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Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - 3A


The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednesday, October 29, 2014- 3A

RC Players to put
on 'Rocky Horror'

Cult classic show
to premiere in
shadow-cast at
East Quad
By CAROLINE FILIPS
For The Daily
Each Halloween, we savor
our limited time to partake in
costume-hunting and candy-
buying, but
above all, relish Rocky
the yearly Horror
reemergence Hrrr
of "The Rocky Picture
Horror Picture Show
Show." At least,
that's what Oct.31 and
true followers Nov.A at 8 p.m.
do. Keen Theater,
The original EastQuad
hyper- Free
sexualized,
partly sci-fi,
over-the-top cult classic, "The
Rocky Horror Show," written by
Richard O'Brien, emerged as a
low-budgetproductioninLondon
in 1973. It later gained popularity
and appeared in the U.S., where it
was reincarnated on Broadway.
When it reached Hollywood in
1974, the film version directed
by Jim Sharman became wildly
popular and has since developed
a multi-generational cult
following.
"Rocky Horror" focuses on
the conventional characters
of Brad and Janet and their
unconventional adventures. After
their car stalls in a rainstorm,
their off-route excursions lead
them to a castle that is home to
the alien race, Transylvanians.
The couple is quickly thrown
into a delightful transsexual
experience.
The dialogue is partially
based on 1950s pop-culture
references, many of which are
called out during the show.
Much of the show mimics the
social transitions of the era, such
as the emergence of rock itself
manifesting into everyday life.
A devoted fan will be one who

yells out seemingly incongruous
words and phrases that instantly,
transform the actors' words into
vulgar one-liners.
This year, The RC Players are
presenting a free Halloween
showing of "The Rocky Horror
Picture Show." The show will
take place on Friday and Saturday
at 8 PM in East Quad's Keene
Theater, and it's anticipated to
generate a crowd as large and
lively as the Transylvanians
doing the time warp.
This is the RC's first
performance of "Rocky Horror,"
and LSA sophomore Katrina
Hamann's directorial debut with
the shadow-casted rendition of
the show.
"We're doing ashadow-cast,so
it's not like a full show," Hamann
said. "Basically the actors are
going to be pantomiming all the
movements of what's going on,
on the screen behind them. The
movie will be projected on the
stage."
Shadow-casting "Rocky
Horror" is widely popular, as it
adds an element of interaction
between audience and actors
and that touch of eccentricity
that the show is famous for. LSA
Junior Paris La Rock, cast as
Magenta the maid in the show,
believes that the movie will be
acting as the actors shadow, not
vice versa.
"What's fun is how we lip-
sync and mouth all the words
which adds to that campiness,"
La Rock said. "It adds to what
'Rocky Horror' is all about, that
illusion ... like man, woman,
what are you? And now it's like,
who's really singing? Is it us or
is it them? It's putting on that
performance."
Though shadow-casted
versions of "Rocky Horror"
are popular, Hamann designed
this rendition to appeal to both
"Rocky Horror" veterans and,
virgins alike. In true Rocky
Horror spirit, she confirmed that
the show will include a virgin
sacrifice - a surprise to those
who have never experienced the
show.
"It'll be very sexual, just

addingalittle bitextra,"Hamann
said. "It's all movement-based.
We're going to work with the
body a lot more."
To prepare for the musical
extravaganza, Hamann
experienced little difficulty
finding her ideal cast. After
having potential members dance
to "Time Warp" and other songs;
she was utterly impressed by all,
but those who made the cut were
comfortable with their bodies
and not afraid to emulate the
show's raunchiness. She knew she
wanted confident, energetic, cast-
members who had no inhibitions
- and that's exactly what she got.
"Our cast is awesome and
they're all really energetic and
know the show really well, so
I think it'll be very exciting,"
Hamann said. "I'm just worried
that the Keene won't be able to
hold enough people."
La Rock , the Junior cast
to play Magenta, anticipates a
large crowd as well, who will
take advantage of the holiday
combined with the utter chaos of
"Rocky Horror."
"I feel like most people will
come dressed up," La Rock said.
"People come with their own
props, like on the screen someone
says 'a toast!' People will throw
toast, people will come with their
own toasts, or water guns, or
newspapers."
Although there is controversy
over the deeper meaning of
"Rocky Horror" and whether or
not it set out to establish its cult
following, this portrayal aims to
be less contrived and more about
establishing a fun and carefree
environment for the audience.
"It can be interpreted however
you want it to," Hamann said.
"I think the bottom line is it's
supposed to make people feel
good, it's supposed to get people
hyped up."
Hamann is confident iin
her cast's ability to deliver an
unforgettable experience.
"It's a lot of dancing, a lot
of cross-dressing, a lot of
awesomeness. It's really fun, it's
kind of nonsense," Hamann said.
"It's crazy, it's a classic."

KATHERINE PEKALA/Daily
Kevin Pearson is a co-founder of Today Clothing and a retail veteran with professional stays at adidas, WeSC and Kangol.
Today Clothing:* A 21s
best menswear spot

Hardin and in meeting likeminded people,
building relationships and staying
Pearson focus on connected through whatever
- clothing, skateboarding,
quality, experience snowboarding." ,
Pearson dresses differently,
By ANDREW MCCLURE showing a bit more risk-taking.
Daily Arts Writer His salmon chambray shirt has
two top buttons undone, the
I walk into this minimalist space of which is populated by
space of eggshell-white walls, his hanging grayish beard. Vans
custom-made light fixtures, local sneakers and some naturally
poured-concrete display tables faded 1966VintageLevi'sselvedge
and dyed rugs. It's a cozy home denimpolishhislook.
for craftsmanship and creativity Theelephantintheroomisthat
without the hyper-detail and try- both of these dudes, for the sake of
hardness of many curators. This is accuracy, look fucking cool.
not a museum. It's better because Hardin and Pearson's
you can touch and buy the art friendship started 15 years
fresh off the shelves. ago. Both grew up around
This is Today Clothing - skateboarding and all of the
Ann Arbor's premier post for culture that come with it.
hand-selected, contemporary "Skateboard culture really
menswear. taught the do-it-yourself, figure
"It's more of an attitude than things out, carve your own path,"
an age," said co-founder of Today Hardin said.
and University alum Eric Hardin, Hardin had been working in
regarding my question about a skate shop while Pearson had
the store's target demographic. been expanding his network on
Within that answer Eric the wholesale side when the two
conveniently captured my entire first met. After Hardin graduated
perception<>f the store aesthetic: from the University with a-
one that invites with a smile yet chemical engineering degree in
humbles each customer with its 2003, the pair reconnected and
crispy sophistication. stayed closely in touch until 2011
Hardin is wearing all black, when the idea was born.
from his rubber-canvas sneakers "There was an opportunity
to his blazer blanketing a plain in Ann Arbor and it was time to
tee. His tall, wiry stature gives build something that nobody can
his pinpoint getup a dominant take away from you," Pearson
presence. said, a retail veteran who has
The unique retail space is had previous professional stays
located at215S. FourthAve. Today at adidas Originals, WeSC and
opened last summer and business Kangol.
has been booming since. The Their refined taste has been a
store's distinctive aura extends product of not only years in both
beyond their interior design and design and wholesale, but also
curated product offerings and of their well-stamped passports.
into a cordial workshop which From New York and Paris to
prides itself on quality, kinship Stockholm and Tokyo, the duo
andgood times. gleaned nuggets of insight and
"When you're working with wisdom from all across the globe.
your friends, vendors and "In Japan, the customer is
designers alike, it makes work God," Hardin said, "So, similarly,
pretty easy," said Kevin Pearson, we strive for an educated
the store's other co-founder. customer experience that assures
"We have always been interested quality, fit and comfort."

Hardin went on to say, "most of
these brands we curate, domestic
and otherwise, mill their own
fabric. So we want to pass on that
story,thatlevelofcare,backtothe
consumer."
"One of the Japanese lines we
carry, Monitaly, has a motto of
'Every stitch has a soul,' and we
emulate others that will not settle
for anything but top quality,"
Hardin said.
The two voice casual praise
of select Ann Arbor haunts, like
Comet Coffee, The Espresso Bar
and Literati Bookstore, which
they say they frequent on a regular
basis.
"Ann Arbor has a great flow
of creativity," Pearson said.
Added Hardin, "It's great to be
surrounded by young, business-
driven people putting quality
and experience to the forefront of
what they do."
Looking forward, what's next?
"We need to finalize touches
on the web-store. We can talk
brick-and-mortar expansion later
- when and ,f the time is right,"
Hardin said.
Web presence or not, both
HardinandPearsonfirmlybelieve
in the retail experience.
"There's something about
instant gratification. It's better
to come in, touch it, feel it, try it
on and walk out with it the same
day," Pearson said.
The smiley co-founders will
admit the "Today" name clicked
haphazardly, but there is nothing
haphazard about the immaculate
2,000 square-foot retail space
in which they showcase product
you'll own and use for alifetime.
Today is not just a store but also
a sartorial spa to revitalize one's
closet. Hardin and Pearson have
done all of the heavy lifting by
sourcing these timeless threads,
footwear and accessories.
Swing through the shop, learn
a thing or two, make a friend and
cop some gear. Guaranteed it'll be
coolerthananythingonyourbody
right now.


REACH
From Page 1A
and Collaboration in Health pro-
gram, said universities must take
a more active role in tackling
global health issues.
"Universities ingeneral should
be struggling with the problems
of the common good and how to
be relevant to the problems of
the society," Kolars said.
Founded in 2001, Global
REACH is an organization at the
University Medical School that
aims to create an institution-
wide organization for improving
global health and healthcare.
Last year, faculty members
associated with Global REACH
secured $127 million in grants
from outside institutions for
global health-related research
and authored more than a hun-
dred publications related to the
topic of global health.
The program also fosters
partnerships with institutions
around the world to promote
clinical research. The Joint
Institute for Translational and
Clinical Research, for example,
is a partnership between the
University and Peking Univer-
sity Health Science Center in
China that focuses on cardiovas-
cular, liver, pulmonary and renal
disease.
In addition to collaborating
STEELE
From Page 2A
"We need to do everything that
is going to align the incentives
between the University and the
student and the output of the edu-
cation."
He also proposes that the Uni-
versity offer discounted tuition to
students who enroll in the spring
and summer terms as a means to
improve the financial situation for

with other institutions to pro-
mote clinical research, Global
REACH supports interdisciplin-
ary projects not only in medicine
and public health, but also in
education, engineering, business
and public policy.
The Ethiopia-Michigan
Platform for Advancing Col-
laborative Engagement has
also established partnerships
between the University and
Ethiopian institutions.
The first team of students
traveled to Ethiopia this past
summer. The students focused
on one of four themes: water
and environmental science and
engineering, science teach-
ing, encouraging private sector
engagement in public health
care provision or maternal
health technology.
Jamila Yakubu, program
manager of the Ethiopia Plat-
form, said the program is inter-
disciplinary by design.
"Both faculty and student
participants were very interdis-
ciplinary," she said. "The goal of
the program is to not just focus
on medicine but to bring in par-
ticipants (from) across the Uni-
versity."
Global REACH is currently
engaged in projects in five coun-
tries: Brazil, China, Ethiopia,
Ghana and India. Broader col-
laboration usually stems from
partnerships between two facul-
ty members or laboratories that

branch out into larger networks.
Though partnerships abroad
are not unique to the Univer-
sity, Kolars said Global REACH
alliances emphasize sharing the
responsibility for funding and
decision-making.
"(The Joint Institute for
Translational and Clinical
Research) is jointly funded and
jointly administered," he said.
"And each grant proposed for
funding has to have faculty
members from both institu-
tions."
Dedicating a team of scholars
to track needs and goals of the
partnering institutions also con-
tributes to success, especially
when the institutions are locat-
ed in two different countries.
Collaboration Core, a pro-
gram of the Joint Institute, was
established to help facilitate the
partnership between University
and Peking University.
Amy Huang, Global REACH's
director for China programs,
said the Core is responsible for
researching the science of col-
laboration and formulating
strategies for successful com-
munication and project manage-
ment.
"The members (of the Core)
have facilitated discussions about
culture differences," she said.
"What is very simple here does
not necessarily translate to Chi-
nese culture."


spend money on excessive facil-
ity projects, such as dining halls
and dorms, in order to attract
students.
"We have highly qualified
candidates and they are going to
come here if they are accepted,"
Steele said. "They aren't coming
here whether we have the wood
burning oven or not."
Today, higher education is
still driven dramatically by the
degree, Steele said. He believes
this could be changing drasti-
cally as alternative methods of
education become available and
people consuming education do
not care about the credit.
"If that happens the higher
education disruption is going to
be insane," Steele said. "It will be
like landlines versus cellphones."
Coursera is a prime example
of this future, Steele noted.
"I think the University of
Michigan is far more likely to
weather that storm because we
have so much research here and
we have a lot of students who
need to be here physically on the
campus," Steele said.
For Steele, a critical function
of the Regents is to understand
this change.
"We need to have a board that
understands these potential dis-
ruptions with large organiza-
tions with big fixed capital costs
in this transition that is driven by
technology."


both the University and the stu-
dent.
In July, Wayne State University
announced a 30-percent decrease
in tuition for classes taken in the
spring and summer semesters of
2015.
To improve the student loan
program and decrease taxpayer
expenses, Steele proposes that
the University finance the student
loan program through the unre-
stricted portion of the endow-
ment.
"The University has plenty of

horse power in their endowment
to fund their own student loans, a
hundred percent," Steele said.
Beyond financial initiatives,
Steele said he believes higher edu-
cation could be changing drasti-
cally and the University needs to
be at the forefront of this.
Spending needs to be con-
trolled, especially when a large
transition in higher education
could dramatically disrupt the
University, Steele said. He said he
believes the University - and uni-
versities nationwide - currently

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