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| Risque Business
hits first-year problems |
by Leslie
Rasimas
Staff Writer |
Josh Brown | Chief Photographer
Appalachian’s Wellness
Center and Counseling Center sponsored the 11th Risque Business
for Orientation throughout June and July.
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Approximately
2,100 new students attended the 11th season of Risque Business
this summer during Phase One Orientation.
The performance, which is sponsored by the Student Wellness
Center and Counseling & Psychological Services Center,
revolves around issues important to first-year students.
Dale Kirkley, coordinator of alcohol and drug services at
the Student Wellness Center, brought the program to the University
in 1993.
“The issues that we address during the show represent
those issues that those of us in counseling find important
for first-year students,” he said.
Risque Business tackles problems with roommates,
race, drugs and alcohol, sexual preference and how to use
condoms.
The cast encourages the audience
to get involved with the show and they give helpful information
and relevant statistics from the university. |
University
students have written and revised the scenes in Risque Business
over the past 11 years.
This year’s scenes include “Your College Sucks,”
“Rude Awakening,” “Morning After,” “Countdown,”
“Partner for Life,” “Drill Sergeant” and
“All in the Rotation.”
“As issues become prominent, we focus more on those issues.
The way in which we address issues changes over time,”
Kirkley said. “We try to keep things up-to-date and fresh
so the audience is receptive to the material.”
Rickey Glover, a junior majoring in theater and English, directs
this year’s production.
He saw Risque Business during his Orientation and was interested
in the program. Glover acted in last year’s production.
“When I was acting in it, it was great to see the reactions
and everyone connect. Now it’s good to see it all put
together because so much work went into it,” he said.
Jessica Hanley, a senior theatre education major, was also
interested in the program after seeing it at Orientation.
“I hope the freshmen realize even though we’re making
a joke out of the stuff, and we’re taking the humorous
side, it’s still serious and they can take it to heart,”
she said.
“I want them to realize that these aren’t just jokes
and a lot of these issues area really going to happen,”
she said.
This year’s cast wrote “Weight Watchers” after
a counselor asked them to address the issue of eating disorders.
“A lot of girls, and even boys, worry about their weight.”
Hanley said. “[“Weight Watchers”] focuses on
what girls think of themselves and how boys look at the situation
and how to make it better.”
Hunter Thore, who graduated in May in with a degree in theatre
performance, is very proud and excited to be working with
the performance.
“I got into it because I remember seeing Risque Business
when I was a freshman and how much fun it was and how excited
I was to be a part of Appalachian.
“ I wanted to be on the other end of that and make the
freshmen excited to be here as well because this is a great
school,” he said.
“I hope they walk away from the show and are really hyped
about coming to Boone and going to school here, and if they’re
in a precarious situation and they have been drinking, maybe
they can remember the show and some of they stuff we’ve
said,” Thore said.
The final performance of Risque Business will be presented
tonight in Grandfather Mountain Ballroom in Plemmons Student
Union.
Risque Business is performed by the Appalachian State University
Playcrafters from the department of theatre and dance. This
year’s cast includes Glover, Josh Price, Hanley, Thore
and Lyndsay Cox. |
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