Nick Lachey’s choir at XU
Stephanie Metz
Assistant Campus News Editor
top40.about.com
Nick Lachey looks upset when he really shouldn't be.
Hometown hero Nick Lachey, lead singer for boy band 98º, brother of “Dancing with the Stars” phenom Drew Lachey and ex-husband of Jessica Simpson, is competing in NBC’s newest reality show: “Clash of the Choirs,” a four day special starting Dec. 17. The show will bring both Cincinnati and Xavier into the national spotlight.
Stars like Lachey, Patti LaBelle, Michael Bolton and Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child will coach gospel choirs from their hometowns to come together on national television and battle it out for America’s votes. Nick’s coaching sessions with the group, along with the group’s other practice sessions, have been filmed in the practice facilities of Edgecliff Hall.
Cathy Springfield, director for performing arts and Xavier Players, and the
coordinator of the choir’s rehearsal times and space here at Xavier has
found Lachey easy to work with thus far.
In preparation for Nick’s arrival at Edgecliff to practice with the choir all he requested was a dressing room with a TV. The piano lab was unlocked, a few chairs set up, and a TV brought in. A coffeemaker was also plugged in, but coffee was not necessary: “Lachey drinks tea,” said Springfield. Aside from these minor requests, “He’s not fussy.”
Lachey’s involvement began with the audition process. Although not physically present at the open-call auditions at Walnut Hills High School, Lachey looked at numerous audition tapes and fought for the candidates to make to callback auditions.
The search for Cincinnati’s choir began with approximately 500 singers and was whittled down to 20 to form the final group.
Coupled with Lachey’s commitment to coach the choir, Steven Zegree has been directing them and Vince Pesce has choreographed the songs they’ll perform on camera during the special.
Zegree is a music professor at Western Michigan University who directs the top jazz vocal group in the country. He’s also done the arrangements for the choir’s songs. “He’s been so fantastic,” said Springfield.
She was also very impressed by Pesce’s choreography. Pesce is a dancer who has appeared on Broadway in the Tony-award winning revival of “The Pajama Game” and is now branching out to choreography.
“He molded the choreography to the choir,” said Springfield. Pesce watched a rehearsal to get a feel for the choir and then choreographed their numbers on the spot to suit their overall personality.
The choir has been practicing songs from a wide variety of genres to win over as many voters as possible. Their repertoire includes “I Got Friends in Low Places,” “What a Wonderful World,” Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Sing a Song” and a vocal version of “Flight of the Bumblebee.”
Overall, the experience of briging Lachey and NBC to campus has been enjoyable and interesting. Springfield compares the experience to a minor invasion: “They come in like an army,” said Springfield. She added that they conducted themselves in a very professional manner.
'Snow Queen' warms heart
Brandy Williams
Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor
Erika Breese
Xavier Theatre Arts presented “The Snow Queen,” adapted by Jonathan Graham and based on the original by Hans Christian Anderson story. The play was performed Thursday, Dec. 6-9 in the Gallagher Student Center. The children-friendly play was very interesting and well put together.
The play is a coming of age tale about friendship, love and faith. The plot is about a snow queen, played by freshman Sarah Wienten, who wants to ice over the world and control it, but she has just one problem—she needs an heir.
She sends two members of her court: a troll named Nick, played by junior Mike Sause and an elf named Nell, played by freshman Lisa Margevicius, to entice a young boy named Kai, played by senior Michael Gunter, to come to her ice castle and be her prince and heir.
Thinking that this would be a great opportunity to escape his controlling parents Kai gladly accepts, but finds that once he reaches the kingdom his heart is as cold as ice. His friend Gerda, played by sophomore Jennifer Roehm, encounters the elf and troll on her journey to save Kai from his cold destiny.
The actors did a wonderful job of making the audience feel as though they were a part of every scene, such as in the play’s opening when the cast walks through the audience singing Christmas carols setting the scene. The music, the fake snow and the use of shadowy images behind a white curtain gave the play a fairy tale feel.
The play used a great blend of puppetry and costumes to make the characters humorous and loveable. The actors were fantastic and filled the big shoes that many of the parts called for, especially those of Nell the elf and Nick the troll who carried the play from scene to scene.
The only questionable scene of the play at the end when the two “children” start making out. This was a bit confusing as they had child-like behavior and even said the boy was twelve.
The director Irini Niculescu shared her first experience directing the Xavier Players and did a wonderful job walking the actors through their first children-themed play.
It was a pleasant play and a great way to start the Christmas season off with love, friendship and snow.
Stephanie Metz
Arts & Entertainment Editor
BINGO
Like to win? Take your chances at RSA sponsored Bingo! The game will be held at 9 p.m. with doors open at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14 in O’Connor Sports Center. There will be Subway, Papa John’s pizza, Chipotle and plenty of other snacks. Prizes will total over $2500. This event is free to XU students.
Rock Musical
The XU Singers present “Rock Musical: A Spiritual Journey” featuring songs from “Hair,” “Tommy,” “Movin’ Out,” “Queen,” “The Wiz” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The musical will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13-15 in the Gallagher Theater. There will be a live eight piece band, choreography, full lights and sound. Tickets are $3 for students.
Late Night Snack
The GSC Late Night Snack for December is KFC at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec.13 in the GSC Food Court. Food is free to XU students with All Card.
Toolbox
Join the Xavier Players for an evening of original sketch comedy and improvisation from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday, Dec.14 in the GSC Studio. Admission is either $2, two canned goods or a Singers ticket stub.
