Scene
NorthernStar.info/DeKalb_Scene | @NSScene | 815-753-5606
Monday, Sept. 12, 2016
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Q&A: “Out of the Blue” lead actor Jesse Baalman Staff writer T @jessebaalman
DeKALB | NIU School of Theatre and Dance is busy preparing for their upcoming play, “Out of the Blue.” It is an exciting time in Lead Actor Eli Hamilton’s acting Eli Hamilton career, so the Lead Actor Northern Star sat down with Hamilton and asked him questions about the play, acting and art.
Q: Can you give me a brief synopsis of the play? A: It’s a Russian play. “Out of the Blue” is about a young gay man who has to deal with being gay in Russia and that’s pretty hard because being openly gay in Russia today is very dangerous. It’s about the risk. Q: What is your role in the play? A: I play the boy, so I will be coming out to my parents and experiencing having my first boyfriend. Q: How did you prepare for the role? A: I had to make my character resonate with me, obviously, in order to do this. Everything he does is in the name of love and that’s how I’ve my life. He’s fighting for his own type of love. Q: When did you become interested in acting? A: I tried to be class clown. I got in to public speaking; I just really like to pretend. Q: Why do colleges need art programs? A: Art is the one thing you can’t replace with a robot. Art is the most expression, it’s what I’ve dedicated my entire life to and if someone isn’t willing to hear that out then I’m probably not willing to hear that person out. I want to expand my life. Go to the School of Theatre and Dance website to buy tickets. Go to NorthernStar.info/DeKalb_ Scene to read the entire interview.
The Associated Press
Jason Aldean performs at 10th annual Academy of Country Music Honors Aug. 30 at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Aldean brings fans in with new album Singles released
• “Lights Come On” released on April 1. Darius Parker Columnist T @sir_harlem
• “A Little More Summmertime” released on July 15.
Country singer Jason Aldean returns to music with the anthem-filled They Don’t Know.” “They Don’t Know,” is his newest of seven studio albums and shows a more vocal and hard-hitting side of the country singer. Previously the Northern Star reported this album as one of the most anticipated albums of fall. The album ascended to No. 1 on the Itunes “Top Albums” chart when it was released Friday and stayed there throughout the weekend. The album’s first track “When The Lights Come On,” serves as Aldean’s introduction to the album and gets the listeners hyped. This track tells Aldean’s story of working hard before the fame, how day in and day out he gave his best no matter the circumstances he may have been in. “You’re a crack-of-dawn, Mondaymorning, coffee strong — poured everything you got into a paycheck Friday night,” Aldean sings. This immediately allows listeners to put themselves in Aldean’s shoes and live his life through the music, just by how relatable and detailed Aldean is in this very first verse. The chorus to this song is what brings the song together. “When the lights come on, everybody’s screaming. Lighters in the sky, yeah, everybody’s singing every word to every song, to the girl they’re takin’ home tonight when
the lights come on,” Aldean sings. Aldean is explaining how no matter the situation, when the lights come on it’s time for him to do what he does best, which is to perform. The country singer even mentions so in the popular music video on YouTube that everything seems to change when the lights come on. Aldean slows things down with the album’s third track, “This Plane Don’t Go There.” In his first live performance of the track he mentioned this was one of his favorite tracks on the album. The guitar riffs coupled with Aldean’s mellow voice offers listeners a well-rounded auditory experience. Although not as high energy as “When The Lights Come On,” this track offers a different side to Aldean, which I think he purposely wanted to give listeners. This album has a variety of tracks for any type of listener whether an avid Aldean fan, country fan or new. Though not an avid country music enthusiast, Aldean bared a variety of himself on this album, telling the stories of hardship and love. He even said the album is a sound guaranteed to show his vintage self, according to Rolling Stones magazine. Aldean gets personal and still is able to inspire through his heartfelt lyrics, definitely worthy of a listen.
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Sophia Phillips | Northern Star
Barista Shay Sutherland serves customers at The College Grind on Thursday in the Holmes Student Center. This spot brews Papa Nicholas coffee.
Cafés at NIU for a coffee fix Sophia Phillips Columnist T @SophiaAnnePhill
Coffee Corner
DeKALB | Knowing where to get coffee on-campus is useful to those who use caffeine to fuel their day or need a casual drink in their hand for class. These are some places on-campus to find a variety of coffee options from normal brew to specialty fall flavors. East Side Café
Pumpkin Spice Lattes have become a fall tradition and the East Side Café in Gilbert Hall is a good place to get them. The café brews Starbucks coffee as well as classic Starbucks drinks like the Frappuccino, which comes in flavors like mocha. This drink is only available in size grande. The College Grind
The College Grind, located on the main floor of the Holmes Student Center, is a great place to get coffee and hang out because of its cozy seating for students. This spot brews Papa Nicholas coffee and has a variety of flavors available like vanilla, caramel and hazelnut. Barista Shay Sutherland says the most popular drinks are caramel macchiato and caramel apple cider.
Coffee Corner, located on the ground floor of the Holmes Student Center near the bus turn around, is a good place to grab a cup of coffee on the go. This convenient spot has many flavor options and brews Starbucks coffee. “Pumpkin spice is one of our big [special flavors],” said Dylan Luz, junior environmental studies major. Luz works at the Coffee Corner and said that people usually stop by for coffee when hopping on or off the bus. Founders Café
The Founders Memorial Library has its own café in the basement of the library. The Founders Café serves Papa Nicholas coffee and has many coffee options and flavors available like mocha, white mocha, toffee and more.
Seasonal flavors The pumpkin spice latte will be available in October at Founders Café, Coffee Corner and College Grind. Peppermint and gingerbread flavored lattes will be available after Thanksgiving. Go to niu.edu/dining/where-toeat/ to see the cafés menus.
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