Erika Jarvis, Features Editor
Kerwin lands lead role
in 'Father of the Bride'
Communications and Media Studies instructor John Kerwin has a lead role in
the play version of "Father of the Bride," which is being presented at the Erie
Playhouse this month.
"Father of the Bride", which had preview performances Sept. 26-27, is a play
made famous by two movies, one released in 1950 starring Elizabeth Taylor, and
one released in 1991 starring Steve Martin.
In the stage version being presented at Erie Playhouse, Kerwin plays the part of
the father, Stan Banks, as he and his wife, Elie, follow their daughter through the
adventures of planning and putting on her wedding.
Kerwin auditioned in May for this play. The Erie Playhouse is very popular
with aspiring actors around the Erie area, so they have one audition a year for all
of the plays being put on the following year. There were two comedies for the
2003-2004 season: "Our Town" and "Father of the Bride."
"I just looked for comedies or anything that's non musical," said Kerwin.
Kerwin caught the acting bug while in high school. He was in a couple of plays
there, and that is when he realized acting "brought out something that was really
exciting, and I really felt an adrenaline rush, and that's neat especially when it's
induced by acting."
Kerwin never really took acting lessons.
"I'm a great believer in the Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino method, such as a
class or two helps, but you learn by doing and watching, really by watching the
pros perform their craft. Then you have to put it into the context of what you can
do. You can't copycat them, because that is their style, but you can incorporate
who you are and put your trademark on it and hope it works."
"The greatest comment I ever heard was written by (Anthony) Hopkins 'Acting
is like being on a tightrope across the stage, and you just hope you make it across
the stage. When you do it it's an exhilarating adrenaline rush. —
Other plays Kerwin has been in included last year's Inherit the Wind, which
was about teaching the theory of evolution in schools.
On the Behrend campus he's done "Ten Little Indians "
He also worked in
television, and has
done a little bit of
film out in
Hollywood. He had a
small role in the
movie "Nine and a
Half Weeks" which
starred Mickey
Rourke
Some television
work that he has done
includes "The
Doctors," "Santa
Barbra," and "The
Young and the
Restless."
He was also the
Nissan spokesman (l-r) Kerry Long (Kay Banks), John Kerwin (Stanley
when he was in Los Banks), Sue Lechner (Ellie Banks).
Angeles.
"They give you a script and money so you pitch it," he said.
He also did commercial work for computers and irrigation systems.
"You just work to act," Kerwin said.
Kerwin also had his own production company, Kerwin Communications
Incorporated. With this company, he produced, directed and did shows and
whatever he could find.
He was also with NBC for 12 years when he was in New York, and then he went
to Los Angeles where as he says "the creative community really is."
"My main goal is to write, create and direct my own movie. We in the performing
arts always have another goal, another plateau to reach," he said.
With all of these credentials, why did he decide to come to Erie and teach at
Behrend?
"I come from the East, " he said.
Kerwin, who is from the New York area, wanted to come back and stay in one
spot, at least for a while.
"People look at me when I run around here and say, 'Aren't you exhausted after
you do it?' But if you talk to any actor, they'll say that's what makes you go. It's a
myth that actors hang out, do their bits and then jtist go to sleep and party again.
That's Hollywood myth. You work hard. And I've gotten so used to it, it's just the
way I live."
"You're up there naked. And you're saying, 'Here I am, I hope you enjoy what
I'm doing.' You have to work at it, and if you don't, everybody can tell."
Father of the Bride is being performed Oct. 2-5 and 8-12 at the Erie Playhouse.
Tickets are $2O for adults and $lO for full-time students. Visit
www .ri -11 hou . r.! or call the Box Office at 454-2852, ext. 0 , for more ticket
Through the looking glass
f
by Mike Pingree, KRT Campus
IT WAS MORE OF A TRIBUTE, ACTUALLY
Angry because his girlfriend dumped him, a Wisconsin man had T-shirts
made featuring a naked picture of her, taken during happier times. Then, he
passed them out at a county fair, police say. The former girlfriend found out
NOT TONIGHT, I HAVE AN ARSON FIRE
A man in Seget, Croatia, set a fire in the woods behind his home in order to
avoid having sex with his wife. Alas, the fire spread to his house. He has been
jailed for arson.
I KNOW HOW THIS MUST LOOK, DEAR
A commercial airline pilot lived a double life with two women in British
Columbia, marrying them both and setting up households with each of them
about seven miles apart. He got away with it for many years, having two
children with each of them. But it all fell apart when his wife of 39 years filed
for divorce, and the papers were delivered to the doorstep of his wife of 20
years. During the subsequent court sessions, members of both families were
seen screaming at each other in the corridors.
by Megan Loncaric
staff writer
c4 , 710 "..i!..: r . :1 .
• ... g ri r:: \
, t ;.„. ; „:.,.":„. 1 .05;„ ki4
~P4l oia
13111
Friday October 3, 2003
Crossword
letters
5 Walrus teeth
10 Grasps
14 Diner listing
15 Coliseum, e.g
16 Aspirin target
17 Window unit
18 Low joints
19 Compare
prices
20 Well-grounded
22 Travel document
24 Programming
repetition
26 Proofreader's
cut
27 Like the perfect
crime
31 Control-tower
devices
35 Feather scarf
36 Admit
38 Gentleman's
gentleman
39 "Yours, Mine and
41 Barber's tool
43 Elite wheels
44 Ms. Dickinson
46 Carpenter's
tool
48 Prickly husk
49 Deadly fly
51 Favoritism for
family
53 Engaged in
55 Fuji flow
56 Oklahoma
Native American
60 Episcopal
cleric
64 Border against
65 Nun's attire
67 DeVito sitcom
68 Outdoor gala
69 Wear down
70 Cold treats
71 Checked out
72 Crowded
73 Traffic diverter
'll - 1g .. 1 I 'I ll' r li ' I !I Ii I_
Do you live in Niagara, Almy or any
residence hall on campus? If you
answered no, then you are indeed a
"commuter student." The image that
most people think of when they hear
the term "commuter" is someone who
must drive a long distance in bad traffic
on the highway to school everyday.
Commuting to Penn State Behrend
may involve catching the bus or riding
a bike, walking, rollerblading or driving
a car to campus. If you live off campus,
you are considered to be a commuter.
Whether or not you adapt to the term
commuter, you can investigate the
useful resources in the Commuter
Council. The commuter council is
committed to enhancing your college
experience and helping you succeed in
both your academic and out-of-class
endeavors at Behrend.
Commuter students are the
majority at Behrend. There are
about 6000 students her, of which
approximately 2,000 live on
campus. That leaves about 4,000
students who are commuters.
Commuter students are diverse in
many ways: age, racial/ethnic
identity, family status, working
status, how you get to campus,
distance you commute, living
arrangements and more. In spite of
all the differences, commuter
students do have common
concerns. Time management,
balancing multiple roles, getting to
campus and getting involved are all
reoccuring issues. Commuter
council is there to help you face
ACROSS
1 Hurry-up
DOWN
1 Stereo adjuncts
2 Resting spot
3 Kournikova of
tennis
4 Hopi home
by Syreeta Anderson
staff writer
K, "" '4.;•7-1
© 2003 Tribune Media Services, Inc
All rights reserved.
5 Buy-out
6 Samovar
7 Ooze
8 Work dough
9 One prone to
backtalk
10 Accelerator
11 Canyon rerun
12 Thunder god
13 Alternative to 9
21 Lounge about
23 Serb or Croat
25 Part of a
blossom
27 WWII submarine
28 Sentence
subjects
29 Inductee's boss
30 Score minus
eight
32 Suspect story
33 Twin of Romulus 47 Valentine word 58 Mum
34 Tempest 50 Engraved 59 Black, poetically
37 New 52 Artful maneuver 61 Tex-Mex snack
40 Located 54 Chicago hub 62 Yoked pair
42 Banter 56 Small 63 Stand
45 Sunday night restaurant 66 Dog tags,
NFL outlet 57 Comply briefly
those issues head-on!
Getting involved on campus can be
hard, but it doesn't have to be. You can
attend class and leave, or you can
participate in a variety of cultural,
social, recreational and academic
activities. You can meet people, learn
about a variety of cultures or get almost
any type of help/assistance you need. It
is up to you.
Matthew Miller, member of the
Commuter Council said, "You don't get
the full college atmosphere living off
campus. You meet people in your classes,
but you don't get the personal side that
you would if you lived with them."
Even though he doesn't participate in
many clubs on campus, he would if it
didn't conflict with his ride home.
"Not because I'm not interested, it's
normally because most organization and
The Communter Council office makes for an
inviting place to hang out during classes.
Solutions
The Behrend Beacon
clubs hold their meetings late and that
interferes with my transportation
home," Miller said.
Syndei Valentine a 3rd semester
commuter said,"l hate being a
commuter. At my old school I lived on
campus, and I miss it. I have to depend
on people to bring me back and fourth
to school or catch a bus that takes 45
minutes, when my place is only a 7-
minute car ride. I like the fact that I
don't have to deal with a Resident
Assistant and I have the choice to
choose what type of meal plan I have.
I would still like to live on campus."
Julie Lafferty, president of the
Commuter Council, said the easiest
way to get involved on campus is to
"join a club or organization, work on
campus, participate in intramurals, and
attend workshops or other campus
offerings."
A great way to get
involved without
joining a club is to eat
lunch in Bruno's and
talk to other people at
the table.
Lafferty invites all
commuters trying to
get involved on
campus or if you
need a place to sit and
study in between
classes to stop in the
Commuter Councils'
office where "the
door is always open."
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