The Jewish Theatre Ensemble’s production of “Rent” is more than singing and dancing. It’s a tortured tale about addiction, loss and the AIDS epidemic — as well as a channel for educating the Northwestern community about an often overlooked era. “Rent” will premiere on Friday at Shanley Pavilion at 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. There.
When Communication and Weinberg senior Mantra Radhakrishnan saw the play “Shikhandi” in Bengaluru, India, where she grew up, she was struck by its comedic retelling of the origin of Indian mythology’s first gender-nonconforming figure. This weekend, seven years after that first viewing, Radhakrishnan will direct their version of the show with Vibrant Colors Collective, Northwestern’s.
For Mee-Ow Comedy, Northwestern’s premier comedy group, committing to the bit can look like “yes, and…” improv, setting your crotch on fire or crashing a framed image and shattering the inset glass cover — among other variations. Mark Lancaster (Communication ’84) had just been cast in Mee-Ow Comedy in 1979. Playing a game of freeze.
The smell of vanilla wafts over the audience as Ernestine, played by Communication junior Rachel Rubin, makes a real golden butter cake throughout “Birthday Candles,” WAVE Productions’ spring play. The show follows Ernestine’s 17th to 107th birthdays and explores traditions that bring people together through time. “Birthday Candles” will have four total showtimes Friday and.
As a venue, Shanley Pavilion is far from perfect: it doesn’t fit many people, large wooden poles obstruct the view at some angles and there aren’t many places for actors to enter and exit the stage without being seen. In spite of these limitations –– or, perhaps, because of them –– no two seats in.