B section
wildlife
wednesday, september ,
Your guide to the Tucson arts and entertainment scene
Freaks and Greeks Hellenic Center hosts 35th annual celebration
Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Wildcat
A boy performs a flip during a Panathenian dance demonstration Sunday at the Tucson Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Hellenic Center.
A FEST TO REMEMBER
For more photos of the food, music and culture represented at Tucson’s own Greek Fest, flip to page B8
By Graham Thompson Arizona Daily Wildcat October marks the beginning of a busy time for volunteers, coordinators and attendees of dozens of carnivals and festivals throughout Cochise and Pima counties. This weekend, the fun began at the 35th Annual Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Hellenic Center. This is an entirely volunteer-initiated festival; all the food handlers, vendors and lecturers were either members of the church or volunteers who wanted to help. Their hard work is a symbol of hospitality, one of
the most important aspects of many cultures in the world.— Though, nobody does it quite like the Greeks. This unassuming building, tucked between First and Campbell avenues on Fort Lowell Road, was turned into a spectacular fair boasting dozens of activities. Tents lined the parking lot, lectures and guided tours through the church were being conducted, but the real GREEK, page B8
Mine, all mine: Game builds worlds By Brandon Specktor Arizona Daily Wildcat In the ’90s it cost us five weeks allowance for a bucket of 500 Lego bricks, and we considered ourselves lucky. Today it costs $13 for software that spawns an endless number of 3D worlds, made of an endless number of reusable blocks — and we don’t have to worry about getting grounded because the dog choked on one. Children of the digital age have created a new means of expressing unbound architectural creativity, and it’s called “Minecraft”. It is a sandbox game in the most literal sense — that is, you can construct a twenty-story sand castle complete with gates, spires, waterfalls, floating bridges and a golden altar to Poseidon (why not?) within the first few minutes of playtime. “Minecraft” is the brainchild of independent Swedish developer Mojang Specifications, and though it’s been available in some form for
about a year, it has just recently seen an explosion in popularity. According to stats on the developer’s website, “Minecraft” currently has about 900,000 registered users. Over 250,000 bought the game for $13, mostly in the last few weeks. That’s about $3.25 million made so far, and that number is quickly growing. The surge in popularity even crashed the Minecraft.net server last weekend. In response, Mojang temporarily made the game free, creating an even bigger download spike. In corny metaphorical terms, the vein is being mined so deep that the tunnel has collapsed. In the span of just a few weeks,
“Minecraft” became too popular to sustain itself. But now the ball is rolling again, and more gamers — both the casual and the die-hard — are picking up the pixilated pickaxe every day. And who can blame them? The game takes about five minutes to download, 20 seconds to load up and one mouse-click to become totally entrancing. “Minecraft” starts in medias cube. You take control of an anonymous avatar stranded in a vast and unique block landscape. Each new game generates a world at random, equipped with skyscraping mountains, sprawling oceans, subterranean
Image courtesy of Kotaku.com
death mazes and the occasional cow or pig hopping along in careless, blocky bliss. Players begin with no weapon, no map and no objective. They soon realize that their digital god gave them digital hands for a reason, and the pummeling of pre-rendered terra firma begins. One mouse click will tell the avatar to “attack” a selected block, breaking it down into a pocketsize version that can be reused at the player’s liking. Eventually, different combinations of blocks can be synthesized to craft other blocks.
Christy Delehanty Arts Editor 520•621•3106 arts@wildcat.arizona.edu
Business in Toyland By Maitri Mehta Arizona Daily Wildcat On the corner of Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street is the former location of Lulubell Toy Bodega, a haven for aficionados of all things Taiwanese, eccentric, vinyl and neon. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, Lulubell will open the doors at their new location, 35 E. Toole Ave, #1. The space will be new, but the fun will remain the same — a collection of kaiju toys, Eastern and Western vinyl, resin figurines and artistic apparel. Lulubell Toy Bodega is the product of the unconventional mind of Luke Rook. Rook’s love of strange and unique toys was spurred by a stint of living in Taiwan and teaching English in 1997. He was struck by the culture of collecting and the mixture of cute with the bizarre and creepy. After returning home to Tucson, Rook wanted to create a space that would foster his newfound passion and hopefully attract others with the same affinity for mini fortune cats, doit-yourself Munny’s and skull figurines. So why move when he was all settled in? “The choice to move was a hard one; we’ve loved our location and all the great people at Sixth and Sixth but we’ve outgrown it,” Rook said. “We’ve set our goals higher and really need the support of a tight art community and think that’s just what we’re about to jump into.” It’s tough to pick out the most eclectic thing about such a distinctive business, but it might just be the nature of the store itself. In addition to purveying their colorful collectibles, Lulubell is also an art gallery featuring the work of local artists and friends of Rook’s. The idea was an organic one: “It all just kind of happened naturally. It’s all hand in hand. The funny thing is that the movement came as a way for artists to find new means of connecting with a wider range of fans, a way to step out of the galleries,” Rook said. “Perhaps it was just inevitable that they all came back together.” The kinetic energy that drives Rook’s passion for toys, art and collecting is manifested tenfold in everything about Lulubell — from their frenzied, varied stock, to their website, an online store bursting with neon text and enthusiasm. Rook has put his personality into every aspect of Lulubell, and the new Toole location should be no different. But even though Rook is extremely excited about his business, he concedes to the fact that his niche is small. “Tucson is tough, it just doesn’t get the same kind of support other eclectic cities do,” Rook said. But this hasn’t deterred him yet, and the move to the new location is just another indication of his fervent entrepreneurship. Lulubell Toy Bodega will reopen on Oct. 5. Hundreds of their stock items are on sale now at their website, lulubelltoys. com.
MINECRAFT, page B5 Gordon Bates/Arizona Daily Wildcat
WEEKLY FIVE WHY
WAIT
PLEASE
YOU MUST
DON’T FORGET
do all the network shows hold their premieres right when school’s getting hard? Really, we have essays to be writing.
just a little bit longer. Tucson Weekly’s Club Crawl is just around the corner.
stop bitching about how hot it is. Everyone knows.
check out isitchristmas.com. Just don’t expect too many hours of entertainment.
to bust out the J.D. Salinger. It’s the American Library Association’s Banned Book W eek.
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wildlife
• wednesday, september 29, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
local scene To get you through your weekend … Thursday
Friday
SEPT. 30
Banned Books Read Out/Speak Out The First Amendment reigns supreme this week at the UA Library, celebrating Banned Books Week with their Read Out/ Speak Out event and panel discussion. Since 1982, the American Library Association has been promoting Banned Books Week from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, an event that celebrates and appreciates our liberties of free speech in the United States — liberties that are often taken for granted. The UA Library currently has an exhibition of banned books, featuring Harper Lee’s controversial and critical novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This Thursday, students and university faculty are invited to share excerpts of their favorite banned books. The evening will come to a close with a panel discussion about the ins and outs of censorship — who and what do we ban? The panel will consist of speakers from the Pima County Public Library as well as the UA Libraries.
Saturday
OCT. 1
First Fridays’ ARToberfest Every first of the month, Tucson Young Professionals offer their First Friday events, and this month it will take place at Tucson Museum of Art. The event begins with a reception at 7:30 p.m. with appetizers and refreshments, followed by a Bavarian themed beer tasting at 9 p.m. First Fridays aims to combine music, art, dance and pop culture and immerse them in a social atmosphere.
Tucson Museum of Art 140 N. Main Ave. 7:30 p.m. - midnight, $10, 21+
OCT. 2
Flandrau Planetarium Laser Light Shows Likely unbeknownst to most young Tucsonans, the Flandrau Planetarium provides a psychedelic joyride every Friday and Saturday evening with their laser light shows. The 3-D event is a sensory overload of vibrant colors and booming audio, accompanied by special effects like the planetarium’s star projector and fog machine. The light show comes in three unique parts — Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” at 9 p.m., followed by Led Zeppelin at 10 p.m. and an electronica hour at 11 p.m.
Sunday OCT. 3
Tucson Oktoberfest This four-day, festival-style event is now in its ninth year and willbe featuring 100 arts-and-crafts booths along with traditional singing, dancing and food. Indulge in mini donuts, strudel, turkey legs and several varieties of beer, or catch the Hofbrauhaus Band at one of their three Sunday performances. “Come,” the website invites you, “and dance the day and night away!”
Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium 601 E. University Blvd., $7.50
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, Hi Corbett Field 3400 E. Camino Campestre Four-day event passes available online and on-site. $9.95. This year’s event to benefit the Optimist Clubs of Tucson.
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers Ray Harryhausen’s classic sci-fi thriller, “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers,” comes to the Fox Theatre this Saturday. The film is an exciting first glimpse into the idea of alien invasion and follows Dr. Russell Marlow, a scientist, in his quest to create a weapon to defeat the aliens that are destroying Washington, D.C. To modern viewers, the special effects of this 1956 film are just the right amount of amusing and impressive.
UA Main Library 1510 E. University Blvd. 6 - 7:30 p.m.
OUR PICK
2010 Manhattan Short Film Festival Cinema aficionados will get a chance to attend the world’s largest film festival this Thursday at the Loft. The 13th Annual Manhattan Film Festival is a worldwide event, happening all around the globe from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3. Held in over 200 cities, the Manhattan Film Festival showcases 10 carefully selected short films made by innovative, fresh faces on the film scene. Patrons receive voting cards, and the results will be revealed on Oct. 3 in Manhattan. For more information on the films being shown this year, visit msfilmfest.com.
The Loft Cinema 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. 7 p.m., $9
Fox Theatre 17 W. Congress St.1 and 7:30 p.m., $8
Don Pedro’s a nearby Peruvian pleasure By Ali Freedman Arizona Daily Wildcat Tucson’s culinary community is ever expanding, and its newest addition is Don Pedro’s Peruvian Bistro . Situated in South Tucson, 10 minutes from the center of campus, Don Pedro’s is serving up authentic style Peruvian fare à la Lima. They offer a wide variety of specialties including entrees and beverages straight out of Peru. While their prices are a touch high, the food is well put together. Sometimes a new and interesting experience is worth a little extra cash. Owned and operated locally, Don Pedro’s is a new adddition to help keep the city of Tucson’s economic blood flowing. The menu is unique and interesting and their staff friendly and knowledgeable about the food. Beef, chicken and seafood options are all available. Many dishes start with a base — fried rice or pasta perhaps — and are then topped with your choice of meat. These dishes are based heavily around starches. Take for example the chaufa ($8), Peruvian fried rice, this dish is a salty and savory mix of rice,
fried egg, veggies, an interesting seasoning and chicken. The seco de carne con frijolies ($11) is almost a Peruvian take on pot roast, served with potatoes and beans. This is a flavorful dish with a unique flavor profile. And you absolutely cannot go wrong with the arroz con pollo ($10). This dish features a cilantro rice that is killer. Each dish is served with a trio of salsas that range from mild to spicy. These salsas are a far cry from the Sonoran style Mexican salsa you’re used to. They’re a rich blend of seasonings, chilies and are smoothly blended. Don Pedro’s is offering Tucson a look into the cuisine of Peru, and they’re doing it well. They offer an array of interesting dishes with the culinary knowledge to back it up. If South Tucson isn’t your regular haunt, it’s worth the quick trip to give this Peruvian bistro a try. Impress your Spanish teacher by getting a taste of this authentic cuisine first hand and wow ’em with your knowledge of the many dishes Peru has to offer. Appetizing ingredients, fresh food and knowledgeable staff make Don Pedro’s a must try.
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All Day Seafood Buffet $13.95 Friday Night, Saturday Night and Sunday
Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Don Pedro’s Peruvian Bistro, 3386 S. 6th Ave., uses fresh and exotic ingredients to bring a flavor of Lima, Peru, to Tucson. The Arroz con Pollo, steamed rice on a cilantro base with a blend of spices and beer, is available for under 10 dollars.
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wildlife
arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, september 29, 2010 •
music
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Ludo creams The Rock By Emily Moore ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
Whether you’ve heard them singing about whipped cream or demanding that you love them dead, they’ve likely made an impression. “They” are Andrew Volpe, Tim Ferrell, Tim Convy and Matt Palermo — together called Ludo — and they took on Tucson last night at The Rock. The band, named after a character in “Labyrinth,” featuring David Bowie, was formed in 2003 after lead singer Volpe and guitarist Ferrell met while at different schools in the Midwest. The rest is history. Ludo’s new album Prepare the Preparations dropped Sept. 7, and hit single “Whipped Cream” has been gracing local stations ever since. “ Several hundred dollars worth of whipped cream bought them a memorable music video. “I don’t think we’ll ever spend any money on (whipped cream) again” said Convy. Whipped cream aside, the band is proud of their sophomore release on Island Records. “I think we’re just more confident in what we do and more comfortable about being Ludo, and that comes through in the songs,” Convy said. Their dead, skeletal structure and allencompassing creepiness fetish — much like that of Winona Ryder’s character in “Beetle Juice” — comes across through the record. “The record deals with being a human being and everything that comes with that, from love, good things, bad things and all that sort of stuff. There are creepy songs on the record, there are dark songs on the record, there are happy songs on the record. It’s sort of all over the place.” “We say that describing music is like trying to draw a picture of what spaghetti tastes like — it’s not an easy thing to do,” Convy said. Learn more about Prepare the Preparations at www.ludorock.com.
Photo courtesy of MySpace.com
Mysterious duo CocoRosie heads to the Rialto By Kellie Mejdrich ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT CocoRosie is one of those bands whose mysterious and eclectic sound leaves listeners curious, to say the least. And with such a wide-ranging mix of instruments, including a harp, children’s toys and pretty much anything these musicians can get their hands on, the sibling duo is sure to deliver an interesting show in Tucson on Sunday, Oct. 3 at the Rialto Theatre. CocoRosie has released four albums since joining forces in Paris in 2003, and each album has a unique aesthetic that definitely developed into a signature group sound. Traditional instrumentation, such as acoustic and
voice or piano and voice, suddenly becomes disjointed through the sampling of vampy, electronic sounds. Their first album, La Maison de Mon Reve, stands out as one of the most accessible, with the two sisters singing more acoustic songs with sporadic sampling, often using sounds like a toy dinosaur or the jingling of coins as percussive instruments. Their newest album, Grey Oceans, is a little more rhythmic-based, with diversity in instrumentation, and more songs based off the construction of an electronic beat with sampling and vocals layered on top. To the casual listener, CocoRosie might seem intimidating. The music is experimental and unique — there’s not a lot to compare this band to. Yet Sierra
and Bianca Casady’s crooning voices and their creative vision have the uncanny ability to keep you listening — even when their sound can be puzzling. Yet out of this complicated sound cloud comes something sweetly harmonious and oddly satisfying.
IF YOU GO CocoRosie Rialto Theatre 318 E. Congress St. Oct. 3 Doors open at 7 p.m. $18 advance/ $20 day of show
Tucsonans should embrace unity through art COMMENTARY BY Graham Thompson arts writer
As a native Tucsonan, I grew up complaining that there was never anything to do in Tucson. There never seemed to be anything to do unless you counted the neighborhood shenanigans. Age and wisdom have now conquered my delight in putting dog poop in newspapers and porn postmarked by the Church of Latterday Saints in random mailboxes, and I have tapped into the community in a far less destructive manner. Tucson is a hot spring in a cold river for local music. But beyond the music, or rather through it, there is a community that believes in the music and its creative expression. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Global Chant, a “growing network (whose) mission is to use chanting as a vehicle for global transformation and healing.” In addition, I sparked up a conversation with Keith Cooper, an up-and-coming musician deeply rooted in the local music scene here in Tucson. I was astounded by the thoughtfulness and emphasis of not only
the lyrics, but of the meaning behind them and their influence on the musician and the audience, as described by Cooper and put into practice by Global Chant. “The words are central,” Cooper said. “The music helps evoke the meaning of the lyrics (and) they work together to describe an idea.” The setting of Global Chant, at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the Blenman Elm neighborhood, is as unassuming and unpretentious as possible. Upon entering, you are given a printed index including the words to each chant so that you may follow along. They are simple but profound. About six chants are performed at each gathering, followed by quiet time during which the circle sends out its energy. “The whole point of Global Chant is to assemble as a community with one common goal: to send out love, kindness and positivity, and take that out into the world when you leave,” said a regular attendee of Global Chant in Tucson who wished to remain anonymous. To my mind, there is something truly mesmerizing about hearing 200 voices operating on the same plane. It is a captivating, inspirational, moving and empowering experience. It is mimicking the sound of the entire cosmos. What is even more beautiful about Global Chant is its nondenominationalism; the current collection of chants includes Hebrew, Christian, Buddhist, Native American, Hindu, Sufi and Sikh
chants. The crowd in attendance is multinational. There is a group of musicians and various musical instruments: guitars and percussion instruments; tambourines and gongs; bells and maracas. But every voice and clapping hand is an instrument as well. Cooper, whose foray into the world of music began in high school as a drummer, has developed Overcast Off, a current project with drummer Jack Mattern and bassist Danny Mott; Cooper is the guitarist and vocalist. “We describe it as electric folk music that doesn’t sound like folk music,” Cooper said. “We all believe in the importance of music and creative expression.” Here, like at Global Chant, you have members from different walks of life, coming together under the same umbrella, with the same purpose. I tried to keep up with our conversation, as I am not the least bit musically talented, which is where Global Chant comes into the equation. Global Chant, at least for me, blends the performer with the audience. It’s the ability to have a foot in each canoe, so to speak. It’s like a wave going back and forth, a reciprocal relationship between the two; each feeds the expression that the other expresses. To make an analogy, it is like writing a song. Cooper explains that it’s all about the words; the melody is crafted from the words themselves. This is a pivotal aspect of Global Chant; music is non-denominational and it gives one the opportunity to be incorporated into the music.
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West Nile Virus I N F O R M A T I O N A N D Basic Facts
Here are some things that you can do to reduce being bitten by a mosquito:
• Limit time outdoors from dusk until dawn. • Use mosquito repellents that contain DEET. • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting long sleeve shirts and pants whenever possible. • Check the screening on your windows and doors.
For more information: www.health.arizona.edu
— Graham Thompson is an undeclared junior. He can be reached at arts@wildcat.arizona.edu
downtown | schedule
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*cash only please
F A C T S
• West Nile is a virus that mainly infects birds. • Mosquitoes that feed on infected birds, take in the virus. • Mosquitoes can transmit it to other animals and humans they bite later. • The virus is not passed on person to person. • Most people who are bitten by mosquitoes are not bitten by an infected mosquito. • Most people who are bitten by an infected mosquito do not get sick. • Most people who do get sick get a mild disease. • Very few people can develop severe disease. • Mosquitoes are prevalent in Tucson during summer and early fall.
Ultrathon™ Insect Repellent with DEET is available at the Campus Health Pharmacy.
Music, like space or the printed page or art hanging in a suave gallery, all connect with an individual. That’s the whole point right? The artist hears or sees and needs to express, to communicate with his or her audience and have the audience receive that communication and go out into the world with a new perspective. You don’t have to be good at music to appreciate it or be moved by it; Global Chant and Overcast Off serve as examples to this testament. I can appreciate the sound of their music, and be a part of each in two distinct ways, even though I am tone deaf and can’t keep a rhythm to save my life. Essentially though, expression benefits both the audience and the performer, so in each case you are the audience and the performer. They each see something in the other. The two become one. They coexist. The art of influencing the world through words and giving the community something to be excited and inspired about happens everywhere. But more often than not, it’s going on right under your nose. There’s a lot going on, you just have to pay attention to it. So the next time you’re at a show, or if you go to Global Chant, be the audience and the performer. It’s like an equation; without one plus one, two does not exist.
www.pimahealth.org/disease/westnile.html www.westnileaz.com
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12:15 - 1:15 4:15 - 5:15 5:30 - 6:30 7:00 - 8:00 8:15 - 9:15
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ThU
12:15 - 1:15 5:30 - 6:30 7:00 - 8:00
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12:15 - 1:15 4:15 - 5:15 5:30 - 6:30
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9:00 - 10:00 10:15 - 11:15 4:00 - 5:00
AM
9:00 - 10:00 10:15 - 11:15 4:00 - 5:00
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arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, september 29, 2010 •
• wednesday, september 29, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
Special of the week: ‘Stone Soup’ Kelsey Redmond, a theatre arts sophomore, rehearses a scene from “Stone Soup,” performed by the UA School of Theatre, Film and Television’s Educational Theatre Company. The Educational Theatre Company was created to give students in the BFA Theatre Education program the opportunity to produce plays and educational programs for young audiences.
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UA students adapt classic kids’ story for the stage By Miranda Butler Arizona Daily Wildcat Remember the book “Stone Soup” from the first grade? Most of us do. The classic children’s story depicts three hungry soldiers bringing a selfish community together by asking passing villagers for cooking ingredients. Although the soldiers begin with only a stone in the pot, when each villager contributes just a little bit of food, the brewing stew slowly transforms into a glorious feast. If you don’t remember your teacher reading aloud, maybe you remember making stone soup with your class. Many UA students whom I spoke with still remember the activities that their elementary school teachers planned to go along with the story. Whether your clothes got stained because that one kid threw the stone into the pot, or you refused to eat the stew because you thought the rock was dirty, if the story made an impression, you are among the generations of kids who have enjoyed “Stone Soup” in one form or another. The version most American children read was written in by Marcia Brown in 1947, but the original idea comes from a folktale that is centuries old. And this week, the UA’s Educational Theatre Company is adapting “Stone Soup” one more time, turning the tale into a theatrical production for children.
Erich Healy/ Arizona Daily Wildcat
Erich Healy/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Andre Perrault, journalism sophomore, left, Matthew Copley, theater education junior, center, and Jennifer Roberts, theater education junior, right, make stone soup in UA School of Theatre, Film and Television’s Educational Theatre Company production.
Who is in charge? “Stone Soup” is being put on by the Educational Theatre Company, a part of the School of Theatre, Film & Television. Megan Dallas, a senior majoring in theatre & outreach, is also the student director of the play. According to Dallas, the Educational Theatre Company “was created for students in the Theatre Education Program. (It gives them) opportunities to perform for kids specifically as well as to direct children’s shows, which is what they’ll do in the future.” Although some adult actors are featured in the show, the directing, designing and much of the behind-the-scenes work is carried out by UA students. Dallas explained that theater majors from many age groups and specialties participate in the Educational Theatre Company’s productions. “We have … for actors, a couple of freshman and sophomores, and I believe two juniors. The designers, I believe, are all sophomores or juniors.” So there are a variety of students who are able to get involved. Dallas also notes that the Educational Theatre Company is important because it acts as a stepping stone between studying theater and actually entering the field. It’s a great opportunity for students to gain experience with what they’re doing for their major. The Educational Theatre Company allows them to hone their skills in producing a play, but it isn’t overwhelming because many aspects of children’s theater are simple, exciting and fun. Dallas described the whole experience as “a nice way to bring everyone together and have fun for the first show they’re in.” But it isn’t just the UA students who benefit from the company’s productions. Another important goal of the Educational Theatre Company is community outreach. After the group performs its play on campus for several days, they’ll take the show on a local tour. Every Friday for the rest of the semester, the company will travel to many elementary schools in the Tucson area. “It’s usually the whole school that comes and watches the show,” Dallas said, so it’s really exciting for everyone involved.
Why ‘Stone Soup?’ Of course, the Educational Theatre Company considers many factors when selecting which play they’re going to perform. Simple things like the number of actors available and which scripts work out best are important. However, Dallas says that the company also seeks pieces that promote certain values and ideas. They want to select plays with historical significance, support learning and teach children to share. “Stone Soup” was a standout piece “because we have history in it, and we have the sharing aspect.” As for history, in Marcia Brown’s book (which was the inspiration for the Educational Theatre Company’s production), the three main characters are French soldiers returning from the
Who is involved? Wildlife visited the Educational Theatre Company during one of their technical rehearsals to ask some of the cast and crew about their experiences working in the “Stone Soup” production.
Napoleonic wars. The traditions that Dallas describes stem from the “Stone Soup” story itself — or rather, its many origins. Variations of this particular tale can be found in nearly 20 cultures, reaching English, French, Scandinavian, Russian and Hungarian folklore. Interestingly enough, although the basic premise is the same, the inedible object in the soup isn’t always a stone. In Scandinavian legend, the story is called “nail soup,” and in Eastern Europe, the stone is replaced by an axe. Altogether, the “Stone Soup” tale is relatable across many cultures and time periods. Not only does it remind readers to share their possessions, but its history can also remind us to share cultures.
I think even the big kids would like it. So they should try to come as well!”
Traci Sepp, actress
“Probably the (best part of) theater for kids is the freshness of the audience. The audience isn’t really going to analyze it themselves, but that’s something we can help them do. It’s super fun. And also (with children’s theater) you get to be a little more lazzi — that’s the kind of humor we’re doing. It’s similar to slapstick, and it’s super fun.”
Matthew Copley, actor
“I used to do children’s theater, and it’s really nice to be back to that because theater for children is a whole different creature. It’s really exciting. Children are one of the best audiences because they don’t hold anything back. They tell you exactly how they feel.”
It was a night of impressive beginnings and endings. With great agility, speed and hardiness, Tucson’s Furious Truckstop Waitresses overwhelmed Phoenix’s Brawlarinas with a final score of 159-60 in Tucson Roller Derby’s season eight opener on Saturday. The bout was the first of a double-header at the Tucson Convention Center and marked the beginning of the Arizona State Conference, an intrastate tournament that is the first of its kind in the U.S., according to Tucson Roller Derby president Dirty Duchess. After the national anthem and team introductions, Juana Chingaso faced off against Brawlarinas’ Book’Em Betty for the first jam. The FTW skaters wore short-sleeved, light pink dresses and black aprons as their team uniform, while the Brawlarinas wore black, short-sleeved shirts and purple skirts. The pack moved slowly during the first lap. Like schools of black and pink fish swimming in the ocean, the pivots and blockers shifted and swayed to create a passageway for their own jammer to pass through. Within seconds, Brawlarina Family Jules bumped FTW’s Sunni Sideup for the first, but not last, tumble of the night. Chingaso broke through the pack to take the lead, but she wasn’t able to make the second pass to score. However, this only proved to be a warmup for FTW’s performance in the first half. For the next seven jams, the Tucson team took off on a 38-point scoring run with Chingaso and FTW co-captain Zippy’s Takeout bringing in eight and 10 points, respectively. Book’Em Betty responded in the ninth jam by overtaking the pack early on, and scored eight points before calling off the jam. The Brawlarinas struggled to take advantage of this break in FTW’s momentum, however. Jam after jam, FTW’s pivots and blockers presented a formidable defense that kept the Phoenix team’s jammers trapped within the pack. FTW went on another scoring run with team captain 12oz Bev Rage bringing in 17 points during the 15th jam. At the start of halftime, FTW was sitting on a comfortable lead against the Brawlarinas, 66-23. Before the second period began, FTW’s
Sunni Sideup spun the penalty wheel and stopped it at an arm wrestling contest against Brawlarina captain 2Pcs Hacker. They wrestled in the middle of the floor as their teammates laid down and formed a circle around them, cheering and swinging their skates back and forth in the air. After a tense 10-second stalemate, Sunni Sideup won. Referees were fast and loud with their whistles and hand signals as skaters on both teams accumulated precious minutes in the penalty box. Body checks and tumbles were almost as numerous as the points scored in the second half. Audience members gasped, oohed or flinched whenever skaters, either singly or in groups, tumbled during the pack’s corner turns. In the midst of these setbacks, the Brawlarinas’ jammers alternated between the inside and outside tracks in order to bypass the pack. This strategy allowed the Phoenix team to score 21 points during the first half of the second period. FTW responded in kind. Bea N Hayve took on the jammer position in the third jam, and within 30 seconds, she broke through the pack to become the lead jammer. With Book’Em Betty in the penalty box, Bea N Hayve took in four grand slams and 25 points before calling off the jam. After an unsuccessful attempt to pass on the outside track, Zippy’s Takeout dove into the pack and gracefully wove her way through to score 13 points in the fifth jam. Named Tucson Roller Derby’s best blocker in 2008, Sassy Sue ended her roller derby career with an impressive performance in the jammer spot. She hustled and became the uncontested lead jammer in the 16th jam of the second period. Sassy Sue lapped the pack twice before Family Jules could leave the penalty box, and ended the bout at 159-60. Derby fans stood around the track and held their hands out to congratulate Sassy Sue as she took one more lap, to commemorate her last day as a blocker for FTW, to end the night.
“Stone Soup” Directing studio room 116, University of Arizona Theatre Arts Building 1025 N. Olive Rd. Additional showings from Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, $5
Amber Justmann, crew Jennifer Roberts, actress
“It’s a really fun show. Everybody’s high-energy, and we’re all pretty excited, especially about having kids in the audience. (“Stone Soup”) is very funny, and
“Working in a student production is really interesting, because most of the time when you work really organized theater, it’s very distant. It’s like Charlie’s Angels — you never get to see the guy! But in this group, it’s all very personal and up-and-close with everybody. So even though I’m in crew, I still talk to the cast, and I’m very in tune with all aspects of the show.”
Tucson Roller Derby opens season with speed University Boulevard’s wall By Steven Kwan Arizona Daily Wildcat
if you go
fosters color, expression By Lauren Inouye guest contributor
Valentina Martinelli/Arizona Daily Wildcat
5-OH Book’em Betty of the AZRD Brawlarinas, right, pushes 808 Zippy’s Takeout of the TRD Furious Truckstop Waitresses during a roller derby jam at the Tucson Convention Center on Saturday.
Basic roller derby rules and vocabulary
Jam — a two-minute scoring period. Pack — a group of skaters consisting of pivots, blockers and jammers. Pivot blocker or pivot — this player sets the pace for each jam. She can serve as a blocker or assume the jammer position. (This is known as “passing the star.”) Blocker — a player positioned between the pivot and jammer at the start of each jam. She tries to prevent
the jammer from passing the pack. Jammer — this is the team scorer. She begins behind the pack at the start of a jam. The designated jammer can pass her position to a pivot, i.e. “passing the star.” Lead jammer — the first jammer to pass the opposing team’s blockers. She may call off, or end, a jam by repeatedly placing her hands on her hips. Grand slam — a point scored whenever the lead jammer completely laps the opposing jammer.
* Sources: Tucson Roller Derby & Women’s Flat Track Derby Association
The wall oozes with creativity. It transforms from a dull, white partition into a vibrant hodgepodge of pulsating colors. It is always different, always fresh and always bursting with personality. The wall is comical, memorable, happy, inappropriate, shocking, terrific and historic. A thousand more adjectives can describe this wall, and they would all make sense. Five years ago, Jane McCollum, general manager of the Marshall Foundation had a vision. She dreamed of a way to share the originality and imagination of Tucson’s ordinary people, ordinary people who do not possess the artistic abilities of Picasso, per se, but still like the idea of sharing their art with others. The wall, near the southeast corner of the intersection of University Boulevard and Tyndall Avenue, is approximately the size of a hot tub, the rectangular wall stretches along the exterior of Baskin-Robbins. In large, graffiti bubble letters, “Grab A Brush” is scrawled above the wall in an orangey color with a dark cobalt outline. Students, children and adults use the paintbrushes provided by the charitable foundation to paint on the open canvas. Typically, people simply sign their names and doodle peace signs or hearts. Everyone has the freedom to express his or her feelings on a public wall without having to worry about damaging public property or unwanted permanency. Once paint is placed on the ground, it takes about 30 seconds for pedestrians to race to the wall
to make their mark on it. Within the next hour, the wall is splattered with autographs and pictures Once the wall is full, the paint can is removed so that all can enjoy the fresh piece of artwork. “The wall used to have a lot of art,” said McCollum. “Now, people are more interested in just making their mark. It’s more of a mishmash of everyone’s ideas and initials.” In the fall of 2005, the wall was born during the UA event “Almost Free Fridays” on the deck area above American Apparel on the UA campus. It was located next to Oriental Express, and people loved being able to paint whatever they wished. Soon after, a few girls painted an impressive samurai soldier on the wall, and the owners of the Asian restaurant did not wish to see it go. The wall then moved to a more visible and accessible spot at its current location, where people shopping and eating on the campus strip are able to see it. Events like “Bear Down Friday” spark the repainting of the wall, and usually the paint provided will match the event the day. Red and blue paint will be lying out for people to use in spirit of the UA’s colors. McCollum said police report less graffiti violations near the area now that there is a designated place to paint on a wall. Many authorities have commented that they wish to construct similar walls around Tucson as a logical and creative solution to vandalism problems. About a year ago, some nude and “pornographic” depictions of genital areas appeared on the wall. A debate occurred in McCollum’s office because the wall was never
meant to display inappropriate and insulting images. Of course, whenever racial slurs, threats and certain words were scrawled on the wall, the white paint went up without any hesitation. However, this was “creativity” of the human mind, and therefore different. Jarah Ray, manager of Silver Mine Subs restaurant, located directly south of the wall, remembers the most inappropriate drawings. “There were boobs and penises on the wall, but I thought it was just a good laugh. What you usually see is the typical, cheesy ‘Matt loves Emily’ scribbled on it.” McCollum said the office was divided in two. One side believed the wall was an outlet of creative imagination, and to paint over the improper pictures because they could be insulting was an insult to the artist, as they were only drawings. Others said that children and parents did not need to see inappropriate drawings, and the paint should be removed immediately before bothering too many people. When you provide people with a paintbrush and allow them to paint, they will paint. With no rules and no restrictions, the question is this: Who is to say that these paintings are not art? The foundation ended up removing the drawings later that day, but everyone walking by earlier most likely caught a glimpse. Whether decked out in flowers or alarming images, the wall continues to bring color and diversity to the walkway. It’s safe to say that McCollum’s dream came true.
Minecraft
Game grows with no end in sight
continued from page B1
And that’s it. That’s the game. Different modes provide different challenges. In single player survival, brick-bodied zombies and skeletons come out at night to feast on the unprepared architect. Infinite Development mode creates maps that literally go on forever. Minecraftforum.net offers thousands of fan-sponsored servers to foster online multiplayer games. Some online worlds are devoted to unrestricted building, others allow player vs. player sieges. Some are narrowed to specific themes, including “Apocalyptic Role Play” and the intriguing “Bootytown.” But mostly, the new “Minecraft” convert will spend lots and lots of time digging. There is a zen to this one-click gameplay. “Minecraft” can be booted up between classes or before bedtime for a dose of instant meditation. Break rocks, hack trees and zone out. Chop. Chop. Chop. Your empire has just grown. And then there’s the building. The player’s inventory becomes a dual toolbox and toybox. Blocks can be stacked and removed ad infinitum, allowing for some architectural marvels that the lousy laws of physics always ruined for ambitious Legophiles. Hovering islands, giant calculators (that actually work, astonishingly) and scaled 3D models of Earth are among a few of the wonders that the “Minecraft” community has been churning out. In a game with no ostensible goal outside the player’s personal vision, even a gruesome death by zombie holds few consequences. Just respawn, and dig some more. Depending on your mindset, this lack of purpose might make “Minecraft” the perfect casual game or a perfect waste of time. For those with the appropriately quixotic personality (you know, the sort who thought about killing themselves over “Avatar”), it has truly obsessive potential. But for how long? As sales go up and server populations grow, the game is moving closer and closer to a massively multiplayer experience — “World of Minecraft,” maybe. The last decade of gaming has showed the world that there are no bounds to a determined gamer’s desire to outshine other determined gamers. In an infinitely stretching world that is literally shaped by the player’s relationship to it, unending war between block empires seems inevitable. So as you enter the fast growing community that is “Minecraft,” remember this. You did not inherit this digital world from your ancestors; you are borrowing this digital world from your children. Please mine responsibly.
B6
wildlife
• wednesday, september 29, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
Halo ‘Reaches’ a new level: Perfection By Jason Krell ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT There’s only one problem with “Halo: Reach” worth mentioning: that it’s Bungie’s last time working with the series. Otherwise “Reach” looks to be the most polished installment in the franchise’s history. It seemed unlikely without the Master Chief at the center of the story, but that was probably for the best — origin stories never turn out as well as the tales that made them famous to begin with. Besides, the Noble team did a perfectly good job of subbing in for the legendary Spartan. To start, even though the “fresh blood becoming a valued team member” is a tired bit, Noble 6 — the character you play as — doesn’t go out of his way to prove himself. He just does a damn good job, and that’s admrable. Not only does it make sympathizing with his situation easier, it also makes the interactions between the entire team much better. Let’s get to what everyone really cares about though: the gameplay. The most jarring and unexpected change was how intelligent your enemies, the Covenant, are. It seems that the collection of aliens threw all of their intelligent fighters into the fray on “Reach” and lost them before they ever found a Halo ring. Even playing on the normal difficulty was a bit tricky at times. In any other Halo game it would be a breeze, but dying wasn’t uncommon during the harder parts of some levels. But don’t get me wrong — it’s a good thing. Before, the struggle to beat the Covenant never made sense because they were so terrible at everything. Now it’s clear to why humanity had so much trouble. Conversely, your team is relatively useless. It makes sense from a gameplay perspective — the game would be no fun if someone else killed all of the enemies — but it certainly doesn’t
Photo courtesy of Bungie Studios
trouble. The handful of new weapons feel plenty fresh and are a welcome addition. They don’t really make much sense chronologically since the time lapse between “Reach” and “Halo 3” isn’t so long as to justify the development of so many different weapons, but then again I’m no expert on the matter. As long as the gun goes “pew, pew” and makes things fall down, I’m happy. In addition to that, Bungie had a stroke of brilliance and decided to break up the constant “on foot” action with a space level that was easily one of the most entertaining parts of the game and a helicopter mission that’s almost as good. Despite all that the campaign brings to the table, it can’t justify being the best
make sense since Spartans are supposed to be the best warriors humanity has to offer. I mean, one took them on three times and won. Six of them should have had no
shooter alone. Fortunately, the multiplayer modes help with that. Playing online is different than ever before but in a good way. With a slew of abilities that allow you to customize the fight and plenty of fun game modes to play, there’s a lot to do. The match-making is also very streamlined, allowing you to play with people of your skill level if you so desire. The popular “firefight” mode has returned, and now you can customize it for additional fun. Taking on endless waves of the Covenant has never been better, especially when you can do it with friends. The “forge,” which allows you to customize existing maps to your liking, has been simplified, making it more accessible. A shortage of maps to play on is the only downside, but Bungie will have plenty of downloadable “map
packs” coming soon enough, I’m sure. However, the maps that you can play on are large, detailed and fun. Most of the time, you won’t even notice or care that you’ve been on the same map four times in one session. When it comes down to it though, it’s just a good game. According to some numbers that Bungie has released, in the game’s first week alone, players logged over 6,000 years of gameplay in over 70 million online matches. It still hasn’t beaten “Modern Warfare 2” as the most played Xbox Live game but since it’s been the most popular game online over the past week, it’s only a matter of time. What it really comes down to is this: If you’ve ever played a Halo game, you need “Reach” and if you’ve never played a Halo game, you still need “Reach.” Buy it and thank me later.
Tucson’s first Fashion Week a success The first annual Tucson Fashion Week went off without a hitch — almost. The show’s producer, Elizabeth Albert , said the only issue she could recall was a minor technical difficulty. “The power went out during one of the runway shows,” Albert said. “A model was on the runway — I panicked! But they came back.”
Albert worked with a team of program and marketing coordinators to bring the event to Tucson for the first time. Tucson Fashion Week was held from Sept. 22 – Sept. 25, with events leading up to the main runway show on Saturday. Albert was elated about the turnout. “We were on a limited budget, but we managed to pull it off. For the first year, it was really good.” Fashion Week kicked off on Wednesday evening at the Tucson Museum of Art, where
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a small VIP reception was held for special guests . Albert said the reception was the perfect way to start the following festivities. Guests had a chance to mingle with the designers and models of the upcoming show. Friday’s event was also popular — patrons turned out for the Skrappy’s Youth Showcase, a display of impressive designs from five students from Skrappy’s Youth Collective. A local Tucson organization, Skrappy’s is a youth advocacy program that fosters and en-
courages fine arts for students. Participating students had five models each and were exposed to media coverage of their work, giving them a taste of the business world of fashion. Saturday, of course, was the most anticipated event — the main runway show. Twelve diverse local designers sent their garments down the runway. Albert, though pleased with the results of this year’s events, hopes to expand in the coming season. “We’re doing a series of events in the spring — a show-
case for a designers to put looks in a big show to raise money for the fall,” she said. “In the fall (of 2011), we’re going to try and do two days of shows.” Tucson Fashion Week was an opportunity for Tucson designers and fashion lovers alike to experience a public celebration of the art of fashion, something Tucson has not been known for in the past. Elizabeth Albert and her team are hoping to change that. For contact information, visit tucsonfashionweek.net.
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arizona daily wildcat • wednesday, september 29, 2010 •
B7
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B8
wildlife
• wednesday, september 29, 2010 • arizona daily wildcat
My big fat Greek Festival Photos by Mike Christy Arizona Daily Wildcat
Upper right: Baklava is a traditional Greek pastry. Lower right: A girl claps to keep rhythm during a Panathenian dance demonstration Sunday at the Tucson Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Hellenic Center. Upper left: Spiro Chalkiopoulus strums on his traditional Greek bouzouki. Lower left: Paul Frangoulis grills gyro while dancing to traditional Greek music.
GREEK continued from page B1
Festival shares culture, religious philosophies
experience was taking place inside the community room. Books and delicious pastries were sold, and there was a market where one could buy rice pilaf, kalamata olives, big blocks of feta cheese, dolmathes (meat stuffed grape vine leaves) and various Greek spices. Outside there was music, traditional dancing, scarves and jewelry in the form nazars that ward off the evil eye, which traditionally is believed to be an agent of bad luck, injury and illness. “There is a fair amount of mysticism in Greek Orthodoxy,” said Eleni Sakellar, a long-time volunteer and member of the church.
The line for food was as much of a spectacle as the festival itself. Though a little pricy, as is the case at most carnivals, the food was delicious, as is not usually the case in most carnivals. Giant pieces of spanakopita, generous portions of gyros and visually enticing morsels of baklava kept people waiting in line; it was all well worth the wait. Greek beer, Keo, was being sold as well. Up on stage, a group of musicians and dancers demonstrated traditional, and sometimes intricate dances. The most commonly known form of dance is the open circle, in which arms are put
around shoulders and the circle moves counterclockwise. However, the Kalamatiano was most popular on Sunday. It is a type of Syrto, meaning dragging or pulling, and is an ancient folkdance known for its handkerchiefs (sometimes made of the Kalamata silk) that are used to separate the dancers’ hands. Shouts of “Opa!” were heard all around as well as Greek chatter. There is a surprisingly strong Greek presence in Tucson; over 450 families attend church regularly at the Hellenic Center. The festival began as a “small scale church bazaar (held) in
order to make some extra money for the church,” said Father Earl Cantos. Over the last 35 years, it has steadily grown into large cultural exchange that gives Tucsonans the opportunity to get a taste of Greece. It is a demonstration of culture and food and tradition, as well as an opportunity to share the faith of Orthodoxy. Cantos explained that Greek Orthodoxy sees “life as interaction with the other world” and that your actions and relationships influence your spiritual journey; “your love of someone is loving God, your abuse of someone is abusing
God” said Father Cantos. Not only does this festival open to the public different avenues to enjoy the culture of Greece, through informational pamphlets in which you can learn Greek phrases (“Ya’Sou!” means “Hello” and “S’Agapo” means “I love you”). Pamphlets also gave information on Greek dances, food and trinkets, giving one the opportunity to learn a little bit about Orthodoxy and the importance of faith. If you missed out this year, be sure to make it next year; it is an exciting and eye-opening experience that is eager to share with you the kefi (spirit) of culture.