22—The Daily Collegian Friday, April 26, 1986 Penguins, Spirit on shaky ground By ALAN ROBINSON AP Sports Writer YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Pitts burgh could lose its Penguins hock ey and Spirit soccer teams by July 15 if certain demands including the elimination of city taxes and a substantial hike in season ticket sales are not met, club owner Edward J. Deßartolo said yester day. Deßartolo, holding his first news conference in four years, claimed his Pittsburgh sports franchises have lost $3B million and warned the city must immediately take steps to eliminate its 10 percent amusement tax on ticket sales and 25 percent parking tax. "The ball is in your court," De- Bartolo said, referring to Pitts burgh city officials and residents. "We have made certain demands and expect these dpmands to be fulfilled. "We have , suffered fantastic losses . . . if we had kept this mon ey in our business, we could have realized $BO million to $lOO million on our investments. Our corpora tion and our family can well afford McLain receives 23-year sentence TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Denny McLain, major league baseball's last 30-game winner, was sentenced yesterday to 23 years in prison by a federal judge who chided him for not accepting his conviction on racketeering, extortion and drug-dealing charges U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich cited the former Detroit Tigers pitching sensation's "failure to admit to yourself your own guilt," as well as his involve ment with drugs as important factors affecting her decision. McLain, 41, who sat through most of the proceedings, stood in the packed courtroom as she ordered him to serve eight years each for racketeering, conspiracy and extortion, with the sentences to run concurrently. She then tacked on the maximum 15 years for his attempt to deal three kilos of cocaine in 1982, and fined ************************** PENN STATE NROTC DRILL SOCIETY • * * * presents* * KELLY'S .* * * *. HEROES * * * * *. starring * 4 (* Clint Eastwood * * Donald Sutherland * * * * * 105 Forum * * Fri., Sat. & Sun. * * * 7 & 10 * 4(- $2.00 * * ' 0288 ****************** ************ these losses, but we have other priorities than losing this money in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County," he said to a large group of report ers, most from the Pittsburgh area. Deßartolo, whose family also owns the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers, said the losses include $l2 million last year on . the ill-fated Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, $l9 million on the NHL Penguins since 1977 and $6.5 mil lion on the Major Indoor Soccer League Spirit since 1981. The Penguins sold fewer than 6,- 000 season tickets while averaging about 10,000 per game this season, while the Spirit averaged 8,000 per game despite season sales of only 1,500 this year. Deßartolo said each team needs to sell 10,000 sea son tickets by July 15 "or we will have to re-evaluate our position and possibly exercise other op tions." "To underscore the dire financial situation which we, are experienc ing, in order for the Penguins to break even next season, we would have to draw sellout crowds for him $8,900 McLain probably will serve one-third of his sentence eight years —before he would become eligible for parole, the government said. "I'll pay for my conviction the rest of my life. I've gone through a lot of shame and disgrace," McLain told the judge, reading from a prepared statement. Afterward, defense attorney Arnold Levine, who con ferred with his client in a holding cell, said McLain was "destroyed by the length of the sentence." "I think that much time was uncalled for. I didn't have any quarrel with the eight years," Levine said. "But I thought the consecutive was too harsh." Levine said he will ask that McLain be allowed to go free on bond while he appeals the conviction. A hearing is expected to be set later. every home game," Deßartolo said. Deßartolo said that after July 15 "there is a point of no return . .we need to start immediately addres sing certain problems that exist which, if not solved, will lead to the elimination of professional sports franchises in Pittsburgh." Deßartolo confirmed he has re ceived other offers for the Pen guins including a substantial offer to move the team to Hamil ton, Ontario but said none would be considered until after July 15. Deßartolo, a wealthy real estate developer and businessman from Youngstown, said he was "ex tremely encouraged" that Pitts burgh Mayor Richard Caliguiri told him yesterday that he will push for the elimination of the amusement tax. The tax takes 10 percent off the top of the ticket sales from all four of the city's sports teams, including the football Steelers and baseball Pirates. Caliguiri also said the city Stadi um Authority his dropped a law suit that it filed against Deßartolo after the Maulers folded. scoreboard sports calendar ' Today Women's Tennis Atlantic 10 Championships at Penn State Baseball Penn Stale at West Virginia Women's Track Penn Slate at Penn Relays Men's Track Penn Stale at Penn Relays Men's Galt Penn State at Maryland Invitational . Men's Soccer U.S. World Cup Team at Penn State, 7:30 p.m (Jeffrey Field) Tomorrow Football Blue• White Game (Beaver Field, 1 p.m.) Women's Golf Lady Lion Invitational at Penn Stale, 8:30 a.m (Blue Golf Course) Softball Rutgers at Penn State, (2) 1 p.m. (Lady Lion Field) Men's Lacrosse Penn State at Hobart, 1 p.m. Women's Lacrosse Penn State at New Hampshire, 1 p.m Men's Tennis Penn State at Princeton, 2 p.m Fri 8, 10 & Midnight Sun.: 8 & 10 sports briefs Elinsky, Bevilacqua receive tourney berths All-Americans Greg Elinsky and ing All-American berths at nationals Chris Bevilacqua of the wrestling last month in Oklahoma City, Okla. team have been 'selected to partici- The tournament is open only to All pate in the National Wrestling American underclassmen, with the Coaches Association's freestyle tour- highest finisher per weight class nament in Sicily, Italy May 29-June 8. given top consideration. Elinsky and Bevilacqua, who Elinsky (158) placed . secorid at na learned of their selection to the 10- tionals, losing his title bout, 4-3, to man U.S. team on Wednesday, will lowa's Marty Kistler, who was also participate in a four-day training selected to the ' squad. Since' the camp at Boston University before . NWCA received no applications to traveling to Italy.participate from any 167-pound wres , Elinsky and Bevilacqua qualified to tiers, Elinsky was selected to com represent the United States by earn- pete. • Lorenzo signs two-time state champion Penn State Wrestling Coach Rich Lorenzo may have found a heavy weight to replace departing All- American Steve Sefter, who finished. his collegiate wrestling career last month with a fourth-place finish at nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla. Jeff Ellis, a two-time heavyweight state champion from Clarence High School in Clarence Center, N.Y., re cently signed a national-letter-of-in tent to attend Penn State in the fall. The 215-pound senior compiled a 125-12 career record, including a 37-1 slate this past season en route to his second state title. "He's definitely a full legitimate heavyweight and he will wrestle at heavyweight eventually if not right away," said Lorenzo, who added that other schools who recruited Ellis had projected him as a 190-pounder be cause of his size. "Ellis isn't a big heavyweight but trains extremely hard," said Penn State Assistant Coach John Fritz. "He's real lean and he wrestled below 210 at the state tournament because he was picking up his running. He has a few years of growing and maturing here." • Sat 8 & 10 $2.00 101 Chambers 4. 6 6 6 4. 4 1i41 6 6 6 6 V 6 6 6 s e t 44 E , Fri 7:30 & 9 - Sat 7:30 ONLY Sun 7:30 & 9 112 Chambers $2.00 rirffatible Student 0091 Association arts Nommo's show will stress black issues By JENNIFER EDWARDS Collegian Arts Writer This weekend is the beginning After a year-and-a-half struggle to get started, the Nommo Per forming Arts Company will be presenting its first show, "Food for the Soul," Sunday in Paul Robeson Cultural Center. It is sponsored by the center and the Black Studies Program. This day-long series of shows will feature Nommo's theater and dance groups. The play "Open Admissions" will be presented at 12:30 p.m., and "Day of Absence" at 2 p.m. "(`Open Admissions') is about how universities bring mi norities into them," Shawn D. Woodyard (senior-theater), pro ducer and founder of Nommo, said. " 'Day of Absence' deals with telling the world you couldn't live without the black• society," he said. The dance group, led by Kim Also performing with Nommo Arlington, will perform five will be the United Soul Ensemble, pieces, beginning at 1 p.m. "The who will open the events at noon. pieces are all dealing with black The sequence of performances experience and 'celebration," will be repeated at 3:30 p.m. -Woodyard said. "It's quite differ- "We're very excited that all of en : and quite good dance." ' the efforts will pay off," Woodyard yvtxxlyard came up with the idea said. "We playfully called it , Tood for Nommo over a year ago. "The for the Soul,' but we think that group was formed because of the really says all of it." Five O'Clock features very funny moments and good acting By JOAN MORYKIN Collegian Staff Writer The Five O'Clock Playwrights' Theatre presentation of the come dy "Wrongdoings" is delightfully funny combining the humorous elements of a play written within a play, along with some playful "au 7 dience participation." The script for "Wrongdoings," written by Bret Marks (graduate film) , was directed and performed by students in the tradition of Five O'Clock Theatre. Marks' play de picts a tough, cliche private detec tive who suddenly becomes a stranded collegiate actor in a very awkward situation when the lead ing lady is late for her entrance. As it turns out, Art (played by Samuel D. Cohen) is not only dis tracted by the fact that his real life leading lady is late, but also be cause she is dating another man. So enters the classic love triangle, but then enters Steve the stage manager (Morten Hansen) to fill in for the missing Mary Patrice (Lisa Seacrist). From the audience, enters Chuck (Michael K. Brown), a somewhat dull-witted Theater 100 student who rapes the stage with his performance as Detective Mike Hamer after Art becomes disgusted and retreats into the audience. During the entire epi sode, the voice of a flighty director (Patrick Fabian) emanates from the control booth. As the director, he overlooks the awkwardness of the situation with an additude of "go with the moment, it's magic." Marks utilized an interesting combination of theatrical el-t ements, ranging from a mock-play on beginning theater students to including some of the classic lines by Brando and Bogart. Overall, the acting was' believ able and effective. Cohen was con Music enthusiasts can perform in the Concert White Band By RICHETTE ROBILLARD Collegian Staff Writer The Concert White Band will give a performance this Sunday at 1:30 in the Herman G. Fisher Plaza. This concert is part of a series held during the spring to showcase University bands. The Concert White Band is part of the Blue Band program within the College of Arts and Architec ture. However, memberhip in this band is not limited to students majoring in the arts. In fact, most of th 67 members are students from a wide variety of majors who are very interested in music. "Most members see it as a way to continue playing while not hay- lack of theater for the blacks on campus," he said. "All of the material is dedicated to black experiences." The company has 25 members, all of whom are students. Not all of the members are black, Woodyard said. The word "nommo" is Swahili foi - "seed." "It is a seed (of thought) placed in another's ear where it will flourish and grow or wither and die," Woodyard said. The members of Nothmo hope to plant seeds that will flourich and grow in people's minds, he added. Woodyard is optimistic about this weekend's turnout. ."I think the cause and the material and the company are so different that peo ple will be attracted to us," he said. "This performance is crucial to the administration. They want to see how many people will be interested." vincing and committed as the stranded Art. His prortrayal of Mike Hamer was believable and showed credibility, becoming less of a contrast to Art as the confu sion mounted. Under Michael Hig gins' direction, deliberate over staging and overpronounced movements in the initial scene made the audience feel uncomfort able 'in the cliche detective plot, and closer to the character of Art. One of the highlights of the play was when the vulnerable Art at tempts to entertain the audience with personal anecdotes about his life and begins pondering his rath er awkward situation. He ques tions life, and wonders why it can't be more like a play without the pain of real life emotions. But the bad news, Art 'realizes, is that "you have to rip out your major body organ " Seacrest, however, lacked full sincerity in playing the tormented young actress caught in a love triangle. She needs to express more emotion at the prospect of being torn between loving Art and the wealthy Yuppie-type graduate student whom the audience never sees. Brown was highly amusing as Chuck. He characterized a naive, but uninhibited student , with a little knowledge about theater, which proved to be a very danger ous thing. During an absurdly comical moment; Chuck raises his hand to ask Art a question for his theater notes and says, "Excuse me, what was the name of the song again? This girl's stomach was making weird noises." Hansen's character as the stage manager-suddenlY-turned-"lead- ing lady" lacked credibility. The final performance of "Wrongdoings" will be presented this evening at the Pavilion The ater at 5:30. ing a great deal of their time taken out of their schedules because of rehearsals," Richard Bundy, the band's assistant director said. The students rehearse once a week all semester to prepare themselves for this concert. This performance gives them the op portunity to display their talents to the public. The musical lineup will consist of marches, overtures and Broad way show music. There will also be a special performance of Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Destiny," in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of his birth. In case there is any bad weather the concert will be held on Sunday May 5 at 1:30. R.P.M. kee By PAT GRANDJEAN Collegian Arts Writer It's her second comeback appear ance with former band R.P.M., and lead singer Lisa Tachna might be nervous. She doesn't exactly look uptight as she faces the East Halls audience on the quad this warm Sunday afternoon her onstage behavior, though restrained, seems graceful and self-assured. While watching her, one still can't help but question whether this reunion is as much "fun" as it was supposed to be. After all, this group hasn't played together in eight months, and a lot can change in that time. "I love being in front of people," Tachna insisted. "I've been onstage since I was in the fourth g - rade, and it's really second nature to me. One song is all it takes to get the adrena lin flowing." Tachna explained why she re turned from the wilds of postcollege worklife to perform intermittently with a band from her student days: " . . .we always had a blast togeth er, on and offstage. This is the only group I know of that didn't have any personality problems. I mean, these guys don't give me any re spect as a woman, but I don't give them any either. If I had enough money, I'd come and attend grad school at the University just to keep the band together." For those readers finding them selves totally lost and in need of an explanation as to what sort of band might inspire her loyalty, here goes. R.P.M. was established dur ing the summer of 1983 and included a mixture of collegiate and non collegiate personnel: Tachna on vocals, Brad Ennis on lead guitar, David Brauer on bass, Steve Dick son on keyboards and Chuck Long on drums. This line-up was actually the culmination of years of inter relationships of different members in different bands; thus, this assort ment of players "clicked" quickly and successfully. At the end of their first eight months together, they found themselves opening for the Greg Kihn Band at Lock Haven College. "That's when we knew-we-were professionals," Tachna said. "We realized that we had our staging, lights, sound and everything else just right." Ironically, just when a real breakthrough seemed possible for the band, Tachna and Ennis (both graduating students at the time) decided to leaVe to pursue other career goals. Brauer, Dickson and Long stuck together, added Greg Platzer (for merly Johnsen) on guitar, and rech ristened themselves Mayhem. They picked up where R.P.M. left off in repertoire; incorporating Top 40 cover tunes, 1970's and 80's AOR selections from bands such as Styx Social Voyers: Band and return to By PAULA DU PONT Collegian Staff Writer Among the frisbee flinging, water splashing, skin tanning and lakeside socializing, Sunday's Beta Sigma Beta Sy Barash Regatta promises to offer a definite Philadelphia flavor at least in terms of live bands. Opening for the Hooters, Philadelphia's current pride and joy, is Social Voyers also a Philadelphia based group that formed in State College three years ago. Social Voyers consisting of a singer-keyboardist, bassist, drummer and guitarist writes and performs only original compositions and does so justifiably with an upbeat energy similar to what the Hooters deliver. The band presently plays the caberet circuit in Phila delphia, a step up from the South Street scene of narrow stages and loud speaker-like sound systems where many city pop and rock bands vie for exposure. It was when the band opened for the Hooters a few weeks ago to a receptive and enthusiastic audience that the former band asked Social Voyers to open at the Regatta. When interviewing the band last Sunday early af ternoon at Ye Old College Diner, the band members tried to be serious in conveying their attitudes toward music despite the fact they were playing with their pancakes, interrupting each other, bickering over where they'd find the money for the check and trying to check out one of the waitresses. (They were quickly tipped off by the waiter, whom they had recognized as a local band musician, that the waitress was unavail able.) "It's (our music) a synthesis of different styles; we all bring into the band our own influences," lead singer Bob Sobel said. "It's got a lot of dance beat underneath it; it's got a lot of hiAtory to it but it's also got a lot of our own sound. It's like a cross between Paul McCart ney and Peter Gabriel. "We challenge people, we don't just write songs about love and cars," Sobel said. He said that all of the members of the band, which includes guitarist Keith Atkinson, bassist Mark Newman and drummer Bob Nolan, contribute to the songwriting. "It's pretty removed from the Grateful Dead scene. -41 Collegian Photo I Andy Conner After May, you will no longer get to see this talented group whether as RPM, RP Minus or Mayhem. and Starship, and a smattering of originals. Although they earned a steady series of weeknight and weekend gigs, soihething never was as right within the new group as it had seemed with R.P.M. So when Ennis and Tachna recently indicated some disillusionment with their non-musical professional lives and a desire to rekindle .the old-band fervor, the logical decision seemed to be to "get back" for awhile and have that same old good time. Dis banding Mayhem for this purpose didn't seem a tragic decision, as it had only a month to live what with the imminent departure of Brauer to Colorado and Dickson to parts unknown as yet. `I love being in front of people. I've been -onstage since I was in the fourth grade, and it's really second nature to me. One song is all it takes to get the adrenalin flowing.' It wasn't a tragic decision, just a messy one. The odd man out was one Greg Platzer/Johnsen, whose is excited to play Regatta its 'birthplace' s rocking to the end !' . ‘f!.•]3:,..g'... , ..: . -. .t .i '..!': , . ,! .q .e.., : —Lisa Tachna, R.P.M. lead singer In some songs, people sometimes say we sound like old Genesis," Nolan said. In general, the band considers itself to be more progressive and artsy than the Hooters but having a kind of beat like U 2. Social Voyers will release its first EP in about a month-and-a-half on their own label. It will contain some of their popular songs that they'll play at the Regatta, such as "Try," " Pretty Pret ty," " The Boy and the Beat" and "Freezone." `lt's (our music) a synthesis of different styles; we all bring into the band our own influences. It's got a lot of dance beat underneath it; it's got a lot of history to it but it's also got a lot of our own sound. It's like a cross between Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel.' Social Voyers, unlike many bands that have formed locally, draws strength from the consistently smooth voice of lead singer Sobel. His voice has many of the same qualities as the lead singer of the English Beat, with a hint of the vocal gruffness of Dire Strait's Mark Knopfler. Sobel's synthesizers and keyboards also add largely to the precision of the band's dynamics. When Social Voyers formed in State College in the fall of 1982, it was then known as Bobby King and the Igniters. The band played at the Scorpion, the Brew ery, the Phyrst, the Saloon and Arthur's (now Cafe 210 West). It has performed at The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The Social Voyers' bandmembers are excited about coming back to the University. Social Voyers will begin playing this Sunday at 1 p.m. .~y } , b~6..- a recounting of his dismissal from this circle was decidedly different from the other band members.. For the record, Brauer stated, "He de parted with no hard feelings. He has a lot of talent and another band will pick him up in no time." One's definition of "hard feelings" will no doubt influence one's interpretation of Platzer's own comments: "I'm disappointed, but I don't regret being fired. I won't miss playing with them. The truth of the matter is, there was never a Mayhem I was nothing more than a hired guitar player." He elaborated, "The way I was fired was really rotten. Dave was asked to do it, because 'he has no guilt.' And what he said to me was, `R.P.M. is getting back together, but you don't fit in with us so you're out.' " Platzer does agree with Brauer that his future as a profes sional musician is not down for the count, and he's looking forward to working with a "better group" soon.. Regardless of the nasty taste this scenario leaves in the bystander's mouth, there's no denying that in performance, R.P.M. seems a hap pier ensemble. The members exhib it the kind of camaraderie that comes out of hours of crazy road and performance experiences. En nis, who taught Brauer "how to have a good time onstage," is some kind of hyper-manic guitarist, reel ing himself all around the stage when he has room and gesticulating constantly even if he doesn't. He provides a nice contrast to Brauer, Friday, April 26, 1985 .AtagM ilagtialtt Bob Sobel The Daily Collegian who has the band's most striking male singing voice and whose be haviors tend to appear moodily self possessed even when one knows he's having a good time. `That's when we knew we were professionals. We realized we had our staging, lights, sound and everything else just right.' —Lisa Tachna, R.P.M. lead singer For the past month or so the boys in the band have been playing some weeknight campus and local dates as RP Minus, their mainstay dates being Wednesday nights at the Phyrst. Only on the weekends do they become R.P.M., when Tachna comes into the picture. And it's at these times that one can see they really have been a band with a difference. It's unfortunate that the quintet's career won't be continuing much beyond the end of the semes ter. Long praises Tachna for "giving us a flexibility that we otherwise wouldn't have," and it's obvious from her work with R.P.M. that her commitment to performing is real. Glee Club is concert Sunday The Penn State Glee Club will perform it's 97th annual Blue and White concert Sunday at 3 p.m. in Schwab Auditorium. The group, which is the oldest musical orga nization on campus, will sing a wide selection of French, Italian, German and English songs and will feature the works of Handel, Bach and Schubert. The program will also include a section of traditional spirituals and old folk tunes, concluding with several favorite Penn State fight songs and the Alma Mater, especially for the alumni. Under the direction of Bruce Trinkley, assistant professor of the University's school of music, the group will perform glees de signed for the male voice. Consis ting of about 50 male singers, only one faint female voice will be present in the group due to the extreme low range needed to sing the works. Although the group members have been preparing most of the numbers for the concert since their spring tour early this se mester, many of the tunes will be performed without accompani ment and will be challanging to sing. The musical program will also include several numbers featur ing the Hi/Lo's, an ensemble of singers within the Glee Club, who will perform pieces from the Romberg repertoire and the com ic P.D.Q. Bach. Glee Club president Pete McEl - encourages everyone who enjoys good music to attend the traditional concert. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. —by Michael Ross Domlnicls
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