Monthly Archive for February, 2010

Review: Chicago…And All That Jazz!

Published by Danny Fob on February 24, 2010 in Film. 0 Comments

Tonight was really my night; simply inexplicable! Just had to get that out of my system. Vaudeville really set in after such a fantastic movie. Like I said, I had never seen the Oscar award winning film Chicago, but I am so glad that I put off a paper to attend the screening. The Jazz age is so beautiful when seen through the eyes of Roxie Hart, a “poor, misunderstood girl with a sinner’s past and a saint’s heart.” Oh the tears in my eyes.

The music and character of this show are legendary and need little introduction. Anyone that has even the slightest knowledge of musicals or theater has heard some lines of All That Jazz or Mr. Cellophane. The show embraces and produces the spirit of classic Vaudeville productions with its talented chorus lines, revolutionary choreography, and jazzy show tunes. The singers give spirit to their work with voices made strong by years of struggling for their five minutes of fame and a spotlight in the public eye.

Rob Marshall and Bill Condon come together to deliver a modern swing on this jazz age extravaganza by fusing the power of today’s stage effects, the talent of popular artists, and one of the most celebrated Broadway shows in history. Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, and Christine Baranski show us a performance to remember as they are transformed into vaudevillians from another age. Absolutely fantastic voice performances and dance numbers give today’s actors a long forgotten skill and show us another side of what it means to be a performer. I loved the juggling, the bum clown act, and the Chicago lights circus shows that took place throughout the movie.

I figured before going that I would enjoy myself, but I had no idea that the musical would be as great as it was. It will most definitely be on my Christmas list next year! The reason the title of this review mentions All That Jazz is because this screening, provided by the University Unions Arts and Programs (AAPA) as part of their Oscar Winning Film Festival, also shows films created by students here at the University of Michigan. We watched three films; Prelude in C Major by Shannon Kohlitz, Epic Reiteration of Hey Diddle Diddle also by Shannon Kohlitz, and Free Trade by Josh Behr. These independent films are to be shown and voted on at all of the screenings this week and the winning film will be announced on Thursday. They were all well produced films that deserve the attention of Michigan’s diverse student body. This week’s program is designed to get these films some viewing and I hope everyone can take it upon themselves to attend one film this week and vote for favorite.

The other films are:

“Crash” February 24, 2010, 7 p.m. at the Michigan Union, Pendleton Room
“Casablanca” February 25, 2010, 7 p.m. in Palmer Commons, Forum Hall


Take a break from studying, or celebrate a finished exam, by attending one of these fantastic movies and participating in this campus program to support fellow students. I know for a fact that Casablanca is an amazing movie, and I’m sure that Crash is also, I mean it did win some Oscars. It will be worth it, I promise.

As always,
This is Danny Fob: Artist and Art Reviewer.

Preview: Study or Chicago? Study or Chicago?

Published by Danny Fob on February 23, 2010 in Film. 8 Comments

Definitely Chicago. Take the night off from midterm studying and come and enjoy an Oscar winning film. You know you’re just going to cram and wing that test anyway. I’ve never actually seen Chicago, I know, that is really sad, but the University is holding their Oscar Winning Film Festival and they are playing Chicago. I’m really excited! I have heard some of the music, but don’t know any of the storyline.

Okay, okay, school does come first, but everyone needs a brake. Come on, you know you want to slack just a little bit (I know I do). Well if you decide to come out, Chicago is being played at the Michigan League in the Vandenberg Room at 7:00pm. Don’t be late!

P.S. FREEpopcorn and soda!

Where: Michigan League, Vandenberg Room
When: 7:00pm
What: Viewing of Chicago
How Much: FREE

I hope to see you there!

And as always,
This is Danny Fob: Artist and Art Reviewer

The 100th post: Preview of Swedish Radio Choir :-)

Published by krithika on February 19, 2010 in Music. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

I am so excited that this is the 100th post for [art]seen. To me, writing about the different art events that I go to, has helped me understand and enjoy the performances even better. Yeah for [art]seen!

So this sunday, FEb 21, the Swedish Radio choir are going to be in town. Made up of 32 professional singers and  sponsored by Sveriges Radio, this choir is one of the world’s best a cappella choirs that have a very wide a cappella and symphonic choir repertoire.They are the go-to choir for all the leading symphony orchestras in the world.

Maestro Ragnar Bohlin

Maestro Ragnar Bohlin

This tour is led by conductor Ragnar Bohlin, a Stockholm native who also serves as choral director for the San Francisco Symphony. He is another choral legend whose accomplishments are so many that it will take a long time to list them. He is one of the best in the field today.

The Swedish Radio Choir made its UMS debut in 2001 and their rendition of Verdi’s Requiem was a great hit. This time, the program starts with the sure crowd pleaser, Alven’s Aftonen (Evening). Also on the program are many choral pieces from various composers like Mahler, Bach and Sandström ,to name a few. This will be a treat for all of you who like a healthy dose of classical music to make your day.

When: Feb 21,2010 @ 4:00 pm

Where: Hill Auditorium

Tickets at the League Ticket Office or online at ums.org.

Yours truly,

Krithika, for [art]seen

Preview: All’s well that ends well

Published by krithika on February 19, 2010 in Music and Theatre. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

You can never get enough of Shakespeare. I caught a part of a soap the other day at the airport and suddenly it struck me as to how many of the twists were taken straight out of a Shakespearen play. We owe so much to the Bard of Avon- for his immense contributions to the English language, his insight into human nature, his amusing and wise quotes and so much more!

This week, University of Michigan’s Musical Theater Department, presents “All’s well that ends well“. Much as I adore Shakespeare, the play “All’s well that ends well” leaves me a bit unhappy as there are parts of it that I just don’t get.

“All’s well that ends well” is about a lowborn beauty Helena who falls in love with a foppish count, Bertram. Due to a set of circumstances,  Bertram ends up marrying Helena but he “hates” her.  Bertram lays down certain conditions that need to be fulfilled for Helena to become his true wife and goes out to the battlefield. The rest of the play is about how Helena tricks Bertram into accepting her after fulfilling all his ridiculous conditions.

Well, what I can’t get about this play is why a smart woman would go behind an apparently foolish guy who doesn’t see the value in her? Maybe it was so in Shakespearen times!

Ok, so if I don’t like the play that much, why am I going? Well, on paper, it is very tough to understand why Bertram would refuse Helena or why Helena would still want Bertram. But on stage, this confusion can be sorted out by the acting of the performers (which I will tell you in my review!). Will director Malcolm Tulip help smooth the hate-to-love transition convincingly and make it believable? That is what I am looking forward to!

On a certain level, it does show a smarter woman who knows what she wants (why is not ours to question) and gets it and I do love that part. As is typical of Shakespearen comedies, there is a lot of laughs and double entendres in this play. So, do come to the play and may it all end well!

What: Play “All’s well that ends well”

Where: Arthur Miller Theatre at U-M’s Walgreen Drama Center, 1226 Murfin Avenue

When:

Friday-Saturday, February 19-20, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, February 21 at 2 p.m.

Tickets at the League Office or online at the U-M Musical Theatre web site.

Yours truly,

Krithika, for [art]seen

Preview: Our Town

Published by krithika on February 19, 2010 in Theatre. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Our Town” is being staged by the University of Michigan Department of  Theatre and Drama, under the direction of Jerry Schwiebert, between Feb 18-Feb 21.

The play is quoted to be “the quintessential American play on life, love and death”. When it made its debut in 1938, it created a buzz  for its minimal props, no sets and  even lesser scenery. The plot revolves around the everyday lives of  two young people, George and Emily who fall in love with each other. The complex script takes us through their lives alongwith those of the other townsfolk. Hence, it’s also the character portrait of a typical American town with other supporting characters depicting the typical routines and life in a town.

Without the help of a set,scenery, etc., the complex script relies on superb acting skills of the performers. It will be interesting to see the director’s take on the play and it’s relevance to today’s life.

Where: Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre

When:

Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m.;
Feb. 19 & 20 at 8 p.m.;
Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.

Tickets at the League Ticket Office ($9 with student ID).

Yours truly,

Krithika, for [art]seen

“My Name is Rachel Corrie” on Sat Feb 20

Published by ArtsLounger on February 19, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

 

Performance of the play “My Name is Rachel Corrie”

 

When: Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 2:00pm
Where: Angell Hall Auditorium A, UM
Cost: Free

Sponsored by Arts at Michigan and the Michigan Student Assembly.

Click to see more details of this performance at UM, and to RSVP on FaceBook.

 

Poster

 

Rachel Corrie (1979 – 2003) was an Evergreen College student from the USA who traveled to the Gaza Strip. She was killed in 2003 by a Caterpillar D9R armored bulldozer operated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during her protest against the destruction of Palestinian homes by the IDF at the Rafah refugee campin the Gaza Strip.

“My Name is Rachel Corrie” is a play based on the diaries and emails of Rachel Corrie. (Here are some extracts from her diaries.)

Alan Rickman first staged the play in April 2005 at the Royal Court Theatre, London, and it went on to win the London Theatregoers’ Choice Awards for Best Director and Best New Play.

 

Here is a documentary about the life and death of Rachel Corrie:

 

 

Here is an YouTube video featuring footage from an interview with Rachel Corrie that took place two days before her death:

 

 

Here is some additional background material about the play.

Incidentally, on January 25, 2004, the parents of Rachel Corrie spoke here at the University of Michigan.