From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu
Headlines
Hip-hop’s 50-year influence on musical theatre revealed in new book
LAWRENCE — It was 50 years ago this summer that DJ Kool Herc used two turntables to entertain friends and family at a Bronx neighborhood party, thus kicking off hip-hop’s gradual rise toward being a pillar of pop culture. But this musical style and culture also began immediately influencing the musical theatre scene. A University of Kansas professor’s new book, “Hip Hop in Musical Theatre,” offers a historical look at the movement’s effect on acting, dancing, singing, design and music.
KU school announces new undergraduate certificate in name, image and likeness
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences, part of the School of Education & Human Sciences, has created a new program — the first of its kind to be offered at a Power Five university — to train students as leaders in the rapidly growing area of athletics name, image, and likeness (NIL).
KU nominates student, alumna for Rhodes international scholarships
LAWRENCE — A recent graduate and a current student at the University of Kansas will compete for prestigious Rhodes Scholarships specifically for international students to pursue graduate study in the United Kingdom. Alumna Aylar Atadurdyyeva, originally from Turkmenistan, has been endorsed for the Rhodes Global Scholarship, and senior Navya Singh, from Chandigarh, India, has been endorsed for the Rhodes India Scholarship.
KU Theatre & Dance announces 2023-24 performances
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Theatre & Dance has unveiled its 2023-24 performance season, offering a diverse array of theatrical genres and dance forms featuring student performers. Highlights include the Tony Award-winning “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” A new student ticket endowment fund will aid KU and Haskell Indian Nations University students needing assistance to attend shows.
Full stories below.
————————————————————————
Contact: Jon Niccum, KU News Service, 785-864-7633, [email protected]
Hip-hop’s 50-year influence on musical theatre revealed in new book
LAWRENCE — It was 50 years ago this summer that DJ Kool Herc used two turntables to entertain friends and family at a Bronx neighborhood party, thus kicking off hip-hop’s gradual rise toward being a pillar of pop culture. But this musical style and culture also began immediately influencing the musical theatre scene.
“When we think of theatre as a vehicle to talk about the human condition, hip-hop is a part of that story,” said Nicole Hodges Persley, a professor of American studies and African & African-American studies at the University of Kansas.
Her new book titled “Hip Hop in Musical Theatre” offers a historical look at the movement’s effect on acting, dancing, singing, design and music. It is part of the “Topics in Musical Theatre” series published by Methuen Drama/Bloomsbury.
“The impetus for this book is to say, ‘Let’s go back even further to some of the early musicals and see when hip-hop is rising in the American soundscape,” she said. “We start to see it impact artists, choreographers, musicians and writers in ways where they want to bring those strands into their work.”
Also vice provost for diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging at KU, Hodges Persley is one of a small group of scholars in the U.S. who focuses on hip-hop’s musical and cultural influence in theatre.
“While looking at the 50-year history of hip-hop, it’s interesting to see it not only impacting music and society writ large in our country, but globally. This is an art form that has been adapted and translated across cultures around the world – and it started right here in the United States. Like blues and jazz, hip-hop is part of that continuum.”
Her book chronologically traces musicals from the 1970s such as “The Wiz” (right as hip-hop music and culture were emerging in underground New York) to lesser-known contemporary examples such as “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” Broadway tourist shows “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical” and acclaimed international hit “Hamilton.” With each entry, she attempts to “decode the sights and sounds of hip-hop culture” within the sociological context in which these musicals were produced.
“Many people think ‘Hamilton’ was the first time we saw a hip-hop connection in theatre, but there were other artists who wanted to bring this groundbreaking music and culture to their artistry and use it as texture in their work,” she said. “Sometimes they used it successfully, sometimes in a commodified way. So if you look at ‘Starlight Express,’ with folks awkwardly rapping and roller skating, it’s like, ‘What is happening right now?’ and ‘Why is this happening?’”
Despite acknowledging some criticisms about “Hamilton,” she said it remains “the most famous hip-hop theatre musical ever.”
She added, “Lin-Manuel Miranda’s success in bringing visibility to the impact of hip-hop — and Black and Latinx music in general — on the American theatre is pretty substantial.”
In addition to her analysis, Hodges Persley provided a Spotify playlist for each section she discusses. She said she intended for the reader to appreciate the aural landscape present in popular culture at the historical moment these musicals were being created.
As for her own breakthrough hip-hop moment, Hodges Persley said it was in the late 1970s when she heard some of the genre’s early pioneers.
“The Sugarhill Gang was probably the first record I was introduced to by my brother. We were just mesmerized by the storytelling, and we wanted to memorize it. It was funny and very theatrical. There’s storytelling in it. There are sketches of the way people interact and a lot of things we witness in Black life,” she said.
A Detroit native, Hodges Persley came to KU in 2009, where she honed her expertise in African American theatre and hip-hop performance. Her recent publications include “Breaking It Down: Audition Techniques for Actors of the Global Majority” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021), “Sampling and Remixing Blackness in Hip-Hop Theater and Performance” (University of Michigan Press, 2021) and “Black Matters: Lewis Morrow Plays” (Methuen Drama/Bloomsbury, 2022).
Ultimately, Hodges Persley said she hoped “Hip Hop in Musical Theatre” serves as a reminder that artistic barriers of accessibility can be lifted by even a seemingly small event … like an unknown DJ at a house party.
“This is a call to action for us to open up access to the American theatre. We don’t need to wait any longer for another ‘Hamilton’ to surface. I’m happy it’s made history. But we should ask what has it opened for not only long-serving artists who still haven’t broken through in this space but emerging artists who are just starting their careers?” she said.
“If we don’t run to really support artists of color in the American theatre, we’re going to be extinct. And that is a tragedy when we think about the amazing impact artists of color have had to shape this institution. I want this book to help bring awareness that global majority artists are here, and we impact all aspects of the American theatre landscape.”
-30-
————————————————————————
The official university Twitter account has changed to @UnivOfKansas.
Refollow @KUNews for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.
Tweets by KUnews
————————————————————————
Contact: Aspen Grender, School of Education & Human Sciences, [email protected], @KUSOEHS
KU school announces new undergraduate certificate in name, image and likeness
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences, part of the School of Education & Human Sciences, has created a new program — the first of its kind to be offered at a Power Five university — to train students as leaders in the rapidly growing area of athletics name, image, and likeness (NIL).
The Undergraduate Certificate in Name, Image, and Likeness is a 12-hour program designed for students interested in careers or gaining expertise in the emerging NIL field – the fastest-growing area for new positions in college athletics. The certificate serves both students who are interested in working in the name, image, likeness space as well as student-athletes at KU looking for training on how to manage their name, image and likeness. The curriculum, which consists of four courses, will include curriculum focused on sport management, athlete and personal branding, content creation and more.
“There is perhaps nothing more important in the modern college athletics space than name, image and likeness,” said Jordan Bass, chair of the Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences. “We are excited to leverage the unique expertise of our faculty in our department, and at KU as a whole, to be a leader in this space.”
The program was developed in response to rising, wide-spread interest in the NIL area due in large part to 2021 legislation that allowed collegiate athletics to profit off their name, image and likeness, a monumental shift from the previous infrastructure that required collegiate student-athletes to be amateurs.
The program will begin during the fall 2023 semester.
-30-
————————————————————————
Subscribe to KU Today, the campus newsletter,
for additional news about the University of Kansas.
http://www.news.ku.edu
————————————————————————
Contact: Erin Wolfram, Academic Success, 785-864-2308, [email protected]
KU nominates student, alumna for Rhodes international scholarships
LAWRENCE — A recent graduate and a current senior at the University of Kansas will compete for prestigious Rhodes Scholarships specifically for international students to pursue graduate study in the United Kingdom.
Recent graduate Aylar Atadurdyyeva has been endorsed for the Rhodes Global Scholarship, and senior Navya Singh has been endorsed for the Rhodes India Scholarship. Both awards provide funding for one to three years of study at the University of Oxford. Regional panels review applications for both programs, and finalists are invited to participate in interviews between September and November.
The Office of Fellowships, a unit of Academic Success, coordinates KU’s endorsement process and supports candidates with their applications. Students interested in applying for these awards in future years are encouraged to contact the office by email at [email protected]. Depending on other eligibility requirements, students may apply for these awards as graduating seniors or recent graduates.
KU students have previously won 27 Rhodes Scholarships.
Navya Singh is the daughter of Suman and Raju Singh. She is a senior in biochemistry on the pre-medicine track. An international student from Chandigarh, India, Singh’s academic interests include drug development, global health and medicinal chemistry. She plans to focus her graduate studies on the intersection of drug development and public health. At KU, Singh has served as the president of the Association of Indian Students, bringing together more than 200 students for each of the organization’s events. She also served as a student ambassador for the Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity, where she performed research to write a history of the center while organizing initiatives to increase affordable health care access for queer and trans students. Additional leadership roles include being an honors seminar assistant and ambassador, vice president of Global Jayhawks, director of service for Honors Community Advocates and academic chair for alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority. Singh has also conducted significant research including designing hyaluronic acid-deferoxamine hydrogels for local treatment of bone regeneration and analyzing mating behavior of Drosophila suzukii flies.
Aylar Atadurdyyeva is the daughter of Abdyrahym Atadurdyyev and Bagty Atadurdyyeva. She is a recent graduate in microbiology, global & international studies, political science and Slavic languages & literatures with minors in German studies and psychology. An international student from Turkmenistan, Atadurdyyeva plans a career in global public health to develop health research and apply it through education and policy interventions. Atadurdyyeva’s primary interests involve understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Central Asia and other regions in which health outcomes are impaired by social factors like policy and health access. She was selected as a Key into Public Service Scholar by the Phi Beta Kappa Society and has won the RWJ Scholars Award, Mai Anh Do & David Nguyen Foundation Scholarship and Laird Essay Award. In addition, her record of service to KU and the Lawrence community has been widely acknowledged through her work with the KU Homecoming Steering Committee, International Student Association and University Honors Program, for which she served as an ambassador and seminar assistant. Atadurdyyeva was also the executive director of The Big Event and director of finance and partnerships of Student Union Activities. Additionally, she was named the KU Student Employee of the Year as well as the State of Kansas Student Employee of the Year in 2022 for her work in the Office of Graduate Studies. Most recently, Atadurdyyeva was one of two students to receive the KU Class of 1913 award, and she was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding International Woman Student.
-30-
————————————————————————
Don’t miss new episodes of “When Experts Attack!,”
a KU News Service podcast hosted by Kansas Public Radio.
https://kansaspublicradio.org/when-experts-attack
————————————————————————
Contact: Lisa Coble-Krings, Department of Theatre & Dance, 785-864-5685, [email protected], @KUTheatre, @KUDanceDept
KU Theatre & Dance announces 2023-24 performances
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Department of Theatre & Dance has unveiled its 2023-24 performance season, which engages talent within the University Theatre, University Dance Company, School of Music and Department of English, among others. Guest artists from professional theatre and dance companies will also contribute to the season’s offerings.
The season offers a diverse array of theatrical genres and dance forms featuring student performers. Select students will produce, choreograph, direct, design, dramaturg and work the box office this season.
“It’s a consistent emphasis on student-centered creativity and well-rounded development,” said Markus Potter, artistic director and professor in the department. “Our lineup has been carefully selected for its potential to captivate audiences, its pedagogical value and its ability to foster a broad range of knowledge sharing to instill an appreciation for cultural and global diversity. At the same time, these productions, through the narratives they convey and the collaborative process they require, challenge our students to consider and uphold ethical integrity and social responsibility, an especially important step as they move toward their professional careers.”
Theatrical works will explore themes of social inequalities, belonging and community. Humor and satire will unify several works. Audience members will have opportunities to witness improvisation, cheer on original student-created works and participate in discussions and receptions.
“This year’s season offers lively and relevant takes on the way we live and work together in tumultuous times,” said Henry Bial, professor and chair of the department. “We are grateful to our Friends of Theatre and Dance nonprofit organization and to all the other members of our community who have continued to support our students, and we are excited to welcome audiences back to Murphy Hall as we mark the 100th anniversary of theatre education at KU.”
The fall season opener, “Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties,” is a dark comedy and provocative exploration of self-expression by Jen Silverman. It will be directed by Marzi Ashrafian, doctoral student in theatre, and will feature puppet design by KU graduate, puppeteer and puppet fabricator Spencer Lott and by painter, sculptor and illustrator Grace Townley. Together they operate Simple Mischief Studio, a company they founded.
The University Dance Company Fall Concert will follow, taking on the theme of “mythos” and featuring ballet, hip hop, contemporary and tap works by faculty members and guest choreographer Logan Pachciarz. He is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Moving Arts and previously performed with Twyla Tharp, Boston Ballet and Kansas City Ballet. Additionally, a repertoire concert of select senior dance majors work will comprise the Fall Senior Showcase.
The fall schedule will conclude with the new musical and comedic critique “Milking Christmas,” which was composed by Ryan McCall, KU lecturer and accompanist, and written by Friend Dog Studios. Michelle Miller, lecturer in theatre, will direct, with McCall as musical director.
The spring season will open with a vengeful narrative and feature the KU Symphony Orchestra. The University Theatre’s production of the Tony Award-winning musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler is staged in collaboration with the School of Music.
Following the opera will be a gritty portrayal of working class struggles in “SWEAT” by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. That drama will be directed by award-winning playwright Darren Canady, who is also professor of English at KU.
The University Dance Company will present its Spring Concert featuring high-energy and exceptional work by faculty and select senior dance majors, and the season culminates with the Jayhawk Performance Lab/Spring Senior Showcase, an initiative that underscores the department’s commitment to student-driven work and fosters an environment where they can examine and question societal norms and grow as creators. The season finale also celebrates diverse dance forms and narratives.
Individual tickets and season subscriptions are available for purchase online at kutheatre.com, by calling 785-864-3982, or in person at the box office in Murphy Hall, noon-5 p.m. weekdays starting Aug. 23. KU Theatre & Dance offers discounted tickets for KU faculty, staff, students and retirees as well as groups. The Jack B. and Judy L. Wright Student Ticket Endowment is a resource for KU and Haskell Indian Nations University students needing assistance attending shows. Contact Jim Dick, managing director, at 785-864-3985.
KU Theatre & Dance Calendar:
1. Oct. 6, 7, 8*, 10, 11, 12, 2023 – “Collective Rage,” William Inge Memorial Theatre
2. Nov. 3, 4, 5*, 2023 – University Dance Company Fall Concert, Crafton Preyer-Theatre
3. Nov. 18, 19, 2023 – Fall Senior Showcase, Elizabeth Sherbon Blackbox Theatre
4. Nov. 30, Dec. 2*, 2, 3, 4, 6, 2023 – “Milking Christmas,” William Inge Memorial Theatre
5. Feb. 16, 18*, 20, 22, 2024 – “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” Crafton Preyer-Theatre
6. March 22, 23, 24*, 26, 27, 28, 2024 – “SWEAT,” William Inge Memorial Theatre
7. April 5, 6, 7*, 2024 – University Dance Company Spring Concert, Crafton Preyer-Theatre
8. April 25, 26, 27, 28*, 2024 – Jayhawk Performance Lab/Spring Dance Showcase, Elizabeth Sherbon Blackbox Theatre
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m., *2:30 p.m. matinee. All dates subject to change.
The University Theatre and University Dance Company are production wings of the KU Department of Theatre & Dance, offering six public productions throughout the academic year. The University Theatre and University Dance Company productions are funded in part by KU Student Senate, and the theatre’s season is supported by Truity Credit Union.
-30-
————————————————————————
KU News Service
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3256
Fax: 785-864-3339
[email protected]
http://www.news.ku.edu
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]
Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs
