Arts

Princeton University Players takes the virtual stage — and audience members' hearts — with Sex on Broadway

Directed by Sabina Jafri ’24, “Sex on Broadway 2020: Things We Missed” showcases new takes on classic Broadway show tunes and shares the Class of 2024’s unique journey from the onset of the pandemic to the beginning of the fall semester.

Confronting ‘virtual’ dualities in the work of multimedia artist Lawrence Lek

On Nov. 5, multimedia artist Lawrence Lek gave a public talk hosted by the Princeton Art Museum to discuss the research interests and questions that guide his practice, focusing in particular on three films: “Sinofuturism (1839-2046 AD)“ (2016), “Geomancer” (2017), and “AIDOL” (2019). Lek is the 2020 Sarah Lee Elson International Artist-In-Residence.

Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason: Chamber music with intimacy

During a period in which a pandemic has restricted communication, both verbal and musical in nature, brother-sister cellist and pianist duo Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason performed a program of chamber works rich in interaction, comprised of works by Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, and Rachmaninoff, that spanned the widest possible breadth of the Romantic period. 

Theatre Intime’s ‘As You Like It: A Radio Play’ is a multifront victory for accessible theater

“As You Like It,” which premiered on Nov. 20, is the second PSC production I’ve seen — or, I should say, heard. Unlike previous PSC shows, this comedy took place virtually in the “radio play” format, named for the historic practice of theater works which are performed over radio broadcast.

Deana Lawson, professor of visual arts, becomes first photographer to win Hugo Boss Prize

Deana Lawson, Professor of Visual Arts, was named the winner of the 2020 Hugo Boss Prize in October. She is the first photographer to be awarded the prize.

Arts Council of Princeton receives $50,000 grant for COVID-19 relief

At the 54th annual meeting of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts on Oct. 27, the Arts Council of Princeton was named the recipient of a $50,000 grant in an effort to support New Jersey’s arts organizations in weathering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Cellist Robin Park ’23 discusses COVID-19 and racial equity in music

Robin Park ’23, a sophomore at Princeton University, is a cellist from Princeton Junction, N.J. In our conversation, Robin and I touched on topics of music practice and performance, racial and economic equity in classical music, and the effects of the pandemic on the University’s academics and music-making. 

Anti-Racist Reading Review | “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere”

Rarely do short stories propel authors into literary fame. But, ZZ Packer’s “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere,” a surprisingly honest anthology of eight short stories imbued with a masterly command of language, which had — and continues to — dazzle audiences. 

Sassy, Queer, and Lebanese: Life Lessons with Rabih Alameddine

The first installment of the Program in Creative Writing’s C.K. Williams Reading Series featured Lebanese American author Rabih Alameddine, writer of the critically acclaimed and National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist, “An Unnecessary Woman.”

Takács String Quartet reimagines the conventional in virtuosic performance

The Takács’ concert, hosted by Marna Seltzer, was the opening night of Princeton University Concerts’ 2020–21 season, and they brought to their virtual evening a program of works by Mozart, Coleridge-Taylor, Bartók, and Debussy. 

Anti-racist Reading Reflection | When racism endangers Black bodies: How racism in healthcare puts Black communities at risk

The realms of medicine, white coats, and hospitals have been, and continue to be, deeply stained by racialized practices. In a society infiltrated by racism and inequity in almost every institution and profession, doctors and scientists have not been left behind; in fact, racism is rooted at the heart of medicine, pulsating, pounding, and remaining alive no matter whom it hurts.

Q&A with Glenna Jane Galarion ’21, opening act for fall 2020 Lawnparties

Glenna Jane Galarion ’21 is the opening act for Jason Derulo, the headliner chosen for virtual fall 2020 Lawnparties. Born in Tokyo, Glenna Jane considers Las Vegas her hometown, but she is currently living in Ocean City, N.J. She is an anthropology major with certificates in theater and music theater. The Daily Princetonian sat down with Glenna Jane to discuss the event and her music. 

Zoom backgrounds and creativity collide in this year’s production of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’

Every year, PUP and Theatre Intime put on a shadow cast performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, where actors pantomime the actions of characters as the movie is projected onto a screen behind them. This year’s performance will take place entirely over Zoom. Cast members and the production team reflect on their experiences.

David Adjaye, architect behind University Art Museum redesign, wins top architecture prize

While there is not a Nobel Prize for Architecture, there are a number of coveted top prizes in the field. One of these prizes, the Royal Gold Medal, was recently awarded to Sir David Adjaye, whose firm Adjaye Associates is designing the new Princeton University Art Museum. In 2018, it was announced that Adjaye and his firm would be behind the redesign of the Princeton University Art Museum, with construction slated to be completed in late 2024.

Songline virtual Newbie Arch: A new way to ‘slam’

Songline Slam Poetry held a virtual “Newbie Arch” on Friday, Oct. 16, featuring five new members.

Anti-Racist Reading Review | ‘Everything I Never Told You’: Finding understanding through grief

By the time the last word comes and the story breathes its final breath, Ng’s characters feel so real and so tangible. In a profound sense, they are.

Our America: Reactions to the Pre-read

We asked members of the Class of 2024 to react to Jill Lepore’s "This America: The Case for the Nation," this year’s Pre-read selection. Here are their reflections.

Innovative yet grounded, Nathan Meltzer performs at Dreamstage

As the music industry slowly moves toward re-opening, violinist Nathan Meltzer and pianist Jun Cho appeared at Dreamstage (an online concert-streaming venue) on Oct. 4, playing a program of Ludwig van Beethoven, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Johannes Brahms, and Maurice Ravel. 

Magazine editor resigns over Dickman’s controversial poem, as U. community weighs in

Backlash over lecturer Michael Dickman’s use of offensive and violent language in a recently published poem led Poetry magazine’s editor to resign last month. We take a close look at the controversy, and how it fits into a broader University-wide grappling with free speech and offensive language.

Backlash over lecturer Michael Dickman’s use of offensive and violent language in a recently published poem led Poetry magazine’s editor to resign last month. We take a close look at the controversy, and how it fits into a broader University-wide grappling with free speech and offensive language.

Authenticity, spirituality, and identity in art: an open conversation with Lauren Olson

In my conversation with Lauren, we discuss the motivations behind her work, which really means exploring confidence, authenticity, light-dark dichotomies, and spirituality — concepts essential to understanding the human experience.