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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 1983)
cIdi uo ssinotu At Ease, TTVve Battalion Friday, Septemt>er 23, 1983 3 Comedy group to perform here by Michael Piwonka TMC Battalion reporter © A rapid-fire collage of spicy comedy will hit Texas A&M when the Second City Touring Co. comes to Rudder Audi- torium Sunday. Movie: "How To Beat The High Cost Of Living" Movie: “People Will Talk" Second City is a group of six or seven actors who present topical — some say “irreverent" — comedy sketches. The impro visation-rooted comedy act, which originated in Chicago in 1959, pokes fun at current poli tical and social issues. The troupe lampoons mod ern living, using ideas sug gested by the members and the audience. The material is de veloped in a performance situa tion, then refined in rehearsal to be included in Second City's fast-paced commentaries. Second City has a resident company in Toronto, two tour- Second City is a group of six or seven actors who present topical — some say "irreverent" — comedy sketches. The improvisation- rooted comedy act pokes fun at political and social issues. ing companies, and hosts work shops to train aspiring perfor Alabama to perform Friday mers. It has developed an inter national reputation sparked by engagements in London, Los Angeles and on Broadway, the nationally syndicated “SCTV" television series, and has an im pressive list of former members who helped shape the distinc tive Second City style. Second City, which is in its 24th year, has become recog nized as a starting place for new talent and has such names among its alumni as Peter Boyle, Valerie Harper, Robert Klein, John Candy, Joan Rivers and Avery Schreiber. Many of NBC's “Saturday Night Live" stars, including Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray, GUda Radner, Tim Kazurinsky, Mary Gross, Robin Duke, and Tony Rosato, began their careers in Second City. In 1963, Second City moved behind the television cameras with "Second City Reports," The comedy features a cast of 15 Bryan-College Station re sidents, as well as two faculty members and one student from Texas A6cM. produced in England. Produc tion of "SCTV" began in 1976, and was picked up by NBC in 1981 after five years or syndica tion throughout the United States and Canada. The cast of "SCTV" attracted an enthusias tic following, particularly for Dave Thomas and Rick Moranis, who played Bob and Doug McKenzie. But even with its television success. Second City's touring company is still its trademark. In 1976, Second City's soaring number of booking requests re quired the formation or a second company. Second City, which is being sponsored by the MSC Base ment Committee, will bring its stage show to Rudder Audi torium for an 8 p.m. show. Tick ets are on sale at the MSC Box Office for $4, $5 and $6. Air Supply concert postponed The Air Supply concert, sche duled for tonight, has been post poned so that Russell Hitch cock, lead singer of the Austra lian group, can recover from laryngitis. The concert has been resche duled for October 28 at 8 p.m. in G. Rollie White Coliseum. Air Supply, known for such easy lis tening songs as "Lost in Love," "All Out of Love" and "The One That You Love," began their 1983 World Tour in April in Japan. The North American por tion of the tour started May 17 in California. Ticket refunds will be avail able until Oct. 7. On Friday, Sept. 30, at 8 p.m., the country group Alabama will play at G. Rollie White. Alabama has been nominated for or has received most major music awards since signing with RCA Records in April 1980. Their songs include the hits: "Feels So Right," "Why Lady, Why," and "My Home's in Alabama." Three members of Alabama are cousins — Randy Owens, lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Teddy Gentry, vocals and elec tric bass and Jeff Cook, vocals, lead guitar, keyboards and fid dle. The fourth member is drummer Mark Hemdbn. Opening for Alabama will be Janie Fricke, the Country Music Association's 1982 female vocal ist of the year. Fricke began her career as a jingle singer and back-up vocal ist and in 1977 signed with Col umbia Records as a solo artist. "It Ain't Easy Bein' Easy," "Down To My Last Broken Heart" and "Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby" are just a few her hit songs. Tickets are available at the MSC Box Office. group opens with comedy Theater season by Nicole Williams Battalion reporter StageCenter, a community theater organization, will open its 1983-84 season Thursday with "Sly Fox," a two-act comedy. the play portrays the life of a con man, Foxwell J. Sly, played by Bryan resident Jim Burford. Sly tries to mooch as much money from his "nearest and dearest" friends by pretending he is on his deathbed preparing to write his will. These friends in turn are convinced he is dying and therefore offer their most prized possessions in the hope of being the sole heir to his estate. The comedy features a cast of 15 Bryan-College Station resi dents, as well as two faculty members and one student from Texas A&M. Dr. Edd Bowdon, associate professor of engineering tech nology, plays one of Sly's friends — friends who resemble vultures awaiting the death of their prey. Bowdon has a mas ter's degree in theater to accom pany his engineering doctorate. Also cast in the play is Dr. Wendell Landmann, professor of animal science by day and actor by night, in addition to being a 1965 charter member of StageCenter. He directed "Life With Father" last year and is a major character in this season's opener. Directing "Sly Fox" is Sharon Barrow, a recent graduate from the University who has played lead roles in many of the Univer sity's productions. Other cast members include active community residents who work full-time, moonlight ing as actors and actresses for the non-profit organization. "None of us are professional actors — we do this for the love of it," says Monica Fernandez, the only University student in the production. Fernandez, a senior English major from San Antonio, says for a time she wanted to be an actress, but didn't want to starve. Now she is studying to be a lawyer. "Besides, every good lawyer is a good actor," she says with a laugh. To learn more about StageCenter or to make reserva tions for the show, call 846-4436. 4^ WSC Cnofct Ccnten IKs no+ loo Ia4e ... The MSC Craft Center still has spaces in some of its Craft Workshops, including: Stained Glass (suncatchers) Drawing Beginning Airbrush Batik Matting and Framing Watercolor Pottery - Beginning and Intermediate and several others ... For more details call 845-1631, or come by the MSC Craft Center in the basement of the MSC.