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This Day In USC History August 20, 1982 - A new attendance policy requires students to attend 90 percent of classes. Monday, August 30,1999 UPlC 03fflCCOtk Page 9 Columbia Marionette Theater brings fantasy, fairy tales to life for children by Mackenzie Clements Staff Writer With school just beginning, many stu dents are feeling the stress brought on by multiple papers, tests and projects. One way to prevent getting too strung out from an upcoming paper or exam would be to visit the Columbia Marionette The ater & Puppetry Centre on Laurel Street one weekend. There, you can see popular fairy tales brought to life through the art of marionette puppetry shows consisting entirely of pup pets on strings. The theater is currently performing “Rumpelstiltskin.” Featuring half-size puppets, the show has a little something to entertain every one, including break-dancing elves, a uni cycling monkey and marionette-style love ballads. Although there’s a noticeable absence of anyone more than 8 years old who is not a parent, the performances are enjoyable and filled with colorful music, costumes and sets. Willliam Hicks and his father both came to see the show from Denmark, South Car olina. According to the younger Hicks, the puppeteers perform regularly at a youth arts camp that his father works at in Den I mark. Traveling to Columbia must have been weil worth it, though. As William said, “The show was inter esting. It was pretty neat.” The puppet shows are performed at 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday at the Co lumbia Marionette Theater. A new show is featured every two or three months; “Rumpelstiltskin” will end Nov. 7, and the following weekend, “Jack Frost” will begin its run. Tickets are $4 for adults and children, and children under 2 years old can enter free. The Columbia Marionette Theater, es tablished in 1989, originally was housed in an old warehouse. Four years ago, it was moved to its pre sent location in Riverfront Park at 401 Lau rel St., and it’s currently the only free-stand ing theater of its kind in the country. Entering the theater itself is a magical experience for children a larger-than-life dragon greets guests at the front door. From there, the original shows, which are done entirely by the theater’s staff, put a refreshing twist on common stories. “We write everything in house here,” said Robert Badley, one of the theater’s four frill-time employees and puppeteers. “All the shows are done by us. We have our own recording studio. We also make the sets, and all the puppets are done by us, as well.” . In addition to the puppet show, the the ater contains an exhibit, “Puppetry Around the World,” which is sponsored in part by contributions from the Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington counties. I Refreshments are sold in the lobby,, as are various hand puppets and marionettes ranging in price from $5 to $20. For those interested in becoming in volved with the program, the theater ac cepts volunteer and part-time-help. No USC students work with the theater, although Badley said that in years past sev eral university students have helped out. No experience is required. In addition, voice talents are always wel come. The Columbia Marionette Theater al so offers students a fun twist on tradition al birthday parties. Provided that the $25 reservation fee is paid, you can have your choice of six par ty areas surrounding the stage: Alice’s Gar den, Space Station, Dino Land, Blue Ice Castle, Circus Tent or Castle Sansbury. Ar rive at 2 p.m. to set up, party until 3 p.m. and then enjoy the puppet show from 3 to 3:45 p.m. For more information about weekday performances, weekend schedules up to next year, birthday parties or opportunities to volunteer or work part time, call the the ater at 252-7366. Photos by Mackenzie Clements The Gamecock The Columbia Marionette Theater (below, left) sells puppets like these for $5 to S20. The theater was moved to 401 Laurel St four years ago. USC students discuss importance of deaths of Princess Diana, JFK Jr. ‘Saying the entire world is mourning is not a completely accurate state- . ment, of course, but the media likes to build up celebrities in death.’ Brian Annino USC law student by Ann Marie Miani Assistant etCetera Editor Princess Diana and her companion, Dodi Fayed, were killed in an automo bile accident in Paris on Aug. 31,1997. John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Bessette were killed in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard on July 16, 1999. The media’s coverage of these events raises the question of whether they exaggerate celebrities’ deaths. Diana, who was dubbed “the peo ple’s princess,” was royalty, as well as a mother, a lady and a true humanitar ian, and she was loved by the people of the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. John F. Kennedy Jr. was a prince in the eyes of Americans, as well as the ed itor and publisher of George maga zine. Both were subjected to a media fren zy during their lives and their deaths. For example, Diana was the most pho tographed woman ever, and her funer al was broadcast on cable. And how many times did we hear the media declare that “the entire world is mourning the death of Princess Di ana”? “Saying the entire world is moum i > ing is not a com pletely accurate statement, of course, but the me dia likes to build up celebrities in death,” first-year law stu dent Brian Annino said. Advertising freshman Christy 7princrnp aorrPPC “I feel sorry for Princess Diana, but the coverage is over-exaggerated,” Zeringue said. “It’s a loss, but it’s not like the loss of a family member.” Zeringue said she wasn’t really heart broken over the deaths of either Princess Diana or JFK Jr. “I’m not really affected by people who are high in society, so their death really doesn’t affect my life,” Zeringue said. Business sophomore Derrick Bost said, “I don’t really mourn either of them at all because I didn’t know them per sonally.” People in different parts of the coun try and the world feel differently about the deaths of celebrities like JFK Jr., who is a New England native. “When JFK Jr.’s plane crashed, I was out in Los Angeles, and there wasn’t huge media coverage, except for the national coverage,” Annino said. “But when I spoke to my parents back in Connecticut, that was all that was on the news.” The death of Princess Diana upset freshman Melissa Bushee, but not to the extent of mourning. “It bothered me,” she said. “I felt bad for her family, but I personally was not affected because it wasn’t my family.” Although some USC students don’t really seem to care about the deaths of either Princess Diana or JFK Jr., oth ers do. For Princess Diana, there are books, stamps, commemorative memorabilia and more than 100 Web sites that pay tribute to her. i 'ER' actress sings different tune away from television by Lynn Elber Associated Press LOS ANGELES—Yvette Freeman can do more than fix a fast IV on “ER.” She can belt out a song, direct a movie and, Hollywood’s expectations of a black actress aside, envision a future with a sunny prognosis. Freeman, who plays no-nonsense nurse Haleh Adams on NBC’s popular medical drama, spent part of her off-duty summer months completing a record ed tribute to a woman she much admires, the late jazz singer Dinah Washing ton. She practiced a new specialty as well after gaining entrance into an Amer ican Film Institute training program aimed at developing more women directors. That Freeman is an accomplished singer — she began her career on Broad way in the play “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and won a 1998 Obie Award for “Dinah Whs,” an off-Broadway musical based on Whshington’s life — may come as a surmise to “ER” fans who have seen her onlv in scrubs. Her role as a filmmaker is one that seems a dream even to Freeman her self. “It's fabulous. It’s so hard to get into this (AFI) program, and I got in this year. I’m so stoked. I’m a little scared and happy,’’ she said. One of eight women accepted out of a large pool of applicants, Freeman was given training, a camera and a portion of the money needed for her film. She assembled a production crew and the rest of the funding. She’s so pleased with the result, “The Blessing Why,” that she plans to sub mit it to the Sundance Film Festival. The film stars Michele Lamar Richards (“The Bodyguard”) and Darryl Alan Reed (who appeared with “Freeman” in “Dinah Whs” and “The American President”). “It’s a piece 1 wrote about a black family and the two ways of dealing in this society, being Afrocentric or going the ’corporate way,’ the .American way,” said Freeman, who takes the position that “these two need to blend.” “I don’t think we should separate. I think we should include our culture and be part of this society. But you come away from the movie with the two sides of the issue, and pull from it what you want,” she said. If filmmaking is ner new love, music remains an oia mena. i ne aaugnier oi jazz piaiusi canaries Freeman, she made her name on stage with her rich, supple voice, able to handle blues and ballads with equal ease." A Tribute to Dinah Washington,” her first recording, was produced by Freeman with her husband, jazz pianist and arranger Lanny Hartley. The pair work together at home in sweet harmony. Among the songs they chose for the CD are “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “A Bad Case of the Blues” and “My Foolish Heart.” Missing is the popular Washington tune “What a Diff’rence a Day Makes”; Freeman is saving that for a planned “Dinah Whs” disc. -r--j Campus Notes Business fraternity rush to be held Alpha Kappa Psi fall rush information ' sessions will be held at 8 p.m. today in RH 205 and Tuesday in the Russell House. For more information, call De Lane Stone at 544-4427. ODK accepting applications The first Omicron Delta Kappa meet ing will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Mortar Board room of the Russell House. All members must attend. Any alumni or faculty who are involved with ODK and have an interest in be ing active can attend. For more infor mation, call Mary Murphey Ames at 254-9704. Applications for those inter ested in joining ODK will be available starting Friday. The applications can be picked up at the RH Information Desk, Student Life or in the Campus Activi ties Center. Applications are due Sept. 17. AMA holding meeting . The American Marketing Association is holding its first meeting of the se mester at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on the eighth floor of the Darla Moore School of Business. John Fly, of Milliken, a leading international textile and chemi cal firm, will speak. USC Annual Fund looking for help The USC Annual Fund is offering stu dents the chance to gain valuable work experience and develop marketing and communication skills. The job allows students to work convenient evening and weekend hours on campus. Those interested should apply in person from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Fri day in Suite 119 of the Bymes Build ing. For more information, call 777 2985. Red Cross to hold blood drives The American Red Cross is holding blood drives from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Sept. 1 at 2751 Bull St. For more information, call the Ameri can Red Cross at 251 -6000. USC Dance Company to hold auditions Open auditions for fall and spring dance concerts will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 in Blatt 114. Those interested should be prepared for ballet class au dition as well as jazz and contemporary combinations. For more information, call 777-5636. Orchestra to open 1999-2000 season The USC Symphony Orchestra opens its 1999-2000 season at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Koger Center, with a concert version of John Philip Sousa’s operetta “El Capitan.” The lead role will be sung by Metropolitan Opera tenor An thony Laciura. Tickets are $14, general public; $11, senior citizens and USC faculty and staff; $7, students. Tickets can be bought at the Coliseum box of-, fice or by calling 251 -2222. Literacy Council needs volunteers The Literacy Council of Greater Co lumbia needs volunteers to tutor adults for all levels of literacy. For more in formation, call the council at 765 2555, or contact Joan Kirkpatrick at 777-3799 orjoank@gwm.sc.edu. /