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Show FEATURES -- - gatilxiEs- oNt4Ew b o Students share BY JONN HOLLAND trippyjedi Planning a birthday party is proving troublesome. There aren't any musicians who want to play at a superhero themed party. Then you realize there is a music group that are superheroes. The Aquabats! But they can't come to your party; they're in some city called St. George. You wonder what on Earth they could be doing there. "The Aquabats" were in St. George, finishing the last bit of filming for their television program. With the help of DSU Film and Dixie State University students, the filming wrapped March 27. Producer Jordan McArthur said "The Aquabats" started as a rock band 25 years ago and had a children's television show on Hub Network, but since the network shut down, their television show could no longer air. McAr thur said fans of the show have been asking for a comeback since it went off the air, so he put together a Kickstarter to raise money to produce more episodes. Through the Kickstarter, fans and producers joined together and invested in bringing back "The Aqua-bat- s Supershow," McArthur said. With this combined effort, filming new episodes became a reality after raising over $600,000. However, filming in California was too expensive, so that is what brought filming to Utah. "Working with the Utah Film Commission, they have a very friendly policy with people coming from out of state," said Christian Jacobs, who plays MC Bat Commander. "They help you with tax incentives and things to help bring the budgets down and put more on the screen." McArthur said they came to DSU to film new episodes " of "The Aquabats because the DSU Film hanger is an ideal place for film production with an insulated roof and plenty of space. There was enough room at the hanger that they were able to recreate sets from the original production, McArthur said. DSU students have been helping with lighting and as produc Super-show- children's film magic in 1., DOMAN abbydomanDSN Dixie State University's first ever drag show was anything but a drag. The audience of over 100 people were captivated with performances from students and professional drag queens and kings on April 6 at the Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center Mainstage Theater. The audience shed tears, shared laughs and celebrated diversity as the performers and danced to songs of their choice. Jacob Barlow, a professional drag queen, hosted the night as "Jafabulous" with plenty of wigs, witty d boots jokes and to polish off his look. Barlow articulated the lip-sync- high-heele- overwhelming atmosphere of acceptance after an emotional performance from Joshua France, a junior theater major from Dammeron Valley, as Lady ChaiseRoulante, who performed "Into the West" by Annie Lennox. "That performance really hit me in a lot of ways I didn't think it would," Barlow said through tears. "I lived for that. I don't usually get this emotional while I am in drag." The night was also filled with a positive message toward the LGBTQ community. Tanner Gilman, a freshman theater education major from Pocatello, Idaho, performed "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross as his drag persona Mama Huckleberry. "As your mama, I want you to know that every day a teen as an LGBTQ in our community commits suicide," Gilman said. "I want you to become an ally, friends. Show your support and love and just do everything that you can to support our community." This was Gilman's first drag performance, as it was - .. fI 4 1 s 1 , ' i' ...: 1 . i 1 V' g I , , ''' 1- ;i1 I , i i 1 , i ..), - t , - e 4. int , i- - I , , , ,. ',,1 , , , 4,4. ' 1Z,' . 1 '. , 0 rj1 I 9, , '')) I 0 2 ,...,,fto....010' if' ' ' ' e ,,1 , P 4 ., .' 4. .'') t ' , , , 1 . ' , . , !$ , ). 1 '',. , , -- ...,.. .4, .. .,. i K .. 0 4 ; 0 l' ' 1 I 2 ,, 10 ,,- j , , I ,r I ...,......,....... Crash Mc Larson, played by Chad Larson, is "getting emotional" and growing to 50 feet tall thanks to the help of some green VFX. Dixie State University students assisted in production, which wrapped on March 27. screen and tion assistants. Wyatt Nap lin, a senior film major from Grantsville, said he originally got involved being on set for "The Aquabats Supershow" in January when he took a film class at DSU and was invited to help. They invited "It's the most practical him back as a production assistant when they returned for final filming. Getting the opportunity to work on the set of a film or television program is an invaluable way for film students to gain experience in the industry, Nap lin said. with many of the student performers. However, he has been on stage since he was 10 years old. He is a member of the Theatre Club as well as the LGBTQ-1- Student Association. Gilman said: "You are unleashing another side of your performing when doing dragl... It is stuff you don't get to do as a male in theater. It's fun." Rile Allen, a senior theater major from St. George, performed alongside Dusty Ravsten, senior theater major from Tremonton, as Ebony and Ivory. Their performance of Disney princesses Tiana and Ariel elicited plenty of laughs from the audience, especially when Ravsten slid across the stage in his Heelys with purple star stickers covering his nipples. "To me, I have always kind of wanted to do drag ," Allen said. "Just to have that experience and know what it's like and whatnot." Allen said he hopes DSU TUNE IN TO THE DIXIE SUN NEWS' NEWSCAST! Tune in to Dixie Sun News' newscast on Thursday (0411) on Youtube. corn at noon to hear about 'campus news. SWOLM8 entrepreneur isn't careful, the business will end up owning their time." Morrison said it is definitely hard work and a piece of advice he would give to aspiring business starters is: "If you believe in it, you can do it. When you start something, there is going to be a lot of people saying 'you can't do that' and you just gotta push through and stick to your own guns." Morrison was able to build his company from the ground up, which has now gone worldwide to Ireland, Scotland, Australia and Canada with the help of SwolM8's ambassador program. "It's so cool to see it growing so quickly," said Ella Barlow, an ambassador for SwolM8 and a junior biology major from Eagle Mountain. "It's unreal to see this idea that Morrison had last year be headed to one of the biggest fitness conventions, Fitcon." sophomore psychology major from Salt Lake City and drag king participant, said: "This is my first time performing. I've really enjoyed getting involved at DSIA." Briggs said the drag show was a way to express herself. "This is my time to shine," Briggs said. "Here we go; let's knock this out.' The night ended with a runway walk from participants and a standing ovation from audience members. "This is a place of love," Barlow said. "It doesn't matter who you are. If you are trans or straight or black or white. This is a drag show, and you know what? Everyone is welcome, no matter who you are." ir Super-show- ld CONTINUED FROM PAGE will decide to support the show and the collaboration between the Theater Club, LGBTSA and DSU Student Association by making it an annual experience. NataLee Briggs, a , , 1106 1 1 ,,,,,,, " "The Aquabats isn't entirely gone from the world; you can watch episodes of its first e three seasons on its channel, so be sure to tune in and watch The Aquabatson their zany thing you could do as a film student because it's the real deal," Nap lin said. "You do shoots at the school, but they're not on the same level. You don't have the same amount of things to be done." real-wor- Drag show leaves DSU 'shook' BY ABBY .tfi I. '1',.,s't 01 - , -- D 11,k tlf 11,1 You-Tub- Morrison said he is hopeful that his company will continue to grow. He said he wants to organize seminars to answer questions for people who strive to have fitness motivation. "It's been a wonderful ride," Morrison said. "What I hope to do in the future is build a whole entire family together." You can find his products online at swolm8.com or in store at Hustle Sports Nutrition located at 2351 S. River Road No. 2, St. George 84790 open Monday Friday from 10 a.m. 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. 6 p.m. DSU students get 15 percent off everything with student ID. A,' 6 ,t- - , - '1 I 1 f,11 - , - Accredited College ACCSC, 20 nth Program! Accepting 60 students each class. Dixie Prerequisites Accepted : too .; , 1, Financial aid and loans are available for those who qualify 04,.$ n 1 ",e r) 1 4:) vivAv.uchdiedu A Located in Orem, Utah 1 " : ( t )ot ' ! 4' , ',., ,,4 , :... , At, Call for ! i 141 t14';'1) 0 details |