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Show 4 Wednesday, December 9, 2009 ARTS www.dailyutahchronicle.com Adaptation of classic tale disappoints Devin Richey STAFF WRITER In Pioneer Theatre Company's third performance of the season, the 1983 classic holiday movie "A Christmas Story" is given a timely live theater treatment. An ominous warning—"You'll shoot your eye out!"—haunts young Ralphie Parker throughout the Christmas season. It might be an appropriate warning, though, as he is dealing in dangerous territory this year. With much disapproval from parents, friends and a department store Santa, he has been coveting a brand new "Red Ryder carbine-action, zoo-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing, which tells time." Ralphie persists on a determined journey to get his BB gun and narrates the misadventures of his family and friends along the way. Unfortunately, the story turns out to be mostly copied straight from the film, rather than truly adapted for the stage. Anybody who has seen the movie will real- ize it is nothing more than a wordfor-word imitation that holds almost nothing new for the viewer to enjoy. What little new material there is hardly merits a trip to the theater. The actors are the one exceptional part of the play, especially Jack Koenig in the newly embodied narrative role of a fully grown Ralph. His acting prowess and comedic timing add magnificently to the role as he reminisces about his character as a young child. Adapting media into different forms, to be done well, requires a necessity for the change. Something must be added that is unique to the new medium and expands the story or theme in some way. This adaptation for the stage fulfilled neither of those. Meddling in classic stories is always dangerous territory and deserves its own fair warning. Put another way: If you're not careful, you'll shoot your eye out. COURTESY ALEXANDER WEISMAN d.richey@ chronicle.utah.edu From left to right, Gavin Yehle, Ally loannides, Byron Melville, Robin Young, and Mason Johnson act out a scene in Pioneer Theatre's 'A Christmas Story: Utah's rich ballet history continues with 'Nutcracker' Sofia Strempek STAFF WRITER `Waltzing' with classic rock Band of U alumni aims to make it big with originality Elliott Bueler STAFF WRITER For an industrial painter, a Crown Burger manager, a medical device salesman and a an owner of a musical instrument small business, making it in rock 'n' roll was something they'd have to do on their own—and they wouldn't have it any other way. The four career men—and U alumni—who comprise the local band Waltzing for Debbie understood the risks and heard the doubts but still felt there was never a better time to try. With core members of an existing band already in place, old acquaintances reunited when guitarist Dave Phillips invited singer Jeremy Hilton to join drummer Dean Maroudas, bassist Matt Harrison in hopes of establishing a classic rock cover band. But as the band began work on material, it became clear that the four of them were suited more for originality. "We realized very quickly through rehearsing that there was quite a bit of synergy between us, among all four of us," Hilton said. "We just had a nice groove going and started to write music." Melding mutual veneration for '705 rock with individual influences ranging from jazz to grunge, the band began to forge an identity for Waltzing for Debbie. With time off after performing their first show last December, the members of the band, with their diverse styles and experience, began to write their first album. Hilton said the collection of songs represents each of the musician's best work. "The music breathes," Hilton said. "It has a pulse to it. So often you hear albums nowadays and they're so overly produced that the music almost loses its soul." Despite decades of collective songwriting experience, the album surpassed even their own expectations. Phillips, who has spent years teaching and playing guitar and is pursuing a master's degree in guitar performance at the U, said he was surprised the album turned out as good as it did. Although the members of Waltzing for Debbie felt that the best way to reach the widest possible audience was to integrate modern elements with the purity of classic rock, they said they understood that the traditional music business format with major labels and big record deals offered them few possibilities. Instead, they embraced online social-networking resources as a means of increasing the band's exposure. Following the success of similar bands, they saw this as their best chance to make it. "Nowadays, you can do that," Hilton said. "You can be four dudes who are into their own careers and make it if you're smart about it, and it starts here locally, developing a really good, strong following in Utah but also being savvy enough to learn just how to market something over the Internet. Never in the history of music has there been more opportunity for a band like ours to actually make it." Now it's simply a matter of making it happen. For four guys who joked about developing their own version of the Snuggie—made of leather and complete with pockets, which they quickly dubbed the "Cuddly"—ingenuity and determination don't appear to be lacking. Neither did their obvious satisfaction as a band, and as musicians, they are intent on not going away quietly. "We're here to stay," Hilton said. "We believe our songwriting is strong enough. We believe our musicianship is as good as anybody out there, and we believe that we're going to appeal to the masses. We're getting ready to really take the world by storm." Clara Drosselmeyer and the Sugar Plum Fairy visited the U in 1955, and they've been dancing around Salt Lake City ever since. Ballet West's "The Nutcracker" premiered at Kingsbury Hall more than half a century ago, and though the venue for the production has since changed, the choreography and music are as much a tradition as the pirouetting characters from the Ballet West that Utah fans have grown to love. Ballet set its foot inside the educational corridors in 1951, when the U became one of the first American universities to have a ballet department. To aid this artistic and educational venture, an equally innovative individual was needed. Utahn William Christensen fit the bill. Christensen and his brother founded the San Francisco Ballet in 1933 and are credited with introducing the famous Russian ballet to America. Christensen came to Salt Lake City in 1948 to work as professor of ballet at the U and brought with him the now-iconic ballet, "The Nutcracker." The strong bond that initially held the U and Ballet West together is reinforced by the dancers. Christensen formed Ballet West—then known as Utah Civic Ballet—in 1963, from the dancers he helped train at the U. The transition from the U to Ballet West is not uncommon. Annie Breneman, a soloist with Ballet West who received her bachelor's of fine arts from the ballet department in 2001, said her education at the U provided good training. "I came to the U...because of its connection with Ballet West," Breneman said. "After a year of dancing with Utah ballet, I got a job offer at Ballet West." At Ballet West, Breneman has performed in "The Nutcracker"—in roles including Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen-12 times. Michael Bearden, another former U student, also performs principal roles with Ballet West, including Cavalier and Snow Prince. The U alumni dancers encapsulate the glitzy characters they portray in "The Nutcracker," but their talent extends beyond the popular holiday show. Adam Sklute, artistic director of Ballet West, said Breneman and Bearden "have a strong classical training, but they also have a great versatility and ability to adapt and work in many different styles." The pas de deux between Ballet West and the U is nurtured by both organizations. Belie Arnold, chairwoman of the ballet department, said of Sklute, "He is a very forward-thinking person who wants to establish a good relationship with the university." Even if dancers' ideal performing careers don't include tiaras and giant mice, the ballet department provides an education to support them. "You have a dream, you want to perform, and it's really great if you can have your dream come true," Arnold said. The dancers of Ballet West are prominent examples of the U's exemplary training and commitment to what Sklute describes as "the highest art form of what human beings have to offer." ri ' s.strempek@chronicle.utah.edu The Where: Capitol Theatre i When: Until Dec. 31. Price: Tickets range from $18 to $66 and are available for purchase at ArtTix by calling 801-355-ARTS (2787) or 888-451 787, on www.arttix.org , or at he Capitol Theatre ticket office, 50 W. 200 South. t ;For more detailed times and I locations, visit www. balletwest.org. Source: Ballet West e.bueler@ chronicle.utah.edu CD release party When: Friday Where: Liquid Joe's. For more information, contact waltzing fordebbie@gmail.com :1/ Hear their album at www.shelterred. com/wfd Free concert to display student composers' work This week, four students in the School of Music will be hosting a performance of compositions they have created throughout Fall Semester. Ian McDougal, Adam Young, Nick Morandi and Stephen Evans have completed their prompts for the department's Composition Seminar course and will have fellow musicians play their work at a free concert Friday afternoon. Several of the composers have been writing their own music since they were as young as 8 years old and have become profoundly passionate about their talents. "Not writing music (would cause) my soul to wither and die," Young said. For students interested in learning or working in music, McDougal offers this advice: "Start early...be true to yourself and always put your own voice into your music no matter what." Devin Richey What: Student Composition Recital ti When: Friday at 2113..1-6: Where:1 375 E:Preside-rits — t_rtcv. r 204"David Gar ner Citii-*e-Re-citar Halt . 1 Fourth Floor ' - 9- ' Free Admission I II I •t„, -11 - .__ • • • |