A&E

Tuesday, sepTeMber 28, 2021

The MarqueTTe Tribune Arts & eNtertAiNmeNt

page 8

Students look forward to a return to Fiserv Forum

Tickets already sold out for 2021-2022 basketball season

By Kim Cook

kimberly.cook@marquette.edu

It has been 576 days since fans cheered on the Golden Eagles from the student section at Fiserv Forum during the last home game of the 2019-2020 men’s basketball season, and 205 days since fans were last welcomed into the stadium to celebrate National Marquette Day and Senior Day with MUBB in March 2021.

And while a lot has changed since then for the team and the world, one thing that hasn’t is the excitement Marquette students like Matt Cerven, a junior in the College of Engineering, possess to return to the student section for the 2021-2022 season.

“I can’t wait to break out the overalls again,” Cerven said.

Due to restrictions put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 basketball season saw an empty stadium and eyes glued to televisions instead.

Victor Alex, a senior in the College of Communication, said that while not being able to cheer on the basketball team from the Fiserv was far from ideal, watching the games from home last season was still enjoyable.

“It doesn’t account for watching a live game hearing the fans around you, it’s a different environment, for sure, but people [could] always find someone to watch the game with,” Alex said.

Student tickets for the upcoming men’s basketball season went on sale Sept. 21 – Sept. 24, each day reserved for a different group of people. The first day of ticket sales was reserved for students who previously held season tickets during the 20192020 season. The next three days released tickets to students based on their year at Marquette: seniors and juniors Sept. 22, sophomores Sept. 23, and first-years Sept. 24. Any remaining tickets were released on Monday, Sept. 27 and are now entirely sold out.

For Donny Robbins, a sophomore in the College of Art & Sciences, securing tickets for the home games was a priority on Thursday as he wasn’t able to attend a game in person during his first year at Marquette.

“I almost lost the tickets because I didn’t have my debit card. I had to run from the library to Eckstein [Hall] with my backpack before the timer ran out,” Robbins said. “But I made it in time.”

When it comes to the nonconference game schedule, California native Robbins said that he is looking forward to when Marquette takes on the UCLA Bruins at Fiserv Forum Dec. 11.

“One of UCLA’s star players, Jamie Jaquez, went to my middle and high school,” he said. “I’m really excited to see him play.”

The biggest change in the Marquette men’s basketball roster took place at the top, as Shaka Smart replaced Steve Wojciechowski as head coach at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season. Another factor that may shake things up for the Golden Eagles are the nine new faces that have joined the ranks, including first-year guard Stevie Mitchell and redshirt first-year forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Cerven said the change in

“I’m excited to see the difference between coaching and how it’s going to be different from last year’s team.”

Matt Cerven

Junior in the College of Engineering

coaching and the introduction of new players to the team is something he is looking forward to seeing this season.

“I’m excited to see the difference between coaching and how it’s going to be different from last year’s team,” Cerven said. “Hopefully [Smart] is bettering the team, and the new guys we got will help build the team.”

After over a year of not being in attendance at Fiserv, Alex, Cerven and Robbins believe the atmosphere at the first home game, set to take place Nov. 9 against Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, will be unlike anything they have ever experienced.

“I feel like everyone is going to be in the same mindset [of] ‘I’m happy to be here’ and just living in the moment,” Alex said. “You’re not thinking about what is going on when you leave the game, everyone is just locked in.”

While a pandemic may have kept fans away last year, there is no doubt that the student section will be packed and pumped to “Ring Out Ahoya!” when the men’s basketball season gets underway later this year.

Marquette Theatre is center-stage in the spotlight

Performances include “Mamma Mia!,” “The Taming of the Shrew”

By Izzy Fonfara Drewel

isabella.fonfaradrewel@marquette.edu

Live theater is such a unique experience. The roar of the crowd, the delicate acting and the shine of the lights creates an atmosphere unlike any other. While COVID-19 put live performances on hold, it’s time for them to return.

Marquette Theatre announced their return to in-person performances this season with their theme, “Together Again.” The performance schedule contains well-known acts like Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Mamma Mia!” However, there are some unfamiliar plays such as “California Suite” and “Melancholy Play.”

“California Suite” tells the stories of several middle-aged couples all dealing with very different issues, ranging from affairs to unchecked success. “Melancholy Play” is an absurdist play about a young woman with intense sadness and throughout the show her friends turn into almonds.

“California Suite” and “The Taming of the Shrew” open next weekend, and the actors are thrilled to have an audience. Matthew Read, a sophomore in the College of Communication, was online last year, so he is ready to experience Marquette Theatre’s atmosphere.

“I’m really excited to perform again,” Read said. “It’s been a year and a half since I performed in front of an audience, and I’ve been doing it my whole life, so I cannot wait to open.”

This season features Shakespeare’s play “The Taming of the Shrew.” Giorgia Cozzo, a junior in the College of Health Sciences, has been cast as Kate, and she feels like this role couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Honestly, this role of Kate has been a dream that I didn’t even know I had,” Cozzo said. “I feel like I’ve been able to grow so much as an actor as a result of it, and it’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone, which I think I needed at this time in my career.”

During their rehearsals the students have been researching and discussing ways to modernize this Shakespearean classic.

“It’s really interesting to do a play like this now because we are trying to resolve it for a 21st century audience,” Cozzo said. “We examine a lot of spouse roles, both husbands and wives and sort of the crazy, funny things we do when we’re in love.”

The third show of the semester, “Melancholy Play,” will run from Nov. 12-14 and 17-21.

“I play a lesbian who has an affair who then turns into an almond by the end of the show,” Gilli Leonard, a senior in the College of Communication, said.

The schedule also features a children’s show which will occur next semester. “Pinkalicious: The Musical” will show from May 1415 and the 21st of next spring.

“I’m very excited to be able to welcome kids back for our children’s show next semester,” Cozzo said.

Live theater is making its return to Marquette’s campus, and tickets can be bought online or at the theater on the day of. More information can be found on the Marquette Theatre website.

Photo by Isabel Bonebrake isabel.bonebrake@marquette.edu Performances will take place at the Evan P. & Marion Helfaer Theatre.

Homecoming week arrives, sparks mixed reactions

Sean Kingston will headline the concert on Saturday, Oct. 2

By Rashad Alexander

rashad.alexander@marquette.edu

After being mostly virtual last year, Marquette is bringing back in-person events for Homecoming 2021.

Homecoming week will be a lot different this year as it’ll be the first “real” Marquette Homecoming week in nearly two years. And for Aine Grady, a junior in the College of Engineering, she’s glad to see this yearly event make its return.

“I’m just excited in general for things to get back to normal, so I think it’ll be really fun,” Grady said.

For freshman and sophomores, this will be their first taste of a real college homecoming week at Marquette. For juniors and seniors, this will be their first real celebration since the fall of 2019. For Lauren Flannagan, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, it feels different to have the event come back to campus.

“It’s honestly weird. Sophomore year and junior year had been such a blur because of the pandemic,” Flannagan said. “The fact that we’re doing this again is really exciting! [It’s] just really hard to digest, like ‘oh my God, I’m graduating.’” While there may be students who are excited to see Sean Kingston perform, Timothy Horton, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, isn’t feeling this year’s performer.

“No disrespect to Sean Kingston, but he hasn’t been hot since ‘Beautiful Girls’,” Horton said, who feels that Homecoming culture at Marquette is not up to the level of other schools.

“I think it’s a lack of hype around it. [At] other colleges, homecoming is a pretty big thing. But here, it’s pretty trash and nobody really cares about it.”

When asked who he’d choose to see perform, he had one person in mind: Future.

Yesterday, there were yard games at Ray and Kay Eckstein Common, here’s a look at what else is going on

Photo by Sarah Kuhns sarah.kuhns@marquette.edu Students played yard games yesterday to kick off Homecoming 2021.

campus for the week.

Tuesday 9/28: Free food and bowling at the Annex at 6 p.m.

Wednesday 9/29: Court Carnival – come to the Alumni Memorial Union ballrooms at 7 p.m. to talk to the Homecoming court nominees and get into some games!

Thursday 9/30: National Association of Advancement of Colored People Marquette offers their own version of comedy show Wild N’ Out, with help from comedians Navv Greene, Tyler Chronicles and Mr. Bankshot! The event is being held at the Weasler Auditorium at 7 p.m.

An alternative to the Wild N’ Out event is Glow Bingo in the AMU Ballroom at 9 p.m. where you can win exclusive prizes.

Friday 10/1: At 5 p.m., women’s volleyball takes on UConn at the Al McGuire Center. Then at 7 p.m., Marquette Madness introduces the men’s and women’s basketball teams as their season approaches!

You can also checkout MU Spotlight at Weasler at 8:30 p.m., where you can see talented Golden Eagles show off their abilities!

Saturday 10/2: The Homecoming Bash will be on the Ray and Kay Eckstein Common, with food trucks and games on standby! Afterwards, the Homecoming court is announced, then Sean Kingston performs at the Varsity Theatre! Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m.

Sunday 10/3: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cobeen and Commons dining halls will have brunch! Students without a meal plan can get a voucher. At 6 p.m., Mass will be held at Gesu to reflect the 500th Ignatian Year.

Despite mixed feelings, one thing’s for certain: a sense of normalcy is back just in time for Homecoming.

Tuesday, 9/28 Free food and bowling at the Annex @ 6 p.m.

Marquette Homecoming Events

Wednesday, 9/29 Thursday, 9/30

Ask the Homecoming Court questions in the AMU ballrooms @ 7 p.m. NAACP MU Chapter hosts their version of Wild N’ Out in the Weasler Auditorium @ 7 p.m. Glow Bingo in AMU Ballrooms @ 9 p.m. Friday, 10/1 MU Spotlight in the Weasler Auditorium @ 8:30 p.m.