Jazz and poetry merge at Coffeehouse Showcase

Jazz and poetry merged together at the Coffeehouse Showcase held in Building 8 on Sept.28. The Student Leadership Association presented the event and featured live jazz provided by the band CC&G and poetry from the M.E.L.O. Student Club.

Approximately 75 people were in attendance at the three-hour showcase. CC&G played for an hour before M.E.L.O. advisor, professor Furaha Henry-Jones introduced M.E.L.O. president Durand Capers and vice president Shon Houston. Capers and Houston said they passed out flyers around campus and used social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook to promote the event.

“My expectations for this event were very high,” Capers said. “(The turn out) was cool because people came out and showed their love and support.”

Houston was impressed with the students who performed some of their pieces.

“Everybody came out and represented their own art,” Houston said. “There were so many styles displayed.”

Henry-Jones and Sinclair professor Adrienne Cassel performed as well.

The event featured an open mic, where audience members were allowed to go on stage and perform their work alongside CC&G.

“We just figured that it would be a beautiful idea to incorporate both music and words and it not be some kind of rap event,” Houston said. “Music really goes with poetry.”

For video of the event, check out our YouTube channel.

Student helps ‘Little Shop’ come alive

You may not see his face.  You may not hear his voice.  But if you go see “Little Shop of Horrors” you will certainly see Michael Frazier’s performance as Audrey II, the man-eating plant.

Frazier said he was chosen to do the manipulation for Audrey II because of a recommendation from Brian McKnight, a teacher of his in the theatre department.

“I’m probably the only short theatre guy who could get in the puppet anyway,” Frazier said.

Frazier works closely with fellow cast member Joshua Scales, who voices the puppet that Frazier moves.  Though most of the work is done during rehearsal, Frazier said the two actors also rehearse on their own for one or two hours a week.

“We work constantly to put on the best show we can together,” Frazier said.

Frazier described manipulating the man-sized puppet to controlling a very large clamshell with his arms.  He thinks the puppetry is interesting, but it can also be strenuous and hot.  He said the way the puppet looks when he’s performing helps motivate him.

“It’s different, it’s really challenging, but it’s fun, and that’s what’s driven me to do it,” Frazier said.

Frazier said director Nelson Sheeley is trying to keep the show as close to a Broadway-level production as he can.  He also said he has never worked harder in any other production.

“Not to toot my own horn, but we’re putting a lot of work into it,” Frazier said.

Signing up for theatre classes was not something Frazier planned for.  After graduating high school, he “bummed around” for two years before his grandmother brought him to sign up for classes at Sinclair.

“It’s the best decision I never made,” Frazier said.  “It’s not like I thought college would be.”