Sept. 22-25The Longest Yard

Sept. 29-Oct. 2The Honeymooners

Oct. 6-9Batman Begins

Oct. 13-16Bewitched

Oct. 20-23Cinderella Man

Oct. 27-30War of the Worlds

Nov. 3-6Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Nov. 10-13Stealth

Nov. 17-20The Island

Dec. 1-4Dukes of Hazzard

Dec. 8-11The Brothers Grimm

An observant few may have noticed that a handful of students returned from summer break with long, shaggy hair, sideburns and beards. Perhaps they could not afford back-to-school trims because of high gas prices. Some might have been trying out a new style. Many, however, had their hearts set on auditioning for this year’s Fine Arts rock musical Hair. “We wanted as much of the hair to be as natural as possible,” said director and Fine Arts department Chairperson, Dr. Patrick Chmel. “I was delighted because it showed me the level of commitment. They were primitive looking. It gave me the feeling that people were really taking the production seriously.” These aspiring hippies were not the only ones looking forward to the coming theater season. Between productions by the Fine Arts department, Westminster and Alpha Psi Omega, Rider’s honorary theater society, there are several upbeat theatrical performances set to take place this semester. While Lawrenceville students are busy sewing peace symbol patches onto their pant legs and learning about life in the ’60s, Westminster students have begun rehearsing for their musical Is There Life After High School, which will be per-formed Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Westminster Playhouse. The show is a musical comedy that revolves around a group of people look-

ing back at what life was like in high school, according to the director, Fine Arts Professor Miriam Mills. “It is a warm, humorous, thoughtful and touching musical,” she said. “The music is lovely and the kids are delightful. They are working so hard and they are so intent on doing an excellent job.” Among student-run productions, an improvisational comedy show will be performed by Alpha Psi Omega in the Yvonne Theater on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m. “It’s all about the energy. It’s basically just a group of people coming together to play these fun improv games,” said Alpha Psi president, senior GinaMaria Cicchino. “Then you see which games you’re good at, then you get an audience and do the games for them.” Usually, the group performs one improv show each semester, but this year a second one is in the plans for December, according to co-director and senior Matt Cook. “It’s going to be a great time,” he said. “We have a lot of talented people that bring something different to every game. This year we’re trying to really pump it up and take it further than we ever have before.” Also, in keeping with tradition, Alpha Psi will perform its fourth annual Live With Alpha Psi, It’s Saturday Night, which is a Rider-focused version of Saturday Night Live. The show will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., in the new studio theater, pending

its completion. “Basically, what we do is get a group of people together and we write scripts and come up with ideas,” said Cicchino. “When we’ve formulated our ideas we get actors for them and we perform it.” The show allows students to create their own material, which has always been a lot of fun for everyone involved, said Cicchino. It is hosted by a different fac-ulty member each year. No one, for this year, has been officially decided on yet. “It will be hosted, hopefully, by some-one really special,” she said. The cast has yet to be selected. Auditions will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 10 p.m., in the Fine Arts Yvonne Lobby. Students who are interested only in writ-ing do not need to audition. In the meantime, the community can look forward to traveling back. The 1967 days of sunshine and free love will return when Hair is performed Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m., Friday Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. and Saturday Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. All performances will be held in the Yvonne Theater. “It is an extraordinary production,” said Chmel, who is looking forward to the revival of the show he directed here in 1991. “It totally defies convention and the purpose of it is to introduce an alternate society to the audience that underscores the desire, wishes, dreams, fantasies and anger of the hippy, flower child generation of the 1960s.”

8 9Friday, September 23, 2005

The original film The Longest Yard, released in 1974, was a dramatic, serious, intense foot-ball movie. The reincarnation, however, was approached with a fun, lighthearted view of prison inmates and football. Adam Sandler took a classic, dramatic foot-ball movie and put his own spin on it by insert-ing some big-time stars from inside and outside the world of Hollywood. Because of this cast-ing, the remake was successful in changing the film’s genre from a gripping drama to a fun summer flick. In the film, Paul Crewe (Sandler), a former professional football player, is sent to a Texas jail after leading the cops on a high-speed police chase. When Crewe arrives, he is constantly reminded that he was kicked out of profes-sional football because of allegations that he fixed a game. However, when the prison warden asks Crewe to assemble a football team from the inmate population and play against the guards in a game, his long-dormant competitive instincts are ignited once again. Sandler basically plays the same role that has made him famous: the straight man to a cast of ridiculous characters. He gives a solid perfor-mance by convincingly showing the audience his changes in attitude throughout the film. Chris Rock reprises the roll of Caretaker Farrell by giving a decent acting performance, except

when the occasional bit from his stand-up routine filters into his dialogue. Burt Reynolds, the original Paul Crewe, returns as Coach Nate Scarborough, the mentor of the team. While Reynolds was better as Crewe in the 1974 origi-

nal, he still does a good job as Scarborough. James Cromwell’s performance is mediocre at the start of the movie, but he performs better in the second half. The Longest Yard also enlists talent from

outside the world of acting. Rap star Nelly gives a good performance as the star running back. Former NFL All-Pro Michael Irvin gives the best performance of the non-actors—as he completely takes over the screen whenever he is speaking. Two stars from the world of wrestling even play roles in this movie: Steve Austin, as a guard, and Bill Goldberg, as a prisoner, but neither are much to speak of. This comedy manages to stay true to itself by remaining jocular with its view towards prison topics. My personal favorite was Cheeseburger Eddy, who is able to bring in McDonald’s burg-ers from outside the prison and sell them to the inmates like drugs. The movie is great for sports fans because it does not make some of the mistakes that other sports movies do, such as including shots that don’t match up and changing the rules of the game so that the story sounds better. My one complaint about this movie is the same complaint I have about all of Sandler’s movies—the casting. While Nelly acted well and Irvin was fantastic, Goldberg did not add anything to the movie. I am also getting sick of the cameos from Sandler’s buddies and former co-stars, especially Rob Schneider. This movie is what it is. It makes peo-ple, particularly football fans, laugh and enjoy themselves. When watching this movie, drift away for an hour and a half and leave the the-ater imitating Cheeseburger Eddy.

Sandler remake goes the extra yard, hits BLC Theater

Photo copyright Happy Madison Productions

Adam Sandler’s remake of The Longest Yard is the third film in the SEC’s free weekend movie series this fall. It will be shown in the BLC Theater from Sept. 22-25 at 7:30 p.m.

By Eamon Ducey

Day, Carlile set to rock Rider

Free music never fails to attract attention. But when a well known art-ist, such as Howie Day, provides that free music, it is enough to alert an entire college campus. The Student Entertainment Council (SEC) is featuring Howie Day and Brandi Carlile as its entertainment for this year’s fall concert. “SEC is better known for our spring concert,” said Brian Rocks, president of SEC. “Having a smaller fall concert is part of our efforts to create more consistent programming on campus.” Thanks to the sponsorship money from Samsung and 411 Connect, use of the Student Activities Fee, and receiving a good deal with SEC’s mid-agent, Pretty Polly Productions, the event is presented as free of charge for all Rider students. “We don’t ever like to charge stu-dents,” said Camille Alston, one of SEC’s special events chairperson. “We would always prefer to have people just come out and enjoy a nice show.” Two elements are put into consider-ation when choosing a headliner for such an event: whoever is currently touring and is popular with the students, said Alston. As luck would have it, Howie Day hap-pened to be doing a campus tour with Verizon Wireless Music Unleashed and became an ideal option for SEC. According to Alston, Special Events Chairmen Evan Pierri and Kimberly Fleming divided up the work in order to prepare for the event months ahead of time. They are responsible for these

concerts as well as various other events throughout the year. SEC advisor, Bridget Weikel, along with Rocks, supported them in their efforts. “It’s a neat experience to be their adviser,” said Weikel. “They contacted everyone. I just reviewed and signed the contract. They do all the leg work.” The advertisements around campus have created a buzz and have prompted students to rush and get their tickets. “I’m excited. I already got my ticket. I like going to concerts,” said freshman Shelley Tibbetts. “It’s cool that the school

is doing this for us. He’s more current than [the artists] some other schools get. He’s more of what I’m into.” The concert will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in the Bart Luedeke Center (BLC) Cavalla Room. The doors open at 9 p.m., and tickets are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the BLC ticket booth. “We just want everyone to have a good time,” said Alston. “Howie Day is known for the quality of his show produc-tion. So I think we can all just come out and enjoy an awesome, free concert.”

By Jessica Gatdula & Patty Wittenburg

Singer-songwriters Howie Day and Brandi Carlile (inset) are the featured perform-ers at this year’s SEC fall concert, which will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in the BLC Cavalla Room. The event will be free of charge for all Rider students.

Photo copyright Sony Records; inset photo copyright Columbia Records

Rider theater shows off upcoming fall productionsBy Lacey Korevec

Students audition for Alpha Psi Omega’s improv show. (Insets) Sophomore Joe Saba-tino and seniors Matt Cook and Arnaldo Ortiz (clockwise) get ready for Hair.

Photos by Al Viciedo

Films begin at 7:30 p.m. in the BLC Theater, although show times are subject to change. Admission is free.

Alpha Psi Omega Improv ShowOct. 8, 8 p.m.Yvonne Theater

Live With Alpha Psi,It’s Saturday NightDec. 3, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.Studio TheaterAuditions: Oct. 18, 10 p.m.Fine Arts Yvonne Lobby

HairNov. 10, and Nov. 17, 7 p.m.Nov. 11, 8 p.m.Nov. 12, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Nov. 18, 8 p.m.Nov. 19, 9 p.m.Yvonne Theater

The Servant of Two Masters, to be performed spring 2006Auditions: Nov. 13, 1 p.m.Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.Yvonne Theater

Is There LifeAfter High School?Dec. 2-3, 8 p.m.Dec. 4, 2 p.m.Westminster Playhouse

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