Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Maryville Daily Forum
Page 9
Entertainment Tickets on sale for Northwest musical production of ‘Urinetown’
COURTESY OF RELATIVITY MEDIA - © 2013 TURKEY’S FILMS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson) hanging out with some little chicks in ‘Free Birds’ a Relativity Media Pictures release.
‘Free Birds’ is cute but isn’t much more than a yearly holiday special Free Birds By Gary Darling Staff Writer
When I heard the title ‘Free Birds,’ the first thing I thought about was the song by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The second thing that popped into my head was the Fabulous Free Birds from wrestling. Little did I know that this was a film about turkeys and, man, I was not interested. Not that I needed to see a film about a Southern rock band or a group of Southern wrestlers either. Seriously, though, who wants to watch a film that is only relevant on the holiday that is known for eating? I mean, I would rather spend my time watching a film promoting Christmas, Halloween, or some other random holiday than one
about Thanksgiving. Because, let’s be honest here, how many of us truly appreciate the Thanksgiving tradition. It is all about Thanksgiving football games and eating until you can’t breath anymore. So a movie about turkeys trying to take turkey off the menu at Thanksgiving was pretty laughable in terms of generating a “must see” attitude from me. I mean, our family tradition involves enchiladas and steers clear of turkey nowadays. Then, I saw it and I must say I laughed through a good share of the film. Now it wasn’t the best animated film I have seen in a year, but it wasn’t the worst either. In terms of story line, it was pretty fresh and funny. Reggie the turkey (Owen Wilson) doesn’t like Thanksgiving. Why?
Well because turkeys have always been on the menu. Then Reggie gets “pardoned” by the President and eases into a routine of doing nothing and enjoying Pizza at Camp David. Three days before Thanksgiving, though, a member of the Turkeys Liberation Front kidnaps Reggie and their goal is to use Reggie to go back in time and find a way to take turkey off the menu, unless they end up on the menu themselves. Overall, this was a fun movie with lots of laughs, especially from the kiddos in the family. For me, I found the animation to be a bit sophomoric and rough. It wasn’t bad, just not top quality. This isn’t a bad animated film and I think those with little kids would enjoy it. Myself, I found it to just be okay. Not horrible, but not a film that is on my “must see again” list.
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The hysterical tale of a town faced with corporate greed and corruption takes the stage next month as Theatre Northwest presents its next production. Northwest Missouri State University’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts will present “Urinetown” at 7:30 p.m. April 10-12 in the Mary Linn Auditorium at the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets may be purchased at the Student Services Center, on the first floor of the Administration Building, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. General admission tickets are $11. Tickets for Northwest employees, students and senior citizens are $9. All seating is general admission. The musical – with music and lyrics by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann – adds an unusual twist to the story about greed, corruption, love and revolution in a time where water is valued above everything else. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens are forced to use public restrooms, which are regulated by a malicious company that profits by charging admission for one of humankind’s most basic needs. Eventually, the hero, Bobby Strong, decides he’s had enough and begins a revolution that will change the town forever. “‘Urinetown’ is a musical satire of musical theater,” said Amanda Petefish-Schrag, associate professor of theater at Northwest, who is directing the musical. “It has all of the favorite elements of musical theater but also makes fun of them. So if you love musicals, there is something in this show for you, and if you hate musicals, there’s something in this show for you. It’s also a Tony Award-winning musical about a world where people have to pay to pee.” The musical entertains with rousing tunes such as “What is Urinetown,” “Follow Your Heart,” “I See a River” and “Run, Freedom, Run.” The show became a Broadway hit in 2001 and continued for 965 performances, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Original Score. The musical’s popularity has also led to a national tour and its premier in London this year. The Northwest production will showcase the artistic abilities of about 60 students from the University’s music and theater departments. The cast of the production includes Chris Holtman (junior Spanish major from Maryville) as Bobby Strong; Natalie Burgon (senior music major from Gladstone) as Hope Cladwell; PT Mahoney (sophomore music major from Belton) as Caldwell B. Cladwell; Courtney Hockman (sophomore vocal music education major from Gladstone) as Penelope Pennywise; and Price Carter (junior vocal music education major from Kearney) as Officer Lockstock. “‘Urinetown’ itself has been a great exercise in teamwork and collaboration,” said Dana Masters, a theater major at Northwest, who will play Josephine Strong and a chorus member in the musical. “Being a part of the theater department at Northwest has allowed me to grow so much in so many areas. With my theater education, I have learned how to research, think outside the box, test my boundaries, teach others and tackle any situation with enthusiasm.” Theatre Northwest annually produces more than a dozen shows. Productions include a freshman mainstage show, two other mainstage shows, touring shows, and up to eight second stage and studio shows. Students have opportunities to perform, design and direct theater productions throughout their time at Northwest. The theater program also joins Northwest’s music program to produce a musical every other year.
Planet Comicon 2014 exceeded expectations
GARY DARLING
An estimated 20,000 attendees were on hand at one of the biggest Planet Comicons ever. Planet Comicon is a yearly Comic Book Convention in Ksnsas City, MO at Bartle Hall that was expanded, this year, to three days of geeky goodness. By GARY DARLING Staff Writer
It was that time again, Time for those of us who spend most of our time online, at the theater, or submersed in the latest ‘Batman’ issue to venture out into the sunshine. Yep, it was time for Planet Comicon 2014. For those of you who haven’t been, you are missing out on one of the most expansive and comprehensive cons in the Midwest. Not only does this convention encompass the comic
book genre, but it also brings elements of science fiction and fantasy together under one roof. What that results in is a cornucopia of fans that are both rabid in their genre of choice and some of the nicest people on Earth. For me, this was my fifth year mulling the confines of whatever venue houses the Planet Comicon of that certain year. I was there when the Con wasn’t as big as it is now. I remember only three years ago being able to go in, hit the creator gallery, and be in and out in about two hours time and have everything I need. Those days, Planet Comicon was held in the Overland Park Convention Center and it was a much smaller venue. Just last year, it moved to Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City and it seemed like the Convention organizers were not ready for the onslaught of fans that showed up that year. There was this long, almost exhausting long line of those trying to buy tickets that day. Some people waited as long as two hours. Even after Liam and I were done with our experience there, last year, there was still a long line to get tickets. This year, the organizers had it all worked out. From the time I got there, I got my pass, went and stood outside in line to get in, and made it quickly to the event. Yes there was a long line to get in but, hey, it just opened and if I had come an hour later, I would have walked right in. Also, there was no two-hour line to buy tickets. Inside, though, is where things get special. It is in this area that all of my geek dreams come true. I get to meet artists that I have been a long-time fan of like Neal Adams. I totally geeked out when I shook the hand of the man that inspired me to get into art. Planet Comicon is also a place where you get to meet
some of the nicest people on the face of the Earth in a place where no one is grumpy, in a rush, and everyone is kind and considerate. It is actually refreshing to see this many people in such a small space and still be able to act civil to one another. In conclusion, it is nice to continue to see this annual event grow each and every year. As a comic book geek, movie buff, and sci-fi nerd, this will continue to be my Mecca until I can one day make it to the granddaddy of them all, the Comicon in San Diego. Until then, the one in Kansas City is just fine by me and, as it turns out, it is fine by 20,000 of my closest friends.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY KEVIN BIRDSELL
Even staff writer, and fellow geek, Kevin Birdsell got in on the action, seen here posing with his favorite comic book writer, Scott Snyder.