Vol. 10 No. 22 by Maroon Weekly

02.19.14 - VOL. 10, NO. 22 - MAROONWEEKLY.COM

Olympian in Aggieland Monica Abbott to speak at Texas A&M Friday, February 21

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contents

02.20-02.26

meet the team PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris Shepperd BUSINESS MANAGER Leisha Shepperd MANAGING EDITOR Chris Zebo CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bekah Skinner ASST. CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kaitlin Vickers WRITERS

Sara Gilmore Katie Lea Cheyenne Mueller Luke Murray Amanda L. Reynolds

Essentials: Listen Discover Play Look

4 18 21 24

On the Cover:

softball pitcher Monica Abbott to tell her 6 Olympic story at Texas A&M on Friday at 6:30pm.

INTERNS Haley Clark Katy DeLuna April Elkins Alex Gieger Brittany Holm Megan Ingram Avery Moore Kelly Porter Heydy Sanches Kyla Spaugh Camille Youngblood DISTRIBUTION Chris Frank Randy Shepperd

Maroon Weekly is an independent, publication and is not affiliated with Texas A&M University. Maroon Weekly receives no student fees or university funding.

Road Trip 22 - In this week’s

weekender, we’re taking you on a laughing tour of Fort Worth.

Listen 4 - Robert Ellis gets

soulful on his new album, Lights from the Chemical Plant

Look 25 - Cheyenne gives a rundown of this week’s top 20 box office films.

Opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the editor, publisher or the newspaper staff. Maroon Weekly is not liable for omissions, misprints or typographical errors. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express consent of the publisher. © Copyright 2014 Campus Press LP

Reviewed by Katy De Luna

ROBERT ELLIS Album: The Lights from the Chemical Plant

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Rating: Sounds Like: The Isaacs Alison Krauss Dierks Bentley Over the past three years, Lake Jackson’s Robert Ellis has released two albums, the latest of which is The Lights from the Chemical Plant.

Tracklist:

Ellis is known as a folk singer, but for his latest album, he exudes are far broader range of influences-everyone from Paul Simon, Randy Newman, and Bill Withers, to jazz artists like Ornette Coleman.

TV Song Chemical Plant Good Intentions Ellis expresses his appreciation for Simon’s work by Steady as the Rising Sun covering “Still Crazy After All These Years”. “Chemical Bottle of Wine Plant” is a heartfelt storyteller about a young couple Still Crazy After all these Years trying to hold on to one another as the world around Pride them changes. Only Lies It’s a fine release from a multifaceted artist once relegated to a single genre. Houston Sing Along Tour Song

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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••••••

Chemical Plant Steady as the Rising Sun Houston

LISTEN

Recommended Tracks:

Cole Swindell

“Cole Swindell”

Release Date: Feb. 18, 2014 Reviewed by Haley Clark With a single that hit the Top 10, became certified gold, and was the highest debut for a solo male country artist in 2013 (selling more than half a million copies), Cole Swindell’s year is looking pretty bright. The Georgia native who once sold merchandise for Luke Bryan is about to release his self-titled debut album and will be opening for Bryan on his That’s My Kind of Night Tour. “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight” and “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” were among the first songs released from the upcoming album, which has a total of 12 tracks. With songs about friends, his roots, and wild nights, Swindell has a trademark laid-back style that separates him from his country music peers.

Candice Glover

“Music Speaks”

Release Date: Feb. 18, 2014 Reviewed by Haley Clark As the 2013 winner of American Idol, Candice Glover has already shown her audience her dominant and powerful voice week after week. Glover’s attention-commanding vocals can now be heard on her highly anticipated debut album, Music Speaks. She released her American Idol-winning single “I Am Beautiful” last fall, which debuted on 8 different charts and was the teaser for the album to come. An acoustic version of “I Am Beautiful” will be one track on the new release, and “Cried” will be on the album as well, an R&B track about love gone terribly wrong. The soul singer who hails from South Carolina has transformed from a shy songstress who first entered center stage on Idol to a confident, powerhouse vocalist, which she proves track after track on Music Speaks.

Design | Branding | Web

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Olympic Softball Pitcher Monica Abbott Comes to Aggieland By Jami Lobpries Olympic softball standout Monica Abbott is making her way to Aggieland. Abbott, a longtime student of the game, will be the featured guest as part of the College Sport Lecture Series. “I look forward to any time I can get in front of an audience to share my sport experiences and hopefully empower the youth and female athletes.” On February 21, Abbott comes to Texas A&M. She has been invited by the Laboratory for the Study of Intercollegiate Athletics (LSIA) to speak to A&M students, faculty, and community members about her experiences as a college athlete and how those experiences helped her transition to a professional and Olympic sport career. The College Sport Lecture Series, which is presented annually each spring, seeks to recruit industry professionals to share their experiences in sport. Monica will be their first female and first Olympian speaker. pg 6 • MAROON WEEKLY • February 19, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

“Monica Abbott brings a unique perspective to our Lecture Series,” Dr. Shane Hudson, director of the LSIA, said. “From a player’s standpoint, she has competed at the pinnacle of youth, collegiate, professional, and the Olympic level. She has literally seen the world from the eyes of a female softball player. Her insight into female sports will give the audience a national as well as an international perspective.”

for the Chicago Bandits until the end of August. Immediately following the NPF Championship Series, she heads back to Japan until midNovember. 2014 will be the 6th year of this schedule for Abbott.

Beyond training and competing, Abbott is also responsible for managing her own brand, coordinating her own events, and negotiating her own endorsement deals. Abbott the Olympic and Abbott frequently shares her story with college professional pitcher is also Abbott the agent. audiences around the country. Unfortunately, with the low visibility of women’s “It’s always nice to see the energy from college sports, there is not always the opportunity to kids. The energy they bring is powerful. They’re hear the stories of female athletes and to fully tomorrow’s leaders, tomorrow’s future, and if I embrace who they are beyond the playing field. can give them a little piece of advice to take with them on their journey, then I did my job.” On February 21, you have the opportunity to hear the story of one of softball’s all time greats. Through her own journey in sport, Monica has Abbott not only throws a softball 75 MPH from 43 accumulated quite the knowledge base to feet away, but she is also intelligent, passionate, share. After graduating from the University of and a great ambassador for women’s sports. Tennessee in 2007, Monica has achieved an abundance of international success. Besides the “I try to touch each person in the audience, 2008 Olympic silver medal, Monica won the 2011 from kids to adults. I want to leave them with a NPF Championship with the Chicago Bandits and valuable experience or new way of thinking about was a three-time Japan Softball League Champion something. Whether it’s through my stories or with her Toyota team. experiences I’ve lived, or encouraging them to work hard, I want to give them that positive light.” Similar to many female professional athletes, Abbott splits her year playing professionally Join Abbott on February 21 at 6:30 in the Hagner overseas and in the US. She leaves for Japan in Auditorium. In addition to her lecture series, March, plays for her Toyota team until the end Abbott will be putting on a softball clinic and of May, then heads back to the US to compete fundraiser for a local 12U team.

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By Katy De Luna

Mike and the Moonpies When you hear the name Mike and the Moonpies, does it make you hungry? It should, but not just for a graham cracker-marshmallow sandwich; you should also crave Texas country music. Mike and the Moonpies pride themselves on being one of the few bands today that create that traditional country sound. They’ve been touring for six year now, stopping at small towns all over Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Each venue the band enters is taken back to the age of 80s dance halls: swing dancing, two stepping, and George Strait! Oh, my! The Austin natives are not only rocking dance halls, Mike and the Moonpies are making their way on the Texas music charts, too. As of February 10, The Texas Music Chart has ranked Mike and the Moonpies single “The Hard Way” as number 28 and climbing. The video for the song on the front page of the Moonpies website showcases the band’s traditional country/Texas country blend and young and old alike dancing along. Mike and the Moonpies will be playing in College Station February 20 at the Tap. The show starts at 10pm.

Thurs - Ladies Night Ft $3 Dbl Wells Fri/Sat - $4 Dbl “U Call it’s” till 12am Sunday Funday! ft $3 Dbl Wells $4 Dbl Calls & $3.50 Shots $3.50 Fireball Daily 111 College Main College St, TX

the scoop WHAT: MIKE AND THE MOONPIES WHERE: THE TAP WHEN: FEB. 20 | 10PM

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It all started when Phoebe ran across the word “vespers” in one of her books from lit class senior year. “The word is defined as ‘evening prayer’”, she read. For The Vespers, life since has been a whirlwind of making music described by fans as two angels, ghostly and haunting, honey sweet, and serene. The charming self-proclaimed “southern roots family reunion” made of two sisters and two brothers are making their way to College Station on February 27.

The Vespers at Rudder Fountain By Megan Ingram

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, brothers Taylor and Bruno Jones and sisters Callie and Phoebe Cryar met at a mutual friend’s campfire. In May 2009, they joined forces, playing together for the first time. By the next winter, they had completed their debut record, Tell Your Mama. In three short years, the two sets of siblings have taken their musical chemistry to a range of venues, from college campuses and festivals to listening rooms and theaters. Their blend of bluegrass, folk, and alternative has stolen hearts through radiant harmonies and mesmerizing rhythm. Join them at the Rudder Fountain Plaza between the Memorial Student Center and Rudder Tower on Thursday, February 27.

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By Katie Lea

North American Family Tree Acquires New Roots For a long time, there has been some debate about whether the first people to settle in North America came from Europe or Asia. Michael Waters, director of Texas A&M’s Center for the Study of First Americans, is part of an international research group that has finally answered that ageold question for us. 12,600-year-old remains and burial artifacts were found in 1968 at the Anzick Clovis site in southwestern Montana. The one-year-old Clovis boy, who’s Ice Age skeletal remains are the DNA source used for America’s “paternity test”, is the only known human skeleton from that culture. The Clovis people are believed to be the ancestors of Native Americans, with artifacts suggesting

they were a dominant presence for about 400 years. Now, genome sequencing has finally told us that the first Americans were in fact from Asia, not Europe. The Anzick Clovis people were very genetically similar to Native Americans. Furthermore, it indicates that early Americans are a blend of two lineages that bred while still in Asia before traveling to North America via the Bering land bridge. This would suggest that there was one migration across the sea at that time. In the ancient past, burial ceremonies covered the dead and artifacts with powdered red ochre, which was used as a pigment. After teaching us so much about early Americans, the remains of the Clovis boy will be re-buried by Montanan Native Americans, ensuring that it is performed following Native rituals. Waters says, “The genetic information provided by the Anzick boy is also part of the larger story of modern humans. We know that modern humans originated in Africa and then around 50,000 years ago spread rapidly over Europe and Asia. The last continent explored and settled by modern humans were the Americas. In essence, the Anzick boy tells us about the epic journey of our species.”

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pg pg 12 12 •• MAROON MAROON WEEKLY WEEKLY •• February February 19, 19, 2014 2014 •• maroonweekly.com maroonweekly.com

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Olympic pitcher Monica Abbott will be speaking at Texas A&M.

Maybe running in the dark isn’t so bad afterall. GLOW 5K lights up the night.

America’s Got Talent winners Lightwire Theater come to Rudder.

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WEEKLY // PICKS WEEK

FEBRUARY 20 - FEBRUARY

26,

2014

FIND MORE AT: WWW.MAROONWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS

SATURDAY 2/22 ALL THAT JAZZ

As part of “I hear America singing”, a program dedicated to celebrating chorale music, the Brazos Valley Chorale is pleased to present All that Jazz, a concert featuring the chorale, chamber singers, soloists, and guest jazz musicians Aric and Beth Schneller. Tickets are $65. HILTON 801 University, College Station, Feb. 22, 2014 6:00 PM

LIGHTWIRE THEATER GRANGER SMITH

THURSDAY 2/20 FRIDAY BOTTOM DOLLAR

Bottom Dollar String Band, a bluegrass quintet formed in the hills of central Texas, began making music with only two instruments: mandolin and banjo. Sparked by a love of old-time, traditional music, these guys channel Bill Monroe, Scruggs, and the sounds of Appalachia. REVOLUTION 211B S. Main St., Bryan, Feb. 20, 2014 9:00 PM

IDEOPHONIC

“Ideo phonic = the ideology of blowing up ear drums and minds alike with delay, distortion and good ole fashion elbow grease”. This is how the indie-rock band describes themselves. Join them for a free lunchtime show on Texas A&M’s campus. RUDDER FOUNTAIN TAMU Campus, Feb. 20, 2014 12:00 PM

2/21

GRANGER SMITH

This Texas A&M alum has played for the White House and toured overseas for American soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait. He’s bringing himself and his alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. for a night at Hurricane Harry’s. HURRICANE HARRY’S 313 College, College Station, Feb. 21, 2014 9:00 PM $10

LITTLE WOMEN

Little Women the musical has graced Broadway and is based on author Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name. The story follows the March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy, as they grow up in Civil War era in America. THE THEATRE COMPANY 725 E. Villa Maria, Bryan Feb. 21, 2014 7:00 PM $5-20

Pitch darkness allows the Lightwire Theater to illuminate the room with flashing animals and wondrous creatures. You may have seen them on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and now you can see them in person at Rudder. Electroluminescent wires create a story that will make your Saturday night glow. RUDDER TAMU Campus, Feb.22, 2014 7:00 PM $22

SUNDAY

2/23

MIC CHECK POETRY

Speak your mind or listen to those who perform at Mic Check Poetry Slam. Hosted by Revolution Cafe, MCPS is held every Sunday at 8:30 and completely free. Break out of the mold and channel your inner artist; you’ll go home feeling inspired. REVOLUTION 211B S. Main St., Bryan, Feb. 23, 2014 8:30 PM

PUB QUIZ

Sundays are trivia night at O’Bannon’s, so grab a group of friends to play or just to watch. Check with their Facebook page the

day of to find out what the topics will be. O’BANNON’S 103 Boyett, College Station, Feb. 23, 2014 9:00 PM

MONDAY

TRIVIA NIGHT

2/24

Monday nights are pretty boring; it’s too early in the week to party and too early in the week to study. So, you’re kind of left with nothing to do but Facebooking, channel surfing, or Netflixing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. What if you could spend a Monday night with a drink in your hand and “study” at the same time without feeling like you’re partying or doing your homework? Well, you can do just that. Every Monday night, Revolution Cafe hosts Trivia Night from 9pm till just before midnight–ending just in time to sleep 8 hours before class on Tuesday. REVOLUTION 211B S Main St, Bryan Feb. 24, 2014 9:00 PM

OPEN MIC

Schotzi’s is giving you the chance to show your stuff with Open Mic Night every Monday. Get some $2 liquid courage with wells and domestics all night long! SCHOTZI’S 205 University, College Station, Feb. 24, 2014 9:30 PM

TUESDAY 2/25 BREAKAWAY

Non-denominational Breakaway Ministries’ events have already set a record for attendance, and Tuesday’s assembly of worship, inspiration and entertainment will surely set yet another one. For more details check Breakaway Ministries Facebook @ http://www.facebook. com/breakawayministries REED ARENA Feb. 25, 2014 9:00 PM

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By Megan Ingram

GLOW 5K

Daily Lunch Specials Under $10

Each year, swarms of people in beads, sweatpants, sparkling headbands, bright hats, neon jackets, and running shoes rush past you on campus through the chilly pre-spring break air. Texas A&M is known as a place where people come together, and this year marks a decade’s worth of partnership between Maggies and Aggie Men’s Club that culminates in the event of their year: GLOW 5k. The largest 5k on campus, GLOW stands for Giving to Light Others’ Way, and the event raises thousands of dollars for those in need. Each semester, Maggies make their way to New Horizons, a residential treatment center near Goldthwaite that is home to neglected kids across Texas. The women’s leadership organization looks forward to this time all year and considers it their privilege. It’s a chance for them to bond with traumatized children ranging from 7-17 years old who have suffered from emotional, behavioral, or relationship problems.

Open Everyday 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. 1808 Texas Ave. College Station, TX 77840 - 979.485.8888

2,000 miles away, Jorge Mahomar is a philanthropist in the most decrepit parts of Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. He is also the father of a former AMC member. Honduras is home to approximately 7.4 million and is racked by drugs, gangs, and violence. Ever since Jorge’s son, an active member at the time, decided to journey home for the first time, AMC has returned every year. Through Building A Future, they help build homes for families and orphans who have otherwise lost hope. Proceeds from GLOW are used directly to benefit New Horizons and Building a Future. With over 3,200 participants and $40,000 raised, last year’s race represented the most successful year since GLOW first began. The goal for 2014 is to raise $45,000. This year’s run is held on Saturday, February 22 and starts at 9pm. The race will begin at The Zone at Kyle Field and end in Rudder Plaza with a feature performance by Votary. A $10 registration fee includes admission, a t-shirt, and your very own glow stick. Register at glow5k.tamu.edu or from February 17-21 at Rudder Plaza, Wehner, or the Commons.

the scoop WHAT: GLOW 5K WHERE: TEXAS A&M CAMPUS WHEN: FEB. 22 | 9PM pg 14 • MAROON WEEKLY • February 19, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

By Megan Ingram and Haley Clark

THE TRAITOR’S WIFE

by allison pataki Even if you’re not a history buff, you’ve heard of Benedict Arnold, the general who betrayed America during the Revolutionary War and joined the British Army. Major John André, a British Army officer, was Arnold’s accomplice. But what most people don’t know is there was yet another collaborator who aided in the betrayal: Arnold’s young wife and socialite Peggy Shippen. Shippen was much younger than Arnold when she caught his eye, and clouded by her charm and smarts, he overlooked her hidden secrets: that her loyalty was with the British and that she also had a past relationship with John André. Because of the battles, Arnold was wounded and in debt and had become more and more disheartened with his hero, George Washington, and the fight for America. Shippen, along with André and Arnold, devised a plan to give West Point to the British and gain wealth and esteem in return. The novel is written through the eyes of Shippen’s maid and tells the story of a betrayal that almost blighted the fight for America’s freedom.

THE SOUND BOOK

by trevor cox In our visual world, we often overlook the sounds that surround us. Author Trevor Cox sends readers on a aural journey into unexpected and surprising auditory worlds. He is a professor of acoustic engineering and has appeared on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, and holds the Guinness World Record for finding the world’s longest echo. Cox explores echoes and sounds in unparalleled places, such as caves or oil tankers.

By drawing from various career fields, Cox uses archeology, neuroscience, biology, and more to show how sound is transformed and influenced by our surroundings. He also describes how we physically and mentally react to different auditory sensations.

THE MARTIAN

by andy weir Imagine you’re an astronaut on Mars that’s been swept up by the planet’s rust-colored dust and then abandoned by the team you arrived with, leaving you for dead as they head back to Earth. Except you’re not dead--not yet. Mark Watney represents the classic archetype of a courageous and resourceful American male. And yet as an esoteric botanist and mechanical engineer, his character is infused with universal geek humor we can all relate to. Trapped on Mars millions of miles from another human being and with no way to signal his home planet, Mark produces water from fuel, works up a hot bath, a sextant, and even makes a mini-torch from a wooden cross saying, “I figure if there’s a God, He won’t mind, considering the situation I’m in.”

Mark’s story is told largely through his incredibly detailed work logs. As he confronts one impossible obstacle after another, he somehow remains a cheerful yet lonely soul, drawing on his instinctual gumption, engineering skills, and an undying refusal to quit. Weir leaves the reader hooked time and time again as they wonder if Mark’s resourcefulness will be enough to save him.

maroonweekly.com • February 19, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 15

3 Apps You

••••••

Won’t Regret

PLAY

Downloading WIBBITZ - BY HALEY CLARK We all want to be kept up to date on what is happening in our world, but sometimes we’re too busy or don’t feel like scanning through endless words in articles. The Wibbitz app lets you watch the news rather than read it. Wibbitz transforms those long stories we don’t want to read into short videos. The app lets you watch the latest news stories from top news sites or your own favorite sites. It uses images, video clips, animations, and narration to bring you news in this visual way. So if you’re on the go, have some extra time, or want to see what’s going on around you, Wibbitz offers a variety of news clips to keep you in the loop about what’s happening. - FREE WINE SPECTATOR + - BY MEGAN INGRAM Whether you’re ordering a bottle of red at a restaurant or picking one up from the store, WS + helps you to choose the best vino for any occasion. Covering 55 of the world’s prominent wine regions, the app features vintage charts detailing the quality of each season’s weather and grape harvest. Wine Spectator magazine is one of the most respected publications in the world of viticulture. And now you can have a virtual wine steward in your pocket and benefit from over 300,000 reviews of bottles around the world. Uncork this free app and get the perfect bottle for your next shindig. - FREE RAP GENIUS - BY KELLY PORTER Rap Genius breaks down lyrics from millions of your favorite rap songs. With annotations for every line, you’ll be able to listen to your favorite songs in a new light. Some of the explanations even come from the artists themselves. If there are any references or inside jokes hidden inside the lyrics, Rap Genius will key you in. It will also define unusual terms and give you specific contexts. For any song that’s playing around you, Rap Genius will find the lyrics for you; it can also find the lyrics for all of the songs in your iTunes library. But Rap Genius doesn’t just stop at music - it gives you meanings for different lines from books, breakdowns of speeches, it even explores Bible verses. - FREE

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Roadtrips and Getaways Within a Day’s Drive

By Kelly Porter

Laughing Your Way Through Fort Worth Fort Worth is home to some noteworthy comedy acts. This week, we’re taking you to Fort Worth’s funny bones. Four Day Weekend is an award-winning improv comedy act consisting of a six-man team that performs on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and 10pm. The venue, also called Four Day Weekend, is located at 312 Houston Street. Since they are an improv group, it is quite possible that you could be selected to participate in their act in one way or another. So don’t go wearing a fanny pack or MC Hammer pants if you’re not okay with being the butt of their jokes. Once the spotlight hits you, there’s no turning back. Their show lasts an hour and forty-five minutes (with 15 minute intermissions) and spurs from audience participation and suggestions. The theater they perform in seats 212 viewers (or should we say “participants”). They’ve been awarded the Key to the City, performed for two US presidents, and delivered a keynote address to the US Congress. Four Day Weekend is also the longest-running show in the southwest. Tickets are $20 and can be bought online at fourdayweekend.com as well as at the door. They have a full bar, which opens an hour and a half before the show and there is no drink minimum. The theater doors open thirty minutes before the show actually starts and they don’t reserve seats for groups, so make sure to get there early if you are going with a group. Another stop on your comedy tour weekend: the Circle Theatre on West Fourth Street is currently showing the comedy Venus in Furs from now until March 8. Venus in Furs is an award-winning, two-person play by David Ives that tells the story of Thomas, a playwright/ director who is looking for an actress for his adaptation of the novel Venus in Furs. Vanda, a desperate actress, stumbles into his door. As they work through the script together, tons of funny happens. Tickets range anywhere from $20-$35, depending on your seat. Showings are on Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8pm, and Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm. Make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time, because they sell out weeks in advance. The last stop on your funny bone tour: Hyena’s Comedy Nightclub on Commerce Street. They offer free parking - a major draw in Downtown Fort Worth. Their Friday shows are at 8:30pm and 10:30pm (doors open at 7pm) and their Saturday shows are at 8pm and 10:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm). Admission is $10 and there’s a two-item minimum. If you’re willing to dish out five more dollars, preferred seating is available upon request. (Tip: They have an “Admit 2 for 1” coupon exclusively on their website: hyenascomedynightclub.com.) This upcoming weekend, February 21 and 22, Lisa Landry will be performing at Hyena’s. Landry has been on CBS, NBC, and Comedy Central and was voted third in Comedy Central’s annual “Standup Showdown”, making her the first woman to ever place in the top three. In addition, her CD on iTunes was selected as one of the “Top 10 Best Comedy CDs” of 2008.

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By Haley Clark

Little Women

at The Theatre Company

The iconic, timeless novel Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott, has been transformed into a musical filled with songs, dancing, laughter, tears, and self-discovery. Based on music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, and a book by Alan Knee, the musical first opened in 2005 on Broadway at the Virginia Theatre. The Broadway musical follows the March sisters: Jo, whose passion is to be a writer; Meg, who longs for romance and a great life; soft-hearted Beth, who looks for the good in all; and ostentatious Amy, who is extravagant and pretentious. The coming-of-age musical set in Civil War era America, follows the sisters as they go through loss to find themselves, love, courage, and the value of family and friendship. Little Women will have performances February 21-March 2 at the Theatre Company in Bryan. Tickets are $5 for children, $15 for seniors and students, and $20 for adults (there is also a small service charge added on to the purchase). Tickets are available online through the Theatre Company’s website at theatrecompany.com/current-season.

the scoop WHAT: LITTLE WOMEN WHERE: THE THEATRE COMPANY WHEN: FEB. 21 - MARCH 2 pg 18 • MAROON WEEKLY • February 19, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

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Lightwire Theater at Rudder Auditorium

@maroonweekly

By Megan Ingram Maybe you caught sight of the sixteen-foot tall birds on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Or maybe it was the cats fighting with light sabers. It’s easy to see how such things wouldn’t be too hard to miss. Open your mind to the world of the surreal and enthralling, of the strange and fascinating. Immerse yourself in an epic struggle between good and evil. See Lightwire. An immediate bond was forged when Ian Carney and Corbin Popp, then Broadway dancers, met on set. Through their shared passion of art, theater, and technology, they became a collaborative. After discovering El wire, something in both their minds clicked. “El wire” stands for electroluminescent wire, a technology that, unlike black lights, can be battery-run and doesn’t depend on theatrical lighting. To Ian and Corbin, the possibilities were limitless. Joining forces with their wives Eleanor and Whitney, the team then embarked on a journey of developing puppet-

Check us out on like creatures that quickly took on their own glowing personalities. Performed in pitch-dark venues, Lightwire Theater employs rare brand of storytelling, sensational visuals, and use of music ranging from pop to classical to film scores. Follow the adventure of a young bird whose newly discovered power leads him to be outcast by his tribe. Alone and defenseless, he begins a trek across his planet, where peril lurks around each and every corner and an alien species aims to destroy the world. Along the way, unexpected friendships are formed and the baby bird finds himself as part of a new team. Can the motley crew save their world?

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Find out with Lightwire Theater as they make their way to Rudder Auditorium on Saturday, February 22. The show begins at 7pm and tickets are $28.

maroonweekly.com • February 19, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 19

By Cheyenne Mueller

Upcoming: Pompeii Romance will prevail. So don’t worry about lava raining down from the sky or poisonous volcanic ash - just get the girl. All you need is love. Really.

Vampire Academy DRAMA (PG-13)

If you’re having vampire-movie and terrible-acting withdrawals, Vampire Academy is right up your alley. The film, an adaptation of the widely successful teen novel series by Richelle Mead, follows the lives of Dhampir Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and Miori Princess Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry). I hate to confuse you, but this vampire flick has some terminology that needs explication before it can be reviewed. The good guys, first: A Dhampir is half-human, half-Miori and whose sole purpose in life is to keep a Miori out of trouble. Mioris are peaceful, mortal vampires who also possess elemental magical qualities: fire, water, earth, air, or spirit - which is rare. The villains are the Strigori - Mioris who went bad by killing. There wasn’t much classification in the film into whether the Strigori turned into red-eyed monsters because they killed someone innocent, or if they just killed someone all together. While my money’s on the innocent killing, it’s not spelled out explicitly. The film opens with Lissa and Zoey in the real world having escaped from St. Vladimir’s Academy after the death of Lissa’s parents. Pursued by Dhampirs, the duo attempts to outrun them and avoid returning to the academy. But because of Zoey’s novice training, the two are captured by renowned Dhampir Dimitri. Zoey’s sharp wit and Dimitri’s quiet demeanor automatically link the two as an unlikely potential romantic couple. Throughout the film, there’s a tension between the two that becomes an almost-sex-scene. Speaking on my own behalf, the scene made me uncomfortable, mostly because Rose is 17 and Dimitri is in his late 20s. Director Mark Waters seems to have been a one-hit wonder with his millennial cult classic, Mean Girls. Waters tried to bring the beloved cattiness from Mean Girls into Vampire Academy. Waters focused more on the element of high school as opposed to the vampires themselves, and the special effects for the supernatural powers were cheesy at best. If you’ve read the books, then this movie probably makes way more sense. Otherwise, the plot is pretty much absent and there’s no way of knowing what to fill the gaps with. The scenes move quickly, and if you’re unfamiliar with the novels then it’s going to be difficult to follow what’s happening and why. Waters took a chance by using actors that aren’t big names, but the acting is subpar. Scenes that were supposed to inspire fell flat and weren’t natural.

pg 20 • MAROON WEEKLY • February 19, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

Set in 79 A.D., Pompeii tells the story of slaveturned-gladiator, Milo, who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him. Before production, filmmakers spent six years researching the disaster of Pompeii to make it as historically accurate as possible. Then, after having gathered all of their information to film a historically correct-ish movie… Pompeii was filmed in Toronto, Ontario. Pompeii is director Paul W.S. Anderson’s fourteenth film, and he has quite a history with action flicks: Resident Evil, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, and Death Race. Pompeii is the fourth time that Paul W.S. Anderson used 3D cameras in his films, so if you’re really craving a genuine Pompeii experience without all of the inconveniences (AKA death), here’s your chance. Pompeii is 105 minutes long and rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, disaster-related action, and brief sexual content. Staring Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) as Milo, Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, The Uninvited) as Cassia, and Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, 24) as the corrupt Roman Senator, Corvis.

1. The Lego Movie

An ordinary LEGO, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the universe together.PG (100 min)

permanent winter, a young girl voiced by Kristen Bell teams up with a mountain man to rescue her sister and stop the curse in the latest Disney animated adventure. PG (102 min)

2. About Last Night

9. Lone Survivor

Two couples journey from the bar to the bedroom, and their ties are eventually put to the test in the real world. R (100 min)

3. RoboCop

In 2028 Detroit, when Alex Murphy - a loving husband, father and good cop - is critically injured in the line of duty, the multinational conglomerate OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot cyborg police officer. PG-13 (108 min)

4. The Monuments Men An unlikely World War II platoon are tasked to rescue art masterpieces from Nazi thieves and return them to their owners. PG-13 (118 min)

5. Endless Love

The story of a privileged girl and a charismatic boy whose instant desire sparks a love affair made only more reckless by parents trying to keep them apart. PG-13 (103 min)

6. Ride Along

Fast-talking security guard Ben joins his cop brother-in-law James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta in order to prove himself worthy of marrying Angela, James’ sister. PG-13 (100 min)

7. Winter’s Tale

One night in winter, Peter Lake, orphan and master-mechanic, attempts to rob a fortress-like mansion on the Upper West Side. But through a happenstance meeting, Peter falls in love with the daughter of the house, a dying woman named Bethany. PG-13 (118 min)

8. Frozen In

kingdom

cursed

endure

the high life to his fall from gold-plated grace, this Scorsese film is like The Godfather for investment bankers. R (180 min)

15. The Nut Job

Based on the failed 2005 mission “Operation Red Wings”, four members of SEAL Team 10 were tasked with a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shahd. R (121 min)

Surly, a curmudgeon, independent squirrel is banished from his park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles on the one thing that may be able to save his life and the rest of park community as they gear up for winter. PG (86 min)

10. That Awkward Moment

16. Philomena

11. American Hustle

A con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive British partner, Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild FBI agent, Richie DiMaso. DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the mafia. R (138 min)

12. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Jack Ryan, as a young covert CIA analyst, uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack. PG-13 (105 min)

13. Vampire Academy

Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, half human/vampire, a guardian of the Moroi-peaceful, mortal vampires living discretely within our world. Her legacy is to protect the Moroi from the Strigoi, bloodthirsty, immortal Vampires. PG-13 (104 min)

14. The Wolf of Wall Street Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living

A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. PG-13 (98 min)

17. Labor Day

Adele, a depressed single mother, and her son, Henry, offer a wounded escaped convict a ride from the supermarket. As police search the town for the convict, mother and son gradually learn his true story and their options for escape become increasingly limited. PG-13 (111 min)

18. Gravity

A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.PG13 (91 min)

19. August: Osage County A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. R (121 min)

20. The Marked Ones

Jesse begins experiencing a number of disturbing and unexplainable things after the death of his neighbor. As he investigates, it isn’t long before Jessie finds he’s been marked for possession by a malevolent demonic entity. R (84 min)

maroonweekly.com • February 19, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 21

“We’ve got clout”

- yes, that’s right, out

Across 1 ___ fly (baseball play) 4 Junkies 11 Took a chair 14 Elec. text-reading method (hidden in SOCRATES) 15 Store that sells golf balls 16 One of the five W’s 17 Where to hold your hands while guiding a horse? 20 Muppet friend of Rosie 21 ___ buco (Italian veal dish) 22 Actress Meg or Jennifer 23 Slumber 25 Nintendo princess 26 Acted like the “Supermassive Black Hole” band? 32 Cray or pay ender 33 Jai alai balls 34 “All in favor” word 37 Treater’s pickup 38 Make trivial objections 39 Actor Chaney 40 AARP group 41 Laugh-worthy 43 Big klutz 44 “I couldn’t be there--I had to sell my steam press” and others? 46 “Funeral Blues” poet W.H. ___ 50 Volks ender 51 Play a mean guitar 52 Put your hands together 56 Word before mail or monger 57 Shaw or Lange, no faking? 60 Sweeping under site 61 Deal incentives 62 Paddle’s cousin 63 Startled sounds 64 Fortitude 65 Abbr. in an apt. classified

Down 1 Sensitive areas 2 Lacking the basic structure of life 3 “Law & Order” settings 4 Bee-related prefix 5 007’s first film foe 6 Four-footed furry friends 7 AOL and NetZero, for two 8 Jimmy of shoes 9 How-___ 10 Canines with puffy tails 11 Sty food 12 “Get ___ of yourself!” 13 Harding who made headlines in 1994 18 Gallagher who didn’t smash melons 19 0-0, say 24 High school assembly goal 27 Designer’s concern 28 Davy Crockett died defending it, with “the” 29 “___ On Up” (“The Jeffersons” theme) 30 New York State Thruway city 31 Course with lettuce 34 Everglades critter 35 Really ramped-up response to “Ready?” 36 Electrical ___ 41 Grate remainder 42 Murphy has one 45 “If I Only Had the Nerve” singer Bert 46 “The Jetsons” dog 47 “I’m listening” 48 Barrel scrapings 49 Mental picture? 52 Largest island on the Caribbean 53 “The Grey” star Neeson 54 Prefix with matter 55 Ball-___ hammer 58 Drift boat attachment 59 “My Life ___ Dog” (1985 film)

Answers

2014 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@ jonesincrosswords.com)

by Matt Jones

pg 22 • MAROON WEEKLY • February 19, 2014 • maroonweekly.com

Drink Slinger

GET TO KNOW YOUR FAVORITE BCS BARTENDERS

SLINGER OF THE WEEK

HANNAH HARRIS the beer joint

MW: How long have you been a bartender? And what got you started? H: I started working as a bartender when I was 19. I’ve been doing it for about four years now. I worked at a restaurant as a waitress and then one day they told me they wanted to move me to the bar. MW: What is the first drink you learned to make? H: Long Island Ice Tea. It’s one of the more common ones. MW: If you could bar chat with one person—a celebrity, sport star, anyone—who would it be? What would you want to talk with them about? What drink do you think that person would ask for? H: Hmm…either Matthew McConaughey or Jason Aldean--they’re both dreamy. I would ask them about their lives; but honestly, I’d just want to look at them. Matthew would ask for a Budweiser, my kind of guy. I have a feeling Jason would probably take a shot of some sort. . MW: What is your personal favorite drink? H: Budweiser. It’s my thing. MW: What is the craziest thing you’ve seen while working behind this bar? H: Someone was hula hooping on the bar during one of our karaoke nights. It was quite a show. MW: What’s your biggest pet peeve at the bar? H: Personal boundaries. MW: Do you ever experiment with new drink recipes? H: Yeah. We’re mainly a beer and wine joint, so whenever I get the chance to whip up a new mixed drink, I’ll take it.

Slinger’s Signature Drink MW: What is your signature drink? H: A drink called Bootleggers. MW: What is in it? H: It’s got like five types of liquor in it. I get asked to make it almost every day. Our customers love it.

maroonweekly.com • February 19, 2014 • MAROON WEEKLY • pg 23

THINK

pg 28 | maroonweekly.com | 01.23.13