Escape February 6 2013 by OU Daily

ESCAPE

smile. EXPLORE. relax. / Feb. 6 / weekend

DO-IT-YOURSELF

LAUGH

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ARTIST FOR THIS COLORFUL PROJECT

WITH THE CAST OF A MUSICAL COMEDY

GO BACKSTAGE See behind the scenes of the drama department

more online @ oudaily.com/escape

The

Issue

ESCAPE contents

Feb. 6

4 plan an artsy date 5 greek row 6 musical comedy is larger than life 8 see behind-the-scenes 9 let’s get crafty 10 don’t miss these on-campus attractions 12 get some culture from your couch

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join the club With stress building up as the semester continues, it’s time to stop and appreciate some of the “finer things” in life. This issue of ESCAPE is devoted to helping you take some time to enjoy the fine arts, whether it be on campus or out and about in Norman. Since I’m currently learning to play guitar, I relax through music, but I know that’s not for everyone. If you’d like to just sit back and enjoy some art, be sure to see “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a musical comedy that is sure to bring some laughs (pg. 6). For the do-it-yourself type, we have a tutorial to create some cheap art for your home — little to no artistic ability required (pg. 9). I may be a musician, but I am certainly not a painter, so I have sympathy for those of us who need to make other forms of art. Impress your significant other with a fine arts-inspired date. The best part about our

taylor bolton./ou daily

guide to an artsy date is that some of the activities are free. It doesn’t get any better than that. Art can enrich the mind and soothe the spirit. Join the “Finer Things Club” with us here at ESCAPE and explore all the art, music and theater our campus has to offer. Megan Deaton, editor-in chief @meggiejennie

The Oklahoma Daily Editor

Kyle Margerum Editorial Adviser

Judy Gibbs Robinson Advertising Manager

Kearsten Howland Advertising Adviser

email: escapeou@gmail.com twitter: @OU_Escape

Anne Richard

contributors

kate mcpherson

conner golden

assistant editor

Copy Chief

@katemcp92

@hoonthatsc

patrick mcsweeney @pmcsweenz

hannah norton @hmnorton

Graham Dudley @danger_dudley

keaton bell @kildebell

guide: how to plan an

things to do this

weekend 1.

what: UPB Coke floats when: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. thursday where: Oklahoma memorial Union’s first floor lobby

The Union Programming Board will be giving out free coke floats to gear up for the “Soda Pop Shoppe” Friday.

what: “Clybourne Park” when: 8 p.m. thursday through saturday, 3 p.m. sunday where: Weitzenhoffer theatre

patrick mcsweeney | dating I never thought this day would come. The fact that I am currently writing an article about dating advice makes me feel proud and really question who our readers are. I wanted to create a date that took us to several places that would spark the inner artist in my girlfriend and me, leaving us enlightened and entertained. There is a lot of great art in Norman, but the places below represent my favorites.

University Theatre presents Tony Award-winning play “Clybourne Park.” Remember, the play is rated R.

what: soda pop shoppe when: 7 to 9 p.m. friday where: oklahoma memorial union’s will rogers food court

The Union Programming Board’s Soda Pop Shoppe will be a night of trivia, prizes and free coke floats.

what: free movie, “Catching fire” when: 7 and 10 p.m. saturday where: Oklahoma memorial union’s meacham auditorium

See Katniss take on The Capitol before “Catching Fire” comes out on DVD. Courtesy of the Union Programming Board and Campus Activities Council

what: ou symphony orchestra when: 3 p.m. Sunday where: catlett music center’s sharp concert hall

See the School of Music’s OU Symphony perform as part of the Sutton Concert Series. Tickets are $9 for adults and $5 for students.

scratch The owners of Scratch would likely say that its food and cocktails are a form of art, and I would probably agree. One of Norman’s newest restaurants, Scratch takes great pride in the quality and appearance of the items on its menu. The artwork inside Scratch also helps to create a pleasant atmosphere. The art brings color and increased character to what would be a dull and cold room. The Tim Kenney paintings brighten the restaurant, and the wall of photos of local Norman-ites provides a backdrop that will get you in the artistic mood for the rest of the evening. Every time I have been, the music seems to be tuned to Vampire Weekend Pandora, which guarantees you will be in an amazing mood as you get some great food and a drink or two.

fred jones jr. museum of art We are lucky to have one of the best university art museums on our campus. When I went to Camp Crimson, I was told the Fred Jones is the perfect place for a date. I think you can learn a lot about people based off how they approach a museum. Do they read everything, try to find meaning in modern art or perhaps go so fast around the exhibits that it would count as a work out? The museum seems endless, so you will get a lot of practice at art snobbery and see some famous pieces of art in the process. Need more reasons to visit the museum on your date? It is free, and imagine how proud your mom will be when you tell her you spent your Friday night at an art museum instead of a bar. (Note: This date needs to be on a Friday night. Otherwise, the museum will have been closed since 5 p.m., and you will end up blaming me for a failed night.)

Greek

Row

We Want You megan deaton | editor’s note

he “Greek Row” segment is usually dedicated to focusing on some aspect of greek life we think could be helpful to members of the greek community. However, we are continuing the semester without a greek writer. That’s where you come in. We’re looking for someone to write our weekly “Greek Row” bit. If you’re plugged in to the greek community, and have information that you think could be useful to your fellow brothers and sisters, then we want you on our team. If you’re not looking for a big commitment, we’re also looking for bloggers from the greek community to update OU about the philanthropies and other happenings in the greek community. We think you’re doing great work, so let us help you get the word out. Interested in being our greek writer? If you’d like to write for ESCAPE or be a blogger for The Daily, contact me at meggiejennie@ou.edu.

michelangelo’s By going to what is easily the best coffee shop in Norman, you avoid corporate America (Starbucks) and hipster America (Gray Owl). If you’re under 21, you will have to get coffee, but if not, I suggest a glass of wine each. Grab your glass and take a look at the assortment of local art around the shop. Here you get to see several completely different styles of art, and you may even find a piece to purchase.

this could be you

netflix I really wanted to finish by telling you to find an artsy movie to rent, but unfortunately, those glorious days are past us so you will have to return to your best friend Netflix. Now, also unfortunately, this is not the time to finish that TV series you have been binge watching; instead, let’s find something that fits into the theme of the night. May I suggest “Lost in Translation?” I could give you a lot of great reasons, but I am just going to say the only reason you need is Bill Murray.

is kate mcpherson | theater

larger than life

Students are gearing up for showings of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a Broadway musical with tributes to the classics.

The Fine Arts District is ready to show off. in 2006, it’s a nod to older musicals, Quinn said. University Theatre and the School of Musical “It’s just a great, classic example of musical Theatre’s production of “The Drowsy Chaper- theatre, lots of singing and dancing and comeone” opens Feb. 14, just in time for Valentine’s dy,” she said. “ … there’s not a second I’m not Day. The musical features “Man In Chair,” the offstage laughing at a scene I’m not in or trying narrator who takes the audience on a journey to contain my laughter in a scene that I’m in. It’s through his favorite 1920s Broadway show, “The a classic framework of a classic musical, which Drowsy Chaperone.” is lots of fun. Lots of singing, lots of dancing — Musical theatre sophomore Sarah Quinn said 1920s in a fun way.” the characters in the show are larger than life, Uram said the show is a little different each making the musical hilarious. time it’s performed. “[I play] Janet Van De Graaff, kind of the star “Especially because musical theatre is perof ‘Feldzieg’s Follies’, the classic leadformed live, you never know what’s ing lady, and she is giving up a life going to happen, and especially in a on the stage because she has fallen in musical comedy, there’s always bound love, but all throughout the show, and to be somebody who does something kind of the comedy of the character, differently, which is going to force us is her over-presentational approach you’ll be laughing all to really roll with it and try not to to everything, as though she’s still in all night long, and break and laugh at them on stage,” the show or still being that leading you’ll leave with he said. “We have such a hilarious lady,” Quinn said. so many different cast of people that rehearsals are just The show’s motley characters in- hits in your mind.” a load of fun.” clude a drunken chaperone, a Latin Quinn said her character, Janet lothario, gangsters and a best man, Van De Graaff, has challenged her in played by musical theatre senior Brett many ways. brett uram, musical Uram. “The biggest challenge for me is theatre senior “George is the best man of the finding the sincere and real place in show, so he is running around with the character where Janet is still likstrings tied around his fingers to remind him of able and not just a caricature of the character things he still has to get done,” Uram said. “His herself,” she said. “But I’d have to say my favormain job gets around to being keeping Robert ite scene is probably when I get to sing ‘Show [the groom] safe and away from seeing Janet Off.’ It’s one of the big numbers that Janet has, [the bride] so that no bad luck will happen on and she’s talking about how she doesn’t want to the wedding day.” show off anymore and is leaving a life of glamAlthough the show first opened on Broadway our, but the whole time, she’s baton twirling, so

“

it’s a really, really funny number.” Quinn said she spent her Christmas break teaching herself some of the tricks she performs in the song. “Most of the tricks are pretty simple and are kind of gags within the props,” she said. “But there were a lot of YouTube videos of watching young 10-year-old pageant girls teach me the basics of baton twirling. [The song] pretty much runs the gamut from baton twirling to battements.” The show is dramatically different from previous University Theatre musical productions like “Avenue Q ,” the actors said. “It’s entertaining for everyone, it’s appropriate — it doesn’t really contain anything that would offend anyone,” Quinn said. “And we’re doing it without an intermission. It ﬂies by.” “I think paired with ‘Carousel,’ which we did last semester, people are more likely to see contemporary shows,” Uram said. “[The Broadway show] wasn’t a massive hit, but people deﬁnitely remember it for being what it was. There’s not really anything out there that’s like it.” Despite being more sweet than edgy, the show is a must-see, Uram said. “It’s just overall such a well-crafted show,” Uram said. “It’s just a really fun, great time. You’ll be laughing all night long, and you’ll leave with so many different hits in your mind.”

tony ragle/ou daily Cast members of “The Drowsy Chaperone” rehearse for the opening of the musical.

go backstage See behind-the-scenes of the drama department with a former theater major.

ben hall/ou daily

graham dudley | theater Every year, thousands of students attend a University Theatre production in the OU Arts District, home to one of America’s best fine arts programs. The School of Drama is the second oldest in the nation, and the School of Musical Theatre is the only musical theatre school in a public university in the U.S. It’s easy to recognize the talent on display, but what most patrons don’t recognize is the amount of time that talent put in to get their production ready. As a former drama major, I have a little insight into the backstage goings on of the fine arts department. Just as athletes need to practice every day, performers must rehearse constantly to get themselves ready for a production. There’s a tremendous amount of behindthe-scenes work that goes into every show. Take actors, for example. Just to be considered for a part in an OU play, actors must spend hours choosing and rehearsing monologues, reading plays, attending auditions and going to callbacks. For the lucky ones who are selected, the work has just begun. Rehearsal periods for plays vary considerably, but most OU plays rehearse for about five weeks before they open. Five or six days a week, for three to five hours a day, the play is painstakingly pulled together. The play is read through, then blocked (choreographed, if you will), then run over and over again until it becomes second nature to its performers. The actors are hardly the only ones with a huge responsibility. Each play requires collaboration with a costume designer, set designer, lighting designer and countless indi-

viduals who work to make their visions a reality. Set-builders and costume-makers get started on a play even before the actors do, working even longer hours to make sure the show has everything it needs. For especially elaborate productions, this can be extremely time-consuming. Sometimes designers are able to pull set pieces from stock, a collection of items the theater already has. Many items, however, must be made from scratch. Perhaps no one shoulders the burden of a production like the director. The director must not only supervise and instruct the actors, but also work closely with each designer to realize their vision of the play. The director must attend every rehearsal, every production meeting, and every minor event regarding the play. A director’s life does not involve much free time — every aspect of the play is ultimately their responsibility. Finally, after weeks and weeks of construction, planning and rehearsal, it’s time for technical rehearsal, or as theatre people like to call it, Hell Week. During Hell Week, the disparate elements of the production are brought together for the first time — actors perform in the actual performance space on the actual set wearing their actual costumes with the actual lighting. Tech rehearsal is a slow, grinding process, torturous both for the actors who are trying to focus and the designers who are trying to properly place their sound cue. If everyone survives Hell Week, the actual performances are a piece of cake. There’s no greater reward for OU’s performers than to see their hard work pay off with full theatres and grateful audiences. So remember next time you go see a show that you’re witnessing a triumph of teamwork, planning and rehearsal that took months to fully come together. Notice the lighting, the set, the props, the music, the costumes—if you can do that, and appreciate the work that was put in, chances are you’ll enjoy your next trip to the theater more than you ever have before.

for

non-majors (or anyone)

Get your craft on with an art project anyone can do. This isn’t just for artsy ladies, either. Anyone could impress his or her significant other with a handmade Valentine’s Day present. megan deaton | DIY Art is something I’ve always enjoyed, but never been good at. Well, at least I’ve never been good at painting. The last time I drew something worthwhile was in first grade when I won honorable mention in an art contest for a very sad looking duck. Do-it-yourself projects, however, are my jam. I decided to try something I’ve seen all over the Internet for awhile, and I already had all the components in my apartment. Here are the steps to making your very own melty crayon masterpiece:

Line the crayons up in color order. I just Googled “how to arrange crayons in order” and found a chart that helped me out. Don’t laugh. I wanted it to be perfect. Start glueing the crayons to the top of your canvas, using one line of hot glue for each crayon.

Sadly, the finished product is hard to see because this is a black and white page, but check out the cover of this issue for a peak at the gorgeous rainbow that is this colorful craft. There are many variations of this project online, so get creative and customize it to your taste. Enjoy!

What you’ll need: a canvas (I got mine at Wal mart), a hot glue gun and glue sticks, a box of crayons (I used a 64-pack but if you have a bigger canvas you may need more) and a hair dryer.

Once you have all the crayons glued on your canvas, fire up the hair dryer. It will take a minute for the crayons to start melting, but persevere! Start on one side and work your way to the other slowly, using your hair dryer to direct the dripping wax.

don’t miss these on-campus attractions hannah norton | entertainment

Did you know there are two amazing museums right here on OU’s campus? The Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art both offer some “don’t miss” attractions that every student should experience while in Norman. Now, I know some of you may not have the money to spend on expensive museum tickets when you are busy worrying about tuition, groceries and gas money. However, both of these museums are free to OU students. With incentive like that, clear a morning or afternoon and head out to see these “don’t miss” hits.

the pentaceratops

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Wander into the Hall of Ancient Life at the Sam Noble Museum, and you are going to be amazed by the series of fossilized material and information on the incredible animals that have lived on our planet over the eons. If you only see one thing in this exhibit (but really you should take some time to wander through and marvel at all of the sites), make sure you stop by and see the pentaceratops. Not only is this full-sized skeleton an interesting sight to see, it is also a Guinness World Record holder for the largest single dinosaur skull ever found. Stand and gawk long enough (like I did) and you might run into Barry McCarrell, one of the docents at Sam Noble who was kind enough to give me a lesson on this fossil and many of the others in this exhibit. The docents at Sam Noble are founts of information about the various artifacts and fossils in the museum, and you can learn more from a brief conversation with them than you ever could just wandering around on your own. cap

natural wonders The Hall of Natural Wonders is right upstairs from the Hall of Ancient Life, and contains some specimens you are more likely to recognize. With extra seating and plenty of space, this area could become a study haven as long as you do not mind a few people coming in and out. One of the most interesting pieces of this exhibit is the cave filled with the night-crawlers, all those creepy crawly things you do not want to meet without a flashlight and large shoes. Not for the claustrophobic or those with a little fear of the dark, this area manages to give you the feeling of being deep inside a dark cave. Runner up in this exhibit is the prairie animal collection. With life-like animals staring at you, you frequently want to wave your hand in front of them to make sure there isn’t a real animal lurking among the grass.

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student exhibition

Until Feb. 16, the FJJMA will be showcasing OU students’ very own artwork, and I’m telling you it is definitely worth a visit. Choosing one piece that was a “must see” was impossible, so I encourage you to check out the exhibition yourself and spend some time appreciating the myriad of talent on display. Sculptures, paintings, photographs and everything in between can be found on the walls. Definitely a “must see.”

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photography

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Although I’m personally a huge fan of Ansel Adams, I won’t force you to go to the museum for just one piece of art. In reality, you should head over for any of the photography on display. FJJMA is well-known for bringing in works of art from all around the world — from the well-known to new and inspiring artists. Most people consider themselves amateur photographers, but these works really make you respect what some people can do with a camera. The Fred Jones is filled with fascinating works of art, and you should definitely take some time to find the works that inspire you.

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The Grumpy

media that goes behind the scenes in the arts:

couch Potato keaton bell | entertainment The arts take many different forms in entertainment. Movies, television series, music, books and more spread across the pop culture landscape. Even more interesting is the amount of entertainment directly about the arts. Whether it is telling a story about what happens behind-the-scenes or about people who devote their lives to creativity, media is full of different forms of artistic expression and what art means to different people.

“frida” “Frida”: The story of the revolutionary surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, “Frida” stars Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Alfred Molina. Focused on Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera’s marriage, affairs and careers, “Frida” shows the often complicated intersection of love and art. Passionate, visually striking and powerfully acted, even non-art fans can find something to appreciate.

“The Interestings” by meg wolitzer “The Interestings” begins with a set of teenagers who meet at summer camp for artsy teens in 1974. From there, it follows the group of friends as they face the realities of growing up and their attempts to be artists in a world where they feel undervalued. With characters you may be annoyed with but find yourself relating to, “The Interestings” is a beautifully written tale of art: how it is expressed, how it is celebrated and how it changes over time.

“Face Off” You probably are not the only person who scoffs at the idea of a reality television show about make-up and prosthetics. But it is what all great reality shows aspire to be: a competition about creativity, ability and skill. It is astounding to see the work make-up artists are able to accomplish in such a short amount of time with such detail. It also gives you a deeper look at the huge amount of artistic work and talent creates the effects for the movies we all know and love.

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