Northwestern alumna directs two-woman play “The Roommate”

Linnea Lipson, Reporter

January 31, 2019

Filed under Alumni, Arts and Entertainment, Latest Stories, Theater

As a mother and grandmother, lead actress Ellen Phelps was drawn to Jen Silverman’s play “The Roommate” because she likes the idea that a person can change their life no matter what age. “My character really felt like she was finished with her life,” Phelps said. “Now, it feels like it’s...

Dance Center Evanston celebrates 25 years of operation with anniversary performance

Daisy Conant, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor

January 31, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Dance, Latest Stories

To celebrate 25 years of operation, Dance Center Evanston’s founder and director Béa Rashid (Communication ’78) is inviting the Evanston community to witness a culmination of professionally choreographed modern, ballet, contemporary and tap pieces — or, as Rashid puts it, “a really big birthday...

World-famous pianist Olga Kern to perform sold-out concert at Bienen

Eunice Lee, Reporter

January 31, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Latest Stories, Music

In 2001, Russian-American pianist Olga Kern was the first woman in over 30 years to win the historic Gold Medal at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Eighteen years later, she’s still an icon to classical pianists all over the world. Kern will be making her Northwestern...

The Monthly: January Edition

January 24, 2019

Filed under Latest Stories, The Monthly, Top Stories

In this edition of The Monthly: The magazine’s editor talks to Evanston native Jessie Mueller on becoming Broadway’s leading lady. Further reads: A new History Channel sci-fi series documents a late Northwestern professor’s research on UFOs. A collective of 20 artists is rebuilding the entertainment...

Spectrum Theatre Company emphasizes collaboration and creation in play devising process

Andrea Michelson, Arts & Entertainment Editor

January 24, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Theater

In Shanley Pavilion, a chalkboard drawing displays what home means to three characters — a house, a bunny, a slice of pizza. The backdrop sets the scene for Communication third-year Allyson Snyder’s play “Roots and Wings,” a devised work that is part of Spectrum Theatre Company’s “Collaboration...

Editor’s Letter: How the Oscars crossed the border when America couldn’t

Stavros Agorakis, The Monthly Editor

January 24, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, The Monthly

To me, awards season is like Christmas. Every year on Oscars nominations day, I excitedly wake up in the morning as the temperature slowly descends to zero degrees, make myself some hot cocoa and patiently stream the event live as I refresh my Twitter feed every two seconds (just as I would on Christmas...

NUFOs: New sci-fi TV series documents late Northwestern professor J. Allen Hynek’s research on UFOs

Crystal Wall, Reporter

January 24, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, The Monthly

From “Stranger Things” to the “Cloverfield” film franchise, there’s no shortage of blockbuster hits and Netflix series that bring aliens down from space and into our backyards. But one of the latest sci-fi installments tackling the topic of extraterrestrials and government secrets strips away...

‘Fire in my mouth’ to reignite a conversation about immigration, labor politics

Andrea Michelson, Arts & Entertainment Editor

January 23, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Music

Lauren Kelly had a choice: she could burn to death, she could jump from the window or she could drown in the rising water from the fire hoses. The grave decision that lay before her was something that no one should deal with, she said, but it was a necessary exercise to get into character for her upcoming...

“Caravans of Gold” exhibition presents first-of-its-kind look into medieval African art, trade

Daisy Conant, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor

January 23, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Visual Arts

To many involved in the art world, notions of exhibitions featuring “the medieval period” may conjure images of Byzantine crosses encrusted with jewels, European saints and castles featured in Gothic paintings and a world untouched by the globalized trade of goods and ideas. But curator Kathleen...

‘Rebuilding the Present’ explores connection between meditation, arts

Vy Duong, Reporter

January 23, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, Visual Arts

Artist and curator Holly Cahill first stumbled upon the concept of meditation when her high school teacher introduced her to Eastern religions. But it wasn’t until she started a particularly stressful job years later that she found the need to apply the concepts she learned in class to her everyday...

Open Tab: Whiskey Thief offers bold cocktails yet a mellow ambiance close to home

Andrea Michelson, Arts & Entertainment Editor

January 23, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, The Monthly

In some college towns, turning 21 is an occasion marked by rowdy bar-hopping and blurry memories. But Evanston isn’t exactly known for its bustling nightlife, and venturing into Chicago feels like an insurmountable trek on cold winter nights. As I approached my 21st birthday in what sometimes feel...

Daphne Maxwell Reid: from homecoming queen, to the set of ‘Fresh Prince’

Janea Wilson, Reporter

January 23, 2019

Filed under Arts and Entertainment, The Monthly

“AND is in our DNA” might be Northwestern’s latest catchphrase to showcase the breadth of talent across its student body, but Daphne Maxwell Reid (Weinberg ’70) needed no catchphrase to make history both on campus and beyond. While people may recognize Reid from her iconic role as Aunt Vivian in ...