   On January 17, 2017, The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State will be offering an extra 15% discount for student tickets to the Broadway-touring shows of Cinderella, Dirty Dancing, and Jersey Boys!
Read original press release here: www.cpa.psu.edu/news/university-park-students-save-touring-broadway-jan-17  This week, PAC got the inside scoop on Penn State a cappella group Shades of Blue, which proudly celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.
"We were originally formed as a predominantly musical theater major group, but have since branched out to include students from all majors," said Shades of Blue President Eleanor King. "We currently have 19 members, but the group has ranged from as small as 12 to as large as 24. We are one big happy family who loves spending time together, whether we are singing or not." King, who also serves as Vice President of Community Relations for PAC, appreciates the unique opportunities for creativity and development offered by Shades of Blue. "Our members love Shades because it's an awesome creative outlet for those who don't always have that available to them in their majors," she said. "We are always looking for new places to perform and better ways to spread our music and love for it across Penn State." This year, Shades of Blue has lots of exciting events in store as they prepare for their anniversary celebration. "This semester is going to be slower for Shades since we are gearing up for a huge Spring Concert," King explained. "We are still having a Fall Concert on November 30th in 112 Kern at 8 p.m., though! Our fall concert is a performance of our Shades 'classics,' or songs that we all love and have been singing for a while. We do have a few new ones added to our rep that we are excited to share, though!" Want to know how to get involved with this awesome group? Read on. "As with most a cappella groups, the way to get involved is to come out an audition for us, either in the fall or in the spring," said King. "We typically participate in the PAC Common Auditions, which is a great place for those interested to try out for a number of different groups. So, if you are interested, keep an eye out for details about common auditions!" Check out our exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Penn State Thespians' production of The Drowsy Chaperone.
 If producing a different play almost every single weekend of the academic year sounds crazy, just wait until you meet the members of No Refund Theatre.
More commonly known as NRT, this inclusive theatre club is committed to providing performing opportunities to students of all majors. Each semester, the club produces 8-10 entirely student-run performances in a wide variety of genres. PAC got the inside scoop on the organization from NRT’s current president, senior film and video major Julie Whelan. “No Refund Theatre is a community of friends coming together to make really cool art,” said Whelan. “We believe that all students, regardless of major, should have the chance to get involved with theatre on the Penn State campus, so we try our best to provide as many opportunities as possible.” For many NRT members, the club serves as a creative outlet and an opportunity to collaborate with fellow creative-minded individuals to produce a meaningful piece of theatre. “We are entirely student-run, so there is a lot of artistic freedom that comes along with putting on an NRT show,” said Whelan. “It’s a really cool moment to see the final product come together and think, ‘We did that. Every single part of that was created by us.’” NRT prides itself on providing opportunities for students to contribute to all areas of a production, including acting, directing, and more. “Personally, I’ve participated in aspects such as acting, tech, and directing,” said Whelan. NRT has already completed two shows so far this semester, and next in the lineup is Deathtrap, directed by Sam Phillips. The show will run from September 28-30 at 8 p.m. in 111 Forum, and admission is completely free. To see what else is coming up for NRT this semester, check out their calendar at norefundtheatre.weebly.com/fall-2017-lineup.html. So, what if you really want to be involved with NRT, but you’re already crazy-busy with a million other things? Not to worry. “NRT is great because you can really participate as much or as little as you want and still be considered a member,” said Whelan. “Some people choose to stick with doing one show a semester, and there are some crazies who do a lot more than that, bless their hearts.” If NRT sounds like your cup of tea, here’s how you can get involved. “The easiest way someone can get involved with NRT is to come see our shows!” said Whelan. “They’re free and really frickin’ good, so I’d suggest it. If you’re looking to get involved with the acting side of things, we have two rounds of auditions a semester. The best way to hear about all upcoming auditions and other events is to like us on Facebook at facebook.com/NoRefundTheatre/ or email us at nertmail.psu@gmail.com.” For a lot of members, NRT has provided opportunities that extend beyond the stage. “Through my three, going on four, years of being a part of NRT, I’ve learned so much more than just how to direct a great show or deliver a solid monologue,” said Whelan. “I’ve learned how to be a better listener, I’ve learned how to be a better friend, and I’ve learned how to be a better leader, just to name a few. Our members can take what they learn from this goofy club and apply it to the real world, which is really frickin’ cool to me.” |
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