behrcolls @aol.com
ill estion of the Week by Jen Henderson, associate editor
"I think that movie stars move too fast
in trying to please the public as opposed
to doing what they really want to do."
Erin Troester
MIS, 03
Hilarity erupts at '6 X Ives'
by Erinn Hansen
calendar page editor
Talent, entertainment, and humor were featured
during the opening night of Behrend's fall
production: "6 X Ives - on Nov. 15 in the Behrend
Studio Theatre.
The entertaining evening consisted of six short
plays, without intermission, all written by David
Ives, a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and
the recipient of a Guggenheim Grant in playwriting.
His evening of short comedies, "All in the Timing,"
won the Critics Circle Playwriting Award and was
included in the "Rest Plays of 1993-94." Along with
that, this comedy was the most performed play in
the country after productions of Shakespeare during
the 1995-96 season.
"My aim is to choose plays that will be both
entertaining and challenging to the audiences," said
Paula Barrett, director and lecturer in Theatre.
"When I first read David Ives' collection of plays,
laughed out loud at the humor and ridiculousness
of the situations in which he placed his characters."
Barrett graduated from Penn State University
with a degree in Fine Arts. She then went on to
Fordham University, earning her masters in science
education. She worked with professional theatre
in New Yo'k City fOr 15 years She's at Behrend
directing her first production and teaching a class
in theatre.
The first play that was performed was "Words,
Words, Words. " This recalled the philosophical
belief that three monkeys typing into infinity would
sooner or later produce Hamlet. A demented
professor at Columbia University is determined to
prove it with three precious animals named Milton,
Swift, and Kafka.
In "Sure Thing, Bill sees Betty in a restaurant
and approaches her with a few pick-up lines. Every
time he says the wrong thing, a bell rings, and he
starts over with possibilities that exist when two
people sit down and try to have a cup of coffee
together.
In "Arabian Nights. " utterly normal Norman
walks into utterly ordinary Flora's shop looking
for a souvenir of his travels. Together they find
whirlwind romance spurred by a translator with a
knack for turning a phrase.
The fourth play that was performed was "The
Philadelphia" Ever had one of those days? No
matter what you order, they are out of it? No matter
what you do, it cannot get done? Do not panic there
is the sign post up ahead...you are in a Philadelphia.
In "English Made Simple, " a man and a woman
meet at a party. Their immediate romantic attraction
Cast member Luka LoDico is caught in a pensive moment during opening night of "6 X Ives."
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"I'm in love with J.Lo, she should
just dump Ben and go out with me
because I'm a cool cat."
John Erickson Managment, 08
"John's a cool cat."
Marisa Aiello BLASC, 07
translates into a very unromantic grammar lesson
as they struggle to free themselves from the banal
constrictions of party talk.
The sixth and final play that was performed was
"Captive Audience. " This cautionary fable tells
how Rob and Laura face a menace in their living
room: a television that talks back to them and
threatens to invade their very existence.
The current cast consists of 13 members, all
directed by Barrett, who was also in charge of set,
costume, and sound design. These members include
Luka LoDico; Ryan Stare; Tony DiPlacido;
Timothy Rice; Jenn Sample; Clark Pease; Joe
Calabrese; Derek Bledsoe; John Stranahan; Ed
Gabrys; Keegan Mills; Susan Rhode; Nick Larese;
Jessica Roman; and faculty member Amy Lewis,
who was replaced by Rowan on opening night due
to illness.
The night would not have been possible with out
the production staff, which consisted of 14
members. These members include T.J. Laffan;
Amber Foster; Benjamin Jones; Matthew
Chiaramonte; Ray Givens; Nick Goff; Daniel
Midberry; Keegan Mills; Jeremy Napierkowaski;
Jason Brendel; The Matchbox Players; and Martha
Campbell.
"6 X Ives" was a huge success. Opening night
had a sellout crowd. "The audience's reaction was
wonderful, for they were attentive and there was a
lot of laughter," said Barrett. "Despite the challenge
of replacing three people, everyone pulled together
beautifully."
"I am really proud of how everyone pulled
together," said Maria Barron, a former cast member
unable to perform due to a torn ACL and MCL. "It
was awesome!"
The cast agreed that it was a huge success.
"We overcame a lot and really pulled together,"
said Sample.
"The cast seems happy and have made many
friends," added Barrett.
The last performances will be tonight and
tomorrow at 8 p.m. There will also be a
performance on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and the entire
crew hopes for the same crowd as opening night.
Performances are open to the public; however,
the plays contain some adult language which may
not be suitable for children.
"We would love for people to come and have
fun," said Barrett. "We want to make the theatre
an important part of Behrend."
Stop by the RUB Desk for tickets or call 898-
6242 for reservations. Tickets are $5 general
admission; $3 for students with ID.
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Friday November 22, 2002
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"It's just an excuse to uprise her
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Ricardo Powell
Speakers give
communications career
Career Night 2002 took place on Monday at
7 p.m. in the Smith Chapel.
Sponsored by the Association for Women in
Communication and the Student Government
Association, Career Night was an event that
focused on communication-oriented careers.
A handful of students and faculty filled the
room in the Smith Chapel and intently focused
on the insights that speakers had to offer for
nearly an hour.
Eight guest speakers gave brief presentations
on their backgrounds, career experience, and
advice for the upcoming generations of
communications and related majors.
All the speakers had attended Penn State
Behrend for their undergraduate studies.
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They ranged in age,from , 2-35 and gave. a
wide variety of information and suggestions to
the audience.
Among the speakers was Matthew Boarts, a
26-year graduate with a degree in
communications and media studies. He is a
marketing director at Millcreek Mall for the
Cafaro Company, where he handles daily
marketing responsibilities.
This includes skills such as promotion and
event planning, advertising, public relations,
customer service, marketing research, and
various other tasks.
Another speaker, Denise Callahan, is a 35-
year old graduate with a major in
communications and a masters in library in
information science. Callahan now works at
PPG Industries in Pittsburgh. as a corporate
librarian.
Her job description includes maintaining all
aspects of the Technical Information Centers/
Research Libraries for Science and Technology.
She plays an active role in the planning,
development, and delivery of services and
resources across Research and Development.
Amy Eisert, 31, is likewise a
Communications graduate from Behrend who
works for the Erie Metropolitan Transit
Authority. As the marketing director for the
Authority, Eisert plans all aspects of advertising,
public relations, and marketing, including media
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Maybe, she seems to really like this
one-she might keep him."
Andrea Rebell Undecided, 03
Theresa "lbw Undecided, 03
by Alyssa Peconi
staff writer
The Behrend Beacon
"1 give it till she meets me, then
it's all over!"
Ryan Ruske',
advice at
buys, press releases, and special promotions and
events.
The next speaker, Katie Galley, a 23-year old
communications and media studies graduate, is
now working for WJET-TV and WFXP as a
creative services manager. Her responsibilities
include scheduling shoots and edits, writing
scripts for commercials, creating marketing
ideas for clients, video, graphics, music, and
other commercial production aspects for both
stations.
Valerie Hammond, a 22-year-old
communications major, is currently employed
as an intern by Pennsylvania's Stay Invent the
Future Initiative as the Northwest Region
Representative. She spends most of her time
promoting the state of Pennsylvania and a
virtual internship/ job fair.
Kelly Walsh, a 21-year old communications
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and media studies major, likewise works as an
intern for Pennsylvania's Stay Invent the Future
Initiative. Her duties include the same ones as
Ms. Hammond.
A communications and media studies
graduate with a minor in English, Sarah Orr is
a 22-year-old who works as a Promotions
Coordinator for WQLN. She can be found
creating press releases, radio and television
promotions, answering questions from viewers
and listeners, and scheduling tours and
volunteers for various groups.
The final speaker, Jason Snyder, a 22-year
old communications and media studies graduate
with a minor in political science, now writes as
a sports stringer for the Erie Times-News.
His job duties include covering sports events
all over the city and all over the state. He does
most of his work inside, taking calls from local
teams to report their results. Snyder also spends
time typing and updating the schedule used for
the daily budget and working on capsule
advances for upcoming games.
After the speakers finished their
presentations, students and faculty were free to
talk and interact with the speakers and
representatives from both associations. This
provided the audience with additional
information and a chance for private discussion
with the speakers.
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