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YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE NO. 39 APRIL 16 - 28, 2014

For the Record 04.16.14

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For the Record is the weekly tabloid for the University of Cincinnati's independent, student-run newspaper, The News Record

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Page 1: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUENO. 39 APRIL 16 - 28, 2014

Page 2: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 2

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT HAPPENED AT UC THIS YEAR?

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3HOW ARE EXAMS GOING? ARE YOU GETTING THROUGH?

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR UC STUDENTS?

It’s hard to ignore the racism and inclusion issues. Kara’s sexual assault coverage was also very eye-opening. Just because it doesn’t happen to you doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

Considering graduation is on the line, yes I’m getting through. Is it going well? No.

Do more than just go to class. Your GPA only takes up one line of your resume.

The changes to UC’s sexual assault response. One in four women at UC will be sexually assaulted. Why is this not a bigger issue?

I just want to pass my classes and leave town for my internship.

Work hard for yourself. Don’t do it for anyone else. Surround yourself with supportive, smart people who want to see you happy.

I think our coverage of the racial issues that took place earlier in the year was both important and top-class.

I still have to write roughly 15,000ish words. So, yea, I’m on the brink of complete mental collapse.

Don’t ever stop fi ghting. Find something, someone, or some goal and fi ght for it every single day. Also, always smell really good. It’ll take you places.

It’s hard to pick one. It’s been a very eventful year.

I’ve only now begun contemplating throwing myself out into oncoming tra� c so I’d say pretty good.

“Find what you love and let it kill you.”-Bukowski

Being the political nerd that I am, I’m going to say the 2013 election. John Cranley seems to want to develop a strong relationship with the university.

Go to hell. Don’t dick around. It goes by much faster than you could ever imagine. Set your goals, manage your time and have fun.

The QueerCat issue was important because of how well our sta� worked that issue and for its social relevance.

It always comes down to these two hellish weeks. I’ll make it through because I always do.

Frozen pizza fi lls you up as much as chipotle. Natural Ice gets you as drunk as Stella.

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The News Record has been both the best and worst part of my entire existence. It’s not easy to do this, but I’d do it all over again. I love this place and these people.

I need more space than this. Everyone on this page and many more that aren’t have kept me going. I’m already proud of the things I know they will go on to do.

Working for The News Record, for both. As much as I love it, it has caused me an equal amount of stress.

I found myself in The News Record. And for everything of me I gave to it, it gave it right back to me three-fold.

I’m not really sure if I’m going to graduate, so that’s defi nitely the worst part. The best was spending eight months with my best friends and doing what I love.

There is nothing better than the feeling of writing and making a paper on deadline. Being able to do that with your best friends is something special.

The worst part of my year was when I cut my butt open and had to get 8 staples. The best part of my year was my birthday because I spent it with my closest friends.

It’s a creative opportunity that I’ve poured my life into for two years. The people here are my best friends. They challenge me and help me grow as a writer.

The worst was realizing that I wasn’t able to graduate when I planned. But it turned out to be for the better. I get to relive the best everytime we listen to “Goodbye Horses” in the o� ce.

I’ve learned so much from this place that isn’t possible to learn in a classroom. I’ve been able to get a head start on my career. Oh and I’ve made the bestest friends ever that I love so much. (smileface)

This has been a refl ective year for me. I’ve learned a lot about myself. It wasn’t perfect, but I had a hell of a good time with my friends.

The News Record has literally been my life for three years. I’m beyond sad to leave, but I feel so lucky to have these memories with my best friends.

WHAT WAS THE WORST AND BEST PART OF YOUR YEAR?

WHY DO YOU LOVE THE NEWS RECORD?

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Page 3: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 3

Word on the Street: Students talk memorable moments

“I won an award for the German department for outstanding achievement, which was a really big surprise because while I’ve been able to do really well throughout my college career, foreign language has been the toughest. So that was a pretty big deal,” said Robert Esselburn, a fourth-year history student.

“Probably Homecoming was my favorite thing,” said Anne Ryan, fourth-year political science student. “It’s a weeklong event, and the spirit of UC is everywhere. Sigma Sigma Carnival is always a favorite. You can just tell everyone who goes there loves UC and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“This year has just been busy with shows,” said Justin Lewis, second-year vocal performance student. “That’s just the truth. I don’t even know what’s been happening outside of the school honestly, other than the weather. They just keep us busy all the day.”

“I got more involved this year than I have in previous years. I joined a very new fraternity here, Sigma Tau Gamma,” said Andre Leysath, third-year speech pathology and psychology student. “I was always running around, probably never really stopped.”

“I’m a board member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society. I’m the historian – I scrapbook along the year and make all the memories that have happened,” said Shannon Rothenbusch (right), third-year communications student. “I’m not a big on-campus person,” she added. “I probably wasn’t the best person to ask.”“I’m her campus life,” said friend Cara Burwinkel (left).

“Personally it was a very good year for me too,” said Ephraim Gutmark, aerospace engineering professor. “I got a few national awards. I got an international award for fluid dynamics. It’s like a life achievement award. I just last week got an award, also life achievement, for innovation. It was a good year.”

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Page 4: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 4

Faculty members in the College of Arts & Sciences were shocked when they showed up for work Sept. 18 and discovered copies of a racially offensive cartoon depicting A&S Dean Ronald Jackson tacked on bulletin boards in McMicken Hall.

The comic-style cartoon depicted Jackson and A&S Recruitment and Retention Initiatives Assistant Dean Carol Tonge — both of whom are black — as the “king and queen of A&S.”

In one of the frames a caption described Tonge saying, “Fire anyone that does not look like us! They have no rights!”

Copies of the cartoon were hastily removed, but eventually started circulating via email among curious faculty members. Top administrators, including Jackson himself, condemned the cartoon.

University of Cincinnati President Ono released a statement supporting free speech while urging the UC community to engage in “civil discourse.”

The cartoon resurfaced as a topic of discussion after Jackson resigned in early November, sparking weeks of racial tension that led to a campus-wide discussion on diversity and inclusion.

McMicken Arts & Sciences Dean Ronald Jackson’s year-and-a-half tenure ended abruptly after he resigned Nov. 12.

When Jackson took over as dean of University of Cincinnati’s largest college, the institution was in financial turmoil. He announced his resignation in an email to A&S faculty, saying it was one of the toughest in his career and that he was grateful for the opportunity.

The next day, UC Provost Beverly Davenport hosted a town hall meeting in which she received both applause for her leadership in handling Jackson’s resignation and criticism about the university’s efforts to ensure diversity and inclusion.

Two days later, more than 50 students gathered outside of Tangeman University Center holding signs and chanting messages like, “Please do not send your children to the racist University of Cincinnati.” The students, and some alumni, called on the administration to make diversity and inclusion a priority.

Less than two weeks later, administrators met with students in the African American Cultural Resource Center to try and find ways to make the university more inclusive.

Tragedy struck the University of Cincinnati community when first-year student Ben Flick died in a car accident Sept. 21.

Flick, a 19-year-old offensive lineman on the football team, was driving with teammates Mark Barr and Javon Harrison and Miami student Sean VanDyne when the car went off the road in Hanover Township. Two passengers were ejected from the car, and two others were trapped inside.

Flick was pronounced dead at the scene. Police determined alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The three UC players, all first-year students, had attended the UC game against Miami that Saturday, but were redshirted and did not travel with the team.

Flick was named scout team player of the week in late August.“[I] can’t put into words how tragic this is,” said UC football coach Tommy

Tuberville. “As a father and a coach, it’s something you hope you never have to go through. Ben was so proud to be a part of this team and university. He worked hard and had shown a great deal of improvement since the summer. His future was bright.”

After 81 years on campus, construction crews demolished Wilson Auditorium in October 2013.

For decades, students used the 40,000 square-foot auditorium for plays, recitals and other creative performances. As time passed, the building that stood just north of McMicken Hall off Clifton Avenue became obsolete — mostly because of its inaccessible location — and sat mostly vacant since the early 1980s.

Maintenance and upkeep were neglected and the building’s interior started deteriorating.

When time came to decide the building’s future, architects quickly realized the renovations needed to bring Wilson Auditorium up to code were not worth the expense.

Mobile units on the now vacant site will be used to house students displaced by renovations to Teachers College. Once those renovations are complete, the site will be turned into a green space and could be used to house future projects.

The few voters who went out to the polls for the Nov. 5 election made it clear they wanted Cincinnati to go in a different direction.

Mayoral candidate John Cranley defeated challenger and former vice mayor Roxanne Qualls in a landslide victory with 58 percent of total votes. Although both candidates identified as Democrats, they differed on major issues including the streetcar and a proposal to lease the city’s parking assets.

Cranley opposed both issues, while Qualls and outgoing mayor Mark Mallory supported the projects.

After winning the election, Cranley killed the parking lease before even taking office.

He spent the next month trying to halt the streetcar project — the cornerstone of his campaign — but ultimately failed after newly-elected city councilmen David Mann and Kevin Flynn changed their positions and came out in support of the project.

The change in heart came after a very vocal and public show of support from Cincinnatians who saw the project as a potential springboard for economic growth.

Wilson Auditorium torn down Sept. 9, 2013

Cincinnati Election 2013 Nov. 6, 2013

Racist cartoon appears on campus Sept. 19, 2013

Jackson resigns; racial turmoil builds Nov. 11, 2013

Ben Flick dies in car crash Sept. 23, 2013

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LOOKING BACK: TOP NEWS EVENTS IN 2013-14

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YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 5

The University of Cincinnati and its chapter of American Association of University of Professors avoided the first possible strike in more than 20 years after the two parties reached a contractual agreement in March.

The parties were deadlocked in negotiations for nearly a year. After progress stalled in early 2014, the two headed to mediation, ultimately coming to terms on major issues including salaries and health care benefits.

The new contract, which covers 1,691 faculty members, guarantees annual across-the-board raises of 1.25 percent of a member’s base salary for the first two years and 1.5 percent in the third year.

Under the previous contract, which expired in June 2013, raises were .6 percent of base salary for all three years.Prior to the agreement, union officials were discussing the possibility of striking if talks continued to drag on. There

hasn’t been a strike at UC since 1993, when some AAUP members chose to strike in protest of ongoing negotiations.Both sides said they had to make concessions to reach the deal.

The University of Cincinnati permanently dissolved the Women Center’s 24-hour sexual assault reporting hotline and peer advocacy support program after administrators had concerns about Title IX compliance issues.

UC officials began overhauling the school’s sexual assault program and Title IX reporting process in an attempt to take a “proactive step,” to remain compliant with the federal regulations.

Title IX is federal legislation intended to prevent discriminatory practices on the basis of gender in educational institutions.

To be in compliance with Title IX, the institution must post notices stating they do not discriminate on the basis of sex, assign at least one employee who handles Title IX related issues and the institution must have a grievance procedure that quickly and fairly resolves any discrimination complaints.

Services will be transferred over to Counseling and Services in the fall. “I’m concerned because this is perhaps a decision that wanted to encourage

reporting, but when we take away confidential spaces, what happens is the silence grows,” said Maria Kothman, Reclaim peer advocate and social work student.

The University of Cincinnati undergraduate student body elected a female as its president for the first time in more than 20 years Feb. 28.

Christina Beer and Shivam Shah defeated Vincent Coleman and Andrew Pfriem with 50.9 percent of the vote in the largest and one of the narrowest elections in recent years.

Almost 3,000 more undergraduates voted — 11,308 total — in the 2014 election than in 2013, making 2014 the largest turnout in student government history.

Safety, diversity and transportation to Paul Brown Stadium for 2014 home football games were among the top issues the two said they would address.

The election yielded one of the most diverse fields in the past decade, with four black students elected to senate and the first female student body president since the 1993-94 academic year

In the student government senate race, first-year student Emily Heine garnered the most votes with 5,618.

Whit Babcock ended his 27-month tenure as University of Cincinnati athletic director in January to take the same position at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Babcock oversaw several key developments at the helm of UC athletics including the hiring of head football coach Tommy Tuberville after Butch Jones’ departure, the transition to the American Athletic Conference after the demise of the old Big East and initiated the ongoing renovations of Nippert Stadium.

Less than two weeks after his resignation, the university hired Mike Bohn to replace Babcock. Bohn, who spearheaded a transition from the Big 12 to the Pact 12 in 2011 as the athletic director at the University of Colorado, will face several challenges at UC including renovating the dated Fifth Third Arena and finding an athletic conference suitable for the universities athletic aspirations.

He is receiving a base salary of $500,000 per year along with performance incentives for the more prominent athletic teams at UC. Bohn has said he is at UC for “the long haul.”

Cincinnati Police officers were forced to use riot gear to disperse nearly 500 students on Stratford Avenue after some began to get violent.

When UCPD responded to a report of a fight around 2 a.m., police officers found a large crowd of people partying at 2711 Stratford Ave. “and subjects who began throwing bottles at the officer,” according to the police report.

Once UCPD broke out the riot gear to control the party, the crowd dispersed without incident for the most part and UCPD made one arrest of a person seen throwing a bottle.

Students took to social media Sunday morning using the hashtag Stratfordpalooza, which started trending on Twitter.

The following week, multiple administrators sent out emails to the student body condemning the events and warning that such actions could result in disciplinary actions by the university.

“Disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, open containers, underage drinking, and provision of alcohol to minors will not be tolerated,” said Jeff Corcoran, interim UC police chief, in an email. “In fact, the Ohio Revised Code provides for penalties that could lead to expulsion from the university or a loss of eligibility to receive student financial assistance if a student is convicted of some of these offenses.”

Babcock resigns Jan. 24, 2014

Stratfordpalooza April 6, 2014

AAUP, UC reach agreement Feb. 16, 2014

Sexual assault hotline disbanded March 3, 2014

Student Government Election Feb. 28, 2014

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Page 6: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 6

Looking back on UC basketball’s memorable seasonKilpatrick, teammates brought UC back to national prominence JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

From Jan. 23, 2012 to April 17 — the final day that I will be the sports editor at The News Record — I’ve had the privilege of covering the University of Cincinnati basketball team as it rose back to national prominence.

Never in that span was it as exhilarating or easy as it was this past season. The storylines wrote themselves most nights, and it’s my hope that I did them any sort of justice. Here’s a look back at the moments that shaped the season.

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013: For the second year in a row UC’s first loss came at the hands of the New Mexico Lobos (63-54), as the Bearcats shot a dismal 18-for-61 from the field (29.5 percent).

Exactly one week later, on Dec. 14, UC was badly beaten by crosstown rival Xavier University (64-47). It was another dismal offensive performance — and one of UC’s few poor defensive displays of the season — that left many in Cincinnati writing off the season as it had barely begun. But they quickly came around. The Bearcats went two months before falling again.

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013: Despite Sean Kilpatrick scoring only nine points — his lowest total of the season — UC won its first of 15-straight games (44-43) in a rugby-esque contest against Pittsburgh. Titus Rubles second-chance effort with four seconds left in the game was the difference.

As ugly as the game was, it stopped a three-game skid and kick-started UC’s best stretch of play in nearly a decade.

Wednesday, Jan. 1: In what should be the defining moments of Jackson’s legacy at UC, he single-handedly dominated Southern Methodist University and led UC to a 65-57 victory, their fifth in a row after victories against the Pittsburgh Panthers, Middle Tennessee State University, Chicago State University and the University of Nebraska.

“Justin Jackson was as good as you could possibly be today, probably on every phase of the game,” Cronin said. “He had 16 deflections, 17 points, five blocks, five steals, three assists and no turnovers. [It’s] almost impossible to have a better stat line than he had and put forth a better effort than he did.”

It was one of the most physically dominant performances I’ve ever seen in college basketball. By my count, there were three separate occurrences during the game in which Jackson directly controlled the outcome of six consecutive possessions.

After the victory, Jackson produced the most enjoyable of his numerous infamous one-liners: “I’m a machine.”

Monday, Jan. 13: Stretching its winning streak to nine games with victories against No. 18 Memphis (69-53), Houston (61-60), Rutgers (71-51) and Temple (69-58), UC made its first appearance in the AP Top-25 poll at No.19.

Thursday, Jan. 30: With their win streak at 12, after victories against the University of South Florida, University of Central Florida and Temple University, the Bearcats took their No.13 ranking on the road to No.12 Louisville, the defending national champions. They didn’t disappoint.

Jackson gave UC the lead with a tip-in at less than two minutes remaining and Kilpatrick closed out the game with an 11-for-11 performance at the free throw line on his way to a 28-point night. The Bearcats won 69-66 and catapulted themselves to a No.7 ranking in the country.

Thursday, Feb. 6: UC capped its 15-game winning streak in style, defeating the eventual National Champion UConn Huskies 63-58 before a rabid crowd at Fifth Third Arena.

Kilpatrick was at his absolute best, scoring 24 points to go along with 12 rebounds and six assists, as he got the best of eventual American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Shabazz Napier.

Saturday, Feb. 15: UC rebounded from it’s first loss in more than two months — a sloppy 76-55 setback at Southern Methodist University — with a 73-62 victory against Houston. This would’ve been of little significance if not for marking the beginning of Cronin’s “Sean Kilpatrick for All-American” campaign.

“I would ask you guys, is he not a first-team All-American?” Cronin said. “I want to know a guard that’s better than him, please somebody tell me. I’m not talking about some freshman that’s going to be who he’s going to be in five years, I’m talking about right now. Who is better than Sean Kilpatrick? I’m asking.”

Obviously his campaign was successful, as Kilpatrick was named to numerous All-American teams, including the most sought after: a place on the AP’s first-team

All-American squad.Saturday, March 1: UC’s propensity

for offensive lulls returned to the forefront once again as the Bearcats dropped a turnover-ridden game to UConn, 51-45, seven days after falling 58-57 to Louisville on a last-second shot. However, Kilpatrick did join Oscar Robertson as the only two members of the 2,000-point club at UC in the Bearcats loss to Louisville.

Thursday, March 6: Kilpatrick and Jackson tested the emotions of all 13,176 fans inside of the sold-out Fifth Third Arena, sobbing as they participated in the senior night festivities before UC tipped off in its final home game of the season. The tears quickly turned to joy as Kilpatrick, Jackson and fellow senior Titus Rubles threw their own going away party.

“When they announced us and Jack went before me, then I came out and we all hugged each other, we all whispered in each other’s ear, ‘It’s time to go,’” Kilpatrick said.

The seniors combined for 71 points, including a season-high 34 for Kilpatrick and a career-best 24 from Rubles, as UC dominated Memphis in a game that was far more distant than its 97-84 final.

Two days later, UC claimed a share of its first conference championship in a decade with a 70-66 victory against Rutgers.

Friday, March 14: After struggling in a 61-58 second-round victory against UCF, UC’s AAC Tournament run game

came to a heartbreaking and defining end in the semi-finals against UConn. UC nearly completed a miraculous comeback in the final minutes, but Sean Kilpatrick’s attempted game-tying layup at the buzzer rolled off the rim.

“SK would hit that shot 99 out of 100 times,” Justin Jackson said. “It just happens.”

Thursday, March 20: In a game that never felt right — in location, seeding or play — UC could never quite put it together. Harvard took a 9-6 lead early in the first half which it would never surrender. UC’s defense was uncharacteristically off early and the bounces and breaks it needed to recover never came. Harvard prevailed 61-57, as Jackson crouched with his head between his knees and Rubles cried walking off the floor.

This season ended abruptly in what felt so unfitting an end to the careers of three seniors who made this city truly believe in Cincinnati basketball for the first time in far too long.

A lot of people came back to UC basketball this season, people that left and vowed never to come back. This season’s end should not negate its importance. As a society we too easily devalue the significance of the regular season in college sports. Season’s that end early can still be great ones. For me, in my last season of the foreseeable future covering college basketball, it was.

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERSean Kilpatrick drives to the basket during UC’s 97-84 victory against Memphis March 6 at Fifth Third Arena.

Page 7: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 7

Concealed Carry ClassesOur one day certification course is taught by active duty Police Officers. Call 513-237-9423 or email [email protected] for more info.

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Page 8: For the Record 04.16.14

YEAR IN REVIEW ISSUE / WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 / PAGE 8

CCM mounts year of classics

Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” shows up in nearly every high school English class. That makes it a tough play to mount because nearly everyone in the audience has an opinion on how it should be portrayed.

The College-Conservatory of Music took on this ambitious task and was able to recreate the intensity of the classic witch-hunt almost perfectly.

Director Richard E. Hess took an all around minimalistic approach to “The Crucible.” The stage stayed predominately the same throughout the entire play.

John Proctor is the most notable character from “The Crucible,” so all eyes were on fourth-year CCM student Joe Markesbery, who was able to fully inhabit the role during the second half. The choice of Markesbery’s blocking — his back was mostly to the audience — became clear when the judges and witches closed in on Proctor. It was then that they also closed in on the audience. Third-year CCM student Conner Lawrence stood out most in “The Crucible.” Lawrence played Reverend John Hale, who is arguably the most intriguing character in the play. Lawrence’s depiction of Hale’s downward spiral filled with guilt and confusion was breathtaking. Lawrence did an excellent job of embodying the Harvard-educated confidence Hale is defined by, and brightens the stage in every scene he appeared in.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s adaptation of “Carrie” was “High School Musical” on LSD.

CCM put its musical touch on the bestselling Stephen King novel — an already terrifying story — and produced a theatrical experience like no other.

It was strangely uplifting at parts, most notably when Carrie and her gym teacher sang the poignant “Unsuspecting Hearts” in the first act.

Telekinesis played a major role in “Carrie,” so the set was rigged with hydraulics that would close windows and launch books into the air at the wave of a hand. Some seats were positioned on stage, so close that the viewers had to be careful not to trip the performers.

The intimacy of the theater worked well for “Carrie” and audience members were able to pick up on the

subtle contemporary aspects of the performance.

One modern facet of the production, which was set in 2013, was its overtly sexual nature. The performers were constantly grinding on each other and the first act focuses on Carrie and her first menstrual cycle.

Hannah Freeman played Carrie White, and everything from her size to her voice fit the archetypal description of the “weird” girl. That being said, she was still adorable.

Jennifer Hickman played Margaret White, Carrie’s mother. She was the most powerful voice of the entire show. Her performance of “And Eve Was Weak” was chilling and arguably the scariest part.

“Carrie” was entertaining from start to finish, whether it was touching the audiences’ hearts, turning them on or making them cringe.

The Corbett Auditorium was transported back to 1927 with the College-Conservatory of Music’s debut of “Singin’ In the Rain” but it didn’t lose all the luxuries of the 21st century.

“Singin’ In the Rain” was as pleasant as sunshine on a rainy Monday, and the CCM cast and crew executed one of the happiest musicals of all time expertly.

CCM utilized its broad set of talents to make its rendition of the musical a modern production. The show takes place in a time when Hollywood was beginning to produce “talkies,” and as Don Lockwood (Max Clayton) sees a “talkie” for the first time, so does the audience. CCM created a short film for the first “talkie” that added an interesting dynamic to this classic musical.

When a theatrical production is also a film, as is the case with “Singin’ In the Rain,” it’s hard to put on the show without relying heavily on the precedents of the movie. CCM’s use

of short films was a great way to add a bit of its own personality. But “Singin’ In the Rain” was more than just smoke and mirrors. The talent was remarkable.

Clayton — who would be stiff competition for Gene Kelly (director and star of the 1952 film) — can do it all. He dances. He taps. He sings; he can even act. Matt Hill played Lockwood’s best friend, Cosmo, and brought energy to the stage, along with natural comedic timing, which made him an instant favorite for the audience. The choreography produced by Diana Lala and Patti James was overwhelming. The dancing was impeccable from the smaller numbers to “Broadway Ballet,” which featured the entire ensemble. The finale featured the whole ensemble in yellow raincoats and umbrellas. Though aesthetically pleasing, the outfit was necessary because the performers were actually singing in the rain.

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‘Singin’ In the Rain’ Oct. 31, 2013

‘Carrie’ Oct. 10, 2013

‘The Crucible’ Oct. 3, 2013