IC has so much theater on campus that I rarely venture off campus to find productions, despite nearby theaters like the Hangar and the Kitchen. This weekend, though, I ventured over to Cornell to check out the Melodramatics Theatre Company production of I Love You Because, a modern musical update of Jane Austen's Pride of Prejudice.

Melodramatics (affectionately called Melo by... various people) is run by students both at Cornell and at IC as well as members of the Ithaca community. This was the first Melo production I've had the opportunity to see, and I was pretty pleased with it.

Right off the bat, I'll say that I Love You Because isn't my favorite musical. In fact, it doesn't even make the top 20 list. This is probably because I'm a lit nerd as well as theater geek, and I can't see enough parallels between this show and Pride and Prejudice to justify its advertisement as an "update" of the novel. That said, I'm always down for a musical, and thankfully I was able to put aside my skepticism and just enjoy the show.

I Love You Because featured performances from several IC students as well as several Cornell kids and even one Ithaca high school student. My favorite characterizations came from IC students Emily Putnam ('12) and Samantha Matthews ('11), who played lead characters Marcy Fitzwilliams and Diana Bingley. What can I say? I might be biased, but those girls can sing like nobody's business. I was also impressed with two Cornell students -- ensemble member Lauren Bamford and Timothy Dyster, who played Samantha's character's love interest Jeff Bennett.

Fortunately for me, Melo's production was enjoyable enough that I was able to forget my lit nerd skepticism about I Love You Because. This reminds me: I should get off campus more often!

I Love You Because plays November 19-21 at 8pm. Tickets are available online.

It's that time of year on the Ithaca College campus -- the time when the number of theatre productions happening on campus start to overwhelm. Many a production has been in rehearsals for months now, and now that it's November and nearing the end of the semester (ok, that might be wishful thinking), production after production is opening and closing and wowing audiences. This weekend's student theatre offering was IC Triple Threat Theatre's Into the Woods.

I have a special fondness for Triple Threat. The organization, which puts on one musical a semester (and sometimes two!), was the first one I joined on campus, and I'm still a member of its board. While I'm not involved in any TTT productions this semester, I am always delighted to attend one and see how hard they've been working. And trust me, the Into the Woods cast and crew worked hard.

Into the Woods is one of my favorite shows, mostly because its music and lyrics are written by my absolute favorite composer/lyricist, Stephen Sondheim. This fact means, of course, that Into the Woods is not an easy show to do. The music is complicated (Sondheim is a fan of chaos and dissonance, and his music reflects that), the lyrics are clever and fast, and there are several storylines going on at once, although that's mostly thanks to James Lapine's book. Triple Threat's production, which was directed by Matt Timmons '11 and musical directed by Louis Hatzipetrakos '11, did an admirable job coping with those challenges.

The cast made me laugh, the music made me want to sing along (but not out loud), and the set painting (primarily by cast member Kristen Mixter '12) made me want to  go for a walk in the woods. My favorite moments in the show included senior Joe Roksandic's portrayal of the Cow, junior Katie Meister's Little Red, and freshman Nick Shuhan's Baker. Of course, I can't forget the Mysterious Man, played by Eric Hagreen '12, or the lovely voice of Rapunzel's Prince, played by Jordan Harris '13.

My fun fact about the show? Our College president, Tom Rochon, recorded the voice of the Giant. Schweet!

The theatre department is buzzing with activity this week. Children of Eden previews tonight and opens Thursday, and Eurydice rehearsals are speeding along more quickly than anyone (or at least I) expected. Sarah Ruhl's play has three acts, or "Movements," and in two weeks of rehearsal our director has blocked two of them. I'm so impressed!

I'm also reminded as this show goes along what a collaborative process theatre is. Eurydice is a challenging show because it has some odd and fascinating elements in its script. One of my favorite stage directions, for instance, is "He throws her into the sky." It's up to the design team to meet challenges like these, and its always super interesting and fun to see what they come up with. In the IC theatre department, design teams consists of both adults (mostly professors) and theatre students. They work with the director to design the set, lights, props, costumes, etc. Eurydice's design team is my favorite of any I've worked with so far, not only because they're uber-creative and thoughtful, but because as stage managers we ask a lot of them, and they've been really great about getting us what we need. In the last week, "what we need" has mostly been rehearsal props and costumes. We started out with a good supply, but things continue to pop up as blocking progresses. We've had to ask for things like "vertical elements to represent the string room" (yes, there actually is a room made out of string) and they've been prompt and attentive to our needs, all while they're in the midst of their real jobs, which are to prepare for the actual performances. 

Speaking of the performances, I hope you're all planning on coming, if only because the other interesting thing about the last week's rehearsals is that we started working with stilts. I won't give it away and tell you who is wearing them or why (read the play and ponder), but I will tell you that they're freaking COOL. Also, I think I mentioned in my last post that we have actors playing stones. The idea is intriguing, but the reality is even cooler. The actors have been working with the director and with dance professor Lindsay Gilmour to figure out how to move like stones, and while ideas continue to evolve over the course of the process, it just keeps getting more interesting.

On a personal note, my stage manager (Stephanie Jayko '11) was at an audition last night, so my other assistant stage manager (Lindsay Ricketts '11) and I ran rehearsal for the first half until Stephanie arrived. I was reminded how fun (and nerve-wracking) it is to be in charge of running rehearsals. I haven't run a rehearsal since I finished doing Thoroughly Modern Millie with IC Triple Threat Theatre last semester, and I've never run a mainstage rehearsal. It was great, if a little crazy keeping track of so many props, costumes, set changes, sound, breaks and timing, etc. At a normal rehearsal the stage manager and the assistant stage managers divide those things between themselves, so there are three of us in charge of all those elements. I've never really noticed before, but that's a lot for two people to handle. It reminded me that I'm lucky to be part of a stage management team. Way to go, teamwork!

Next up, the Third Movement, and who knows what else! Keep your eyes peeled for an update next week about the progress of the Eurydice cast and crew.

It's that time of year again! This year's main stage musical is about to open on the IC campus, and everyone's buzzing about it. Children of Eden, the Stephen Schwartz musical directed by Lee Byron, chair of the theatre arts department, previews Tuesday and opens Thursday at 8:00 p.m. "Despite never having played on Broadway," the Musical Theatre International website reports, Children of Eden is a popular show and "consistently ranks among MTI's top 20 most frequently licensed titles." I can see why.

I was lucky enough to catch one of this production's last tech rehearsals this weekend, and I was thoroughly impressed with the scope of it. Eden is a big show, and it's more technically complicated than any I've seen on the IC campus so far. The story is simple enough -- it's based on stories from the Bible -- but the technical aspects are as far from that as a college campus can get. There's a turntable, an arc, glowing apples, smoke and illusion, giraffes and elephants (not REAL ones, but they're pretty cool), and more.

The production itself showcases some of the impressive musical talent in the IC theatre arts department. My favorite performances from the technical rehearsal I saw included those of Bruce Landry '12 as Japheth, Lysie Shutrump '10 as Yonah, and Jessica Bennett '11 as Mama Noah. The show is also superbly lighted by Christine Goldman '10, and choreographed by Mary Corsaro, associate professor of theatre arts.

Even if you're not a Bible story fan, this production is worth a ticket. Snakes dance, and "God" sings, and there's a turntable. And glowing apples. I can't stress that enough.

One of my favorite things about being part of the theater scene at IC is hearing about teeny-tiny student-directed shows. Last night I went to see an underground production of Kenneth Lonergran's This is Our Youth. Directed by Ethan Itzkow and starring Yanna Lanz, Tony Vo, and Adam Turck, this tiny production packs a big punch.

The show tells the story of forty-eight hours in the lives of three teenagers on Manhattan's Upper West Side and deals with issues like drug use, sex, and murder in a suprisingly funny way. My personal favorite line was "Chivalry isn't dead - it just smells bad," but the show has a lot of hilarious moments as well some poignant ones.

Like most underground productions, this one has a limited run -- the last performance is tonight at 9:00 p.m. in Park 220. I suggest you take a break from studying for midterms and head over there for some FREE theater tonight. You'll be thoroughly entertained, and you'll go home thankful the only problem you're dealing with is which exam to study for next.

You'd think that after a year at Ithaca College, I'd stop being surprised at how much talent this campus holds. But whenever I go to something like SAB's Open Mic Night, I'm always amazed at what my fellow classmates can do.

Last night in the Pub, many of IC's students showcased their skills in front of their peers. I was thrilled to see a lot of fellow students struttin' their stuff on stage. I never have a problem with boys and guitars, and the "boys with guitars" demographic were out in full force on Thursday night. My favorite was a fellow from Sri Lanka, a junior named Oshan Gunawardana who graced us with my favorite John Mayer song, "Why Georgia." Dan Licata and Joe Pera offered up a short play called "A Captain's Desire: Yours Truly From Across the Sea" (also starring Katie Henly), the highly entertaining content of which I cannot describe in this parent-friendly blog. (Ed.: Aw, c'mon, parents are grown-ups too!) Musical groups Drinking Party, Passing Through, and the Jam Burgers also gave quite a show, but my favorite was a band of three freshman called Two Weeks In. This delightful trio did an acoustic version of the infamous 3Oh!3 song "Don't Trust Me," complete with (get this!) trumpet. Oh, Ithaca College, how I love you...

Check out pictures in the gallery to your right, and keep your eye out for SAB's next Open Mic Night for more talent and fun.

The final performances of two French operas, Pauline Viardot's Cendrillon and Maurice Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges, will be held at 8:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in the Hoerner Theater. And yes, you should be there.

I'm the first to admit that the totality of my opera experience was shaped not by evenings at La Scala or the Met, but rather by those master thespians of the animated age, Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes ensemble. Surely Wagner himself never conjured a scene of such villainy as Elmer Fudd's chilling litany of doom: "Norf winds bwow! Souf winds bwow! Typhoons! Huwwicanes! Earfquakes! Smog!"

Anyway, if Elmer and Bugs taught me anything about opera, it's that tradition holds the spectacle of an ample soprano flying above the stage like a zeppelin in chiffon far outweighs whatever linguistic or cultural barriers might exist between 19th century European composer and 21st century schlub just there to appease his missus (even if only because it reminds him of '80s hair metal shows).

Luckily for me and the rest of the ignoratti, the immensely talented and fit non-cartoon players in our productions took lessons in aerial performance, which you can read about here (I'd show you a video, but stupid YouTube is being stupid).

The musical and theatrical folks responsible have done some excellent work to create a pretty special show, so if you haven't already checked it out make sure you get out to see this one. This is probably your only chance to see your friends sing at the top of their lungs while flying -- at least without earning a Homeland Security beat down.

Of course, that wouldn't be too out of place. To quote Bugs: "Well what did you expect from an opera? A happy ending?"

It's not all fun and games here at Ithaca. For instance, at least five people have been dumped on campus since I started this post (some of whom have yet to actually hear the bad news -- my lips are sealed). But aside from those miserable few, yes, it is all fun and games.

To wit, the Acahti Players (fiddle with the name, you'll get it) will be doing their improvisational best to amuse you on the red carpet in Dillingham at 7:00 p.m. this Friday evening. It's free, it's (potentially) funny, and you might even meet the love of your life guffawing Snapple through his/her nose while there (yes, you too have been dumped in the last two lines).

And if you find yourself just completely overwhelmed with funny, Achati hosts an open improv session for the laugh-seeking among you every Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., again on the infamous tapis rouge. Oy, if that carpet could talk....

True confessions time -- I hate horror movies. Frankly they bore me to tears. The only worthwhile elements for me are the infinite suggestions for how best to chop off my head and disembowel myself so that I don't have to endure another minute of what boosters of the genre amusingly refer to as "acting" and "plot." You want scary? Read a recent edition of the Financial Times and you'll know real fear.

There is, of course, one exception: I love Evil Dead II. And like most people who remember a more innocent time, when scary cinema was really just a comprehensive study of stage props made from whatever was handy on the condiment stand at the commissary, I love it because it is hands down the worst movie ever made. Which lends it a certain dignified charm.

Since a great many of our readers were not yet born when this treasure trove of celluloid crapola belched forth from the underground, it is with great pleasure that I bring you news of its revival in the only form potentially more dreadful/hilarious than the original: Evil Dead: The Musical, which surfaces all bloody and silly tonight and tomorrow at Dillingham Studio 2.

Here's the link, Facebooksters: http://is.gd/6BMe/evildead

You'll want to e-mail this groovy ghoulie to make a reservation for the 11 p.m. show tonight or the 1 a.m. show tomorrow (well, Sunday...you know what I mean).

Oh, and I love this bit: 

"We are using dyed water in this show, so please wear clothing you don't mind getting messed up. We are like 99% sure this won't stain your clothes...though your skin may turn a little pink. We'll have garbage bag ponchos for the front two rows...YAY."

Who are you to resist?

Hey, it's Thursday! Must be time for a little controversy.

The Ithaca College Theatre main stage season kicks off tonight with The Exonerated, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s play based on the true stories of six people wrongfully accused of capital crimes and eventually released from death row.

So, probably not one for Date Night or an evening's frolic with the young'uns. But certainly worth seeing.

http://www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/theatre/main/

One of the subjects of the authors' research, Kerry Max Cook, will be giving a free talk this Friday (Oct. 10) at 3:30 p.m. in Textor 102. Wrongly convicted of murder and rape, Cook spent two decades on death row until a series of retrials unearthed enough evidence of police misconduct to grant him a reprieve. Subsequent DNA evidence cleared him completely, though he still has yet to be officially pardoned.

And you thought you had it tough with mid-terms.

Cook will sign copies of his book, Chasing Justice, at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, in the lobby of Dillingham Center before the 2:00 p.m. matinee of The Exonerated. The evening of October 11, Cook is also participating in a talk-back at 9:45 p.m. in the Clark Theatre at Dillingham Center, immediately following the 8:00 p.m. performance.

Capital punishment isn't one of those fence-sitter issues; most people have pretty strong opinions one way or the other. Check out the show, talk with Kerry, and let us know if it changed your mind. Or if you liked the play, for that matter.