From Sun to Sun is about African America railroad workers in 1916, living in railroad camps around Lake Okeechobee and Central Florida. Its central protagonist is Youngblood, a young man looking to escape his familiar surroundings for adventure in other places. He must face his disapproving parents and the town troublemaker, Tatum, who he had befriended. Without giving too much away, I found the script to be a little predictable and slightly disorganized. I appreciate learning about the lives of people who lived in the time period, but wish that it expanded more on the characters and their day to day obstacles. There were many characters that were unnecessary and detracting to the central plot. There were also a few scenes that could have either been cut or further explored. The show in general also confused me. In every scene there is at least one song or dance although the show is not advertised as a musical. I know that railroad workers often sang songs to pass time, but I was confused when the entire cast broke out into a musical number when nothing encouraged them to do so. I think the play would have done better if it was advertised as a musical.

The cast did a good job portraying a time long before theirs. I was especially impressed by Pascha Weaver as Miss ‘Phelia & Granny and Felichia Wright as Ju’el. They were able to successfully step into their characters and the dialect. They both seemed incredibly natural in their roles and were very convincing. I was not as impressed with Troy Brooks who played Youngblood and Edmarie Montes who played Belle. I felt that they both were going through the motions of their characters rather than really becoming them. The rest of the cast had their own hit and miss moments. The singing was powerful, emotional, and well done, especially by Kerri Alexander. The southern dialects were not well rehearsed and many cast members had a hard time enunciating words with the dialogue.

I enjoyed the set very much. It had a realistic look with the wooden paneling that surrounded the stage, which both represented the inside and outside of shacks in the railroad town. The lighting also effectively represented the time of day in the town, which was essential to the plot considering the show takes place in one day. The sound was good. Since the cast projected the need for microphones was not essential. The music levels were set well and could be heard great. I loved how the costumes for the workers looked old and worn. That made it believable to me. The Island Dancers had bright and colorful costumes which juxtaposed nicely with the dull tones of the workers. I also liked how there was no stage crew and instead the actors were responsible for moving the set pieces around in character. This did not break the tone of the scenes and this kept the audience focused on the plot.

For every good moment this show had, there was a poor moment to follow it. While the technical aspects of the production and most of the cast did great, it was brought down by some ok performances and an unorganized and unfocused script. I would recommend this to any person who wishes to support the arts at UCF and the Zora Neale Hurston Festival. I do not think this show is memorial but the effort of the UCF faculty and students is appreciated. Out of five stars, I would give this three and a half.

Blonsky spoke about her life before getting the part of Tracy Turnblad. She began by saying that she loved singing since the age of three. In 2000, when she was 12, her grandfather died, which resulted in her family’s moving into her grandmother’s house to help her cope with it. Since the death of her husband, Blonsky’s grandmother’s health became steadily worse, eventually resulting in dementia.

Blonsky kept singing at the request of her grandmother, and even expressed her love for the musical Hairspray, and her dream to one day star as its principle character, Tracy. She even sent the Broadway producers of the musical her picture.

In January of 2005, her grandmother died. Within an hour of hearing the news, a Broadway producer called her to tell her that they wanted her to audition.

Over the next few days she simultaneously practiced songs for her audition and her grandmother’s funeral. Unfortunately, the producers told her she was too young for the part, as she was only 16 at the time of the audition. During this time, Blonsky became closer to her whole family, including her uncle Steve.

On her 17th birthday, Blonsky checked the Hairspray Web site and saw they were looking for a girl between the ages of 17-24 to play Tracy in the movie version of the musical. With her family’s support, she attended four callbacks over a period of six months.

On June 7, the day before her senior prom, producers came to her place of work (a Coldstone Creamery ice cream store), stating that Blonsky was one of the four remaining girls considered for the part. They showed her a video of the director of the movie, who told her, “Go make yourself a big ice cream cone, because you’re playing Tracy.”

Blonsky continued her speech by talking about her experiences filming Hairspray and her rise to fame. She had to fly around the world for premiers as well as sing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She also talked quite emotionally of the suicide of her uncle Steve and her incident in the Turks and Caicos islands last year.

Overall, Blonsky’s speech was very lighthearted and uplifting. She spoke humorously of her encounters meeting famous people (it turns out the Angelina Jolie’s kids love the movie) as well as some of her other projects (check next week- apparently some big news is coming).

She finished up the night by singing “Good Morning Baltimore,” signing autographs and being treated to a chorus of “Happy Birthday” (she turns 21 on November 9). I am sure I can speak for UCF students and say she was great and we hope she enjoyed her time here.

Pirates is an older musical, first being performed in 1879. It is about a young man who, in his twenty-first year, is no longer bound to the pirates and decides to leave them forever. I don’t want to tell you much more, for I don’t want to spoil any of the humor in the show.

The show blew me away. It reminded me of my childhood fantasies of what I thought pirates were. When I first walked in, the stage reminded me of a cartoon show, due to the obviously cardboard cut-out set pieces. The costumes also had a fantasy-like feeling to them, with many colors and layers instead of the rags the pirates in my history books always wore. The lighting was also fairly colorful, yet still lit the cast well. I think this was intended, especially with the way the storyline and songs developed.

The cast was amazing. I especially liked Terry Alfaro as Fredrick. I thought it was great how his facial expressions made the sometimes hard-to-understand, older English words into a more modern feeling. The ensemble as a whole also made the show entertaining with their great singing, dancing, and acting.

The Pirates of the Penzance is a great musical that everyone would enjoy. It’s full of humor and action, making it a perfect evening out. It will be playing in the UCF main stage theatre (across from the chemistry building) from October 22 to November 1. Student tickets can be purchased for $12 at the box office. You can also call (407) 823-1500.

For more information, check out the theatre department website at www.theatre.ucf.edu.

The four sirens placed around the campus are one of the primary methods the police could use to warn students and faculty of emergencies that may occur around the area.

The UCF police have confirmed that this test will happen around 4:00 p.m.

According to ucf.edu, the sirens will emit a loud tone followed by a message that will clearly inform everyone that there is no emergency and the tone is just a test.

In case of a real emergency, the message would inform students what the emergency is and what procedures they should follow.

So, please don’t be alarmed if you hear tomorrow’s test sirens.

According to reports, at 4:23PM a message was sent out saying that the lock down was over and students could continue with normal activities. No injuries have been reported.

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The University of South Florida (USF) website has been updated this afternoon to inform students that there has been an armed intruder on its Tampa Campus.

An update at 1:50PM this afternoon informed all students to stay indoors and lock their doors.

A second update at 2:09PM warned that the intruder was in the main campus library and that the Bull Runner Transit System (the University’s bus service) has been closed down.

At 2:48PM the website was updated again to say that the USF police got a report that a subject with a bomb and gun was somewhere around the main library. There has also been a report that the subject in question was riding a bus in the area. The police are investigating these reports. Knightnews.com will continue to investigate and provide details as they come.

Here at UCF we also have ways to protect students when life-threatening events happen on campus. According to emergency.ucf.edu, in case of an emergency, the primary way to contact students would be through updates on the main page of the UCF website, four outdoor sirens which will produce a tone followed by an emergency message, text messages, Knights Email, and through NOAA weather radios (in case of a weather emergency).

Besides the primary methods, the university would also try informing students through the UCF main telephone line, employee two-way radios, Bright House Emergency Alert Systems, vehicle public address speakers, press releases to local news sources and radios, and through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The story focuses around a man, Tevye, in a tiny village in Russia in 1905. Tevye, a religious Jewish man, has a wife and five daughters, all of whom he will marry off with the help of the village matchmaker. Trouble begins when Tevye’s oldest daughter, Tzeitel, wants her father’s permission to marry the man she loves rather than the older man her father has picked for her.  This begins a series of events that tests Tevye and makes him decide between what is more important; his faith and traditions or his family’s happiness.

Starring in the touring production is Chaim Topol. Topol, since winning the role in 1976 at the age of 30, has played Tevye for about 2,500 performances, including the film adaption of Fiddler in 1971. So far, he has won a Golden Globe, a Tony, and was nominated for an Oscar. Today, at the age of 73, he is still performing in the same role. As he said, “If someone would have told me 30 years ago that at the age of 73 I would still be jumping onstage and doing it, I would say he was out of his mind. I’m out of my mind and doing it. God willing, as long as I will be capable of delivering the songs, the lines and the dances, people will want to see me, I’ll be doing it.”

The Carr Center in located on 401 West Livingston Street in Orlando, FL 32810. Tickets can be purchased through Broadway Across America (broadwayacrossamerica.com) or the Carr Center box office. Tickets range in price from $38 to $73.

To many people’s surprise, they were not talking about a new ride or show, but an entire “island” dedicated to the very popular book and movie series by J.K. Rowling.

The series follows teen wizard Harry as he and his friends go through life in a British boarding school of magic while trying to defeat the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. The island will be located between the current “Jurassic Park” and “Lost Content” islands, and is expected to open in spring 2010.

UCF students are already making plans to visit the much-anticipated park.

Although all details of the project have been kept quiet to the public, a number of attractions have been mentioned on Universal Orlando’s Web site. From conceptual renderings viewed in the gallery, it can be concluded that the island will be a replica of Hogwarts Castle, Harry’s school, and Hogsmeade, the village surrounding the castle. Park visitors will be able to walk into stores such as Dervish and Banges and Three Broomsticks.

Some existing rides from the “Lost Content” island have been re-themed to fit the Wizarding World. For example, popular roller coasters the Flying Unicorn and Dueling Dragons have been closed to the public for a few months to become part of the new island.

Local TV station Central Florida News 13 has reported that the iconic statues of two dragons that stood in front of the Dueling Dragons coaster have been taken down.

Fans are speculating that the coaster will now be Quidditch themed after Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe told British Heart Radio, “There is a Quidditch element to one of the rides.”

Radio/television major Britney Siegel, who has viewed the images already, says they are “amazing” and “properly portray the series.”

Biology major Jamie Moran is looking forward to drinking butterbeer, Harry’s favorite drink, in a themed pub.

Some UCF students are anxiously waiting for the new park to open despite the destruction of about half of the popular “Lost Content” area.

Environmental engineering major Jessica Moran said of the change, “It’s sad, but it will make [Islands of Adventure] a lot of money.” She says that while she likes “Lost Content,” Harry Potter is more popular and will thus benefit financially.

“Universal better watch out, because they will be swamped by fans when it opens,” she warned.

Siegel agrees, saying that she might not go the first day, “so I don’t have to wait a million years to get on each ride.”

Some students have also expressed interest in working at the park. While the Wizarding World’s Web site currently states that there are no specific positions available for the new island, it encourages any interested employees to go to www.universalorlandojobs.com where positions are regularly updated. There is also a section for college internships.

While students here at UCF have to wait a little longer for the island to open, they certainly aren’t disappointed with the progress made so far.

As Jamie Moran said, “I’m really excited as a UCF student to be so close to the park… [this means] another weekend trip to make with my friends!”