Delivering American University's news and views since 1925

Monday, Sept. 23, 2024

Scene

AU Shakespeare troupe shows promise

By Rebecca Shillenn · Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006

The members of Rude Mechanicals don't mind walking around Anderson Hall in baggy tunics and brightly colored tights. Their swords might make it difficult to sit down while they're doing their homework, though. Rude Mechanicals, American University's student-run Shakespeare theater group, is made up of students who really enjoy Shakespeare and theater but are not necessarily serious actors.

Dragon Ball Z fighting game brings thunder, ignites PS2

Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006

It is very easy for the general public to overlook a game if it doesn't have some fancy-schmancy next-generation console associated with it. Especially since these days most fighting games are either a contest of which zombie-esque player is best at button mashing, or a small-order bash-fest where two strangely dressed individuals pummel each other with oversized melee weapons.

'College Cooks' promotes conservation of meal swipes.

Students spice up ATV with fun food program

By Sean Silbert · Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006

After meeting him, you wouldn't guess that Simon Stilwell, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, is majoring in chemistry. "All my friends asked me, 'Aren't you going to culinary school?'" Stilwell said. Stilwell is the host and executive chef of "College Cooks," an ATV big-kitchen show produced, directed, written, filmed and edited at AU.

News

Successes, regrets after a semester in city of light

By Miro Nikolov | December 7

There must be something about studying abroad that makes time pass twice as fast. As I looked at the calendar a few days ago, I couldn't help thinking that I'd arrived just yesterday. My time in France seems to have gone by in a blur of classes, assignments, trips and encounters with new people and places.

'The Good German' uses black and white film technology from the 1940s to give an authentic and period feel.

News

WWII mystery filmed in classic style

By Michael Carusi | December 7

Some moviegoers may feel like "The Good German" is an artificial recreation of classic film noir movies while others will let themselves become absorbed into the film's tense storyline. Nevertheless, "The Good German" boasts an impressive cast and a distinctly old-fashioned style that will teleport viewers to the past.

News

Lumps of coal for heart, soul

By Blair Bryant Nichols | December 7

Two years ago around this time, my roommate, my best friend, my boyfriend and I all made one of the gayest pilgrimages of all: We went to see Cher's "Farewell Tour." We continued the evening by attending a holiday party, aptly named "All I Want for Christmas is BOOZE," wearing only jeans, scarves and Santa hats.

Six elves with distinctive personalities jingle all the way.

News

Frustrated elves vent on Christmas consumerism

By Sean Silbert | December 7

It has been 14 Christmases since humorist David Sedaris first launched his career by reading "The Santaland Diaries" on National Public Radio, describing his less-than-jolly experience as a Macy's Christmas elf. The story, adapted for the stage, is a witty, sardonic, frequently outrageous, lovingly bitter and outright hilarious take on the holiday spirit.

News

Independent bookstore feels just like home

By Samantha Tyrka | December 7

A young child sits on a plush tan bear chair, thumbing through an R.L. Stein horror book. A couple sits on an oversized couch stirring mammoth teacups and discussing politics. College students tap away at computer keys while frantically flipping through texts.

News

On A Sensual Note brings 'Sexy Back' to a cappella

By Madalyn Wasilczuk | December 7

As the lights dimmed and On a Sensual Note, AU's all-male a cappella group, took the stage in Kay Spiritual Life Center Monday, the crowd cheered wildly. That is nothing new for the members of OASN, whose shows normally draw "a crowd that fills the seats and the area around seats with lots of overflow," according to Zia Hassan, the club's president and a senior in the Kogod School of Business.

News

Top 10: Epic music videos

December 7

10. Lionel Richie "Hello" When it comes to our world's most cherished documents of the pursuit of love, nothing comes even remotely close to Richie's "Hello." Playing the role of his life, Lionel Richie proves quite adept at being a selfless romantic; he plays a professor who's fallen in love with a blind student, and can't bring himself to say "hello" to her, even though she probably wouldn't see who said it.

News

Parents unaware of game ratings

By Jennifer Linn | December 4

'Tis the season to take up the virtual machete - that is, unless you are under the age of 17. With three major gaming consoles hitting the market in the last 13 months, consumers are ready to shell out top dollar on this season's hottest and most violent games.

News

'Transformers:The Movie' gets special edition reissue

By Todd Matthy | December 4

Forget Bambi's mother. For children of the '80s it was the death of Optimus Prime in "Transformers: The Movie" that had children crying their hearts out. That moment and other wonderful scenes from the film have been restored by Sony on the film's "20th Anniversary Special Edition" DVD release.

News

Satirical 'Emo Boy' pokes fun with loser superhero

By Chris Moreno | December 4

"Emo Boy Volume 1" By Steve Emond SLG Publishing 176 pages Now available While many of us try and deny it, we all wanted to be emo kids during our junior high and high school years. High school was a drag. The opposite sex didn't pay attention to us and all we had to combat this was bad poetry and our Get Up Kids albums.

Vice correspondents traveled the globe looking for dinosaurs, Nazis and illegal arms markets.

News

Travel DVD ventures off beaten path, into irony

By Jeff Lambert | December 4

Remember watching the spring break coverage on MTV in junior high? The body shots, human taco contests and infamous three-way kisses? "The Vice Guide to Travel" feels a lot like a spring break special for pseudo-intellectual hipsters. Vice Magazine, an arts and culture magazine with offices across the globe, released the travel DVD in October.

News

Film examines human rights abuses in North Korea

By Stephen Tringali | December 4

"Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story," Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim's first full-length documentary film, is released at an especially chilling time, as nearly two months ago, North Korea successfully tested nuclear weapons. Though the film never really addresses North Korea's pursuit of nuclear arms, it does shed light on another equally important issue - the human rights violations committed by the nation.

News

Tenacious D biopic stretches truth for laughs

By Josh Kramer | December 4

The plot of "Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny" is simple and fans will see this movie for one reason: it's for "the D." Those in the know expect a number of things from Tenacious D: crude sexual humor, over the top Rock enthusiasm, trying to write the perfect song, Betties (women), drugs and Satan.

News

Katzen art exhibit goes global

By Josh Kramer | December 4

AU's Katzen Art Museum recently opened eight exhibitions that showcase different corners of the visual art world. The first four, "Gifts from the Katherine Dreier Estate;" "William H. Calfee and the Washington Modernists;" "Carlos Saura: Flamenco" and "Mark Cameron Boyd: Logocentric Playground," opened on Nov.

Arena Stage's 'She Loves Me' plays through Dec. 31.

News

Arena play ponders romance

By Lindsey Marburger | December 4

Set largely in the Christmas season, little gifts, little romances and big surprises abound in Arena Stage's musical play "She Loves Me," directed by Kyle Donnelly. The greatest treasure, however, is not the handsome old-world music box that Amalia Balash (Brynn O'Malley) proclaims to be "the voice of God," but the play itself.

News

'Princess Diaries' author grows up, goes collegiate

By Heidi Davis | December 4

Author Meg Cabot is best known for her series "The Princess Diaries," a fluffy tale that is most suitable for pre-teens. She has written over 40 novels of the same "chick lit" genre. However, her newest book, "Size 14 Is Not Fat Either," is a bit of a departure.

News

Cabot moves away from chick-lit genre

By Heidi Davis | December 4

Meg Cabot, the number one New York Times bestselling author of recent hits "The Princess Diaries," has another book about to hit the shelves. "Size 14 Is Not Fat Either" follows the character of Heather Wells, an assistant resident hall director at New York College, first introduced in "Size 12 Is Not Fat.

The UFL and Why it's Good for the Sport

Section 202 hosts Connor Sturniolo and Gabrielle McNamee are joined by fellow Eagle staff member and phenomenal sports photographer, Josh Markowitz. Follow along as they discuss the United Football League and the benefits it provides for the world of professional football.

Solutions by The State News