Students and community members flocked to the Van Duzer theater on Sunday, Nov. 12 to see Maryland based funky jam-band, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. The event started around 7:15 p.m. with the opening band, Dogs in a Pile, and heated up around 8:45 p.m. when Pigeons took the stage, kicking off their first set with “High as Five” – an ode to being “High in Humboldt.” In total, the quartet played (with instruments, not ping pong paddles) two sets and an encore, saying their goodbyes just before midnight.
Earlier in the day, the bassist of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Ben sat down for an interview on KRFH. Listen to the interview below.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong frontman, “Scrambled” Greg Ormont jumps in the airbeside lead guitarist Jeremy Schon during a high energy performance at the Van Duzer Theater. Photo by Carlina Grillo.No limits on the mic for “Scrambled” Greg Ormont. Photo by Alex Anderson.Lead Guitarist Jeremy Schon vibes out in the lights. Photo by Alex Anderson.Ben, bassist of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, wears his bass face during a heated jam on Sunday Nov. 12. Photo by Carlina Grillo.Ben, bassist for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong showing love to the crowd before signing off. Photo by Alex Anderson.Pigeons Playing Ping Pong lights up the crowd at the Van Duzer Theater on Nov. 12. Photo by Alex Anderson.
This semester, the John Van Duzer Theatre will host a variety of shows, musicians, and speakers.
Performances already began earlier this week. On Sunday, the theater hosted Durand Jones and the Indicators, an Indiana based funk and soul band. The show also featured guest performer Keifer.
Another upcoming performance is the Emo Night Tour on Sept. 8 at 8 pm. According to the Cal Poly Humboldt Center Arts website, the tour will feature DJs playing punk and rock music from bands like Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Panic! At The Disco, and My Chemical Romance. Tickets for this event are also free to Cal Poly Humboldt students.
“The Emo Night Tour DJs will be spinning all the angst your teenage dirtbag heart desires all night long,” the Center Arts website says. “A special guest band will make you feel like you’re at Warped Tour ‘08 minus all the dust and melting in the sun!”
Upcoming comedy performers include Paul Reiser and Aida Rodriguez. Reiser is a comedian, actor, and writer. He is known most recently for his roles on Stranger Things and The Kominsky Method. Reiser’s show is on Sept. 9. Tickets are five dollars for Cal Poly Humboldt Students. Rodriguez is also a comedian, actor, and writer and currently has a standup special streaming on HBO Max. Rodriguez will be at the Van Duzer on Sept. 22. Tickets for her show will be free for students.
Music and comedy are not the only performances that will come to Cal Poly Humboldt. Cirque Mechanics will be performing their newest show, Zephyr, on Oct. 4.
“Cirque Mechanics, although inspired by modern circus, finds its roots in the mechanical and its heart in the stories of American ingenuity. ” the Center Arts website says. “The stories are wrapped in circus acrobatics, mechanical wonders and a bit of clowning around.”
For performance dates, ticket prices, and additional information, visit the Cal Poly Humboldt Center Arts Website or the Cal Poly Humboldt Featured Events page.
After power shutoffs stole the spotlight, ‘Heathers, The Musical’ finally gets its chance to win over audiences
In the bright lights of a packed makeup room actors sit and focus on their reflections. They quickly prepare and apply different layers of blush, eyeliner, eyeshadow and lipstick specific for their characters.
Half-way through, Rae Robison, the director of the show, enters the frenzy of excitement and announces “five minutes before stage warm-ups” and leaves. The people in the room reply back with whoops, yelps and revel in the last half-hour before the final dress rehearsal for “Heathers, The Musical.”
Actress for “Heathers the Musical” applies eyeshadow in the make up room before dress rehearsal begins. | Photo by Jose Herrera
Actress for “Heathers the Musical” applies eyeshadow in the make up room before dress rehearsal begins. | Photo by Jose Herrera
English major Abigail Camerino applies eyeshadow in the makeroom. Camerino plays Veronica’s Mom in “Heathers, The Musical.” | Photo by Jose Herrera
Theatre major Zackary Tucker looks intently into the mirror in the makeup room. Tucker plays the Kurt’s Dad and Geek in “Heathers, The Musical.” | Photo by Jose Herrera
“I am so excited for tonight,” Gwynnevere Cristobal, who plays Veronica Sawyer, said. “I’m a little tired, but the adrenaline always gets pumping.”
The theater department prepares for their first full weekend of production from Nov. 1-3, after a slow start due to PG&E’s power outage. The show includes 28 cast members with Cristobal as Veronica, William III as J.D., and Kiara Hudlin, Liz Whittemore and Caitlin Pyle as The Heathers.
The rock musical follows the plot of the cult classic movie “Heathers.” The show is set in 1989 and the audience goes on a journey with teenage misfit Veronica as she hustles her way into the most popular clique at Westerberg High: The Heathers.
Actors perform during a dress rehearsal for “Heathers The Muscial” in the Van Duzer Theater. | Photo by Jose Herrera
Robert Williams, as Big Bud, intrudes on English William III, as J.D., and Gwynnevere Cristobal, as Veronica Sawyer, during a scene. | Photo by Jose Herrera
Gwynnevere Cristobal, as Veronica Sawyer, gazes into William English III, as J.D., during dress rehearsal in the Van Duzer Theater. | Photo by Jose Herrera
Cristobal said the show is unconventional and if you haven’t seen the movie, it can be a little intense because it’s a dark comedy. However, she encourages people to come see the show if they’re ready to laugh and make fun of others.
She also said that the show tries to highlight important issues such as bullying, gun violence and mental health.
“Understand that what we are saying is real and it’s a struggle in that people aren’t alone in how they think,” Cristobal said.
“Heathers, The Musical” opens in the John Van Duzer Theater. On Nov. 1-2 there will be shows at 7:30 p.m. On Nov. 2-3 there will be matinees at 2 p.m.
General admission is $15, but for students and seniors it is $10. Tickets can be purchased online at https://centerarts.humboldt.edu/Online/ or by calling at (707) 826-3928.
Gwynnevere Cristobal, as Veronica Sawyer, kisses William English III, as J.D., during dress rehearsal in the Van Duzer Theater. | Photo by Jose Herrera
Actress under a spotlight singing “Kindergarten Boyfriend” during dress rehearsal for “Heathers The Musical.” | Photo by Jose Herrera
Kiara Hudlin, as Heather Chandler, lays in bed after drinking an interesting concoction during dress rehearsal in the Van Duzer Theater. | Photo by Jose Herrera
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