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Trey Allman | The Appalachian
Nikki Caruso, a sophomore theater arts major (left), plays Ismene and Ashley C. Kirby, a senior theater arts major (right), plays Antigone in the famous Greek tragedy. |
Modern touch to ancient tragedy 'Antigone'
by Ryan Finn
Staff Writer
Forget what you thought you knew about “Antigone,” the ancient Greek tragedy written by Sophocles.
The departments of theatre and dance at Appalachian State University are collaborating to present the time-honored text in a new way. Special effects, choreography and abstract scenic design are some of the new devices created for the production.
The story concerns the duty-bound young Antigone, daughter of the late Oedipus. When her father dies, he leaves Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices. The two sons spar over leadership and end up killing each other in a pitched battle.
The eldest son, Eteocles, had lead Thebes for one term before the family argument. When both brothers are slain, Creon assumes the throne because he is the brothers’ uncle.
Creon is bound by the rules of his city and decrees that Eteocles is to be buried with honor while Polynices is to be denied a burial at all. Antigone cannot abide by this decision and decides to bury her brother herself.
Director Derek P. Gagnier coaches voice, dialect and acting in the theatre department. With “Antigone,” Gagnier wanted to “make [the story] clear for the audience and deepen the impact,” he said.
The production will have its own Web site, linked from the homepage for the theatre and dance departments, www.theatre.appstate.edu. Visitors to the Web site can find special concept statements issued by the director lighting designer.
According to Gagnier’s conceptual statement, “If the production is viewed through the eyes of the chorus, as the citizens of Thebes, then we can make theatrical choices based on what is in their hearts and minds as they recount this sad story.”
The Greek chorus mentioned by Gagnier underwent some reconstruction for this production. The dance department filled out most of the chorus parts with dance majors.
“I personally think it’s important for dancers to understand the theatre experience and vice versa,” assistant professor in the department of dance and choreographer Susan W. Lutz said. “We have always tried to find more ways to collaborate on productions and to integrate our students in all types of projects.”
For Lutz, “Antigone” represented an excellent chance to explore the emotions of the story through movement as well as text.
“I wanted the choreography to not be a literal interpretation of the words being spoken but another layer to the text,” Lutz said of the often abstract choreography.
For both Lutz and Gagnier, the experience was worth repeating. “It is in the best interests of the students and the department as a whole to continue to look for these opportunities,” Lutz said.
Gagnier has collaborated with Lutz on three productions so far. The work, he said, is “very disciplined but creative. Here, [Antigone] is something everyone can relate to.”
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| Special to The Appalachian |
Rangers put spin on bluegrass
by Kyle Conrad
Staff Writer
An area rich with the tradition of stringed music will host one of the most promising new bluegrass bands in the Southeast today.
Steep Canyon Rangers features four just-out-of-college instrumentalists who have taken the bluegrass world by storm with their innovative style and their contemporary “spin” on bluegrass music.
The Rangers feature four different instrumentalists, four sounds that combine to form an original sound that takes bluegrass music to a new level.
The members are Woody Platt (guitar), Mike Guggino (mandolin), Graham Sharp (banjo) and Charles Humphrey (bass).
The band members all attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and have since relocated to the Asheville area after graduation. The Rangers formed at Chapel Hill about five years ago and, since then, have been writing bluegrass beats to rejuvenated the bluegrass world.
“We have strong ties to traditional bluegrass music, but we also like to write a lot of our own kind of stuff,” Humphrey said.
The Rangers placed first in the Rockygrass festival’s band competition, the first festival the band participated in.
The Rangers have yet to slow down. They have showcased at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass trade show and have appeared alongside such legendary musical artists as Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Del McCoury.
The Rangers will soon release their latest album, “Steep Canyon Rangers,” that promises to uphold the expectations of fans that have quickly grown to love the sounds of the talented quartet.
Interestingly, not all of the members Steep Canyon Rangers members had musical experience when the band formulated at Chapel Hill.
What the members did have in common, however, was a burning interest in a style of music that has defined the heritage of North Carolina’s mountain country for decades.
“We try to play for everyone,” Humphrey said. “We really appeal to all ages of people and anyone who is interested in bluegrass music.”
Originally, The Rangers played together at informal “living room” picking sessions. After they improved, though, they began to play at local clubs and pizza shops around the Chapel Hill area. Eventually, as their talents grew, so did their fan base. The group released its first album, “Old Dream and New Dreams,” to the delight of an audience that craved the fresh face the band gave to bluegrass music.
The band returns to Boone now bigger than ever and ready to revitalize a style of music that goes hand in hand with the heritage of the area.
“We are really looking forward to coming to Boone,” Humphrey said, “Everyone always has fun in Boone.”
The band will perform at Legends tonight. Doors will open at 9 p.m. and tickets will be $6 for students in advance, $8 for a guest and on night of the show.
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| Special to The Appalachian |
Roots-rock band plays Black Cat
by Lindsay Craven
Staff Writer
Self described roots-rock band Dodd Ferrelle and The Tinfoil Stars will play at Black Cat Burrito tomorrow night.
“Black Cat was incredibly easy to deal with and they were very responsive when we were looking for venues,” the band’s manager Walt Welchel said.
The Athens, Ga., band recently released their latest CD, “The Murder of Love.” This is the band’s second release after five years of playing together.
Recording sessions for the album began in late 2003. The album was finished in 2004 and released Feb. 15 of this year.
Dodd Ferrelle fronts the band, providing vocals and guitar. The Tinfoil Stars are made up of Tim Adams on guitars and vocals, Michelle McClure on bass guitar and Dan Orchik on drums and percussion.
Before adding the members of The Tinfoil Stars, Ferrelle has gone through a solo career and two other bands, Rags and Me’an Mills, both of which were made up of members of other Georgia bands.
Before joining The Tinfoil Stars, Ferrelle also released two solo records, “A Carriage On The Hill” and “Strung Out (Like The Lights At Christmastime).” He has recently recorded another solo album during a break in the band’s 2003 tour, “Sweet Lowland-Songs Inspired By Tybee Island and Savannah.”
“Sweet Lowland” was originally intended to be sold in Savannah and neighboring low country areas of coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The album went much further, however, receiving a feature on the “Morning Edition Show” of Georgia Public Radio and also received a positive review from “Village Voice.”
“The Murder of Love” has proven to be a huge success for the band. The CD features 11 tracks, including a cover of the ABBA song “S.O.S.”
“I love that song and I always have,” Ferrelle said. “The words also fit into the theme of the record and we have fun playing it.”
Ferrelle provided most of the lyrics to the new album with the exception of “Homemaker,” which was written by Adams.
Ferrelle said experience and scenery influence him to write.
“You name it,” Ferrelle said. “Just kind of watching what’s going on around you. You think about something long enough and the song will come to you.”
The band is touring to promote the new album throughout the rest of 2005, but they will still be working on writing their next album.
Band members Ferrelle and Adams will also be working on a folk album together.
“I love it (the new album),” Ferrelle said. “I think it’s our best one yet of the two; it’s getting a large response and we’re getting ready to do a radio campaign for it.”
For those planning to go see Dodd Ferrelle and The Tinfoil Stars, Ferrelle said he thinks you should know one thing: “The band is a lot of fun. We try to really give everything we got when we play, its not a play by the motions kind of thing. When we play, it’s a different show every night.”
The show will be held at 10 p.m. and there will be a $3-$5 cover charge.
For more information, contact Black Cat at 263-9511.
APPS sponsors talent contest
by Kyle Conrad
Staff Writer
Appalachian State University students will have a chance to see their fellow friends in a talent contest showcasing 10 contestants’ individual skills.
“We wanted to show talent on campus,” Special Events chairperson of Appalachian Popular Programming Society Adam C. Faulkner said. “We like to get our students involved so they can promote themselves.”
Faulkner said the talent show was expected to fill Legends to its maximum capacity, as it did last year.
“Most people think it’s great,” Faulkner said. “They enjoy the MC and always have a good time.”
Contestants who place in the top-three in the contest will win $500, $300 and $200, respectively, while contestants who do not place will receive $50 each.
Alex E. Ellis, a senior English major and vocalist who recently won the title of Miss Black and Gold, said she was looking forward to the talent show because she needs the money to put toward her graduation fund.
Ellis is very experienced as a vocalist and has been singing publicly since she was 13.
The talent show will feature a wide variety of performances that will appeal to everyone, Faulkner said, including singing, dancing, juggling and the Diablo, which Faulkner described as a performance that consists of a stick-and-string contraption and requires much skill.
English A. Steffel, a business management major from Raleigh, has also been selected to perform during the show. Steffel said she has been singing since the age of three, and her country music interests earned her an internship in Nashville, Tenn.
Steffel, who plans to graduate this year, also plans to put her talent show earnings toward a graduation fund so she can “get her foot in the door.”
As in the past, the show promises to have several local celebrities in attendance, along with a host of others who come to just have a great time.
“The best part,” Faulkner said, “is that the show is free … so come out, support your friends, and just have a good time.”
The Appalachian talent show will be held at Legends Wednesday at 8 p.m.
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