The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. - March 18, 1993-- Page 7
Smith 'Dares to Dream'
Law student writes original musical about actor's struggle
by Jody Frank
Balancing law books ano musical notes, song-writer and
former band member Jordan Smith, has put aside his home-
work to follow "his dream." By detailing one student's
defiance toward society, in particular her father, Smith's
production of"If You Dare ToDream," dares others to follow
theirs.
Though a novice in the field of playwriting, Smith has
been writingmusicsincehe was 14.After taking aplaywriting
class, he decided to combine his experience with music with
theater. "I had been getting into a rut with pop music, and
needed another form of expression," he said. Taking his five
years of experience directing and assistant directing, Smith
combined his talents to write, direct and produce his own:
show.
Stage manager Chris Gilbert said of the show: "It's a
fairy-tale about the New York theater." The musical tells the
story of Brandi (Julie S. Miller), a girl from a midwestern
town who wants tobe an actress. Herfather(RoyFeague)has
other plans for her, however, and in his desire for her to get
a higher education, he sends her to Columbia University.
Brandi dares to defy him, secretly taking the college money
to try and fulfill her dreams in New York City. When she gets
her start in the Big Apple, she becomes romantically in-
volved with Garrett (Bob Kleber),the brotherof her company's
director. The musical is about her struggle to succeed.
Smith's musical contains diverse songs ranging from
blues to doo-wop. "Writing songs for the show was a lot
easier than writing pop songs - they seemed to come
quicker. Part of it seemed to write itself," said Smith. Be-
cause the rehearsal of the show began before the script was
finished, Smith was able to tailor his songs to support the cast
members.''There's an a cappella piece because we have six
of the Friars in the show, (yes, "the" Friars from the Men's
Glee Club) including Bob Kleber as the male lead."
Choreographer Sherry Domstein, a BA Theatre Major,
further highlighted the importance of music in the produc-
tion. "Even when there's dialogue, music is still playing,"she
said, "The chorus for this show is small-- it only has eight
people." There are no big chorus numbers, as there are in
many musicals. The dance style, she explained, will reflect
the songs. "A lot of the songs are different styles -- one is
more waltzy, and there is another with three doo-wop girls
that's more jazzy," said Domstein.
Smith's intention was to write a musical about following
your own desires. "You can't listen to anyone else tell you
what to do," he insisted. In the process of writing the play, he
was often asked why he, a law student, was writing aplay. "It
became a semi-autobiography - not of what I've done, but
what I'd like to do."
IF YOUDARE TO DREAM will be performed March 18-
20 at 8p.m. and 3p.m. March 21 at Schorling Auditorium
(School of Education). Tickets are $5, and are available at
the Union Ticket Office. Call 763-TKTS.
Andrea Barrett, originally a scientist, has now become a successful novelist. She reads tonight at Rackham.
Barrett is character driven
Cava Java Espresso Cafe maze
by Kim Yaged
Cava Java has putme over the top.
First there was Espresso, then
Amer's. Now there's Rendezvous,
Gratzi, Fino and who knows what
else? Fledgling first year students
don't even know there ever was any-
thing else.
There's the Heidelberg, but that's
nothing like it used to be. The Ark and
the Pig try tomake a contribution, but
they're really just Rick's with a less
offensive clientele. TheNectarine has
potential, but even that rarely borders
on attaining outright Ragemode. One
might point to the Bird of Paradise.
Intriguing, but enough?
Rumor has it that there used to be
a rocking dance floor on the second
floorof Charley's, whereWherehouse
Records is currently located, but that
was before my time. And who knows
how true it is anyway? Most univer-
sity students will probably look back
on and tell fables about how Michi-
gan was still in its formidable years
when she or he was attending. Did
those years ever really exist?
Touchdown's is the most recent
institutional addition to campus, and
all that really has offered is a new
place to purchase buffalo wings. At
this rate, that's liable to become as
huge an epidemic as pretentious con-
versationsandbadhotchocolate.Even
EMU, a university most university
students would scoff at the prospect
of attending instead of the U, has a
more versatile and enjoyable selec-
tion of clubs and bars from which to
choose.
So, what is it about Ann Arbor?
Are we really that lame, or is it just
that no one's willing to take a chance?
It'snot like thereisn't ample opportu-
nityeither.Bicycle ClubbecameCac-
tus Jack's and now it's who knows
what.The Galleria is the biggest waste
of space to hit South University since
the University Presidential Estate was
erected. Sorry, Tower Records, if you
needed to show your face, the least
you could have done was hand us
some discount prices.
Then there's the U-Club, the
University'sexcuse forasocial atmo-
sphere. It never was much, but now
you don't even need warm milk and
cookies to put you to sleep. Perhaps
most infuriating is The Southside, an
empty building on the corner of State
and Packard, next to Moe's. If noth-
ing else, someone could build a cof-
fee shop there for those unfortunates
on the other side of campus.
Even the small pleasures of my
procrastinationtime have been mard
as Double Focus, the video arcade
next to the vacant Southside, has been
made into yet another Pinball Pete's.
The face of Michiganopoly is chang-
ing ever so quickly.
The conclusion?AnnArbor is bor-
ing.Spring break excitement isn't the
result of completed mid-terms and
the anticipation over fabulous vaca-
tions. It's the elation over being able
to get the heck out of here.
Stucchi's, cappuccino and slurred
conversation every weekend are not
my idea of a well-rounded environ-
ment. It seems that Ann Arbor has
learned to follow someone else's lead
in the realm of coffee consumption.
It's about time someone took a stand
in regards to night life. Either that or
take better notes.
by Cara Solomon
"I suppose in my fantasy, there are just other people out
there who like to read more than anything,just like I do, and
that my books can reach them in some way," said author
AndreaBarrettofher audience. Barrett,known for her ability
to communicate with her readers through characters touched
with honesty and insight, has written four novels recognized
for their lyrical style and for the strength and clarity of their
characters' voices.
Barrett has not always been a writer. In speaking of her
childhood, she said, "I honestly don't know that I was aware
that writers were living people. They were all dead Russians
in my view. I never knew a writer. It never crossed my mind
that writing was something that one could actually do as a
grown up."
Barrett spent her college years planning a career in the
'! honestly don't know that I was
aware that writers were living
people. They were all dead Russians
in my view... It never crossed my
mind that writing was something
that one could actually do as a
grown up.' x
-Andrea Barrett
sciences. She entered a Ph.D. program in zoology. When this
didn't work out, she went to graduate school to concentrate
on Medieval Theological History. It was during this time,
when she was about 26, that Barrett first realized her pen-
chant for writing.
"I found that I was writing little playlets and snippets of
stories about Franciscan monks," she said. At the age of 29,
Barrett became serious about her career asa writer.Since that
time she has written four novels, with a fifth is coming out in
June.
While writing her first novel, "Lucid Stars," Barrett
traveled to China with her husband. The country later in-
spired her most well known novel, "Middle Kingdom." She
explained, "The country caught hold of my imagination. A
few years later I still couldn't shake it."
Her other novels are set mostly in Massachusetts, where
Barrett grew up as achild in asmall community onCapeCod.
"It seems like a place that's cut off for me, a place I can't get
back to, and I guess we often write about that," she said;
"What moves me to write a story or novel tends to be some
combination of character and setting, a picture or an image
- something vague like that."
Barrett is more interested in character driven fiction than
plot driven fiction. She said, "I don't do outlines. I don't
know what's going on in terms of a story when I start. I do
know the people and I put them somewhere and follow them,
see whatthey'regoing to do in response to where they areand
what's happening. I wouldn't say they get out of control, but
quite often they surprise me. Or I surprise myself."
Her earlier schooling as a scientisthas inspired Barrett, as
of late, to write some short stories about Victorian scientists.
"Every writerhas a growing up novel, or series of them," she
said, "I want to delve into the world at large."
ANDREA BARRET will readfrom her work tonight at
Rackham Ampitheatre at 5p.m. Admission is free.
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