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Show CULTU E eview.com VOL L ISSUE 21 Happy Chine New Ye The International Center welcomed Year of the Rabbit with a night celebr ing Asian culture. There was food, muse and dancing provided by students from China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. By Melissa Henrie Culture Writer "Gong xi fa chai" and "xin nian kaui le" are expressions you would hear during the Chinese New Year to wish prosperity and many blessings. The university's International Chinese New Year event was held on Friday, Jan. 21. Center Stage was filled with many students, as well as families that came to enjoy the good food and entertainment. The Chinese New Year, which is celebrated all over Asia, is really the one time of year that families designate time together to rejoice and take a break from their bustling lives. They celebrate with good food, music, dancing and fireworks. The entertainment and dinner course that was served for the event included a combination of traditions from China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. There were ten different per- formances, m the school's talente students, the first being a Kabuki dancer dressed in a bea tiful kimono, accompanied by a musician playing the shamisen, an instrument that is similar to a guitar or violin. Next up was a Chinese line dance of the dancing dragon. The tradition of the Chinese dragon is to go around dancing and twisting and turning to scare off evil spirits. While doing this, the dragon e m e crow. , w is ma some guartughsP. There was also a quick lesson on some useful tae kwon do moves that originated in South Korea and a magic show. One of the highlights of the evening was the music that was performed. A few students sang Asian love songs and a band performed. The Korean drums and gongs y a lively bunch of nal students. This is a traon in South Korea that is performed for good luck into the New Year. The drums were played with very strong, fast beats, and shouts from the drum players were incorporated into the music. A fun night full of lots of entertainment and mingling, Chinese New Year was a great success and one that should not be missed in the future. Because James Victore said so Jacob Squire's portrayal of Jud Fry was a highlight of this recent adaptation of the familiar musical. "I'm trying to tell the truth, and sometimes it's ugly." James Victore By Natalie Psuik Culture Writer - y . Renowned artist and graphic designer, James Victore, greeted the students in the UVU Grand Ballroom with a "howdy." He spoke candidly to students about art, life, and his new book. As part of the AVC Lectures class, hosted in part by AIGA , Victore was invited to spend an evening on Jan. 20, speaking to students and giving a more intimate series of workshops for students and professionals the following day. Art students from across Utah were invited to attend the lecture, even students from neighboring states made their way to UVU to meet him. Continued on B4 Randyl Nielson/UVU REVIEW Photo Courtesy of UVU Department of Theatrical Arts 'Oklahoma! Where to find Ado Annie By Katie Morgan Culture Writer Dave Tinney's creative mind has done it again. Oklahoma!, which played in the Ragan Theatre from Jan. 20-29, definitely was not what those familiar with the show had expected. Tinney, the director of the show, took several creative liberties with the script and made Jud a Native American, Aunt Eller an African American and he turned the typical ballet sequence into a saloon-style nightmare. The most interesting and impactful change Tinney made, with the help of Jud's portrayer Jacob Squire, was that instead of hating Jud at the end, I pitied him. The way he was played, Jud wasn't the horribly sinister guy he is usually portrayed as, just terribly mis- understood and misjudged. Hats off to Tinney for turning the villain archetype into a victim of ignorance. As great as Squire's performance was — there is no question about it — the scene stealer of the show was Kelly Coombs, who portrayed the fantastically girly, dim-witted but boy lovin' Ado Annie. I found myself waiting for her to return to the stage, wondering what new quirks she would be bringing next. Her skirt-twirling antics were beyond endearing. It was impossible to scorn her for her wandering ways as far as the peddling Ali Hakim and her beau from home Will Parker were concerned. She was too innocent and too down-right hilarious. Her song "I Cain't Say No" was genius and far Continued on B4 |