GW Sings a Collective Song

By Shoshana Cohen

GW musicians joined together to put on one of the most popular events of Colonial’s Weekend this past Saturday. Acapella Palooza is one of only two events annually where all of GW's accapella groups come together and sing in the same place. This event has become so popular that it takes place in two separate venues in the Marvin Center to accommodate everyone who attends to listen.

The GW Troubadours dressed in classy black and white attire and started the night off with their classy yet soulful songs such as “Origin of Love” from MIKA and “Killing Me Softly” by Roberta Flack. Alex Carre and Sarah Bacani each soloed.

Following this performance was the GW Pitches, one of GW's all female groups. They sang some of the pop hits of today, most notably “Royals” by Lordes, where member Kasey Page took the center vocalist position. Other songs were “Uncharted” by Sara Bareilles with Julie Buchsbaum as center vocalist and “Warfaring Stranger” by Ed Sheeran with center vocals by Michaela Gold.

Next up was the GW MotherFunkers who brought high energy in their songs. With a set that ranged from a Jessie J and Black Eyed Peas mash-up to “Buy You a Drank” by T-pain, they certainty got the crowed going.

After them was The Voice Gospel Choir, known for being GW's only religious choir group. They sang “I Love You Lord” and “Jesus is a Rock.” While GW is known for their diverse religious backgrounds, everyone enjoyed the melodies that The Voice brought.

Always seen in their pink and black outfits, the GW Sirens were next. They are GW's other all female acappella group and brought some classics in Michael Jackson and “Latch” by Disclosure.

Up next to the stage was the GW Vibes who brought fun and energy in their performance.

Finishing up the line-up was the Sons of Pitches, GW's only all male acappella group. They sung a humorous rendition of “My Girl” from the Temptations, where each member interrupted another. They then ended the show with their traditional finale, “Change in my Life”.

Jessie Gold, whose sister attends GW said, “I thought it was really, really good.” Visiting parent Jon Cirone said, “It was fantastic, every one of them was different, but they all sounded great.” 

WRGW News at 6 Tuesday Oct. 15, 2013

WRGW News at 6 Tuesday Oct. 15, 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

Generic Theater Shows Off Fresh New Talent

By Shoshana Cohen

This semester’s theater programing continued over the weekend with Generic Theater Company’s   Freshman Showcase. GW’s newest talent put on six short plays that had something for everyone. 

“It was absolutely fantastic. Every scene wowed me and the dramatic scenes left me with chills,” said CCAS freshman, Richard Schiavone. 

The night started off with a bang with Surprise, a short play about the final date between Whitney and  her psych boyfriend Peter. The show was directed by Evie Smith and Samantha Gordon and offered the audience an abundance of hilarious moments where having a psychic ability was not the best situation. 

Next up was Closer, directed by Hanna Feintuch, a thought provoking tale about a stripper and her client who had some history between them. This play gave some variety and the cast did a great job portraying some whimsical characters. 

The last show before intermission was Zoo Story, a classic and wide know play. However, Generic  would not simply preform the norm. Instead of the traditional portrayal with the main characters being male, Generic took the opposite route and made them both female, offering the story new depth. 

After intermission another short play showed off the diverse talent of the freshman class. Smoke Scenes, directed by Natalie Petruch, was unique because it managed to tackle 51 short scenes about smoking in 10 minutes. The show was riddled with jokes and puns and kept the audience waiting for the next scene. 

Petruch was impressed with her cast. “It’s really incredible, they’re just amazing actresses,” she said. 

Next in the line-up was The Runner Stumbles, directed by Clay Miller. This show was full of twists and turns and covered the story of Rita, a nun having an affair with a priest and struggling with her religion. 

Rita was played by Jessica Lewis, a freshman is CCAS, who loved the opportunity Freshman Showcase gave her. 

“Meeting all these kids from Generic and just having the experience was incredible,” said Lewis.

The last show of the night was so wacky that it was possible—even likely—to get lost. Art Control, directed by Phil Anderson, was about a date where Donna, played by Diana Vanderbel, is waiting on some vinaigrette for her salad. What seemed mundane quickly took a turn for a crazy ride. There were characters from other performances showing up, a Mexican standoff, and even audience members were getting involved. 

After Freshman Showcase, sophomore Olivia Gickerson said, “I really liked Smoke Scenes, but Art Control was the best one.” 

If you couldn’t make it to Freshman Showcase, fear not. The Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2013-2014 MainStage season with Dead Man’s Cell Phone Oct. 17-20. Student theater also continues with the Fourteenth Grade Players’ production of Clue from Oct. 19-21 and Forbidden Planet’s production of Rent Oct. 24-26.

14th Grade Players Play It Up

By Shoshana Cohen 

Only a month into the school year, the 14^th Grade Players came out with their first performance of the year marking the beginning of the student theater season. Running Thursday until Saturday in the Lisner black box theater, the Players preformed a trio of one acts that ranged from thought provoking to over-the-top hilarious.

The evening opened with The Little Prince, directed by Angelina Hoidra, a sophomore in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. It’s the tale of a pilot has crash landed in the Sahara Desert and meets the Little Prince, who tells him of  his many adventures in faraway planets and the unique characters that live there. Each actor brought to life the character’s hyperbolic personalities. Hoidra’s one-act stood out from the rest because she based it off a French children's book, including some of the original French dialogue in the show. 

“I've always loved the book,” said Hoidra. “I left some of the original French content in just because it makes it a bit more surreal.”

The next show was of a lighter tone. Fat Joey, directed by Meghan Bernstein takes place at a high school's 10-year reunion. Each character ended up having some kind of emotional scar from their tyime in high school. 

“I can relate to my character,” says actor Connnor McInerney who plays Carter, a hopeless romantic still crushing on his prom date.

The night ended with a final one-act that had the audience falling out of their chairs in laughter. Breaking the Chain, directed by Ro Kalonaros, a senior in the Colombian College of Arts and Sciences, is the hilarious tale of Jessica, who refuses to send a chain letter that her kooky neighbors sent to her to bring them good luck. Jessica wouldn’t buy into what she thought was just a gimmick. The money and prizes her neighbors began to receive couldn’t even change her mind. 

When asked about why she chose this particular show, Kalonaros said, “I thought it was hysterical when I read it and I just had to do it!”

When the show was over the audience gave a huge round of applause. 

“I thought that The Little Prince was super deep and emotional and beautiful and I couldn't stop laughing at the other shows,” said junior Donna Ra'anam-lerner. 

“This is the best thing that 14^th Grade Players has ever put on,” commented her friend, Roxane Goldburge, a junior on campus.

Kate Lips, who played Talia in Fat Joey, says that the rehearsal process has given her great chances to make new friends. 

“We see each other so much that we have grown quite close,” said Lips. “It's nice to have a solid group of friends.” 

The 14^th Grade Players say they pride themselves in always remembering to have fun while working on their performances. Even before the show, everyone was joking around and having s great time.

Their next show will be Clue, but if you can't wait that long for your next theater kick, check out Generic Theater Company's Freshman Showcase taking place in the Lisner black-box theater next weekend.

WRGW News at 6 Tuesday Sept. 24 2013 inc. interview with Matt Scott

Tuesday Sept. 24 2013 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud