Tribute to Robin Williams, a fallen titan of comedy

The world first met Robin Williams as Mork, a fast-talking alien who had come to observe The Fonz and Richie Cunningham in the 1970s hit show Happy Days. The half-hour guest appearance was all it took for America to fall in love. Williams’ brand of comedy was electric; he moved fast, talked fast and thought […]

UCLA Quidditch team holds heads, brooms up in documentary ‘Mudbloods’

The best stories are those whose worlds prove so vivid and mesmerizing, that they make us crave to be a part of them. In 1997, J.K. Rowling introduced us to the world of “Harry Potter.” With seven books, eight movies, video games, theme parks and attractions in multiple countries and the 2012 launch of Rowling’s […]

Students petition to maintain choral programs at UCLA

As longtime choral conductor and director Donald Neuen prepared for his departure from UCLA this past spring, the Choral Excellence Association at UCLA began to see signs that its programs, and possibly the department, might be leaving with him. While the loss of a longtime director as highly regarded as Neuen would put any program […]

Spring Sing Profile: Zeta Beta Theta

Last year, fraternity/sorority team Zeta Beta Tau and Kappa Alpha Theta did not make it into the Spring Sing lineup. The partnership proposed a musical that poked fun at the Occupy Wall Street movement which, much to the disappointment of the show’s co-creator Ben Kurzrock, was deemed a bit too controversial. Kurzrock, a second-year global […]

Album Review: ‘Everyday Robots’

Damon Albarn’s first solo album, more than any of his extensive career’s collaborations, invites you into his head, only to help you understand why it took him 24 years to do so – it’s not a cheery place. Albarn has been involved in over 12 albums since his time as frontman of Blur, working with Gorillaz, Rocket […]

California A Cappella Festival: Groups hit varied notes in night show

Saturday night, the stage of Ackerman Grand Ballroom was graced with the talents of nine vocal groups from across California for the evening portion of the 13th annual California A Cappella Festival. Song choices ranged from current radio-play juggernaut “Pompeii” by Bastille to a medley featuring Ray Charles’ classic “Hit the Road Jack.” The night […]

Album Review: ‘Morning Phase’

Heartbreak has given us Beck back. It’s been six years since 2008’s “Modern Guilt,” the singer-songwriter’s last proper studio album (at least in the eyes of those reluctant to consider 2012’s “Song Reader” sheet music release a valid form of an album), but the hiatus hasn’t changed him much. The overall theme of “Morning Phase” harks back […]