“To Fool The Eye,” 1812 Productions’ adaptation of Jean Anouilh’s “Leocadia” by Jeffrey Hatcher, does admittedly feature visuals worthy of the play’s title. A rotating backdrop, clever lighting, quality costume design and a variety of visual gags are all executed very well and contributed a great deal to the production value of the show. However, [...]
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The 55th Annual Grammy Awards provide excitement and surprises
Where can you find a necklace worth $31 million? Only at the Grammy Awards! This year’s show was not one to forget easily, and it had countless moments that everyone was gossiping about the next day. The night kicked off on the red carpet, where celebrities discussed which designers they were wearing and had their [...]
Ballet modernizes classic pieces
The Pennsylvania Ballet, despite its short 50-year history, is currently ranked as one of the best American ballet companies. One of the staple characteristics of this company is its fascination with George Balanchine. This season, a lot of productions the company did were Balanchine adaptations, such as “The Nutcracker” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Not [...]
Drexel Dance Ensemble starts season with ‘Surrounding Us’
The Drexel University Dance Program kicked off its winter concert, “Surrounding Us,” Jan. 24 at the Mandell Theater, and it is safe to say that it was fierce, weird and heartwarming. The concert had 11 choreographed numbers. Eight of them were created by students, two were by faculty, and one was by local professional Leah [...]
FreshDance winter concert composed of diverse pieces
Drexel’s own freshman dance ensemble marked the weekend of Jan. 26 with the annual FreshDance Winter Concert at Mandell Theater. This time the freshmen dancers performed “New Episode,” a performance consisting of five pieces, diverse in their styles and atmospheres. FreshDance is an ensemble open solely to freshmen in order to provide performance opportunities and [...]
Russian classic ‘Eugene Onegin’ shines during run at the Academy
When most people hear the word “opera,” they think “opera house.” Yet that mistake shouldn’t be made in Philadelphia, home of the Academy of Vocal Arts, the only tuition-free vocal school in the United States that regularly provides its students with opportunities to perform before a wider public. This inconspicuous little building located just off [...]
Concert band honors Moss’ memory
Drexel’s Concert Band held its fall performance Dec. 2 in Mandell Theater. The large and dynamic group, consisting of more than 70 students from almost every major, gave a performance just as varied as the band’s membership. Led by Wesley Broadnax, the ensemble covered a vast array of musical periods spanning over five centuries, including [...]
Kimmel Center decks the halls
Even though the weather is not feeling the Christmas spirit, the Philadelphia Orchestra most certainly is. Cristian Macelaru and Charlotte Blake Alston ushered in the Christmas season Dec. 1 with the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Holiday Spectacular” at the Kimmel Center. The concert showcased classic Christmas music from around the world and many cute surprises. The “Spectacular” [...]
Passion Pit entertains fans despite dull performance
A challenge that many bands are facing as of late is how to translate electronic music into an entertaining live display. While an energetic light show certainly does not hurt, I have personally witnessed a great number of electronic acts hampered by their reliance on keyboards, which keep the audience hopelessly in the dark on [...]
Wyatt Cenac brings crowd to tears
Wyatt Cenac of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” who announced Nov. 26 that he will leave the show in December, came to Drexel Nov. 17 to headline the 13th annual Drexel comedy show. The show, presented by the Campus Activities Board, showcased Cenac as well as fellow Daily Show writer Travon Free and Drexel [...]
Creator of Warped Tour talks music and success
Kevin Lyman, the creator of the renowned Vans Warped Tour, visited Drexel Nov. 15 to discuss his career in music and give insights into the concert tour producing world. The event, set up by Emmy Levine of the Good Idea Fund, included a question-and-answer segment with Lyman and a screening of the Warped Tour documentary [...]
Gaslight Anthem enthralls Philly with extensive set
The Gaslight Anthem thrashed the stage of the Electric Factory Nov. 27 amid a full house of fans. The five-piece act from New Brunswick, N.J., was supported by Chester County native Matthew Ryan and punk band The Menzingers from Scranton, Pa. A soft, ambient chord, surrounded by gritty, desperate vocals brought the crowd together at [...]
Conor Oberst performs songs from several projects
Conor Oberst performed to an enchanted audience Nov. 18 at Verizon Hall in Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center. Supported by Daniel Johnston and featuring accompaniment by Rachel Cox and Ben Brodin, the 19-song set seemed too short for the concert’s attendees. Johnston, somewhat of a cult icon in the indie scene, began the evening. He rose to [...]
All Time Low gives fans all time high
As the sold-out “The Rock Show at the End of the World Tour” rolled into Philadelphia Nov. 17, I guess you could say I was a bit excited, but I was not the only one. As I approached the Theater of Living Arts, the line to get into the venue was so long that it [...]
Drexel Players spell out success
The Drexel Players opened their presentation of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Nov. 9. The musical comedy’s final performances will take place Nov. 16-18 at the Mandell Theater on 33rd and Chestnut streets. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a humorous musical based on an improvisational play, “C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E,” by Rebecca Feldman. [...]
Zombies visit the ballet in ‘Giselle’
Philadelphia’s own Pennsylvania Ballet Co. has recently added “Giselle” to its performance list, with shows running Oct. 18-28. This classical ballet was first performed in a Parisian theater in 1841 and tells a haunting and woeful tale of love’s joyous beginnings and its bitter end. Giselle, the eponymous main character, is a farm girl whose [...]
Jowitt preaches appreciation for great dance with “Masterpiece”
Drexel’s Department of Performing Arts brought the program “What Makes A Masterpiece?” to Mandell Theater Oct. 4. The program featured a lecture from dance performer, critic and NYU professor Deborah Jowitt, followed by a performance of “The Farewell” by renowned performer and part-time Arcadia University professor Janet Pilla. Projected onto a giant screen was “The [...]
Mayes brings Broadway to Drexel
Tony-nominated Broadway star Sally Mayes gave Drexel students a sneak peek at her work in progress, “Southern Stories,” capping off a three-day residency and master class Oct. 5. Not only is Mayes a talented actress and a wonderful singer, but she’s also a storyteller, and she proved this in the Van Rensselaer ballroom in front [...]
Cinema Club packs the factory
Two Door Cinema Club won itself new fans Sept. 29, after playing an amazing electro pop-filled set at the Electric Factory to a sold out crowd. If you’re not already familiar with the band, which is made up of frontman Alex Trimble, bassist Kevin Baird, guitarist Sam Halliday and temporary touring drummer Benjamin Thompson, the [...]
Off-Broadstreet brings quality theater to Philly
Philadelphia’s theater community is known as one of the most diverse in the United States. A handful of these theater communities make up the alliance Off-Broadstreet. “I think Philadelphia’s theater community is extraordinary,” Kevin Glaccum, producing artistic director of Azuka Theatre and founder of Off-Broadstreet, said. There are now over 50 professional theater companies in [...]
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