0 BEHREND BEACON October 23, 2009 Vwww.thebehrendbeacon.com ['MAU i1ti,14A4031 Behrend production Alice still stable despite students' decisions to drop play EVAN KOSER ow, ~,h1,,, With the performance of the Behrend student play Alice: Tales of ci Curious Girl only a few weeks from opening night, two students have unexpect edly jumped ship on the pro duction. Alice is an unfamiliar take on the familiar tale of Alice in Wonderland. Sophomores Kathryn Kotlarz and Earl Kun sman have both dropped the performance from their sched ules due to time constraints. "I was far behind in my classes," said Kunsman, a hiol- ogy major. This semester, Kunsman is enrolled with 17 credits and is currently seeking membership with a fraternity, certainly a heavy workload on top of al most 12 hours of theatre re hearsal per week. Aside from the hours, Kotlarz was dealing with stress. "I just couldn't deal with it," said Kotlarz, a nutrition major currently enrolled with 15 cred its. "I mean, with school and personal issues, I just couldn't give enough time to the play." ell ill Watch online: Behind the scenes footage of the making of Alice: Tales of a Curious Girl, coming in Nov www.thebehrendbeacon.com Free • Confidential STD TESTING - WALK IN CLINIC Erie County Department of Health 606 West Second Street (Corner of West 2nd & Cherry Streets) Monday 9:ooam -11:00am Wednesday 1:00pm-3:00pm Thursday 3:oopm-s:oopm Questions? Call 451-6700 Many students base their de- ing himself with his passion. cision to partake in extracurric- "Leaving the theatre was ulars on their prospective heart-breaking for me," he said. schedules; Kotlarz and Kun- "It's a passion of mine. I mean, sman are no different. I know I had to in order to suc- "When I auditioned, I be- ceed in my college career." lieved that I could do [the play] Kotlarz' situation parallels up until last Thursday," said Kunsman's in many aspects. Kotlarz. Both students have performed Kunsman held a similar view. in past Behrend shows, but Kot- "In the beginning, I actually larz explains that balancing figured it'd just be the same as school work and the plays is al last semes- ways hard ter," he said. "It's difficult choosing wo "lt's never rk. "But a lot of the personal between something Kotlagone easy id," reasons hit rz sa. me so sud- you love to do and " But it's been denly." manageable in Kunsman something you have the past. Last also fell be- semester, I did hind in his n't bother try- classes when he had to leave cam pus for fam- ily issues "I was really sick for a while too," he said, "and leaving for home put me behind." Kunsman explained that while he loves being a part of the thespian culture, it was an imperative decision between doing well in classes or involv- to do." ing out KATHRYN KOTLARZ because I knew I wasn't sophomore nutrition major going to be While Kotlarz didn't have to tend to pressing issues at home, she found it difficult transition ing from a few hours to nearly 12 hours per week of rehearsal. "It was easy in the beginning because we only had rehearsals once or twice a week for a cou ple hours," she said. "But 1 had to make a choice." "I do feel bad for leaving everyone else," Kotlarz said. "Especially because it's some thing that I love. But I knew I made the right choice." Because the production is just a few weeks away, it's too late to fill the roles with new performers. Thus, current ac tors are having to fill in the roles. Kotlarz and Kunsman both expressed their disdain in their decisions, referring to it as the "lesser of two evils." "I'm really hoping to do the shows again next semester," said Kunsman. "I know I'll be pledging, so I'm going to have to manage my time better." Kotlarz advises that all stu dents keep from getting - too stressed out." "Make sure you can drop something if you have to," she said. "Don't take on too much and always know your limits." "It's difficult when you have to choose between something you love to do and something you have to do," said Kotlarz. able to handle The performance of Alice: Tales of a Curious Girl is still scheduled to open on Nov. 12. despite this minor setback. Tickets for the performance will be available to students and the public in the coming weeks. Colle 50% off any pizza order offer is good for delivery or carry out from 11:00am - 10:00pm No itccd for coupon just ask for the College Special 'Offer may not be combined with any other discoun:a. Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. e 50% OFF Da No bald order as much as • 'd like Wednesdays Only 2009 / 2010 Call (814) 824 - 8282 THE PLAI,7LINST ii t 4 ; 1141 1 - op , •.. 742 • ~ , . ‘ le ' ,„. ~ 1, 1 "" * •,' , k:' Jr iir Fluent In Stroll peaked at 22 spot on the Top Heatseekers chart, making it one of the best-selling albums from an up and coming artist. Strollin' to Big D and the Kids' Table When a band al the (ore of a genre deviates from the sound it has developed. inure often than nut, fans will riot. We've seen it everywhere II green I )ay to Metallica. This summer. the popular ska band Big I) and the Kids' Table released it's sixth studio album. 1 : 111elli In Stroll. "Fhe Boston group has impressed listeners frequently, and this new disc is no differ ent. The interesting thing is that Fluent In Stroll is not ska. Big D has effectively created a new genie. "stroll." that is more flow-dri ven than ska "Fhe ska genre ni iginated in Jamaica and was invented long be fore reggae In modern slsn, the drums emphasize off-beats while the guitar emphasizes not only the off-beats, but the final three beats as well. Hut.llk In . L ;11(1/1 flirts heavily with the ska sound, but again, it is imt So how did the ska community feel about this deviation from the forn u rla. The response couldn't have been more positive. which speaks about both the talent of Rig D and the Kids' Table uric/ the audience listening to it. People who listen to ska are hap pier. more relaxed. and inure open than other music fans. Some songs that at First don't seem very appealing, such "A Kiss a Week, - <tie so damn catchy that you can't not tap your foot to it. "Describing the Six - has a reoccurring guitar part that makes for a perfect ringtone ( s‘mg. - I) own Around Here," profiles the Alston, Mass. music scene There is one song, "Nnown to he Blue. - (coming in at 1:(11), that is essentially the albuin's onl down-heat song. However, the best song on the record is the fantastic "1, 1. 1. - Its ska undertones are prominent, hut it still rings separate from ska, You just can't not tap your foot in time, or nod your head with the rhythm while lis tening to .Strt Fluent In.S'h'all. simpl, put is "walking music.'' That's to say, it's not the hest music to listen to while sitting in front of your com puter. Throw in on vow put in your headphones and go for a walk in the gorge on a >unnv day. liig is latest album is feel-good music that makes you do just that: feel good. It's that simple. CO _1 p Culture deals Of fEpec4BES CONTRIBUTED PHOTO JEFF KRAMER
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers