Arts

Arts

‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ is a feast for the senses at the Boston Opera House

By Nate Hall and Odessa Gaines | January 24

Playing now through Feb. 4 at the Boston Citizens Bank Opera House, the touring production of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is a dazzling display of performance. Based on Baz Luhrmann’s beloved 2001 film, the stage adaptation premiered just blocks away from the Opera House in 2018 at Boston’s Emerson Colonial Theatre before making its Broadway opening in 2019 with stars Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo. The stage production expands on the movie’s jukebox musical score, combining more than 70 songs to create an eclectic lineup of pop hits.

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Columns

Confessions of a Cooking Fanatic: Meal planning manifesto

By Elizabeth Foster | January 24

As I began making my first grocery list this semester, I found myself overwhelmed by variables, many resulting from my lack of a set routine while my schedule was still up in the air. By the end of the fall semester, I had a stable routine and knew how many meals I was cooking in a week. Whether you are looking to cook more meals yourself this semester or are still adjusting to off-campus living, here’s how I’ve learned to structure my grocery shopping:

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Arts

2024 fashion trend predictions

By RaiAnn Bu | January 22

As 2024 rolls around, the endless fashion machine continues to change and evolve, producing new looks. Certainly, some of the defining trends of 2023 — coquette fashion, bow-mania, the Y2K revival and quiet luxury — will continue into the new year. But here are some styles to also be on the lookout for to inspire a new year of dressing.

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Arts

The 81st Golden Globes monologue: Barbie banter, co-writer slander

By Ishaan Rajiv Rajabali | January 19

The onset of the new year heralds the coming of awards season, which typically kicks off with the annual Golden Globe Awards. Aside from bets and predictions about winners and nominees, the most anticipated aspect of these awards is perhaps the opening monologue. From Ricky Gervais’ acerbic, brutal roasts to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s side splitting chemistry to Seth Meyers’ dry wit, each year has provided the internet with endless meme fodder and some hard-hitting truths. Jo Koy’s introduction at the 81st Golden Globes also followed this trend, albeit not in the way one would think. 

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Arts

Best films of 2023

By Nate Hall | January 17

2023 was a big year for movies. As Hollywood continued to recover from the pandemic, the industry was shaken by unprecedented strikes as the actors’ and writers’ unions fought for fair pay and protections against artificial intelligence. Amid the chaos, audiences returned to the theaters, making 2023 the highest grossing year for movies since 2019.

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Arts

What to expect from the Tufts theater scene this spring

By Odessa Gaines | January 17

With the start of a new semester at Tufts comes a new wave of theater performances on campus. From the theater department to Torn Ticket II and Pen, Paint, and Pretzels, we can expect a semester full of art and passion.

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Columns

Confessions of a Cooking Fanatic: A foray into veganism

By Elizabeth Foster | January 17

As I return to campus, my refrigerator is conveniently devoid of its meat and dairy products. And so I must ask myself: What would going vegan look like this semester?

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Arts

Roxane Gay doesn’t hold back in ‘Opinions’

By Natalie Bricker | December 11

Roxane Gay, bestselling author and opinion writer, spoke at the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School on Saturday, Oct. 28. She spoke about her recent novel, “Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business” which features a collection of her essays from the past decade.

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Arts

‘Exception to the Rule’: An exceptional production by Envision Black Theater

By Jennifer May | December 11

On Dec. 1 and 2, Curtis Hall was transformed into a lively after-school detention room for Envision Black Theater’s production of “Exception to the Rule” (2022). The audience watched as six students experiencing detention for different reasons chatted, flirted and argued. As time passes without any sign of the detention monitor, the tension increases as the students decide whether to stay or go. Throughout the play, we learn more about the characters and their relationship with the school system.

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Columns

Compost in the daylight: Goodbyes

By Sadie Leite | December 11

This column was supposed to be a place where I could just write 500 words and work on my storytelling. In some ways, I think my storytelling has improved. In other ways, I think there were never enough words to change it concretely. So, for this last one, I looked back on all the things I did not say.

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Arts

WEEKENDER: Revisiting ‘The Exorcist’ on its 50th anniversary

By Ishaan Rajiv Rajabali | December 7

Imagine a typical wintery day in 1974 — the new year has set in, the holidays are almost over and you want a last hurrah before returning to the rat race. At the cinema, a poster of a mysterious man shrouded in the glow of a lamppost catches your eye, and warnings from quaking cinemagoers only deepen your resolve. Perhaps you are in need of a thrilling watch or are seeking to ruin your sleep schedule (and sense of inner peace, temporarily). Whatever the case, in you march, popcorn in hand.

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Arts

‘The Heart Sellers’ is an honest portrayal of friendship at the Huntington

By Nate Hall | December 7

“The Heart Sellers” (2023), a new play by Lloyd Suh, takes place in 1973, but its story feels just as relevant today. Following a world premiere at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in February, it’s playing now through Dec. 23 at the Calderwood Pavilion in Boston. Under the direction of May Adrales, the Huntington Theatre Company’s production of “The Heart Sellers” tackles immigration, marriage and the joy of friendship in a refreshingly honest way.

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Columns

The Power of the Pen: What did we learn?

By Odessa Gaines | December 7

We have finally come to the end of not only the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes of 2023, but also this column. Throughout the past few months, I aimed to give even the slightest bit of insight into what was going on ...

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Arts

‘Saltburn’ leaves a strange aftertaste

By Jennifer May | December 6

When the “Saltburn” (2023) teaser trailer released in late August, people got interested. The stunning cinematography, intriguing lines and exciting casting choices (i.e. Rosamund Pike and Jacob Elordi in the same film) were ingredients for potentially one of the best movies of the year. However, what could’ve been richly entertaining is instead a vapid montage of strange creative decisions.

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Columns

Confessions of a Cooking Fanatic: The cookie swap

By Elizabeth Foster | December 6

It’s New York Times Cookie Week. This means seven days of seven delicious cookie recipes. In celebration of NYT Cookie Week, I would like to share with you a Midwest tradition: the cookie swap. This is one of those things I didn’t know was distinctly Midwestern, but after a week of conversational research, I have uncovered that every one of my friends with a Midwestern connection has a woman in their life who participates in a cookie swap. Around the holidays, she bakes several batches of “her” cookie. Maybe she chooses her favorite cookie of the season, but there is a chance that she chooses her second best cookie — you know it’s a good cookie swap when she brings out her best cookie.

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Columns

Attack of the B-Movies: Tread carefully once you ‘Enter the Void’

By Ethan Essner | December 6

Perhaps for this week’s column we’ll step away from the films with a B-movie outline or B-movie qualities and enter the world of art-house cinema. From a stylistic view, “experimental filmmaking” can be a product of the B-movie skeleton; hence, its presence is worth discussing here. Gaspar Noé is a director whose work oscillates between genres of experimentation, erotica and thriller. His transgressive styles tend to settle on themes of a brutalized humanity. He has an evident no-holds-barred approach to his work — some are turned off by his gruesome imagery — but when he hits a stride with genre films, there’s a beautiful synchronicity. “Enter the Void” (2009) is a flawless, harmonic flux of fear and desire and, as a result, is the ultimate avant-garde brainchild of Noé. It’s no surprise that the Argentine director has received a mix of praise and criticism, but he continues to produce taboo visions without holding back.

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Arts

Considering celebrity memoirs in the age of Pop Crave

By Henry Chandonnet | December 5

Did you know that Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been separated since 2016? Or that Chris Rock had asked Jada out pre-Oscars slap, thinking she and Will were getting a divorce? These bombshells heard ‘round the internet became incessant, with dueling Twitter accounts Pop Crave and Pop Base racing to post quicker updates. The magazine web bloggers jumped, publishing standalone scandal write-ups and “top revelations” listicles. For one week, Jada and her marital ongoings were the biggest story in celebrity media.

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Music

What’s the deal with deluxe albums?

By Natalie Bricker | December 5

Artist and actress Reneé Rapp released a deluxe version of her “Snow Angel” (2023) album on Nov. 17. The deluxe album has three new songs — “Messy,” “I Do” and “Swim” — as well as a new version of a classic: “Tummy Hurts” (feat. Coco Jones) - Remix.” Rapp is just one of many artists who have released deluxe versions of their albums, which raises the question: What’s the deal with deluxe albums, anyway? In other words, why do artists release them, and what do listeners get out of them?

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Arts

The Allman Brothers’ music lives on with the Allman Betts Family Revival tour

By Matthew Winkler | December 5

The enduring music of the Allman Brothers Band lives on in the Allman Betts Family Revival tour, which made a stop at the Orpheum on Friday. The tour is an annual event founded seven years ago by Devon Allman to celebrate the life of his father Gregg Allman, one of the two brothers who gave their name to the illustrious ’70s band. This year, the show was organized by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, son of band member Dickey Betts, to celebrate the music of both of their fathers.

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Columns

Compost in the Daylight: Accidental blessings

By Sadie Leite | December 4

“My bat mitzvah merch was a legendary, lime-green horror.” At the end of a bar or bat mitzvah, the guests usually leave with a gift that showcases the child’s initials, service date and usually a silly symbol referencing the theme of their party. My theme was green.

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