Ellen Cahill
Number of articles: 11First article: February 21, 2014
Latest article: February 27, 2015
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DJ of the Week: Rebkah Tesfamariam ’18
What is your show called?Spunky Rebkah. I forgot to fill in the name of my show online this semester, and in the show description I wrote that I was spunky, so the radio station wrote my show name on the calendar as Spunky Rebkah.
When did you first get involved with WBOR and why?First semester—I saw the posters and got excited because music has always been a large part of my life and I thought it was really exciting to be able to be on the radio and have control for a whole hour and play whatever I want.
Did you have any radio experience before Bowdoin?No, but if we had get-togethers with my friends I was always the first one to volunteer to make a playlist.
What type of music do you play on your show?I play everything. I change the genre or category every week. For example, a few weeks ago I did Valentine’s Week, which included all types of love songs. Sometimes I just figure it out while I’m there too.
What is your favorite type of music?Slow, chill rap and fun, upbeat indie rock. My favorite artists are Death Cab for Cutie, J. Cole, Drake, Local Natives and The Supremes.
What has been your favorite concert experience?My first concert was Coldplay, and I randomly discovered them on my own. They came to Pittsburgh when I was in eighth grade. I dragged my parents and best friend who never really liked them, and it was really fun and exciting. We played Coldplay the entire way there and back.
What else are you involved with on campus?I am a member of the African American Society. I work for the Women’s Resource Center, and I am a member of Obvious as well.
What is your major?Gender and women’s studies and I am also pre-med.
What has been your favorite class so far?I took Music and Everyday Life with [Assistant Professor of Music] Tracy McMullen. It was a great interdisciplinary class and I felt like I learned something every day that applied to my life. It was a cultural learning experience, and Professor McMullen is really exciting and engaging.
What is the best music to study to?It depends on my mood, but mostly chill, slow rap or upbeat dance songs because they keep me in a good mood while I’m doing chemistry homework.
What about the best music to shower to?Definitely belting songs like Mariah Carey or Pussycat Dolls—girl power women’s groups for sure.
What do you think people are doing when listening to your show?Mostly my parents or brothers are listening—probably when they are driving in the car or doing homework. Hopefully people are singing along.
Why do you want Bowdoin students to listen to your show?Because I am spunky and I change it up every week, so if you don’t like it one week, you might really love it the next week. I will keep your interest and I am super open to requests as well.
What is your overall goal for having a radio show?For me, to take some time to appreciate music and to look for new music. When I was in middle school and had a lot of time on my hands I spent a lot of time exploring new music and artists, and now that my life is so busy I don’t take enough time to do that. It’s very relaxing and exciting for me to prepare a new show. Also, my goal is to show people new music and share it all.
Anything else you would like your listeners to know?I’m really open to suggestions and I love when people show me new music, so feel free to approach me.
Tune in to Spunky Rebkah every Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. on WBOR 91.1 FM or stream the show online at wbor.org. To suggest a DJ for DJ of the Week, email Arts & Entertainment Editor Emily Weyrauch at eweyrauc@bowdoin.edu.
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Portrait of an artist: Molly Rider '15
As a visual arts major, Molly Rider ’15 has pursued everything from film to making her own furniture. She dedicates much of her time at Bowdoin to the visual arts, and plans to pursue a career in this field after graduation.
In her sophomore year, Rider began to get involved in the arts as a part of Bowdoin Artist Activists, through which she did art projects with local elementary schools.
The next year, while taking her junior year off from Bowdoin on medical leave, Rider was able to take art classes in industrial design at the University of Minnesota. She is currently working on her senior studio project.
“I am doing woodworking and photography and printmaking for my senior studio,” she said. “I have really enjoyed printing photos on wood.”This project also includes making her own furniture.
“I just made a coffee table and some side tables,” she said. “I also made a lamp that hangs from the ceiling, which I definitely will include in my room in the future.”
Students in the senior studio class will present a project at the end of the semester.
“It is like an independent study because you make your own schedule and stick to it,” she said. “It’s great because the art department as well as local artists come critique your work so you get a lot of feedback.”
Rider has also been involved in film throughout her time at Bowdoin. She interned at a film company called By Kids the summer after her freshman year.
“They get filmmakers to go all over the world and make documentaries about kids’ lives,” she said. “They tell stories about their lives to bring relevant issues to the public that are not in the mainstream media. I did a lot of grant writing for them and met a lot of filmmakers.”
On campus, Rider is a leader of the Bowdoin Outing Club.
“I love kayaking, skiing, and rafting,” she said. Rider’s favorite art class at Bowdoin was landscape painting with Associate Professor of Art James Mullen.
“Our assignments were more open, which pushed my painting skills and encouraged me to paint a different way,” she said. “I also got to paint more of what I liked to do.”
The projects Rider is most proud of include her Landscape Painting final project and her senior studio project.
“For Landscape Painting, I made fifteen paintings and they were fun because they were quick and very colorful,” she said. “What I am working on now, specifically bending wood, has also been really fun.”
Rider’s mother is a children’s book editor, and she loves the artwork of many illustrators her mother has worked with.
“Melissa Sweet is a local artist who is great,” she said.In addition, Rider finds inspiration in printmaker Rick Allen’s work.“I love his work because of the level of detail he puts into it,” she said. “He uses beautiful landscapes and includes the natural world, which I am drawn to.” Rider plans to go abroad to New Zealand this summer to complete her last semester.“I am taking two industrial design classes there and then considering going to graduate school for industrial design after that,” she said.
To suggest an artist for Portrait of an Artist, email Arts & Entertainment Editor Emily Weyrauch at eweyrauc@bowdoin.edu.
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Portrait of an artist: Amina Ben Ismail ‘17
Amina Ben Ismail, a sophomore from Tunisia, is a passionate dancer and visual artist working to integrate the arts on campus through a collaborative project involving dancers, slam poets and musicians.
Ben Ismail’s inspiration for the project came from a French dance video.
“I was watching a French slam poet and the video clip was of two dancers dancing to the words,” she said. “Plus, I’m sad I’m not taking any dance classes this semester, so I thought maybe I could work on something myself.”
Ben Ismail assembled a group of students for the project by reaching out to dance groups, the Slam Poet Society and musicians on campus.The project will include a recording of slam poetry with music and choreography.
“We call it the DANM Project because it combines dance and music,” said Ben Ismail. “There are two slam poets involved, dancers and one musician who plays the piano.”
The group has recorded the slam poetry performance already.
“The original idea was to write about identity and coming of age,” she said. “They wrote two parts, one about a girl and one about a guy. I want it to be a story.”
Ben Ismail hopes to debut this new project in the spring dance performance.
“It is hard to organize with that many people from different art backgrounds,” she said. “It was a very spontaneous idea, so I am not sure yet if it will be a club or a dance group.”
Ben Ismail has been dancing—as well as drawing and painting—since she was young and has continued to pursue these interests at Bowdoin.
“I have done seven years of ballet, and then when I was a teenager I turned to modern,” she said. “I also drew a lot from ages 10 to 15 and then I stopped for a while. Then I took Drawing I with [Professor of Art] Mark Wethli and I loved it. I have also done a few dance classes.”
Last year, Ben Ismail took Interdisciplinary Performance Making, a class that combined all types of artists. At the end of the semester, the class performed “Harrison Bergeron Escapes From the Zoo,” combining silks, music, singing and acting.
“It was such a great experience; it was very different from anything I’ve done before,” she said. “Learning silks was so tiring, and we had rehearsal every day. The performance was so fun and crazy and the group of people that participated was great and we bonded so much.”
In addition to the arts, Ben Ismail runs the Arabic table, tutors in French and is a member of Safe Space and an inter-race dialogue group.
She hopes to include the arts in her academic study as well.
“I think I will be an anthropology major and a visual arts minor, but that could change,” she said. “I am taking Ordinary Ethics right now. I really like how we start from case studies and then generalize, and we talk a lot about relationships between people on a humanitarian level.”
This past summer, Ben Ismail traveled to Rome for an Italian program, and then completed an internship in social business at home in Tunisia.
In the future, she hopes to do more with the visual arts.
“I was thinking about a senior studio project that could connect what I do here to Tunisia,” Ben Ismail said. “It would be great to paint Tunisian faces and incorporate the struggles of the revolution.”
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Portrait of an artist: Miranda Hall '18
Miranda Hall ’18 began writing music at the age of 13 and has since become an accomplished and passionate singer-songwriter.
“Some people need to play sports. Some people need to paint. I need to sing,” she said. “I wouldn’t be completely living if I weren’t singing.”
When she was younger, Hall also taught herself to play the acoustic guitar with help from her father.
While Hall has been writing for a long time, she has always been nervous to perform her music.
This summer, however, Hall tested her courage by performing on the streets of Seattle.
“When I first started writing I would show [my songs] to my friends, but I was too nervous to perform in front of people,” she said.
“Performing on the street this summer was a challenge that I gave to myself. I wanted to see if I was brave enough to perform for people who had never met me.”
Hall stood on the streets and opened her case, hoping to pique the interest of those passing by.
“It was never to make money, it was just to be brave,” she said. “If you are genuinely pouring your heart out to someone with words you wrote, there is no way people won’t stop and listen.”
One of the most memorable moments of her summer came in the form of a gift from a young fan.
“I was singing “Alice”—a song that I wrote about “Alice in Wonderland”—to a little girl, and I could tell that she was really listening to me,” she said. “Afterwards, she came up to me a gave me the stuffed animal she was holding, and I still have it.”
Another one of Hall’s favorite memories is when a man asked to join her performance. “I was singing ‘No Diggity’ and a jazz musician came up to me and started playing with me,” she said.
Hall loves to write music, whether she is writing a song for herself, for someone else, or is just inspired randomly. She said she tries to capture and show a feeling through her words.
“Singing allows me to capture the beautiful moments in life. The first song I wrote was when I was looking out the window in California and it was raining. I just wanted to capture how calm that moment was,” she said.
Hall’s favorite musician is Ed Sheeran because she said he completely enchants his listeners. “Whenever he sings you can tell he is just sharing himself with the listeners.” she said. “I went to his concert when I was 16 and I waited for four hours after the concert to meet him. He signed my purse and I made friends with his security guard while I waited.”
At Bowdoin, Hall is involved with the Bowdoin Music Collective (BMC) and is interested in bringing singer-songwriters together.
“The BMC puts on music events and performances,” she said. “I have performed at Unplugged and pop-up open mic nights, as well as the Baxter Coffee House.”
In addition to the BMC, Miranda is a part of the Bowdoin Outing Club, the Salsa Club and the Bowdoin Art Society.
Hall is releasing a new single on November 1 called “White Car.” She has already released an EP named “Kingdom” that can be found on iTunes and Spotify.
“I’m not signed with any label, but I think that if you have a passion, the only thing holding you back is self-doubt,” she said.
Hall ran a Kickstarter to raise money for her musical endeavor. She promised to write songs for people if they donated.
“I got an email from a man in Afghanistan asking me to write a song for his wife, and I was so excited,” she said. “There was a great response.”
Hall said she truly believes in following her passions and sharing them with others. “If you love something and you are genuine, people will respond,” she said. “I’m going to keep singing and putting myself out there. If all else fails, this is something I’ll do in my dorm room on Monday nights.”
Check out Hall’s EP “Kingdom” on iTunes and look out for her new single “White Car,” which will bereleased November 1.
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DJ of the Week: Ashley Bomboka ‘16 and Lara Adoumie ‘16
When did you first get involved with WBOR and why?AB: We got involved first semester sophomore year because Lara really wanted to do a show. Lara really loves indie music and I really love hip-hop and R&B, so we decided to play both and have definitely introduced each other to artists from both genres.LA: She’s picked up on indie music more than I thought she would and I’ve picked up on a lot of hip-hop. She always surprises me with songs she’s found.
Why is the show called “Sweater Weather?” AB: We called it “Sweater Weather” because we both appreciated that song. Also, Maine is really always sweater weather. When are we here when it’s warm outside?LA: I tease her because I’m from Los Angeles and she’s from Minnesota and I’m always walking around bundled up while she’s barely wearing anything. Who makes up your target audience?AB: Anyone who loves a variety of music. In between hip-hop and indie is the pop spectrum. We don’t stay in one particular area.
What is your goal for the show?AB: The goal is to have fun with it! We like to laugh! It’s great that it is local and reaches out to the wider community.LA: It’s de-stressing for us and hopefully it is for anyone who chooses to listen. Ashley, you recently stepped into the role of Programming Manager at WBOR. What does that entail?AB: My responsibility is to make sure everyone has a radio station time and make sure people are treating the equipment well and aren’t swearing. What is your favorite music?AB: I love R&B the most. Drake is one of my favorites. I tried to go to his concert in Philadelphia, but he ended up canceling it. I also love Bon Iver.LA: Drake, too and Jhené Aiko. I will always have a spot in my heart for The Fray. Do you have any musical experience?AB: I used to sing in middle and high school, in addition to playing the viola. Singing is my shower hobby.LA: I used to sing in the chorus here at Bowdoin and play the violin.
What else are you involved in at Bowdoin?AB: I am part of the African American Society and I love to sit in on slam poetry readings. I am also an intern for [Associate Dean of Multicultural Programs Leana Amaez].LA: I’m in the international relations club, I work at the C-Store and with Safe Space.
What is the best music to study to?AB: Jazz with hip-hop influences—low-key melodies that allow me to focus.LA: Slower Beyoncé and Drake are my go-to. What has been your favorite concert experience? AB: This summer I went to the Summer Set music festival in Wisconsin and I saw Schoolboy Q, Wu Tang Clan and Big Gigantic. I’ve always liked Schoolboy Q, he has his own spot in hip hop. He’s establishing himself well. Wu Tang clan is the beginning of hip-hop. Big Gigantic free styled, which was awesome. LA: I went to Of Monsters and Men in New York. It was a small venue and really amazing to hear them live. What do you think people are doing while they listen to your show?AB: I don’t think it’s the best show to study to. We talk a lot as well as playing music, so hopefully you’re just chilling and it is background noise.LA: Yeah, doing things around the room. What song never gets old for you?AB: “Houstalantavegas” by Drake and “Suga Suga” by Baby Bash.LA: “Furthest Thing” by Drake. Who is your musical inspiration?AB: Bob Marley. I grew up with him as a kid and his words spoke a lot to the African diaspora and the idea of struggle. His music was being used to get the world aware of social issues and help his people.LA: Sia, because she really has a variety of talents and different genres of music. Is there anything else you’d like to tell your audience about your show?AB: Nothing’s really planned so be prepared for anything and keep an open mind.LA: Ashley brings the fun and spice! Tune in whenever you’re feeling stressed.
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Portrait of an artist: Christiana Whitcomb '14
Christiana Whitcomb ’14 is an accomplished squash player, musician and writer who also has a longstanding interest in architecture.
“I’ve always been surrounded by it; my mom is a designer,” she said. “I took art my freshman year and knew I couldn’t do anything else.”
Whitcomb said she has been able to pursue her interest in architecture at Bowdoin. She is a government and visual arts double major, and for her Senior Studio project she is building an architectural sculpture.
“It’s a combination between a chair and a pod,” said Whitcomb. “It’s looking at the intersection between sculpture and architecture.”
Whitcomb said Drawing I was her favorite class.
“It’s probably one of the most well-taught classes at Bowdoin, and it is so important to be able to draw,” said Whitcomb. “I don’t think anyone should be going into the art or design world without knowing how to draw.”
Whitcomb’s experience studying abroad in Denmark allowed her to gain the necessary skills to further pursue architecture.
“It was a very intense studio program,” said Whitcomb. “All the advanced skills I have come from [it]. I was in the studio all the time and we traveled around to look at art all around Scandinavia.”
In addition to her architecture project, Whitcomb is also working on two oil paintings for another class.
“I have my own studio space; I use the woodshop and I have another space where I am assembling my piece, plus the painting studio,” said Whitcomb.
Whitcomb said she balances art with squash and cello as well.
“I’m a multitasker—I get bored easily and I usually don’t feel like I am doing too much,” said Whitcomb. “I can’t really give up anything I like, so when I came to college I didn’t want to quit anything. It’s hard, I have very little downtime. Being a visual arts and government major is very time consuming, but I love being in the studio.”
Whitcomb, who is also an editor of the Globalist, recently won the Elie Wiesel Essay Prize for her essay titled “The Ethics of Intrusion,” which describes the time she spent on a Native American reservation in South Dakota during the past three summers.
“I wrote about my experience with race and identity and the way that can potentially affect the people I am working with,” said Whitcomb. “It never occurred to me that I would win, but I love to write, and it is a topic I really care about.”
After graduation, Whitcomb will be interning with the New York Department of City Planning.“I’ll be working on urban planning,” said Whitcomb. “The division I will be with looks at the land review process for new buildings. I’m deciding between getting my masters in architecture and urban design, so I wanted to get a job after graduation that would give me more exposure to the urban design world.”
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Alumni in the arts: Weeks ’11 staying composed
The musical experiences Louis Weeks ’11 had at Bowdoin have helped him navigate a dual career as a singer-songwriter and commercial music composer in Washington, D.C.
Weeks writes music for television shows, films and video games while simultaneously producing two of his own records.
Weeks, who majored in music, had a relatively smooth transition from Bowdoin to the professional music world.
“I am lucky...that my previous portfolio and body of work made me qualified,” said Weeks in a phone interview with the Orient. “I found out pretty quickly that I needed to learn a lot of new skills, but for the most part I transitioned seamlessly from Bowdoin.” Weeks said that the academic music experiences he had at Bowdoin have helped him with his current work, and gave him a solid education that has aided with his client interactions.
“The music department gave me an extremely practical and valuable education in not only writing music, but talking about music, listening to music and communicating music to other people,” said Weeks.
In his work, this education has become so important because Weeks has to talk to clients every day about what they want out of his music.
“I have to have a really good sense of what they are hearing and my education at Bowdoin particularly got me ready for composing music as a means of communication,” said Weeks.
Weeks was also a part of the Meddiebempsters while at Bowdoin.
“Being in the Meddies made me a much better singer and arranger and solidified my love of vocal music, which is what I do when I am not composing,” said Weeks.
He debuted a full-length record in January called "shift/away" and is currently working on his second album, “haha."
Weeks uses most of his free time to work on new recordings and compositions.
“I basically live in the studio,” said Weeks. “Any free time I get, I am working on either new recordings or new pieces.”
Thus far, Weeks has really tried to take on projects that interest him, and he said it is difficult for him to pick a favorite. In all his projects, he works to combine the various skills he’s honed in previous musical roles.
“I want my work to mix composed music that I learned how to write at Bowdoin with the recordings and songwriting that I have done over the past few years,” he said. “I want to create a conversation between those two things.”
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Professor Mark Wethli curates show of abstract art at "The Curator Gallery" in NYC
In his statement introducing the art show “Second Nature: Abstract Art From Maine”, A. Leroy Greason Professor of Art Mark Wethli quotes composer John Cage: “Art should imitate nature not in its appearance but in its manner of operation.”
This sentiment is reflected throughout the exhibit. Each work reflects elements of nature in an unconventional manner.
“Maine is best known for its landscape traditions. I became aware of some artists whose work is abstract, but who think through nature,” said Wethli. “Their work shares principles with the natural world, not in appearance, but in the methods or structures of the natural world.”
The title “Second Nature” implies that these artists do not portray the elements of nature that are immediately visible. Rather, it means that they think through nature without representing it concretely in their work.
The exhibit is the inaugural show of “The Curator Gallery,” founded by former Time Inc. CEO Anne Moore and located in New York City’s Chelsea Art District.
Moore approached Wethli to curate the show with a specific subject in mind.
“She wanted a show of all Maine artists, and she knew I was from Maine,” said Wethli.
The show features work from other members of the Bowdoin community, including Sculptor-in-Residence John Bisbee, former Visiting Professor of Art Meghan Brady, former lab instructor Andrea Sulzer and Cassie Jones ’01.
The show opened March 6 to an enthusiastic crowd.
“A lot of people were there from Maine, including Bowdoin alums and students, in addition to a lot of the New York art world,” said Wethli.
The show has been received extremely well, and a lot of the artwork has been sold already.
Catalina Gallagher ’16 visited the gallery with Bowdoin friends over spring break. She noted the originality of the installations as well as their geometric connections to nature.
She noted that it was “exciting to see Bowdoin’s presence outside of Brunswick.”
As curator, Wethli had to search out art that fit into his theme, but none of it was created specifically for the exhibit.
“None of these artists works with my idea in mind,” said Wethli. “As curator, I notice a pattern in these independent artists. Therefore, I hope people will see a linkage between these artists and reflect on this.”
According to Wethli, this exhibit is of great significance to the visual arts department.
“It’s always great when Bowdoin is visible in the world. It shows an engagement with contemporary art,” said Wethli. “Whenever faculty venture into the world, they always bring back more for their department.”
Wethli’s own art will be featured in two other shows in New York City this month. The first, titled “New Work”, consists entirely of Wethli’s work and will be on display in “The Painting Center” gallery. The second exhibit, “Higher Learning,” is on display at Lehman College and features art by 50 different professors.
“Second Nature: Abstract Art From Maine” and Wethli’s personal show “New Work” will both be open through April 19. “Higher Learning” will be open through April 12.
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Masque and Gown premieres ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’
“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing,” writes Oscar Wilde in the third act of “The Importance of Being Earnest.” This weekend, Masque and Gown stages the classic comedy in Pickard Theater with a generous measure of each.
The play, which takes place in Victorian England, centers on the exploits of two male friends, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff (played by Chase Gladden ’17 and James Jelin ’16) who habitually falsify their identities in order to avoid working and paying debts. All goes well until they fall in love. This comedy skewers the habits of upper-class Victorian women as well as men. Cordelia Orbach ’17 and Axis Fuksman-Kumpa ’17 play the love interests Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew.
“It’s very funny, fast-paced, a lot of jokes are made for jokes sake,” said director Trevor Murray ’16.
“[The play] has very universal comedy, which not only appeals to Bowdoin students, but to the broader Brunswick area as well. Being able to appeal to a large audience and bring more people into the theater at Bowdoin is a great step for Masque and Gown,” said Murray.
Although he has directed smaller scale productions since high school, this is Murray’s first full-length theater show.
“It was a process of breaking down all of the blocking and making scenes work very coherently. Scheduling times for actors was another challenge, as many Bowdoin students involve themselves in more than one extracurricular activity. Evan, a lead, also had a broken ankle for much of the rehearsal time,” said Murray.
Murray says he tried to put a new spin on the widely loved show by downplaying certain comedic elements.
“I opted for not using British accents. Also, a lot of productions of this show do it in a very high comedy, farcical sense. I have tried to ground it a little bit and bring out some of the more serious interactions, specifically in the romance between characters,” he said.
Murray credits the relative ease of the production to the actors and tech team, who he says have been cooperative and supportive in their work.
Stage manager Erin McKissick ’16 is responsible for attending rehearsals and running tech week, which entails coordinating sound and lighting and calling out cues.
“This is my second time stage managing, so I knew what I was doing more this time,” said McKissick.
Pickard Theater, the largest performance space on campus, has allowed for the staging of elaborate sets.
“Pickard is a very classic, large theater,” said Murray. “When doing a show there, you have to make sure you have the set to compensate.”
One challenge for this show was to create a set with walls large enough to visually separate the two homes and the garden.
Other set pieces add to this effect; according to McKissick, two large trellises “that fly in from the ceiling” act as a clear indicator that the action has moved to the garden.
McKissick said the overall process has been very smooth.
“One thing that can be hard is that we have a lot of people in the show who are great friends, which is awesome for bonding, but makes for a chatty group,” said McKissick. “Also, period pieces can be challenging to find the correct atmosphere on stage and to make sure everything is true to the Victorian setting.”
Evan Horwitz ’15 plays Lady Bracknell, a domineering, Victorian woman.
“I kind of butt into everyone’s business and think that I have the authority on propriety and morality,” said Horwitz of his character.
He said he is excited to play this female role.
“It is a really funny and complex play that is a great choice to show on a college campus because it is a smart comedy, which is something you don’t see as often anymore,” he said.
There has been good chemistry among cast and crew members, according to Horwitz.
“Trevor cast the show really well, so the dynamic between the characters was found really early on. We’ve had fun bringing in the technical components, costumes, sets, lighting and props as well, which has brought a new set of challenges,” he said.
Horwitz said the comedic nature of the production of this show presents a challenge for actors.
“It’s hard to find the real people within the characters. It’s been a challenge for me to find something human in this role because one of the points is to make the audience laugh. I think we have all found the people in the roles,” said Horwitz.
Overall, Murray said he believes this play is suitable for all audiences and is a true crowd-pleaser.
“This is a show with really universal comedy and everyone can find something to love about it. It is so absurd, but just so silly in a really lovable way,” he said.
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DJ of the Week: Catalina Gallagher '16 and Maya Reyes '16
When did you first get involved with WBOR and why?
Gallagher: We got involved first semester freshman year and both got on a radio show together.
Reyes: It just seemed like a fun thing to do, and we both like music a lot. We kept doing it because it was fun, especially together, but we actually had separate shows last semester.
Gallagher: But the gang’s back together again!
Reyes: We needed a break from each other.
Gallagher: But we’ve learned to truly appreciate each other.What type of music do you play?
Gallagher: I have a lot of friends from the Internet that make music, so with our last show we played a lot of independent stuff from, for example, Bandcamps.
Reyes: Besides that, we play a pretty mixed bag. It’ll be early 2000s hip-hop and then recent indie pop as well, just whatever we like and seems fun.Who is your target audience?
Galllagher: In a certain sense, friends. Either friends that don’t go here or ones online. We play popular music as well as some obscure [music], so people who are open to that would be our target audience.
Reyes: Anyone with a good sense of humor and who likes music.What is your favorite type of music?
Gallagher: The National, which is a mellow alternative rock group, but I also like hip-hop. I really go through phases.
Reyes: I would say ’80s synth pop.How do you incorporate humor into your show?
Reyes: We have an intro theme.
Gallagher: Yeah we have an intro theme with clips from movies in it. I remember our first semester—we didn’t talk very much on our show and now we try to do some riffing. We interviewed someone last week about sports.
Reyes: Yeah, but we ended up just asking them about things like if Justin Bieber were a sport, what sport he would be.
Gallagher: Also, the name of our show [“Sport Center”] is our way of connecting to Bowdoin’s jock culture.What is the best music to study to?
Reyes: I would say piano music.
Gallagher: I try to listen to music I like, but it gets me distracted. I like post-rock, like Explosions in The Sky, a band with ambient guitar sounds.What is the goal of your show?
Gallagher: We want teams to reschedule their practices to 12:30 a.m. on Fridays just so they can listen to our music. We also want 300 Facebook likes…we’re at 54 now.What is the most profound concert experience you have had?
Gallagher: I went to a concert last spring of my favorite band at the time called Why? It was really good. It’s really fun for me when I know the songs well and I can sing along. Also, I was right at the front and it was a small venue.
Reyes: I would say my first concert, which was Bright Eyes. I was 16 years old and it was at Radio City. They are still one of my favorite bands and I think their music is fun to dance to and deeply emotional at times.If you two were in a band together, what would be the name of it?
Reyes: “The Young Hegelians”—credit to Professor Beckett.What do you think people are doing when listening to your show?
Gallagher: Hopefully lifting weights.
Reyes: I hope people are doing anything sports related.What song never gets old for you?
Gallagher: “Timber.” It hasn’t gotten old yet. Also, “Dip It Low” by Christina Milian because it brings back good memories.
Reyes: “Jessica” by Major Lazer.Who is your biggest music inspiration and why?
Gallagher: I would say Beyoncé; she’s great. She puts out such good songs and she is getting political too.
Reyes: Joe Strummer from The Clash. I think punk music is inspirational because it is political in nature, and he is an amazing lyricist and musician.Is there anything else you want people to know about your show?
Gallagher: If you listen, you’ll win the sports championship.
Reyes: If you’re not listening to “Sport Center,” you’re losing the game.Tune in to “Sport Center” with Reyes and Gallagher every Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 a.m. on WBOR 91.1 FM or stream online at wbor.org.