Entertainment: Multimedia Belt

'How I Learned to Drive' delivers a tense commentary on controversial themes
By Shradha Rao
April 27, 2017 - 11:30am
Syracuse Stage's production of Paula Vogel's play deals with the problems of pedophilia, manipulation, incest and misogyny.

On a two-way road that stretches from center stage into infinity, two actors saunter in and settle into chairs facing the audience. Without touching each other and still engaged in conversation, the man instructs the audience as he unhooks the bra of his uneasy yet compliant niece and marvels at her breasts.

Syracuse Stage’s latest offering, co-produced with Cleveland Playhouse, “How I learnt to Drive” dealing with themes of pedophilia, manipulation, incest and misogyny, does little to comfort the audience.

Awkward, but still black: Issa Rae tells her story
By Laritza Salazar
April 3, 2017 - 10:00am
YouTube and HBO star Issa Rae discussed her rise on the Internet, her future ventures, and much more in an interview led by E! News correspondent Zuri Hall.

Had it not been for Issa Rae’s prodigious talent for catfishing at the ripe age of 11, it’s possible that HBO’s new hit series Insecure would not exist. According to the 32-year-old star of the show, her internet fascination began through an innocent trolling of sorts.

“I was a thirsty middle schooler,” Rae said. “But online I was poppin’.”

Wicked brings magic, friendship and girl power to Syracuse
By Kayla Boyd
March 23, 2017 - 10:00am
Review: Broadway in Syracuse's performance of the Tony Award-winning musical delivers a brilliant and fun performance for all ages.

Even those who have never seen or read The Wizard of Oz have at least heard of it, and if you have even the slightest interest in theater then you have most likely heard of Wicked as well.

WERW roars back to life with energetic Spring Launch Party
By Jishnu Nair
March 1, 2017 - 4:30pm
The station, out of service since 2012, celebrated its return to the AM dial by taking over Schine Underground with performances by Forth Wanderers and Overcoats.

Syracuse University’s student-run radio station WERW returned to the airwaves last Friday, and kicked off its return with one of its famous parties in Schine Underground. The highlights of the occasion were the performances by indie musicians Overcoats and Forth Wanderers.

Syracuse Stage's 'Disgraced' more timely than ever
By Shradha Rao
January 28, 2017 - 7:50pm
Review: This tautly written Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play explores what it means to be a Muslim in the post-9/11 United States.

Disgraced – written by Pakistani-American playwright Ayad Akhtar and directed by May Adrales – could not have arrived at Syracuse Stage at a more fitting time, when everyone is struggling to find their bearings in Trump’s America.

Families swoon over 'Beauty and the Beast' at Redhouse
By Kiona Dyches
December 12, 2016 - 7:40pm
Review: The pleasant rendition of Disney’s 1991 award-winning animated feature provided the audience with enthusiastic and humorous, yet heartfelt performances.

At first glance, it was hard to imagine how an extravagant and familiar Disney story would unfold in the intimate space of the Redhouse Arts Center. But as the actors took the stage, the audience was magically transported to a secluded French village surrounded by lush green trees, houses and bakeries.

Balloons, hula skirts, tutus make Rubblebucket concert memorable
By Chase Ferren
December 10, 2016 - 8:56pm
Review: The indie-dance band returned to snowy Syracuse on Friday night to play The Westcott Theater.

Rubblebucket was met by an adoring mass of true Upstate New Yorkers, who don’t let slushy roads stop them from belting out a song about love and human birth. The members were apparently equally-adoring, telling the crowd, “You guys are so cool.”

What Theater brings supernatural 'Carrie' to Schine Underground with anti-bullying message
By Sarah Ann Peck
December 5, 2016 - 5:09pm
Based off Stephen King’s 1974 novel about a teenage girl whose struggles to fit lead her to being a deadly force at prom, "Carrie" came to life on Dec. 2 and 3.

For advertising junior Max Murphy, Carrie: The Musical has been his favorite musical ever since he listened to it at 16 years old.

“The message of what does it cost to be kind is so incredible, so necessary to be spread on this campus, around this world,” Murphy said.

As director of What Theatre, a campus group open to all non-drama majors at Syracuse University, Murphy chose the show for the student-run organization’s fall musical.

Holiday production of 'Mary Poppins' will highlight the best of city and university
By Brett Weiser-Sc...
November 25, 2016 - 6:32pm
The magical nanny drops in on Central New York for the holidays, and families can see the beloved musical from Nov. 26 to Jan. 8.

Twenty current Syracuse University students join experienced performers for the holiday production of Mary Poppins at Syracuse Stage.

“It’s a big production,” said Joseph Whelan, Syracuse Stage’s assistant marketing director. “It has a big cast. Mary Poppins flies. Bert does a dance at the top of the proscenium. It’s a big musical with big production numbers.”

'Rent' remains as poignant as ever during 20th anniversary tour
By Beth Lindly
November 17, 2016 - 12:55am
Review: Now, perhaps more than any time in recent memory, a musical about life, protest, love and community is needed.

Jonathan Larson’s Rent is, distilled to its purest form, a story about life and what you do with it. One of the musical's most quoted lines is "No day but today" - a sentiment that is as poignant today as it was when Larson premiered it off-Broadway in 1996.

The 20th anniversary tour of Rent, which played at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater from Nov. 15-17, provides audiences with heartfelt, powerful performances and proved why the musical has lasted 20 years.