when she was younger and writes her own music after teaching herself by playing covers of other artists. Although she does not have a specific genre she likes to play, she considers her music folky.

"It's very inspired by [the band] Bright Eyes," she said.

Last year, Bloodworth performed for two other WPPJ concerts, the Acoustic Series at Starbucks and the Earth Day Acoustic Series. Most recently, she performed at Point Park's Got Talent Oct. 5.
"I still get shaky on the first song," Bloodworth said. "Once I lose myself in the music, I forget about the judgment [of others]."

Bloodworth also performs at Papa J's Centro and in her hometown in Virginia. She said it is a challenge performing at school because she sees her peers and audiences on a daily basis. On the other hand, she said, performing at local bars is different because, "I won't see these people again."

Kahla and Palmieri recognize the emerging talent at Point Park. They teamed up with Max Kovalchuk, a sophomore sport, arts and entertainment management student and intern at Stage AE, to organize and plan the event. Together, the three worked hard to find bands by making Facebook statuses and contacting mutual friends to create the performance line-up.

"It was a mad dash [to find] people to play the music," Kahla said.

After that it was just a matter of getting the event approved by the school, getting the proper equipment for the event and finding a location, which was not definite until this past Monday.

"We got great acts. It will be a great time," Palmieri said.

At the concert WPPJ will have their own booth and there will be prizes. Stage AE will also have a booth with their own promotional items and maybe even prizes, according to Palmieri.

Kahla is astonished at the talent she witnesses at Point Park.

"It's surprising to see Point Park has this untapped music scene," she said.

Venture Outdoors Advocates for Recreation

It's that time of year: fall. The weather is getting colder, leaves are changing color and days are getting shorter. Just because the weather is changing, though, does not mean it is time to stop enjoying the great outdoors. Now, it is even easier to spend time outside with discounted prices on all kinds of outdoor activities, hosted by Venture Outdoors.

The local non-profit organization Venture Outdoors, located at 33 Terminal Way, Pittsburgh, wants to provide people with affordable ways to participate in outdoor activities.

"The purpose of the program is to connect university students with the wonderful amenities the area has to offer …" said Jon Lucadamo, the projects director for Venture Outdoors in a phone interview on Sept. 30.

The program is grant-funded and provides Point Park University students, as well as Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University students, the opportunity to experience different outdoor activities at a low price – just $5, according to an email from Trista Shideler, the program coordinator of the student activities office.

The events scheduled for this month include: white-water rafting, horseback riding, caving, paintball and rock climbing. Each event has a shuttle service to and from the location, which are throughout Western Pennsylvania and within an hour drive from Downtown, said Lucadamo.

Some of the locations are Ohiopyle, Laurel Highlands, Apollo and Eastern Pittsburgh. Some of these events will also provide lunch.

Venture Outdoors is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote outdoor recreation. In the mission statement on the website, it said: "… Venture Outdoors promotes the Pittsburgh region's unique natural amenities, highlights its excellent quality of life, fosters a greater appreciation for the environment, inspires an active lifestyle and creates a shared sense of community."

Although Shideler said, "this isn't our first year doing this," Student Activities has had a much greater response and student participation this semester.

"It has had a really nice following this year," Shideler said.

On Saturday, Oct. 1 students had the opportunity to go white water rafting. Only eight girls signed up for the trip, according to Hannah Finch, a junior dance major, but that did not stop the fun.

"I had an amazing time on the trip," she said in an email.

Finch also looked online to see how much a white water rafting trip would normally cost and found it to be $80, so $5 was a bargain. There were only three girls on her raft, she said, and no guide. Eventually the girls "got the hang of it" and by the end of it they were being called the "A Team."

"I don't think I have laughed so much in a long time," she said. "I think a lot of people missed out on an epically fun day."

Lucadamo said that since the program is grant-funded, it is dependent on student response and participation. However, he said Venture Outdoors may offer outdoor winter activities starting in January of next year.

However, students are taking advantage of the discounts now.

"I'm definitely planning to sign up for other Venture Outdoors trips," Finch said.

'Idol' Auditions Take Place, Student Participants Reflect

On July 15, Mary Ours looked around at the packed sections of Heinz Field. People were cheering, smiling, laughing and singing, even though there was no football game at hand.

A few rows back from the field, Scotland Newton cheered with his friends under a giant American flag, awaiting his shot at fame.

Richelle Szypulski glanced up from the field at a round of cheers and applause, waving a golden piece of paper in her hand that qualified her for the next round.

"[That moment] was the biggest high I've ever experienced," Szypulski said in a phone interview on Friday.

"American Idol" auditions ended this past Thursday, September 29, when the judges from the show, Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler and host Ryan Seacrest were Downtown at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for the final preliminary round before Hollywood.

However, the first two rounds this past July caused quite a buzz in Pittsburgh as the city hosted auditions for its first time. Approximately 12,000 people attended to take advantage of this opportunity and Point Park University students Ours, Newton and Szypulski were among them.

When the "American Idol" crew came to Pittsburgh for its 11th season, 8,000 people signed up in the first six hours of registration on July 13, according to TribLive News. Although people began lining up in the early hours of the morning, they did not let them into the stadium until 7 a.m.

"We got tickets [from the stadium] telling us where to sit," Newton, a senior acting major, said in a phone interview on Friday.

On the field, panels of two producers were set up in 10 different tents, Ours, a senior broadcasting student explained in a phone interview on Wednesday. Contestants were called down in groups of four and had to sing a song in front of the group and the panel. Ours sang "My All" by Mariah Carey, Newton sang the Broadway hit "Singin' in the Rain" and Szypulski sang Etta James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me."

Mary Ours' view as she waited for her numbe to be called.

If the panel wanted to hear another song, they would ask. If not, they would give the "American Idol" hopefuls a "yes" or "no." Since Pittsburgh was the only audition city on the East Coast, competition was tough.

Although Ours and Newton did not make it past the first round, they enjoyed the atmosphere and the experience.

Newton recalled that during the long hours waiting to audition, camera crews approached people and asked them to do "funny things." Some people were also singing with their guitars.

"They were really good. It was nice to see so many talented people," he said

Ours said there were some "outrageous people" dressed up in costumes, and they were picked to continue to the next round even if they had no natural singing ability.

"[There were] a lot of really talented people who should've made it through," she said.

On the other hand, Ours did meet some great, gifted people. She also remembers a group of people sitting outside Heinz Field playing guitar and singing.

"They were amazing," she said. "You're in a room with people who share the same interest as you. Nobody's going to judge you, because we're all being judged. Whoever makes it, makes it."

While Newton and Ours did not advance in the audition process, Szypulski did, much to her surprise.

"My stomach dropped when I realized I made it through the first round," she said.

After several hundred "American Idol" hopefuls were chosen from the first round, they had to fill out paperwork, sign contracts, get their pictures taken with an identification number and fill out a "fun facts" sheet, explaining "your story" said Szypulski, a junior mass communications and multimedia major.

The second round was held the following week in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the contestants were asked to learn and be ready to sing Katy Perry's hit "Firework," Pittsburgh's selected "city song," along with their prepared songs, according to Szypulski.

In the end, the producers told Szypulski she did not have a big enough voice for season 11. Since "American Idol" is a reality TV show, many assume they have a certain image they are looking for each season.

"If I had to guess, I'd say they're looking for young, bold talent this season," Szypulski said.

Although she had an enjoyable experience, it opened her eyes to the inner workings of the reality show. She said it was not strictly based on talent, and in the end, the show is trying to build a cast.

Although it would have been exciting to audition in front of Lopez, Jackson and Tyler, Szypulski can still cross one thing off her bucket list.

"It was an unforgettable experience and I'm glad I did it," she said.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Showcases Point Park Talent

Being a native of Greece, Ted Pappas has always embraced directing ancient Greek tragedies.

"I study the play so I can help the actors to understand the dialogue and dramatic confrontations and to figure out how to move them around the stage," Pappas said in an email interview.

That is why Pappas, a director with 40 years of experience, is looking forward to directing Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Sophocles' "Electra," at the O'Reilly Theater. The theater, located at 621 Penn Ave., is launching its 37th season with the play.

The show runs from Sept. 29 through Oct. 30 and is Pappas' third Greek production, following "Medea" and "Oedipus the King."

"Electra" is the tale of a Greek family's conflict. The family tree consists of: Agamemnon, king of Mycenae, his wife Clytemnestra played by Lisa Harrow and their three children, daughters Iphigenia and Electra played by Catherine Eaton, and son Orestes played by Michael Simpson. The famous Trojan War took place during the time period of the play.

Agamemnon hunts in the forest protected by the goddess Artemis ad he claimed he was a better hunter. She punished him by stopping the winds, and would only bring them back if Agamemnon sacrificed his eldest daughter.

Enraged, Clytemnestra "vowed vengeance" and had an affair with Aegisthus played by David Whalen. When Agamemnon finally returns from Troy, his wife and her lover murders him. Electra worries that they will harm Orestes, so she sends him off with a faithful servant, Pylades played David Bielewicz. The play picks up from there and shows the battle between mother and daughter.

Director Pappas has been with the Pittsburgh Public Theater for 19 years and has spent 12 years as producing artistic director. Coming from a Greek family, he is fascinated with Greek tragedies, which is why he chose to direct "Electra."

As he said, "Not only are these plays pillars of western literary and theatrical art, they are also fast-paced and thrilling stories with fabulous parts for actors."

Although "Electra" has been translated, adapted and produced various times, Pappas has put his own spin on this production.

"What I bring to the production is a thorough understanding of the text, which I have read in Greek, as well as the world in which the play takes place," Pappas said. "Because the O'Reilly Theater has seats that rise up on three sides of the stage, it's very much like the Greek theater where the original production of "Electra" took place almost 2500 years ago."

Cast member and Point Park University alumna and faculty member Amy Landis said, in a phone interview, of the conflict between Electra and Clytemnestra, "I hope the audience [sees] that the arguments on [Electra's side], are strong. Both [Clytemnestra and Electra] are right, but at the same time, both are wrong."

Landis, who has been teaching voice and speech classes at Point Park since 2005, plays one of the women in the Chorus, which she says is a "pivotal, emotional" role. These three women support Electra, especially since their fate is tied with hers.

"If Electra succeeds, she will save us all," Landis said.

The play opens with Orestes and Pylades secretly returning to the palace of Mycenae to avenge Agamemnon's death with Electra. Pylades is Orestes' "right-hand man" and is played by David Bielewicz, who graduated from Point Park in 2009. Bielewicz plays the only non-speaking role in the play and has to rely on his body to communicate his character.

Actor David Bielewicz portrays the silent character of Pylades.

"My character is very dependent on the reaction and understanding of the relationship between Orestes and Pylades," Bielewicz said. "My role is [also] to be a part of the suspense."

Bielewicz hopes his audiences will react to the suspense along with him, especially since there is a long period of time where everyone knows Orestes is alive except for Electra. He also hopes the audiences will see the value in the history of the play, and that human nature has not changed.

Bielewicz would like for his audiences to appreciate the work the actors have put into the production. "These actors are exceptional," Bielewicz said. "It is a blessing to work with them. They live and breathe this play."

Landis also has similar hopes and expectations for the audiences. She wants her audiences to particularly pay attention to the language – in verse, but with modern terms – of this adaptation.

"The language of this translation/adaptation is very beautiful, very clear, very potent," Landis said.

Pappas also has his own high expectations for his audiences.

"I expect they will be shocked and deeply moved by what happens to Electra and her family. I expect they will appreciate the uniqueness of this ancient Greek tragedy, yet be amazed by how contemporary the story and emotions are."

Student tickets, with valid ID, are just $15.75. To buy tickets, and for more information, call the Pittsburgh Public Theater at 412-316-1600 or visit ppt.org.

Communication Students Plan 'Farewell' to Talk Show Host

Regis Philbin broke his own record of most time on television with 16,548.5 hourson Thursday, Sept. 15. After 28 years on his morning talk show, "Live!," Philbin will be leaving the show, retiring on Nov. 18, and Bernard Charles Vincavage Jr. wants to give him a Point Park University send off.

The show is dedicating its 23rd season to Philbin, calling it the Regis Farewell Celebration Season, and producers are asking viewers to send in videos and photos incorporating the words "smile" and "Regis."

Vincavage, an interdisciplinary studies major, invites all Point Park students to join in on his production, which could air on national television.

"I would like to get more communication students working together, and I believe this is the catalyst of [the students] to work on the project successfully," Vincavage said.

Vincavage has organized a group of Point Park students to send in videos and photos for the show, hoping they will be aired.

To get word out, Vincavage sent out an email to all of the School of Communication students, asking for participants.

A brainstorming meeting was held on Sept. 14 on the fourth floor lounge to discuss ideas for submissions, but only three people showed up due to conflicts with class schedules.

However, Vincavage assured everyone that plenty of students emailed him, telling him they are interested.

One of the ideas discussed include students spelling out the words "smile" and "Regis" in the new Village Park, while a student takes either video or photo footage from an aerial view.

Another idea, more for individual students to do, was to take pictures holding signs saying "Smile, Regis," throughout the Point Park campus and Pittsburgh area.

Philbin displayed his love for Pittsburgh over the summer when the Pirates made a short-lived run at first place in the Major League Baseball's National League's central division, and Philbin made a point to cheer the Pirates on every game.

"I don't like to take on projects myself. I like to share the success with others," Vincavage said of his brainstorming meeting.

Although he would need permission from the producers to release how he got involved in the project, Vincavage was able to say that the show contacted him saying they were looking for "farewell Regis content."

Vincavage first got involved with the entertainment industry when he went to Los Angeles this past spring.

While there, he did a lot of networking and met the executive director of the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and the producer of MTV's "Jersey Shore," to name a few. He "ingrained [himself] in the industry."

While the show is looking for videos and photos on a national scale, Vincavage hopes to get Point Park involved to expand the reputation of the school.

Since the new Village Park has opened, he believes that will be the best way to do so.

The students involved are also excited about the project.

A huge "Regis and Kelly" fan, sophomore acting major Tess DeStefano said, "I hope to get as many people involved as possible."

Another expectation she has is coming up with a unique idea so the videos or photos will be aired on the show, all while having fun.

While brainstorming for the project has only begun, the deadline for submissions is Nov. 1.
Vincavage hopes to get the project done well before that to avoid rushing through it.

There will be another meeting on Sept. 23 to discuss more ideas and how to approach and organize them.

He is also planning on making a Facebook group for the project for easier communication. Vincavage has huge expectations for this project.

"The bigger, the better," he said. "The more people who show interest, I have an intuitive feeling it will be aired."