The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition-Arts-Thursday, September 9,1993- Page 5
Visiting writers will broaden your horizons
The University/Border's Visiting Writers Series brings big literary talents to Ann Arbor
by Darcy Lockman
When Scott Turow ("Presumed In-
nocent") came to campus my sopho-
more year, I went to hear him read from
his work at the Rackham Ampitheatre.
A real author, a famous author, coming
to my University - what luck, what a
novelty, what ignorance. Ignorance on
my part, that is.
With all my second year know-how,
I had never heard about the Visiting
Writers Series, co-sponsored by the Uni-
versity and Border's Book Shop. Little
did I know that not-so-well-known to
famous authors visit Ann Arbor to read
from their work almost every other week
during fall and winter semesters.
The writing styles of Jamaica
Kincaid, Al Young, Nancy Willard and
Douglas Adams may have little in com-
mon, but these four novelist/poets each
spent some time in Ann Arbor in the last
academic year, and each filled auditori-
ums as English majors and engineers
alike packed in to hear them read.
To study the words crafted by an
author on a yellowing page arouses a
potpourri of emotions, be itjoy, anger or
just plain ambivalence. To hear said
author speak those phrases live and in
person throws a twist of dimension into
those neatly typed flat letters.
Hearing an author read will destroy
your preconceived notions, for better or
for worse. If one thing is certain, once I
heard Alex Haley read a piece of oral
history at the Michigan Union, the
sounds of "Roots" were never quite the
same.
While big name writers are likely to
draw crowds - after all, even the most
beyond-all-that of Michigan students
come out for a bit of star-gazing when
the gazing's good - the back woods
poet that no one but your sonnet-guz-
zling roommate has ever heard of usu-
ally provides an equally rich read in a
more intimate (i.e. less people show)
setting.
Words on the page, prayers, even
shouts of rage/ What do they .count
against tanks, missiles, guns?/Foreach
line that you write, each war you wage,/
Ten thousand hands write reams to
drown yourone. -DavidMura, "Hope
Without Hope"
Chances are you've never heard of
Mura, or Diane Raptosh, or Thomas
Lynch or Jill Allyn Rosser. What better
way to discover a new favorite than by
hearing them read, by familiarizing
yourself with the person behind the
pen?
For aspiring writers (and who isn't
aspiring to write something?), a trip to a
reading is a reality check, but in a good
way.I neverknew whatan authorlooked
like until I saw Scott Turow. He looked
kind of like my father, with less hair.
I never knew what an author would
talk about in conversation until Ispoke
with Marge Piercy. She sounded like
my fourth grade teacher on an indoor
recess day.
The point is (and you thought I was
just name dropping) that seeing a Vis-
iting Writer, and perhaps even talking
to him or her afterwards, demystifies
the whole aura that surrounds those
who write. It's like coming to the real-
ization that there is no single Santa
Claus, and that anyone who enjoys
hanging out at malls can be Santa.
So pick up a list of visiting writers
at the Hopwood Room in Angell Hall,
or go down to Border's and ask them
for a list. Or check the Daily for pre-
views, profiles, times and places.
Just don't miss the visiting au-
thors. It's your golden opportunity to
fly that big sleigh with Rudolph as
your escort.
FILE PHOTO
A lawyer turns writer and makes more money? Turow proves it can happen.
University Musical Society season sparkles
The biggest and best in classical music, dance and opera come to campus in 1993-94
by Melissa Rose Bernardo
What's your idea of an intense musical experience? Blaring Guns 'n' Roses at
9 on your stereo until the walls shake? Or maybe the alternative music marathon/
carnival known as Lollapalooza? Well, if your tastes run a little more mellow,
allow me to introduce you to the University Musical Society (UMS)-the biggest
sponsor of classical music, dance and opera in Ann Arbor.
For well over 100 years, UMS has been bringing the biggest and brightest
names right to campus. Here is just a taste of what UMS has in store for its '93-
'94 season (be sure you're sitting down for this).
This season UMS is presenting over 50 events, which are divided into three
separate series. "We haven't done anything quite this large in along time," said
UMS spokesperson Sara Billmann.
The season marks the 115th anniversary of the Choral Union Series. "This is
where we have the traditional orchestral concerts and major recitalists," explained
Billmann. Highlights include recitals by the tour-de-force soprano Jessye Norman
(a University graduate), world-renowned pianist Murray Perahia and flute vir-
tuoso, James Galway, plus concerts by the Detroit and Chicago Symphony
Orchestras (stay with me - it only gets better).
The second series is the Chamber Arts Series. Here to entertain will be the
internationally-acclaimed talents of the Borodin String Quartet, the Moscow
Vitruosi and the Beaux Arts Trio.
As an added bonus, pianist Andre Watts has brought together a few of his
k friends (an oboist, cellist, violinist, clarinetist and pianist) for an enchanting
evening of chamber music (are you as excited as I am?).
Rounding out UMS's season is the Choice Series, a potpurri of jazz, classical
and modern dance, theater and world music. Just a few features are the Lincoln
Center Jazz Orchestra, the inventive Les Ballets Africains of Guinea and the
Spanish dance of Pilar Rioja and Company. Also, around holiday time you can
catch Ann Arbor's oldest musical tradition, the performance of Handel's "Mes-
siah."
On the more theatrical side, the New York City Opera'sNational Company will
perform Puccini's heart-wrenching "Madama Butterfly." For the first time in Ann
Arbor, the famed Stratford Festival of Ontario will come in for performances of
Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and an outrageous rendition of
Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Now, I know money is on your mind. Fret not! UMS makes it quite easy to
attend numerous events on a student's budget. On September 18th, they have a
50% discount sale on all events. (Be sure to get there early, though. Only 100 to
200 tickets are available foreach show, and they go fast.) Prices for all events range
from $8 to $50. Also, student rush tickets at half-price are usually available on the
day of the performance.
Whew! I'm breathless. That was quite a list of events. And on top of all that
UMS offers, don't forget about the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the Univer-
sity Department of Dance and a slew of faculty and student ensembles from the
School of Music.
Even if classical music isn't quite in tune with your key, turn the grunge down
for a minute, and hear the sweet twang of the violin, the spine-chilling crescendi
of the orchestras or the purity of one human voice. Look for me at the discount
ticket sale. I'll be the one at the front of the line clutching the Gratzi mug full of
cappucino (because I'll have arrived there at 5 a.m. to get good seats).
Detroit is alive and kicking despite cutbacks
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by Jessie Halladay
Despite the drastic cutbacks caused
by Governor John Engler, Detroit re-
mains aplace of great, although some-
times struggling, talent and culture.
Whatever your artistic desire, Detroit
has something for you. And don't be
put off by rumors about what a waste-
land Detroit is, because amongst the
"rubble" can be found a few gems.
There is some good local theater
available in Detroit, but you have to
look hard or you just might miss it.
Small theaters like the Attic (313-
875-8284) and the Gem (963-9800)
often haveahard time bringing people
in because of the bad funding situation
in Detroit. National touring produc-
tions of big name musicals also find
their way to the inner city to theaters
like the Fisher (872-1000), the Fox
(396-7600) andMasonic Temple (832-
2232).
If your tastes run more towards
museums, head down to Woodward
and take in the nationally-renowned
Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). This is a
great museum that is often taken for
granted by the locals. The budget cut-
backs have hurt the gallery hours but
private funding is increasing their avail-
ability. You better call for hours before
you make the trip over (833-7900).
In this same area there is also the
Historical Museum, complete with a
replication of the streets of old Detroit
in the lower level. A classic tourist spot.
And across the street from the DIA
is the beautiful Detroit Public Library if
you get the sudden urge to read some
Shakespeare after you've been exposed
to all this culture.
For allyou filmbuffs theDlAhouses
the luxuriously-decorated Detroit Film
Theatre, which is famous for showing
rare and limited-run films.
This is the place to see new foreign
and independentfilms, along with some
old classics, in a beautiful setting and
with people who enjoy film. A wide
selection of the latest foreign films, as
wellas restored and rarely released films,
are shown throughout the year. For
schedule information call 833-2323.
Forjazz enthusiasts there isplenty to
see and hear. If you are in Ann Arbor
over Labor Day weekend, you should
definitely plan on taking a field trip to
the Montreaux Detroit Jazz Festival.
This is a yearly event held down-
town in Hart Plaza, situatednextdoor to
the Renaissance Center along the De-
troitRiver. Three stages hold free music
from both local and visiting groups. It's
agreatplace tohang out andsoakup the
local color.
And don't forget about the concert
scene. Most large tours will hit some-
wherein the Detroit area.Nestled down-
town is St. Andrews Hall (961 -MELD
which is a smaller facility where a lot of
the big name, as well as lesser known
"alternative" bands play.
And along Woodward stands the
State and the Fox Theater. Shows like
those of Prince or Sade are likely to hit
the Fox, while a variety of music will
play at the State, which also houses
Club X.
Larger tours like those of U2, the
Cure and Bon Jovi find their way to the
Palace of Auburn Hills (377-0100),
home of the Detroit Pistons. This, of
course, is not actually in Detroit, but
what did you expect?
Ifyou would rather listen to Mozart
than Dinosaur Jr., the Detroit Sym-
phony Orchestra under musical direc-
tor Neeme Jarvi is definitely worth
checking out. The symphony plays at
Orchestra Hall which is also housed
along Woodward. Do you see a pattern
here? For schedule information, call
833-3700.
While there is plenty to do and see
in Ann Arbor, everyone needs to get
away once in awhile. With Detroit
only 45 minutes away, it would be a
waste if you didn't make it there at
least once.
- __ __
FILE PHOTO,
Les Ballets Africains of Guinea will be one of the featured guests of UMS.
THINGS TO DO
Register for Classes
Hook Up Phone
Call for Cable TV Hook-Up
ORDER-
COLUMBIA'PAS
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GREAT STUDENT DISCOUNT POLICY!
Student seating Is $6 with valid ID. Limit 2
tickets per ID. Tickets must be purchased at
the League Ticket Office in the Michigan
League. For more information call 764-0450.
WELCOME BACK STUDENTS!
Visit the State Theatre
where all seats are only $2.50
----------e- - ------
I E xpires 9/30/93
The Rogues' Trial
A Brazilian satire about a couple of
rogues who con their bosses, the
clergy, and even the devil himself.
Oct.14-17,21-24 $10
Trueblood Theatre
Theatre Dept.
Dialopes des
Carmelites The true
account of 16 nuns who were
forced to either cease their
meditations or be executed.
This opera is sung in French
UILT, A Musical
lebration
Midrwest rmiere!
Touching, spirited, and sometimes
humorous stories that inspired
people to create individual panels
for the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
OcL 21-24 $149$10
Madeeshn Theatre
Mesical Theatre Program
To Be Announced
An African-American play will be
featured. Past productions include
The Resurrection of Lady Lester,
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