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.
October 24, 2011
October 10, 2011
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.
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.
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.
October 4, 2011
'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."
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.
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. |
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.
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