The Daily Collegian Drake ticket sales successful, ongoing By Lindsay Cryer C,\;FG!A\ STAFF WRITER 11 Drake was playing in HUB Alumni Hall, the venue would have sold out by now three or tour times over a Bryce Jordan Center official said Wednesday, "It's a tun little metaphor for you." said Bernie Punt, the Bryce Jordan Center's tBJC> director of sales and marketing. A student pre-sale for the April 9 concert that will feature Drake along with openers Francis and the Lights and K-OS began at noon Wednesday in the HUB- Kobeson Center. The pre-sale Sorority hosts concert to benefit March of Dimes By Renee Guida l IECTAN staff writer D.I Suss One was speaking mainly to all ot the ladies in the audience in the HUB on Wednesday night. "Don't be afraid to dance in your seats, ladies." he shouted, initiating a response iron: w omen throughout the Paul Robeson Cultural t 'enter's Heritage Hall. The Zeia Phi Beta sorority Inc. spon sored a concert event hosted by DJ Supernova to help raise money for the March of Dimes Foundation. Oni Hawkins, president of the sorority, said the March of Dimes Foundation is one of its national philanthropies. Haw kins said the March of Dimes' mis sion is to promote awareness to mothers durum i heir first trimester of pregnancy in order to promote safety for both the moth er and child. Such awareness helps to pre vent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality, she said. "We wanted something to bring more awareness to it." Hawkins (junior-human development and family studies) said. "We figured we'd do something for the students that can also donate back to the organiza tion." While the event started later than its expected time of 8 p.m.. the artists, includ ing DJ Suss One. Ron Browz and Red Cafe, were easily able to make the once anticipating crowd into an energetic group of people. A prelude to the event included Eric Fiscus. senior community director for the March ot Dimes, speaking about the foun dation's purpose and telling the story of one panieular family. Fiscus concluded his School of Theatre presents rendition of ‘The Odyssey’ By Valerie Tkach L'GEGIAN STAFF WRITER Audience members became gods of Olympus on Tuesday night when Zeus, Athena and Poseidon emerged from their midst and took the stage to begin "The Odvssev." Hosting an adaptation of Mary Zimmerman's play this week at the Pavilion Theatre, the School of Theatre's version performed Tuesday night, Wednesday night and tonight is an "ensemble' cast production in which even actor plays an important role in the show. "It was important to use all the creative young minds that we have in this play," Director Annie McGregor said. "We respected all the suggestions and ideas that they had." With the forum-like theatre audience members look down at the stage from their seats the show uses almost no props, with actors taking the place of thrones and animals. "We are trying to be different than most plays." said Timothy Ellis Riley (graduate master of fine arts), who played the char acter Cyclops. "We decided to create our own box." Final Home Games of the Season! made tickets available to students for a discounted price of $25, cour tesy of the University Park Allocation Committee. Student tickets will continue to be sold until 6 tonight at BJC box offices. The public sale will begin at 10 a.m. Friday. Punt said BJC representatives sold more than 3,500 tickets in Wednesday's sale and look for ward to continued success today While the Drake sale has been very successful along the lines of sales for T.I. and Jay-Z it has n't sold as briskly as Taylor Swift, whose concert sold out in twelve minutes. Punt said. speech by having everyone in the audience hold up his or her cell phones. "For everyone who still has a flip phone, the average size of a premature infant is the size of it flipped open," he said. While admission to the event was free, donations were accepted. Victoria Elie said she is a big fan of Browz and that she had seen him perform before. "His music is very catchy his chorus." Elie (junior-hotel restaurant and institute management) said. "And I think he's very Felicia Bray, Class of 2007. said she has a love for music and is interested in hearing different artists. She said it doesn't matter if you like the artists or not, adding that people should want to reach out and offer support. Elie said she the event was a great idea. "A lot of organizations should do it. It's something that will attract the school, the community." she said. "It will kill two birds with one stone having fim and raising money." With different colored lights streaming the stage, DJ Suss One started the night with non-stop energy. People in the front and back of the hall were up and dancing to the music. Suss One made two appearances before and after Red Cafe and Ron Browz. Host DJ Supernova said hosting sets the tone for the show. He added that he can relate to the purpose of the event and is glad to be hosting for the artists. "I was lucky enough to be able to work with the sorority," he said. To e-mail reporter: rmgsl46@psu.edu The creativity of the play was noted by audience members. Alexa Fox (sophomore-theatre) was impressed by how the actors brought the "great play to life with just their bodies." In one scene, most of the actors played sheep and had to be carried on the backs of soldiers, drawing laughter from the audi ence. Alex Bugbee (graduate-engineering and political management), who came to see his girlfriend perform in the play, said he enjoyed seeing her in a different light. "I think my girlfriend makes a great sheep," he said. Cast member Oscar Camacho (junior theatre) said he enjoyed taking a more hands-on approach to the play. "It challenges us as actors to be more specific with our acting," Camacho said. "It helps the show be more powerful." McGregor and Matt Richards (senior theatre) brought in Holly Gombita (senior theatre and public relations) to help devel op the dance movements that would cre ate mythical Greece. “It was important that the choreography was able to create all the props and yet have the audience understand what it is they are looking at,” Gombita said. To e-mail reporter: vwtsoo6@psu.edu Thais Wolfe (junior-biobehav ioral health) said this is one of the first times she's bought concert tickets. "To be honest. I've only been to one concert and that was Lady GaGa. I'm really picky." Wolfe said. "But I used to watch Degrassi.' and I'm interested in seeing how his performance is." Wolfe was one of many students who waited in line in the HUB- Robeson Center for tickets. The line was so long that BJC repre sentatives had to stay longer than they originally anticipated. TVler Fondrk (sophomore-actu arial science) said the wait would be w orth his while. Drake’s music and personal style has attracted students, he said, but one specific thing may have skyrocketed the rapper's career. "His appeal has a lot do with the fact that he's been alongside [Lil’l Wayne," Fbndrk said. “It really set him off." Fondrk hopes Drake will play with a live band to complement his other positive assets. And Wolfe wants to see a GaGa-esque type performance, one that pleases the ears as well as the eyes. "I guess the concert factor that I'd like to see is visual show. GaGa’s was more like art,’’ Wolfe said Tom Ruaoe Collegian Blues-infused rock n’ roll band the North Mississippi Allstars performs at the State Theatre on Wednesday. The theater was filled with fans dancing during the performance. Blues fill State Theatre By Nick Weingartner COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Jimi Hendrix once said the blues were easy to play, but hard to feel. And Wednesday night, the blues were definitely being felt. The North Mississippi Allstars and The City Champs took the stage at the State Theatre. 130 W College Ave., and opened State College up to true southern blues. "It's just good music." Stanley Snider, a State College native since 1982, said. "It actually comes from the heart of whoev er's playing it. if they play it well." Snider and his friend Bob Mathewson a local since 1972 attended the show, as they do with most past blues shows that make their way through town. Mathew son. who said he had also seen Johnny Winter w hen he played at the State Theatre, said he first heard the North Mississippi Allstars on XM Radio. He liked what he heard, as he does with most blues, and decided to come and see them live. "You know. Willie Dixon said 'blues is the roots, and everything else is the fruit - ,” Mathewson said. "That's whv I'm here.” Luther Dickinson, the guitarist and singer for the group who also serves as lead guitarist for The Black Crowes lead the group through the songs as he weaved in and out of intricate guitar solos and 1 \! T I I , i.> I $299 INTERVIEW SUIT PACKAGE SUIT. SHIRT-TIE Original Retail Value $5OO Expert On-site Alterations Clothing & Sportswear for Men ie Avenue • State College • 814.238.4767 to Sat 9-6, Thursday 9-8 & Sunday 12-4 ww.HarpersShopforMen.com Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 I 7 If you go What: Drake ticket pre-sale Whan: Until 6 tonight Where: Eisenhower Box Office Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, Bryce Jordan Center and online Details: Student tickets $25 courtesy of UPAC, public sale begins 10 a.m. Friday "It was a visual performance. To e-mail reporter: Ibcl46@psu.edu rhythms, sometimes speeding off into four minute-long solos that brought the crowd to its feet. The trio also switched in and out of different timings communicating to each other complex musical endeavors with only a glance or a nod. A single song could last 10 minutes or longer, and change pace a dozen times with the crowd nodding along with every note and beat. Dancing and swaying broke out throughout the show especially when Dickinson sang the line "shake what your mamma gave you,’ - which encouraged many audience members to do just that. The City Champs played its 40-minute set with no singing but that didn't stop the audience from cheering as the mem bers sped off with their musical solos. The trio included a blues organist, who played an old wooden organ similar to the type that John Paul Jones used to play with Led Zeppelin. Mathewson said seeing the blues live is the best way to experience it. “Whatever you hear is what's there," Mathewson said. “It’s not through a 32-track mixer.’’ Snider said the fact that it's live also makes it more organic. “You only get one take," Snider said. To e-mail reporter: nawsos4@psu.edu
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