By Jeanine Budd
From guest lectures to $5 plays, the theatre and arts world of Northeastern is offering a slew of ways to help keep students busy and entertained on campus this semester.
Starting Feb. 2, the Center for the Arts will be presenting, “Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular,” a breakdancing performance.
March 15, Anthony Rapp, one of the original stars of Broadway’s “Rent,” will visit Northeastern to perform songs from the renowned musical and speak about his personal struggles. Preceding his performance and lecture, Rapp will sign copies of his memoir, “Without You.”
The Department of Art + Design is offering five different guest lectures this semester. The first will take place Jan. 15. Terrence Masson, a special effects artist and technical director will speak in 105 Shillman Hall. On Feb. 5, film and video maker Abigail Child will present her work, also in 105 Shillman.
And, as the semester winds down, the Curry Student Center will feature an Art + Design student exhibit from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., April 10 through April 19 in the Curry Student Center Art Gallery.
Northeastern’s student-run musical theatre group, the Great White Way, will put on a production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” a light comedy about the Princess and the Pea that adds a twist of sexual innuendoes. It will be performed Jan. 18 and Jan. 19 at the Fenway Center. Tickets cost $5.
The Great White Way will also take the stage in a performance of “Urinetown,” April 11 and April 12. The Tony Award-winning musical parodies successful Broadway shows like “Evita,” “Les Mis’eacute;rables” and “West Side Story.”
“We try to put on really quality shows as close to off-Broadway or Broadway as possible,” said Peter Karpathakis, the group’s president. “It’s a good way to come see some shows, especially if you love seeing theatre productions and you don’t want to spend too much money.”
Another student thespian group, Silver Masque, will put on two productions this semester. Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, the “Vagina Monologues” will be performed by the group in Blackman Auditorium. The controversial play, written by Eve Ensler, spawned its own holiday, “V-Day.”
Feb. 12-16 and 19-20, “Measure for Measure,” one of William Shakespeare’s three “problem plays,” will be presented in the Studio Theatre, located next to the Curry Student Center.
