It’s no question that one of the biggest areas of entertainment affected by the coronavirus pandemic is music, specifically live performances. A normal weekend on AU’s campus consists of some kind of music performance, whether it’s a choir, a musical theater performance or a group performance in Mocha Joe’s. As students travel back to campus for the first time since March, the School of Music, Theater and Dance is working diligently to make these performances happen in a safe way for … [Read more...]
Musical theatre returns with hopeful outlook
Before most students moved back to campus, AU’s musical theatre students and professors had an entire week under their belts. What is typically a week of set-building, play or musical rehearsals and getting to know freshmen and newcomers, suddenly became a week of adaptation, socially-distanced concert rehearsal and discovery. Many of the classes in the major will follow the hybrid format, utilizing both in-person classes when safe and online classes when appropriate. Students were … [Read more...]
Social clubs continue building community on campus
Social clubs on campus will be looking to pick up where they left off last school year, while having to adhere to new guidelines. Assistant Director for Student Engagement Danie Adams is hoping that campus life will be prolonged as a result of the implementation of these recently introduced guidelines. “We hope that if we keep guidelines more strict than in years past, we will be helping students to stay healthy and, therefore, to stay on campus longer,” Adams said. “We are … [Read more...]
Local cafe to bring community to downtown Anderson
Collective Roots, a local market and cafe, is set to bring something brand new to downtown Anderson. When it opens, it will be the first grocery store downtown in almost 50 years. The store has a strong focus on locally grown or produced items, according to owner Anna Ulam. “We will sell everything from milk, veggies, bread and meat to fresh floral arrangements and handmade soap,” Ulam said. “We have set out to help local small businesses grow within our walls.” The market and cafe will … [Read more...]
Annual Black Bird Film Festival to be held online
Although the communication and design arts department’s Black Bird Film Festival is known for its crimson-red carpet and logo-covered backdrops, it will be adopting a much different look this year. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event that draws crowds of students, faculty, staff and members of the Anderson community will be shifted to an online format. Jack Lugar, associate professor of cinema and media arts and host of the Black Bird Film Festival, explained … [Read more...]
Campus welcomes Homeschool Science Program
Making ice cream through chemical reactions, exercising the basics of computer programming and taking care of the animals located in the Biology Department are just a few of the activities offered for local homeschool students through the annual “Homeschool Science Program.” Offered during a few weeks of the spring semester, the program meets weekly on Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. Sigma Zeta Epsilon, AU’s chapter of the national honor society for science and mathematics, has been organizing the … [Read more...]
Student-led artist management hosts showcase
Monday evening, Feb. 24, Light Bulb Artist Management hosted a showcase for their represented artists in conjunction with AU record label Orangehaus Entertainment’s artists. The event was orchestrated to bring live venue owners to hear Light Bulb’s artists who could be potential acts to book for different venues. The showcase was open to anyone to watch and was recorded to send to other potential employers. “This is a step in the right direction for artists here on AU’s campus,” … [Read more...]
“The Medium” opera to open in Byrum Hall
As students settle into classes, athletics and extracurriculars of the second semester, a small group of music majors occupy Byrum Hall’s stage, preparing for the next Boze Lyric Theatre production––Gian Carlo Menotti’s 20th-century opera, “The Medium.” The opera is about Madame Flora, her 20-year-old daughter Monica, and the 18-year-old mute servant boy rescued off the streets of Budapest as a child, Toby. Pretending to be a medium, Madame Flora scams grieving customers by holding … [Read more...]
Alumna joins first national tour of “Bandstand”
More often than not, people get stuck in careers they have no passion for, following the same mundane routine every day and longing for a career that sets their hearts on fire. With unbreakable determination, incredible work ethic and eyes fixed on God, Sarah Dearstyne landed a dream job. After an extensive audition process, Dearstyne was cast in the first national tour of the musical Bandstand just two years after graduating from AU. Dearstyne grew up in Rochester, New York, and began … [Read more...]
Black History Month to be celebrated on campus
Every February, individuals across the country celebrate National Black History Month. At AU, students celebrate Black History Month through events put on by the Black Student Association and Cultural Resource Center. Senior Alana Moore spoke to the importance of Black History Month. “Black History Month is really special because it’s a time where the U.S. gets to recognize what black people have done in history,” she said. “I truly believe that Black history is American history because … [Read more...]