Posts by Suzy Weiss

Don't be sad; there's plenty to do. (Photo from “Into the Woods”) Nick Sinnott-Armstrong / Herald

GREEN SCREEN exhibition
2 p.m.-9 p.m. Main Green, free
Interactive sculpture, artist talks, screenings, installations and performances will flood the Main Green this afternoon and evening. This exploration of interactions between art and its surroundings is brought to you by the Creative Arts Council and the Department of Modern Culture and Media.

Attitude Dance Company’s 6th Annual Spring Show
7 p.m. (doors open 6:30) Alumnae Hall, $7 at door
Want to see some dance with attitude? Well, now you can in multiple senses of the word. This performance group, which choreographs pieces ranging from hip-hop to Chinese folk and musical theater, will showcase original dances in their last show of the season.

Musical Forum presents “Into the Woods”
5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Production Workshop, contact Box Office for tickets
Get tickets while you still can because this Sondheim musical akin to fairy tale fan fiction is selling out quickly. As Cinderella puts it, “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.”  If you already have plans for the evening, perhaps you can still make it to PW at 10 p.m. Then again, go to the 5 p.m. show if you’d rather get “into the woods and out of the woods and home before dark.” Or stop by Sunday or Monday at 8 p.m. Just don’t wear any golden slippers. The baker and his wife need some in order to have a kid.

Brown University Folk Festival
All day and night, Lincoln Field, free
This annual amalgamation of concerts, workshops and sales synthesizes appearances by Brown and Providence singers, musicians and bands. Catch the Ghanaian drum workshop at 3 p.m. or the contra dance at 9 p.m.

Or start your own nursery rhyme sharing in honor of Mother Goose Day.

Brown Stand Up Comics Present: THE END Show

9:00 p.m. MacMillan 117, free

If you have not yet caught this year’s stand-up comics in performance, this is your last chance to hear routines from graduating seniors and a surprise professional guest comedian. Comedy shows are always fun, but especially so when you can relate to what the comedians are burning and satirizing.

No Comment

7:00 p.m. George Houston Bass Performing Arts Space, Churchill House

The Department of Africana Studies’ Rites and Reason Theatre presents a story of news, the media, sexual assault and power, written by Kathleen Braine ’11 and directed by Adjunct Lecturer in Theatre Arts and Performance Studies Connie Crawford. The play will show again tomorrow at the same time and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Brown University Orchestra concert

8 p.m. Sayles Hall, $2 w/ Brown or RISD ID

According to some ancient Mayan mythology, we are living in the fifth world. Five is also the fifth Fibonacci number. In addition, it is the number of many famous symphonies, which has served as inspiration for this year’s orchestra selections. The orchestra’s final performance will feature Debussy’s “Iberia,” Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 1″ and the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony.”

And for the sake of May Day, remember to say “rabbit rabbit” at midnight. Yeah, it’s a superstition, but I wouldn’t take any chances.

VISIONS release party

8 p.m. Salomon 101

This celebration of another successful issue of “VISIONS,” Brown’s Asian and Asian American literary and visual art magazine, will include musical entertainment from Harmonic Motion and Archipelag-a, poetry readings by contributers and free food from Thayer Street eateries.

Take Back the Night

9 p.m. march outside Faunce, 10 p.m. speak-out Smith-Bunano 106

Today’s “Take Back the Night” events are part of an international movement to spread awareness of sexual violence and protest its disturbing prevalence and large-scale invisibility. The issue of sexual assault, though a solemn one, is all too relevant to college students and others across demographics. A march around campus will take place, followed by a discussion including those who want to share their stories, as well as those who want to listen to others and gain a fuller understanding of their experiences.

Can Mindful Consumerism reverse the Ecological Meltdown?

8 p.m. MacMillan 117, free w/ Brown or RISD ID

Internationally recognized psychologist Daniel Goleman, author of “Emotional Intelligence,” just may have the answer to this profound question about consumerism and the environment. Goleman also will sign copies of his recently published book, “Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything.”

Or spend some time doing something else to improve the environment — it’s the least you can do in honor of Japanese Greenery Day. The Spring “Weekend wars” may be over, my friends, but this is a cause any tree-hugging hippy will find worth fighting for (please excuse my compulsions to pun).

Ivy Film Festival: advanced screening of “Sympathy for Delicious”

5:30 p.m-7:30 p.m., MacMillan 117, free

A Q&A with writer and star Christopher Thorton and producer Andrew Renzi will follow this Sundance award-winning film, also starring Mark Ruffalo, Orlando Bloom and Laura Linney. Right afterward, come to the Ivy Film Festival Awards Ceremony presented by Paramount Pictures in Alumnae Hall. Then head on down to Fish Co. with your Brown ID for the after party 10:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.

Revenge of the WORD!s

8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Rites and Reasons Theatre, free

The words strike back, and with a vengeance. What they are avenging is unclear, but they’re not the type of words I would mess with — and there are a lot of them too, with 30 performers throughout the course of the weekend. Attendees will also probably abound, so arrive early to hear (and see) poems about justice, philosophy and chewing with your mouth open.

As You Like It

10:00 p.m., Lincoln Field, free

“All the world’s a stage” this weekend, or at least all of Lincoln Field, thanks to Shakespeare on the Green. If you can’t make it tonight, there’s also the option to “fleet the time carelessly” at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Brown-RISD Drag Show

8:00-10:30 p.m., RISD Auditorium, free

The title is pretty self-explanatory: watch each queen strut his/her/phe’s stuff as part of Pride Series 2010: Imagining Queer. A sex toy raffle and the release of queer literary and art journal The Agenda also take place at the annual drag show. Though not required, it is suggested that attendees wear occasion-appropriate attire and bring a donation to Providence Youth Movement’s Queer Program “SeaQue!”

And if you can, try to squeeze in some time to accomplish chores, errands and other tasks you’ve been postponing for a blah day.

Alas, poor Mel.

Hamlet
8:00 p.m, Van Wickle Gates
You’ve probably read it at some point during high school, if not college, or at least seen it referenced in “The Lion King” or “The Simpsons.” But I bet you haven’t had the chance to follow the characters through campus as they reenact the notorious tale of murder, betrayal and teenage (err … 30-year-old) rebellion. Get there early to be one of 50 to see the show on opening night (it will continue at the same time Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with 100 seats)!

Rhode Island Hunger and Homelessness Teach-In
6:30-7:30 p.m., MacMillan 117
Learn about the situation of the homeless in Rhode Island and how you can help. This discussion will include a representative from the social services agency and soup kitchen Amos House in South Providence, Rabbi Oser of Judy’s Kindness Kitchen and Professor of Sociology Gregory Elliot, along with the Community Health DUG and the sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta. [Read more →]

Most of us learned from a young age not to judge a book by its cover, but nobody ever mentioned anything about judging a course by its title — or placing it into a category based on said characteristic — right?

Hence, without any further ado, the winners for …

Most creative pun

MCM1501K: Seeing Queerly: Queer Theory, Film, Video

Most obscure reference ever to appear in a course catalogue

ETHN1890E: Johnny, Are You Queer: Narratives of Race and Sexuality

Douchiest

CLAS1120G: The Idea of Self

Most emblematic of Brown

tie between SOC1650: Unequal Societies and ANTH1910E: Social Construction

[Read more →]

A Night of Sex, Toys & Cabaret Featuring The Wet Spots

9 p.m. Salomon 101

The internationally acclaimed comedic cabaret duo The Wet Spots will entertain and perhaps shock the audience with “the most elegant songs about sex you have ever heard,” according to their Web site. Perhaps the husband and wife team will even perform selections from their 2006 album “Hello Kinky.” This event will wrap up Sex Week with the announcement of erotica competition winners and sex toy raffles.

Last chance to hear “A Thousand Voices”

Until 10 p.m. Leeds Breezeway

Have you ever wondered what people are really thinking as they casually answer the question “how are you?” with “good,” “fine,” “not bad” or a slew of other conventional responses? The student group Listening Laboratory has collected recordings of Brown students and other Providence-dwellers responding introspectively to an inquiry loaded with social pressures. The installation will remain outside Leeds Theater for one more day, then next month you will have to travel to Baltimore, MD to experience it in the Megapolis Festival for auditory art.

Brown Chorus Concert

8 p.m. Sayles Hall, free

The chorus’s first concert of the semester features the Providence College Choir ‘I Cantori’ under the direction of Todd J. Harper. The reportoire includes songs by Samuel Barber, Julian Wachner, Rachmaninoff, Evett, Jannequin, Monteverdi, Purcell and Eric Whitacre.

The Turn of the Screw

8 p.m. Alumnae Hall, free

Experience the haunting visuals and eerie English score of Brown Opera Production’s 2010 performance. On the other hand, you may just want to vigilantly stare out your window tonight in hope of catching a glimpse of Extraterrestrial Abductions Day.

NASHAA 2010
7 p.m. Salomon 101, $7

The South Asian Students Association presents its Annual Culture Show tonight. The evening’s program includes music, dance and comedy from the varied and rich cultures of South Asia, followed by an after party at Buxton International House at 10 p.m., free with a Brown ID card or ticket.

More after the jump [Read more →]

Marco Beltrami ’88 and co-composer Buck Sanders received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score for the film “The Hurt Locker,” but Michael Giacchino took the trophy for his soundtrack to the animated feature “Up.”

“The Hurt Locker” certainly didn’t leave the ceremony without recognition, though, and “Crazy Heart,” another film with connections to L’il Rhody, took awards for Best Actor and Best Song.

IMPROVidence “Cuteness Show”

9:00 p.m. Lower Salomon, $1

Perhaps Brown and RISD’s oldest comedy improvisation troupe will entertain us with an explanation why this performance’s advertisements feature clothed puppies in awkward positions and information presented in instant message (non)grammar.

Africa for Haiti Benefit Concert

8:30 p.m. Sayles Hall, $10 Brown / $15 public

West African music and dance troupe Komee Josee and New Works/World Traditions Dance Ensemble will perform to raise money for disaster relief.

Pulse with it

7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Alumnae Hall, $5 at post office / $7 at door

ImPulse Dance Company is sharing the stage with Brown’s Unnatural Selection, HellooHi and URI’s Aesthetic Flo for a hip-hop dance extravaganza. A free after party in South Wayland Lounge will follow at 10:00 p.m. for those who care to listen to ImPulse’s Remyx Album or just can’t get enough of them.

BCA Speakeasy Sessions

10:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Grad Center Lounge, free

The Brown Concert Agency is throwing a party that showcases four new student bands and six DJs with a wide range of musical styles. The night’s line-up is, in order, Behaviors, Kid Chocolate, The Unintentions, Release, Redscare and Spoletto.  Discover the potential rock stars and hip-hop artists of the future!

Speaking of futures, make sure your teeth are in for a good one on National Dentist Day.