By Jake Herron, Online Editor

October 3, 2018

Artist Elise Radzialowski takes inspiration from Grimm’s fairy tales in her works. The award-winning illustrator majoring in Painting and Drawing from The University of Akron reclaims fairytale imagery to tell stories of modern persons in sequential paintings, according to her biography. “I use imagery found in fairy tales such as unexpected events, travelers and monsters in human form to narrate personal experiences and observations of isolation," Radzialowski said. Her recent narrative work, 'Depression,' depicts an adolescent girl lost in a forest of confusion. Though she is surrounded by shadowy souls, she is unseen by them and unable to communicate. A malevolent spirit of depression, a burnt monster, is the only one who can see her; desperate to be in communion with someone, she allows him to latch upon her, the artist described. “While my work features young female protagonists, the true protagonist is the viewer,” Radzialowski said. In creating her works,...

By Amanda Piekarz, Arts and Entertainment Editor

September 18, 2018

The Downtown Akron Partnership is hosting “3rd Thursday” to celebrate local art, culture and entertainment locations in downtown Akron. This event takes place on the third Thursday of each month in order to “introduce visitors to independent destinations, events and activities that establish Downtown Akron as arts and culture destination,” according to the Downtown Akron Partnership website. Free trolley rides to several areas will be available, including the Northside District, North High Street, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Cascade Plaza, Lock 4 and the Towpath Trail, Exchange and Main Streets, Main and State Streets, Quaker Square and Summit Street. This event offers support for local Akron artists in the many studios and galleries that are highlighted each 3rd Thursday. The event also focuses on local food, and entertainment places, as well as music and shopping opportunities. A few other places highlighted on the website are the Akron Art Museum, DaVinci’s...

By Amanda Piekarz, Arts and Entertainment Editor

September 11, 2018

Radio station 97.5 WONE hosted “Rock the Lock” on Friday, Sept. 7 from 6-10 p.m. at Lock 3, featuring Outside Voices and Zoso, the Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience band. According to WONE 97.5’s website, “Rock the Lock” is a part of Give Back Fridays, where the community hosts fundraisers during the day to support local charities. Admission was $5 at the door and all proceeds went to the charities. Food and drinks were also available with part of the proceeds going to charities. Charities for the 2018 Give Back Fridays have yet to be announced. In 2017, Give Back Fridays raised over $20,000 for local causes. These programs include Project Grad, a program serving at-risk students in Akron; Cascade Community Development, a company helping local veterans; Students with a Goal, which mentors students in the Summit Lake area; and the One In Six Foundation, which is an organization researching prostate cancer. Outside Voices took to the stage first as an opening band...

By Megan Parker, News Contributor

April 19, 2018

While playing one of her original songs, titled “Arrows,” Brenna Lynn stopped for a moment and thought about ways she could include her passion for music into her busy schedule as a college student. “I’m in school, kind of grumbling about it at all times, doing everything I’m supposed to be doing; following directions with my nose in a book,” Lynn thought. “And all I want to do is play music.” Putting her guitar down, Lynn told herself to break the rules and do something in life that she wants to do: create music while in school. After that moment, Lynn began researching the process of self-producing music. Lynn recently performed at Akron’s Got Talent, which was hosted by ZPN, singing “Royals” by Lorde. As one of her musical inspirations, Lynn views Lorde as a powerful songwriter. Nonetheless, Lynn prefers to write original lyrics and compose her own music because she feels her emotions and personality are then better expressed. Lynn said she has been...

By Amanda Piekarz, Arts and Entertainment Editor

September 19, 2018

Editor's Note: All information is preliminary research belonging to Dr. Kara Kvaran of The University of Akron. Any questions or comments regarding the information in the story should be directed to Dr. Kvaran via email, kkvaran@uakron.edu. Dr. Kara Kvaran, a Women’s Studies professor at The University of Akron, studied a sample of horror films in order to understand female sexuality in the horror genre. The parameters of her research were American movies in the horror genre released between 2000 and 2018 with overt elements of female sexuality; which ultimately left a wide distribution of 85 movies. To present the results of her study, Dr. Kvaran hosted “Female Sexuality in 21st Century Horror Films” on Friday, Sept 14 from 12-1 p.m. in the Taber Student Union. Dr. Kvaran began the discussion by asking “What is horror?” She later described horror as an uneasy question to answer because of the many purposes it has within society. Horror is supposed to be unsettling,...

By Amanda Piekarz, Arts and Entertainment Editor

September 13, 2018

Dr. Kara Kvaran, Associate Professor in the Women's Studies department, is hosting “Female Sexuality in 21st Century Horror Films” on Friday, Sept 14 from 12-1 p.m. in room 316 of the Student Union. “This talk examines the history of female sexuality in horror films and how they have evolved to reflect predominant sexual mores and values of American society.” Dr. Kvaran said. “It will offer an in-depth look at how female sexuality in horror films has changed in the new millennium.” During the presentation, Dr. Kvaran will examine historical materials and modern horror films that show issues of gender and sexuality to help students better understand the films. According to the women’s studies webpage, this presentation is part of an ongoing event where feminist speakers across The University of Akron and surrounding institutions present research in the “Rethinking Gender Series 2018-2019”. This presentation will give students the chance to meet with fellow...

By Megan Parker, News Contributor

January 31, 2018

“The Vagina Monologues” is returning to the E.J. Thomas Performance Arts Hall Saturday, Feb. 3, to raise awareness towards violence against women and girls. Mary Triece, director of the Women’s Studies program, said this is her second year sponsoring “The Vagina Monologues” with the Women’s Studies Department and the Multicultural Center. “However, I believe UA has done productions in years past,” Triece said. The play was originally written in 1994 by “playwright and activist Eve Ensler” and is “based on dozens of interviews Ensler conducted with women,” according to the V-Day website. “I hope that students who attend the event come away with a better idea of the varied experiences of women and girls in this country and worldwide. Mainstream society often marginalizes, ignores, or otherwise trivializes women's and girls' experiences,” Triece said. Once a year, various groups around the world produce a performance of the play to address women’s...

By Zaire Daniels, Correspondent

January 23, 2018

Everyone remembers the heartwarming tale of Quasimodo from the Disney classic, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." This semester, the Theatre Guild at The University of Akron will be putting on its own rendition performance and opening the stage to students interested in character roles, musical instruments and the behind-the-scenes tech crew. The performance is scheduled for April 19 to 21, and April 26 to 28 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22 at 2:30 p.m. Dress rehearsal will be held on April 11 to 14 and April 16 to 18. Cast For students interested in character roles, auditions are being held January 24 and 25 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at Guzzetta Hall in Studio 393. The UA Theatre Guild asks for auditioners to prepare 16 to 32 bars of a musical theater song in the style of the piece or written by the composer. An accompanist will be provided during the audition, so be sure to bring sheet music in the key you plan to sing. Additionally, auditioners will be taught choreography and are reminded...

By Erika Newcome, Sports, Arts and Entertainment Editor

February 22, 2018

Forget Dancing with the Stars, The University of Akron’s Ballroom Dance team is hosting Dancing with the Professor’s on Monday, Apr. 9.   Eight professors with the most amount of nominations will be given a lesson by UA’s Ballroom Dance Club at the University! “Our club has been talking about putting on this event for a couple of years. This is the semester we’ve finally decided to act on it, and hopefully, all goes well. The dancing will surely be worth it,” said Louis Orehek President of Akron’s Ballroom Dance Team. Have a professor in mind? Be sure to nominate him or her before polls close on Thursday, Mar. 1 on this website. Dancing with the Professors will be hosted on Mon, Apr. 9 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Ballroom. Tickets will be sold in prior to this event for $5, or at the...

By Elizabeth Zumbach, Arts & Life Writer

March 9, 2015

The northeast Ohio dance company GroundWorks performed their annual spring show on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. Now, in it’s 16th season, the inaugural show was performed in E.J. Thomas Hall’s Stage Door theater. GroundWorks featured dancers Felise Bagley, Noelle Cotler, Annika Sheaff, and Damien Highfield. The performance was directed by David Shimotakahara. The show was presented in three distinct and separate pieces. The first, “Current Frame,” featuring Noelle Cotler and Damien Highfield with musical accompaniment by Nicholas Tavani, had first been performed in 2012 at the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival in Akron. Each piece of the night presented their own unique atmosphere, starting with the baroque-inspired “Current Frame.” The following performance also premiered the dramatic abstract, “The...

By Amanda Piekarz, Arts & Entertainment Editor

October 7, 2018

“Boo at the Zoo” has arrived at the Akron Zoo starting Saturday, Oct. 13 and will happen every Saturday and Sunday in October from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM. The dates are Oct. 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28. “Dress your little ghosts and goblins in their costumes for everyone's favorite non-scary Halloween event: Boo at the Zoo, presented by Acme Fresh Market. Bring your own bag or bucket to collect treats from 12 themed treat stations located throughout the zoo,” Akron Zoo’s website said. Presale tickets for non-members are $12 for trick-or-treaters and $9 for observers, while day-of tickets cost $14 and $11, respectively. Discounted prices are available for membership owners. On Oct. 20, the zoo will be hosting “Zoothing Boo at the Zoo” from 10:00-11:00 AM. for children with special needs who need extra space or have sensory issues. Tickets for this event are separate from general Boo at the Zoo tickets and must be bought in advance online as a limited number is available. For...

By Amanda Piekarz, Arts and Entertainment Editor

October 2, 2018

Presented and catered by Thirsty Dog Brewing Company, Oktoberfest is making its way to Lock 3 in downtown Akron on Friday, Oct. 5 from 5:30-10 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 6 from 6-10 p.m. Hofbrauhaus, a Cleveland-based German brewery, will also be catering at the event. Oktoberfest is known for its authentic German cuisine, but most widely known for the drinking of German lagers. According to Lock 3’s website, live music will be performed by the Chardon Polka Band. As a modern polka band attempting to bring polka music into the new generation, the Chardon Polka Band started as a high school band and has continued to play at the national level, while being well known in the “Oktoberfest circuit,” their website said. Oktoberfest dates back to 1810 when German Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Their union prompted a week-long celebration beginning on Oct. 17. This celebration became a yearly tradition based out of Bavaria, Germany, but...