The Daily Collegian Local writer By Hannah Rishel COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Susan Russell, a Penn State profes sor and adviser for Cultural Conversations, told the crowd at her book signing Sunday night not to give her too much credit: She merely organized “this genius.” Parents, girls and members of Cultural Conversations gathered in the second floor space of the State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., for Russell’s book “Body Language: Cultural Conversations Reaching Out and Reaching In” book signing. Profits from selling the book go straight to Cultural Conversations. Attendees mingled and signed copies of the book, occasionally stop ping to listen to one of the girls read a monologue from the book. Russell’s Body Language Project, which inspired the book, encouraged girls to compose monologues on body image issues, which they performed as part of Cultural Conversations' annual theater event last year. ‘lt's really nice to have everyone back together again," Reagan Copeland, a member of Cultural Conversations, said. Rap, pop combine at HUB concert By Ashley Smalls FOR THE COLLEGIAN Rapper J. Cole told the HUB- Alumni Hall crowd Friday night that a star is born every day. J. Cole and pop-punk band We The Kings performed as part of the Pringles Xtreme Campus Tour. Fans crowded the hall as J. Cole opened the concert by introducing himself as the first artist to be signed to Jay-Z's label Roc Nation. J. Cole performed hits such as “All I Want is You" and introduced fellow artist Omen, who performed with him. The rapper also introduced the crowd to his production skills by mix ing a new beat on stage while Omen rapped to it. “This is the first time I've heard his music and I must say it's great to hear meaningful rap." Aishia Correll (soph omore-biological anthropology) said. After much anticipation. J.Cole per formed "Who Dat" which drew cheers from the crowd. "He really knows how to give the crowd a good show." Memuna Forna (junior-communication sciences and disorders) said. “I love the fact that he interacts with his audience." J. Cole ended his performance with his verse from Jay-Z’s song "A Star is Born." While leaving the stage, he shook hands with fans. "J. Cole just touched my hands. I don't care what anyone says. We had a moment." Ayanna James (sopho more-theatre) said. We The Kings took the stage not long after J.Oole finished, introducing 17th-centuiy opera examines sex, power By Sarah Becks FOR THE COLLEGIAN Dim the lights and cue the music: This weekend, the Esber Recital Hall hosted a show about sex, power and imperial affairs. The Penn State Opera Theatre and Baroque Ensemble presented Lineoronazione di Poppea" (The Coronation of Poppea) at 8 Friday night. Though written in 1643 in Italy, the opera sung in English took place in Rome under the reign of Emperor Nero and never specified an actual time period. A story about sex and power, the opera was easy to follow, Angel Merz (senior-marketing) said. "This is my first opera, so I'm impressed. I was expecting not to understand, but I could follow it," he said. signs copies of new book “It’s a homecoming of sorts. Copeland (senior-English and the atre) said that it was like having the “whole community" in the room, with the mothers who tirelessly support their daughters, the girls involved in the project, the college students involved in Cultural Conversations and the professors, who created the project. She said that she helped run the workshops that Russell ran, so she witnessed the girls creating their monologues. “We have the opportunity to learn from them,” Copeland said. "Young people rarely get to voice their opinion in a way the adult community can hear." Natasha McCandless, a sophomore at State College Area High School who participated in the project, said it was "amazing" to see her monologue printed in a published book. "Mv monologue is kind of the light and happy one." she said. "It's about how I'm trying to be myself." She said that last year she was going through a rough time and didn't feel confident, but the Body Language Project helped turn that around. "It taught me that everyone has a Amanda August/Collegian Rapper J. Cole greets fans during the Pringles Xtreme Campus Tour on Friday night in Alumni Hail. Pop-punk band We The Kings also performed after Cole. themselves by parodying an ironic Penn State chant, shouting "We are... We The Kings." While teaching fans how to fist pump. the band performed songs such as "Check Yes .Juliet" and “Heaven Can Wait." We The Kings guitarist Hunter Thomsen also gave his own rendition of Lil Wayne's "A Milli." and drummer Danny Duncan played his version of the theme song to TV show "Fresh Prince of Bel Air." "We don't care i! you guys want to rock out like it's a rock concert or shake your ass like it's a Lil Wayne concert." We The Kina' lead singer Travis Clark said. The stage was set wit h tvo > lamps, a staircase and a strueiure :n the mid dle that appeared a- a bed. altar, bath and tomb throughout the show Scene changes were made by the projections on the back wall of the stage. The Baroque Ensemble perlorme on stage next to the actors, so there was limited space to perform. "I've never been to this venue, and I was wondering how they work going to work with the space." Michael Murray (sophomore music educa tion) said. He said he was impressed with how the actors used the limited staging. Along with the staging, the audience members said they were* surprised by how risque the opera was. "It's edgy - , which is really surprising for the 17th century." Brian Lettie All YOU CAN EAT Pizza and Wings ■i- TEAM TRIVIA AT BtlMl MONDAY 7pm-1 Opm I ONLY $9.99 F j www thedrenaDarir'h.irjr:!' o:bv. I k. (814; 237-883.) I I Understanding Peace of mind Improved grades This is the power of quality notes. OUKA N ( j , o , . a e n s V^ Semester Packs now available! TERTAINMENT story and everyone is beautiful in a different way,” McCandless said. In addition to the books that were printed for the signing, 100 books will be taken to Sri Lanka by Ruth Canagarajah, a member of Cultural Conversations, to expand the project globally through The Paalam Project. “Paalam” means bridge in the Tamil language, according to the pamphlet. The project’s goal is to "bridge international emotions to external expressions, unspoken hopes for the future to cultural con versations on rebuilding,” according to the pamphlet. Sri Lanka is current ly going through a rebuilding period after a war. The project will focus on the youth’s role in it. "They'll be using theatre as a way that they can communicate their hopes," Canagarajah (junior-interna tional politics and sociology) said. Russell was extremely pleased with the event. “This whole experience has been a juggernaut that rolled on its own energy," she said. “I’m happy. I’m honored and I’m moved by these girls. It's very emotional how powerful they are." To e-mail reporter: hmrso27@psu.edu This music is for everyone. Fans fist-pumped along with the band and crowd-surfed in an attempt to get on stage. "There's a lot of energy and big hit songs," Andrew Ferri (senior-infor mation sciences and technology) said. We The Kings ended its perform ance by throwing drumsticks into the crowd for fans to catch and invited the audience to party with them after the show. After the concert, fans received free Pringles products from the sponsor. "It was insane the best concert Penn State has had yet," Chris Ferri (freshman-information sciences and technology) said. i senior-animal science) said. Lettie said the male lead being played by a female was different. But it worked in part because the role called for a high vocal range, he said. "I like how it s keeping with tradi >on, and it makes the show a little iore interesting during some scenes." Lettie said. Adrienne Price (graduate-music) played the male lead. Nero. The direc tor. Ted Christopher, said she "brave ly" took on the role. "When the director tells you that the male lead was played by a female, you're wondering how it's going to play out at first," Murray said. "After a while, it's not really weird at all and you come to accept it. The show does ;t really good job of bringing into the scene and you forget you're in an auditorium." - -psa* „ niri n PART-TIME TELLER Clearfield Bank &. Trust Company Applications are now being accepted for the position of part-time Teller at our community office in Pine Grove Mills, PA. Approximately 16-18 hours per week including frequent Saturday morning shifts. Competitive rates, partial paid vacation and holiday benefits, in-house training and periodic pay adjustments are offered. We are seeking candidates with good basic math and customer service skills. Cash handling experience is a plus. Please stop by any of our offices to pick up an application or send a resume to either support@cbtfmancial.com or: Clearfield Bank & Trust Company Human Resources Department P.O. Box 171 Clearfield, PA 16830 Equal Opportunity Employer 238-0623 NittaiiyNotesxMi Chloe Elmer/Collegian Pittsburgh-based rock band The Clarks perform on Friday night at the State Theatre. Clarks concert meshes old, new By Madeline Fitzgerald FOR THE COLLEGIAN Even for a band that has been around for more than 25 years. The Clarks' Friday show at the State Theatre was not a typical concert. The Clarks played at the 130 W College Ave. theater to a packed auditorium of both students and community members. Many attendees said the band made sure all audience members were pleased with the variety of songs played during the concert. The set list included better known hits, as well as a few new songs. Tina Grasha (junior-journalism) said Friday s show was her favorite Clarks performance and she's seen them four times. "They played exactly the songs 1 wanted to hear." Grasha said, adding that those included "Penny on the Floor" and “Butterflies and Airplanes." Some attendees said they liked that the band interact ed with them. Kevin Johnson (graduate-aerospace engineering' said it surprised him. "They were energetic enough to be interactive with the crowd." Johnson said. "They are clearly excellent showmen." Longtime fan Lauren Waltman (junior-life science said the band did a great job of combining its old and new music but for her. the best part of the show came at the end, when a band member handed her the set list, and her friend a drumstick. This tour marked a new era for the band after it added two new band members in the summer of gonu. Skip Sanders plays the electric keyboard, while Gary Jacobs plays the pedal steel guitar. Both musicians became a part of The Clarks' most recent album "Restless Days." revitalizing its sound, guitarist Robert James said before the concert "They really breathed a lot of important new file into the band." he said. "They add new texture, and 1 think that takes us to another level." The band has played in State College several times since its creation in l')8(l. but it has previously kept its shows relatively consistent. James said This time, however, band members broke out of then usual concert protocol by taking a request from the- audi ence to play its lesser-known song "These Wishes" as a part of the encore. The band told the audience the song was so rare that the new members were not familiar with it While the band normally likes to stick to the set list. James said change can be good. "Since we don't get to play together as much as we used to. a curveball can be problematic. But it's good to have a lot of songs in rotation." James said. "That way. you don't get sick of playing them " But The Clarks can't always stick to their guidelines. James said. “No matter what boundaries or stipulations we set out what ends up happening is usually completely different.' James said. Paul Benson, lead singer for opener Bishop Clay, said he could learn a lot from The Clarks. "They're very talented musicians, obviously. Benson said. "But they're also great guvs. They're very generous and kind. It's a great group of guys to look up to." Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 I 7 Spend $5O at any Simply Tan Location and you will be entered to win 1 of 25 prizes The Grand Prize is ONE FREE YEAR Of UNLIMITED TANNING See store for details
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