Hip-hop theater performance “What It Iz!” is like a modern-day version of Shakespeare for Ayanna McKnight. “Spoken word and poetry, in and of itself, go together,” said the third-year theater student. “It’s just a very artistic way to deal with something so serious.” “What It Iz!”, presented by the UCLA department of African-American studies, opens […]
Category Archives: Theater & Fine Arts
Art student showcases themes of distraction in sculpture
Ofri Shmul’s broken phone sparked her interest in exploring how technology distracts students from the real world. The first-year art student began to notice students gazing not at the scenery on campus, but down at the brightly lit screens of their digital devices while walking to class. Shmul incorporated her observations into a tangible art […]
ISG culture show presents traditions, heritage of diverse community
Belly dancers rehearsed to the beat of traditional Arab doumbek drums in Freud Playhouse. This year’s iteration of the Iranian Student Group’s annual culture show Friday and Saturday will showcase such traditional and modern Iranian dances, along with singing and comedy skits displaying customs reaching as far back as A.D. 1100. The show brings together […]
‘Paradise Lost: Reclaiming Destiny’ to open Friday, starring UCLA alumna
Marguerite French is 5 feet 5 inches tall and of slender build. Yet she played a large, intimidating man and murderer in a gender-reversed production of the “The Revenger’s Tragedy.” French changed the way she walked so that she would appear bigger, and she spoke in a deeper, more confident voice to create the persona […]
UCLA TFT showcases strength of women in production of ‘Helen’
Ashley Cleveland stepped slowly onto a dark stage. Her veil swirled around her as she walked, and a recording of Richard Burton saying, “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?” played in the background. Finally she paused and removed her veil, allowing the audience to see her face for the first time. Cleveland, […]
Q&A: ‘Fun Home’ actress expresses thoughts on LGBTQ story, personal craft
Although Karen Eilbacher plays Joan in the musical “Fun Home,” she strongly relates to the character of Medium Alison, a college student coming to terms with her sexuality. When Eilbacher was about the same age as the character, she said she had similar experiences as Medium Alison in the musical. “Fun Home” transforms the graphic-novel […]
Cuts to federal budget could jeopardize UCLA’s arts programs
President Donald Trump’s potential budget cuts may take a toll on the UCLA arts community, directors and faculty said. The Hill reported Jan. 19 that the Trump transition team outlined a budget plan that would eliminate the National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts, the latter of which is the only […]