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. The Iichigan Daily. VVeve gotit alb NEWS SPORTS ARTS PHOTO OPINION We're Pulling an All -Nighter. How About You? Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, our copy centers provide everything you need to meet impossible deadlines. Including our staff. Open 24 hours 761-4539 540 East Liberty Across from Jacobson's Open7 days/wk 662-1222 530 South State Street In the Michigan Union Open 24 hours 747-9070 1220 South University Next to McDonald's Open 24 hours 487-3008 1514 Washtenaw Ave. 1/2 Mile W. of Water Tower I'. I . - . - w - - A - - m - t S a 1"-f-:7