4 The Crowd outlandishly crafts laughs Photos courtesy of STUDIO 58 Photos left and right: The cast of The Crowd. The an- ticipated premiere focuses on a young couple, Tina and Bobby, struggling to find their place in the world. By ALYD LLEWELLYN e world premiere of renowned Canadian playwright George F. Walker’s newest play, The Crowd, is set to be a celebratory affair. The play was written specifically by Walker for Studio 58’s graduating class this year, and will celebrate the organi- zation’s 50th anniversary, as well as Green Thumb Theatre’s 40th anniver- sary. The play centres on a young couple, Tina and Bobby, who find themselves in trouble as they struggle to find their place in the world. According to Studio 58, The Crowd will feature a wedding, an ar- rest, gang warfare, a snitch, Beyoncé’s greatest hits, a storm, and the apocalypse. Patrick McDonald, Green Thumb Theatre’s artistic director, said the idea to collaborate came up while he was directing Studio 58’s production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest back in 2014. McDonald is set to direct the play. “T was talking to Kathryn Shaw, the artistic director [at Studio 58], and I said why don’t we, for your 50th anni- versary and for our 40th, do something together?’ McDonald said. “So I suggested, why don’t we get George Walker to write a play for this graduating class?” Leslie Jones, McDonald’s wife, will play the role of Delores. This is the fourth Walker play for Jones, a graduate of Studio 58. “The thing about George is that he writes for actors, and he writes strong women’s parts,” said Jones, adding that Walker doesn’t add subtext to actors’ roles. “You say what you mean, and you say it as you think it. He does the work for the ac- tor.” David Hudgins, associate di- rector of Studio 58, said the studio always enjoys working with McDonald. “We've had a bunch of times that we’ve worked with Pat- rick, and the experience has been excellent as it always has been in the past,” he said. Nadine Carew, Green Thumb Theatre’s general manager, said one of the benefits to hav- ing McDonald work with Stu- dio 58 is that he can keep an eye out for future talent. “T would say that every season, the majority of our actors come from Studio 58,” she said. “They’re primarily who we hire.” The Crowd opens on March 17 for Langara students, and March 19 for the public. MARIACHI word origin HE Noun meaning a small ensemble of street musicians. ME From 1941 Mexican Spanish. Show recognizes women through art An all-female exhibit in South Vancouver features art pieces by Langara instructor MB From French mar- jage, called as such because bands performed at wed- ding celebrations. HE Originated in the state of Jalisco. HE Also used as adjec- tive since 1967. Source: Dictionary.com Alex Alegria (middle) and two other members from Los Dorados entertain students on campus last week Monday. Mariachi supplies Latin accents Langara holds Latin America Week featuring Mexico as a part of this year’s campus celebration By VERONNICA MACKILLOP the campus as the band Los Dora- dos kicked off Latin America Week on campus. Latin America Week took place from March 8-15, complete with film screen- ings, talks and live performances delv- ing into the history and significance of the culture. The celebration signifies a growing predominance of Latin Ameri- can culture in B.C., participants say. Alex Alegria, member of Los Dora- dos, said mariachi has a vibrant histo- Ti: sounds of mariachi music filled ry. “Mariachi means music, happy mu- sic,” he said. “Tt’s recorded that the first mariachi lesson was taken in Mexico City in the year 1552.” The formation of Los Dorados has an interesting story behind it, Alegria added. “One day I went to Robson Street and played [mariachi] there, and oth- ers began to join me.” The group soon began to grow, and accepted more calls asking for their services. Alegria said this speaks to a growing importance of Latin American culture in Vancouver. “People from different nationalities hire us a lot,” he said. “We play in schools, seniors homes, we even do fu- nerals and store openings. House par- ties are our main market.” By BRIAN KUROKAWA recognition in the arts, and an up- coming art show attempts to do just that. Beyond the Surface brings together multiple female artists to promote fe- male empowerment. Originally put on by the Unitarian Church of Vancouver and Women’s Spirituality Celebration to coincide with International Women’s Day last week, the show continues until next month. I ocal artists say women need more HELENA WADSLEY Art instructor at Langara College 66 Lori Goldberg, an artist being fea- --- women tured in the show, said she was inter. Fe re- ested in the project because of its ally ac- VERONNICA MACKILLOP photo theme, Beyond the Surface. . . “It was a call out to local women to five in the celebrate Woman’s Day. It seemed ap- arts. And propriate since the idea of looking at > just the surface of people is an issue they re that has caused so much hatredandde yot reco g- struction,” Goldberg said. . Helena Wadsley, an art instructor at nized fe or Langara College who is featuredinthe the work production, said that it’s important to that the According to Jessie Smith, the liai- | 8!V¢ 4 voice to women in art. ; y son for Latin American studies at Lan- “I think it’s important to recognize do a lot of gara, the growing culture may be due that women are really active in the the time to an influx of people of Latin Ameri- arts. And they’re not recognized for the ’ can descent moving to Vancouver. work that they do a lot of the time, be- because He said campus celebrations such as_| Cause I think they re working at more I think Latin America Week are beneficial for | 8 grassroots level, Wadsley said. 3 students. “What I love about using Lat- Wadsley’s pieces were inspired by they're in America as a case study is that it al | her interest in the social history of working at lows Canadian students to see how the | Clothing and how people form their world works,” said Smith. “They learn | identity around it. She feels there can more ofa how Canada relates to Latin America.” | ¢ confusion for young women deciding grassroots Baerbel Enders, a Latin American | ©" What to wear. a ; Laura Bowie, the exhibition coordi- level studies student at Langara, said that she signed up for the program to learn more about her Mexican culture. “I knew mariachi my whole life, but I didn’t know the history, [Alex] talked about mariachi from the beginning,” she said. nator for Beyond the Surface, said the show branched off a previous event which focused on spirituality and reli- gious tradition. Beyond the Surface is open until April 3.