The Keene Lions Club featured a performance of “Beauty and the Beast” at the Colonial Theatre in downtown Keene last weekend.

The show was directed by Deanna Zilske and produced by Diana DeSorcie and Amanda DeSorcie.

The production also featured music by an orchestra conducted by James Sharrock.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

The production featured performances by four Keene State College students: Matthew McGinnis, Amy Lesieur, Sofia Thornblad and Mindy Hurd.

Sofia Thornblad is a senior at Keene State College majoring in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. A native of Keene, Thornblad said she enjoys performing in theatrical productions on the side while she is working on her major.

Thornblad played one of the four Silly Girls in “Beauty and the Beast.” Thornblad remarked that “it has been fantastic [rehearsing for the play]. It’s a great way to connect with the community.”

Regarding her appreciation for theater, Thornblad said that “theater has been a part of my life since kindergarden-something else outside of school. It [performing] is a rebirth of my love for this kind of thing and has improved my acting abilities.”

After graduating from Keene State, Thornblad said that she hopes to “get a PhD in International Relations and/or Holocaust Studies with theater as a background.”

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

Thornblad also gave credit to Keene’s Lion’s Club for presenting the performance of “Beauty and the Beast.” Referring to the positive impact the Lions Club has on the community, Thornblad said “The club gives a way for college students to branch out. While many [students] don’t know it’s an opportunity that’s there, KSC students become more involved in the community.”

Matthew McGinnis is a junior majoring in Music Education at Keene State College. From Derry, NH, McGinnis’s role as Lumiere is his debut performance at the Colonial Theatre.

McGinnis said that “it has been great rehearsing with everyone since they are so friendly and inviting to me as a student. Everyone has taken me under their wing.”

He also remarked that he hopes the audience “[had] a nice break from life. It’s a magical story with feelings of loss and hope.” McGinnis also said that “as an artist, it’s opened my eyes to see how people can continue performing. It’s nice to see hope that I can still create art after college.”

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

After graduation, he said that he hopes to direct a school chorus. Currently, McGinnis said that he performs with the KSC Chamber Singers and the KSC Group Theater; he is also a member of the New Student Orientation Staff.

Mindy Hurd is a senior at Keene State College majoring in Vocal Arts. A native of Portsmouth, she was a member of the Adult Ensemble during the villager scene in the “Beauty and the Beast” production.

Hurd said that she also performed in “Shrek: The Musical” at the Colonial Theatre. Referring to her most recent appearance in “Beauty and the Beast”, Hurd said that she is a “very shy person. Being in this group of people is great to meet and make new friends. I also love Disney.”

She also remarked that auditioning for and performing in a theatrical production has improved her “confidence and made her feel more comfortable.”

Hurd hopes that her performance “will inspire people to get involved in the Lion’s Club and to get interested in acting.” After graduation, Hurd said that she aspires to be a voice actor.

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

On Wednesday, Feb. 8 in the Mabel Brown Room of the Young Student Center, Keene State College hosted racial justice visionary Rinku Sen.

Rinku Sen is the President and Executive Director of Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation and is the author of the book, “The Accidental American: Immigration and Citizenship in the Age of Globalization,” which documents the life of Moroccan immigrant Fekkak Mamdouh, who co-founded the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York after the 9/11 attacks.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

As the president of Race Forward, Sen said that she oversees the publication of the news site Colorlines and has initiated projects such as “Shattered Families” and “Drop the I-Word,” which positively affect the perception of immigrants in the United States.

Founded in 1981, the mission of Race Forward, according to Sen, is  “to build awareness, solutions and leadership for racial justice by generating transformative ideas, information and experiences”.

Dr. Karen Jennings, professor of psychology at Keene State College, introduced Rinku Sen to the audience. In her lecture, “The Big Picture: Structural Racism, Equity, and Intersectionality,” Sen spoke of the importance of establishing a “multiracial pluralistic democracy,” which would allow Americans of all ethnicities equal social and political rights.

She outlined the following three strategies to establish this democracy: be explicit about racial justice, focus on impact and make equity, not diversity, the objective.

KSC senior Liz Rizzitano said that she enjoyed the lecture. Rizzitano said, “People need to hear conversations pertinent to the current political atmosphere.”

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

Folake Oyegbola, a graduate student from the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute in Vermont, also attended the event with members of her class. Oyegbola said that it was “very interesting to see whites [at the lecture] as a black female.”

“It’s exciting and inspiring that racism is not just talked about among blacks,” Oyegbola said.

Alex Weiss, also a graduate student from the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont, said that he has been interested in attending a lecture by Rinku Sen since he has read some of her publications.

Weiss said that the lecture “focused on local issues, while the focus of current federal politics is overwhelming.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

On Friday, Dec. 9, the Keene State College Music Department presented a performance featuring the Keene State Concert Choir.

Keene State faculty member Diane Cushing directed the performance with the assistance of Hailley Dufresne, the student conductor. Vladimir Odinokikh, Keene State faculty member, performed the piano accompaniment to the choral program.

The KSC Chamber Singers joined the Concert Choir for select pieces on the program.

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

The concert program began with “Laudate Jehovam, omnes gentes” by the Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann.

For this piece, the Concert Choir was accompanied by violinists Carolyn Cunningham and Steven Lauture, who are members of the Keene State Orchestra.

The extensive program also included “Songs of Sorrow and Hope” by Stephen Feigenbaum, featuring texts by Hanuš Hachenburg, a 14-year-old boy who perished in the Terezin concentration camp during the Holocaust.

This piece also included textual contributions by Donna Rubinstein, a Holocaust survivor, and by Mary Kimani, who witnessed the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

The concert program also included traditional Christmas pieces such as “The Holly and the Ivy” and “I Wonder as I Wander” by John Jacob Niles, featuring Keene State vocal soloist Emily McIntyre.

Emily McIntyre, Keene State first-year and music education major, performed as a vocal soloist and is a member of the Concert Choir.

McIntyre said, “It was really cool working with Director Cushing. I loved working on different repertoire.”

Diane Cushing, director of the Concert Choir, said, “It was so neat working with the students. I felt like the choir rose to the occasion to perform the varied musical program. Keene State College has some great music majors and musicians.”

Sam Bellemore, member of the Keene State Chamber Singers, said, “It was a good time performing with the Concert Choir. It is always an interesting combination of repertoire, particularly the ‘Songs of Sorrow and Hope’ about the Holocaust.”

Sam Johnson, a sophomore at Keene State, said that he “thoroughly enjoyed” the concert. Johnson also said, “I really liked the mix of various pieces featuring different dialects.”

Megan Flanders, a first-year at Keene State, said the “concert was really good. I thought the ‘Songs of Sorrow’ was really powerful and emotional.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

On Wednesday Nov. 30, the Keene State College Orchestra performed an innovative program to celebrate Don Baldini’s final concert as conductor of the orchestra.

Baldini has been an artist in residence at Keene State since 1992 after concluding a successful professional career that included appearances with Frank Sinatra as a studio musician in Los Angeles. During his career at Keene State,  Baldini conducted the KSC Jazz Ensemble and founded the KSC Orchestra program.

The concert program began with “The Moldau” from a suite titled, “Má Vlast” by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. The first piece garnered a standing ovation from the audience. The Smetana piece was followed by the famous work by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky entitled “A Night on Bald Mountain.” After a short intermission, the concert concluded with the “Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1” by Dmitri Shostakovich and the rousing “Radetzky March” by Johann Strauss Sr.

Peter Debois / Equinox Staff

During the intermission, the Keene State Music Department faculty filed onto the stage to honor Don Baldini’s service to the Keene State community.

Christopher Swist, resident artist and professor of percussion, presented Baldini with a commemorative plaque and remarked that “Don’s musical standards define what it takes to make it in the changing music industry.”

Jose Lezcano, Keene State professor of guitar and director of the Guitar Orchestra, said the Baldini “leaves big shoes to fill” for the future conductor of the KSC Orchestra.

Dr. Joseph Darby, Keene State professor of musicology, thanked Baldini “for bringing orchestral and jazz literature to this college.”

Steven Lauture, a junior at Keene State and the concertmaster of the KSC Orchestra, said that he has played in the orchestra for three years.

Lauture said, “I love the music he [Baldini] chooses. While it’s sad that he’s leaving, he started this orchestra so he will still be here.”

Lauture said that performing under the guidance of Baldini has also influenced him as a musician. He said, “Baldini picks challenging music that improves my skills on the violin. You have to grow as a musician to fit the piece.

With the orchestra, I have played the ‘Ninth Symphony’ by Antonín Dvorak and ‘Danse Macabre’ by Camille Saint-Saëns.”

Audience member, Carey Citak is a senior at Keene State. Citak said, “I loved the concert. Don always puts on such a great show.”

Ally McNamee, a senior at Keene State, said that she thoroughly enjoyed the performance. McNamee said that “it was really good. I played in the band program in middle school so it was cool to listen to the different instrument parts of the orchestra.”

To honor Baldini’s significant impact on the Keene State College community, the KSC Music Department is organizing a scholarship fund in his name for accomplished string players.

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

On Nov. 18, the Keene State College Common Ground Multicultural Club hosted a Poetry Slam Night featuring an acclaimed New York poet Frankie Soto, who is also known by his

Luke Stergiou/ Senior Photographer

stage name Hidden Legacy. The event was from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Flag Room of the Young Student Center.

Proclaimed by The New York Times as a “FORCE” in American poetry, Soto won the 2016 National Award for Multicultural Poet of the Year.

Soto opened the event with an open mic opportunity for students and other audience members to read their own poetry or favorite poems written by other poets. Emphasizing the importance of students’ work, Soto said that “the student voice is just as important as mine.”

Antonio Rivera, Keene State College junior and president of the Common Ground club, kicked off the open mic section of the event with a reading of one of his original poems.

Rivera said that the event “has really great energy to support everyone and keeps the drive going for me to improve as a

Luke Stergiou/ Senior Photographer

writer. Hearing everyone’s work influences my future progress [as a writer].”

Rivera’s reading was followed by Brianna Hankel, a Keene State College sophomore and the vice president of Alive Poets Society, who also read some of her own poetry. Hankel remarked that she “attended the event last year, and it is a nice environment. I like the rush of seeing people appreciate your poetry. It’s very inspirational.”

After the open mic section, Soto energetically read two sets of his own poetry.

Soto said that he has “had the privilege of appearing at Keene State twice.” Interested in the poetry written by college students, Soto remarked that “I love listening to students’ work. It gets me more pumped up for my own work.”

Luke Stergiou/ Senior Photographer

As a poet, Soto said that his main inspiration is “to create change with every poem I write.It’s a great feeling to inspire a massive amount of people and to unify them with one poem. This year’s presidential election also made me reflect and open up on many different topics.”

To aspiring poets, Soto advised “to read as much poetry by other poets as you can.

Once you realize your voice is your outlet, you can understand creating change through your poetic voice.”

Soto regularly appears at colleges and universities such as Wheaton College and Loyola University. His most recent collection of poems, “Forever Is Not Enough,” is available on his official website hiddenlegacy.org.

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

On Nov. 13, the Redfern Arts Center hosted the main event for the “Voices of Terezin” performance series. The concert featured a performance of the children’s opera “Brundibar” and a performance by the Apple Hill String Quartet.

The event also featured the exhibit “Visual Witness: The Art of Persecution Under the Nazi Regime” in the Main Lobby of the Redfern Arts Center, organized by Sofia Thornblad, a Keene State Holocaust and genocide studies major,. Pre-concert lectures were also offered in the Harry Davis Room of the Redfern Arts Center. A post-concert meet and greet for the artists and reception was also featured in the Main Lobby of the Redfern Arts Center.

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

The opera “Brundibar” was composed by the late Hans Krása and was accompanied with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister. The opera was performed by local middle school and high school students led by Keene State College faculty member Matthew Leese.

Shannon Mayers, Director of the Redfern Arts Center, opened the concert with a brief introduction to thank all the performers and to provide a historical background on “Brundibar.” Reflecting on the first performances of “Brundibar” in Nazi concentration camps, Mayers said that “art is resilient.”

Matthew Leese, conductor of the “Brundibar” orchestra and chorus, said that “I am really excited to perform this piece.” Prior to the concert, Leese said that he hopes the “audience will be transported back in time for a little bit and set their imagination free for an hour.” He remarked that the “cabaret-style of the music is so cool with a deep underlying message. This is a really amazing experience, but it is a heavy burden on my shoulders. Going into a rehearsal knowing the history [of the piece], it was the only positive thing in the children’s life at the concentration camps. I want to bring out the lighter themes in the music and honor those who first performed it and keep the childlike essence of the piece.”

First violinist of the Apple Hill String Quartet Elise Kuder has been playing with the quartet since 2007. The quartet has a residency at the KSC music department and Kuder remarked that she “loves being involved at Keene State.” The Apple Hill Quartet has visited music classes, performed master classes and collaborated with student music composition students. Kuder remarked that “it is fascinating to work on their [student’s] music.”

At the November concert, the Apple Hill String Quartet performed the Second String Quartet “From the Monkey Mountains” by the Czech composer Pavel Haas. Kuder said that Haas was sent to Auschwitz during World War II and perished in the concentration camp. She said that many composers in Terezin “kept composing music for live energy.” Kuder said Haas’ quartet is “very cinematographic.” The Apple Hill String Quartet also performed an arranged version of “In the Camp,” which is based on four Chinese poems about longing for home featuring mezzo-soprano, Jazimina MacNeil.

Kuder said that the Apple Hill String Quartet members like to “say that everything we play is something created by someone who lives on.” Regarding the significance of the Terezin concert series bringing awareness to the issue of genocide, she said that the Holocaust “was tragic. The great ideas of 1925 were extinguished.” Through this concert, Kuder stated that she hopes to “recreate and reincarnate” those ideas so “nothing like that [the Holocaust] happens again.”

Kuder emphasized that she “feels honored to be a part of this project.” She said that she especially enjoys “playing pieces of forgotten composers such as [Pavel] Haas. Part of what the quartet does is to breathe new life into their art.”

The Apple Hill String Quartet has another upcoming concert in January at the Colonial Theatre.

Eric Dill, a junior at Keene State, said that the “Voices of Terezin” concert was “really good. I haven’t seen anything like it. It was really great and very enjoyable.”

Matt Marzola, also a junior at Keene State, remarked that the concert was “really cool. It was great to see different groups of people coming together to perform.”

Lauren Duffy, a first-year at Keene State, attended the concert to fulfill a course requirement. She said that “it was really good. I didn’t know much coming into it. The exhibit is very interesting as well.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

James Calnan III is a senior at Keene State College double majoring in film production and critical studies.

The Manchester, New Hampshire, native said that he has an interest in creating “films that put as much drama into the plot structure as possible and are exciting to follow.”

Calnan said that his passion for filmmaking began during his early years in high school. Calnan said that the Clint Eastwood film, “‘Gran Torino’ changed my life since it is the type of film that struck me emotionally, with evolving characters that I had never seen before.”

Calnan’s first film project was “Curiosity,” which he made in 2013 during his first year at Keene State. He said that he still “regards ‘Curiosity’ as a favorite film,” since it was a film that was particularly meaningful since the plot “goes deep into someone’s mind about what they could possibly be thinking.”

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

Calnan said that he views filmmaking as an opportunity to depict a “character study, to identify or follow a character and to discover more about a certain person while having fun doing it.” He also remarked that he writes stories that “have a lot of layers and subplots to them.”

Regarding the visual effects of his films, Calnan said that he tries to create “something that is visually pleasing to watch and well-thought-out that fits the tone of the film.”

Calnan said that he has been influenced by several prominent directors, such as Clint Eastwood, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino and M. Night Shyamalan. He also noted that he has been influenced by Alfred Hitchcock’s 1948 film, “The Rope.”

Calnan has worked with both KSC Professors Teresa Podlesney and Tom Cook. Podlesney said that Calnan is “extremely careful in exploring every facet of an idea and is willing to take feedback.” Podlesney further emphasized Calnan’s ability to “share his ideas and to do the best [he] can with every task assigned [to] him, including tasks he assigns himself.”

Cook said that Calnan’s “greatest strength as a filmmaker and student is [his] dedication and persistence. He has learned to look at the entire picture instead of just working on his project on a day-to-day effort.” Cook also said that Calnan has “learned to work together in a crew-oriented field, which is a vital element of professional production.”

Calnan said that he is currently working on three film projects. For his group film project, Calnan said that he is making a comedy called “Stain,” directed by Matthew Cohen. Calnan is also working on writing a text for a Keene State student’s astrophotography project.

Calnan’s self-described “biggest project” is his direction of the film “Strangers.”

He said that the drama mystery film’s plot “revolves around a college student who has a very harsh relationship with his father, and then meets a new friend who brings more out of him than he knew he had.”

Calnan said that the “scale of the film will be much bigger than arguably any other student film made here [at Keene State].”

Calnan said that his vision for the film is to portray a “very interesting character study with a father and son relationship.” “Strangers” will begin filming in February and will be released at the end of the academic year.

After his graduation from Keene State, Calnan said that he hopes to move to New York City.

He also said that he is interested in working for the HBO Fellowship since he “loves their work.” To new college students, Calnan said to “always be original and do it for the experience. Don’t overlook hard work; talent is 95 percent of hard work; just learn the language and study deeper.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

Conductor of the Keene State College orchestra for about 24 years Don Baldini is retiring after this fall semester. An accomplished bass player in Los Angeles, Baldini toured with famous bands and musicians such as Frank Sinatra, The Tonight Show and Andy Williams. He also performed on the soundtracks to popular films, such as “Jaws II” and “Charlie’s Angels.”

Hired initially as a bass teacher at Keene State, Baldini said that he started the Keene State orchestra program since students asked him to look at some orchestral repertoire. He remarked that “I was never trained as a conductor, and then I began the KSC orchestra in its present form.”

Tim Smith / Photo Editor

While a faculty member at Keene State, Baldini said that he has performed in “about over 40 jazz concerts, all of which are memorable, particularly those with the students involved over the years.” Baldini also remarked that he “always tried to have a guest soloist at each concert.” For example, he mentioned that the “Portraits of Jazz” concert featured paintings from a local artist and Keene State alumnus. This concert featured a showing of the artist’s paintings with musical accompaniment conducted by Baldini.

Baldini said that conducting the orchestra at Keene State has also educated him as a musician. He said, “First of all, I’ve had to learn what limitations are with students. I came here from the professional world, but students also need to be pushed and challenged. At first,  I used to struggle with that more than I do now. One thing 24 years teaches you is what to expect and what not to expect, and I mean that in the most positive way. ”

Baldini reminisces and said, “It’s been a wonderful run, but you can’t hang on too long.” He said “I have no regrets. I got to do a lot of music; KSC gave me an opportunity to do something I never thought I would be able to do. It’s been an honor. I will always treasure Keene State.”

Dr. Jim Chesebrough, band director at Keene State College, said that he has known Baldini for around 15 years. Chesebrough said that he knew Baldini “as a clinician in the New Hampshire jazz scene. I think I met him at a Jazz all-state audition.”

When he was hired at Keene State, Chesebrough remarked that he became more acquainted with Baldini. Chesebrough said that “he [Baldini] is the counterpart as the director of the orchestra, the largest string ensemble and the jazz band to me, so we have similar roles and we commiserate over certain things.” Outside of their work at Keene State, Chesebrough amicably said that he and Baldini also “play golf together.”

Chesebrough emphasized that Baldini “is the reason there is an orchestra at Keene State.” Chesebrough also remarked that Baldini has made the jazz band “one of the biggest concerts the music department has, as far as audience size.”

Regarding Baldini’s experience as a conductor and bassist, Chesebrough said that “he [Baldini] is fun to play with in ensembles on a professional level. Baldini is very, very accomplished on the bass; he doesn’t have to practice since he is just rock solid. He also knows a tremendous amount of very famous musicians. Because of the people he knows and the things he’s done, he is an amazing resource.”

Chesebrough said, “We are really going to miss Mr. Baldini here. For the past few years, he and I have been kidding each other who would be the first to retire, and it looks like he wins.” Chesebrough also said that Keene State is currently in the hiring process for a new director, and he pointed out that “it will be hard to find someone who can do both jazz and classical.”

Joe Conti, a junior majoring in trumpet performance, has had “so much fun” playing in both the orchestra and jazz ensemble led by Baldini. Conti said that Baldini “was an inspiration to practice and work hard.” He also mentioned that Baldini “taught us how the real world works in the music industry while making sure my musicianship is where it should be from an educational standpoint.”

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

The latest documentary film by Ken Burns, “Defying the Nazis: The Sharp’s War,” was featured in a free screening at the Colonial Theatre in downtown Keene, New Hampshire, Wednesday Oct. 26.

Sponsored by the Keene State College Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the film narrates the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp who helped evacuate Jewish intellectuals and children from Nazi persecution.

The event also featured panel interviews with Keene State College professors Larry Benaquist, Tom Durnford and Bill Sullivan. Artemis Joukowsky III, the Sharp’s grandson and a co-director of the film, and filmmaker Ken Burns were also present at the interview session.

Hank Knight, Director of the Cohen Center, introduced the film prior to the screening. He said, “I am quite fortunate to have partners in the city called the Colonial Theatre,” who were willing to host the film’s screening.

The film tells the formerly obscure story of the Unitarian couple, Waitstill and Martha Sharp, who rescued many Jewish intellectuals, generals, citizens and children from Nazi-oppressed Europe.

A Keene State professor of modern languages and culture Tom Durnford said that the concept for the film began in 1999 when Bill Sullivan read Martha Sharp’s obituary in a Providence news journal. Research for the film formally began around the year 2000. Durnford said that Sullivan thought her life would be an interesting topic for a film and recruited Keene State film studies professor Larry Benaquist.

Since many of the documents and letters detailing the Sharp’s philanthropic work during World War II was in French, Durnford said that Benaquist asked him to join the project. Durnford said that he “immediately wrote a letter to Pau (where Martha Sharp was stationed in France) to get more information from the city” regarding the Sharp’s role in evacuating Jewish refugees. Durnford remarked that he was “surprised that it was completely off the record.” Consequently, he “corresponded with the city hall (of Pau) to come and research in the archives and to talk to people who had been alive during the 1940s.”

In 2002, the KSC Faculty Development Program gave Durnford, Benaquist and Sullivan funding to spend a summer in France to conduct further research.

While the three researchers were in France, they used original documents to follow Martha Sharp’s daily itinerary. Durnford remarked that they “could barely keep up with her pace in the 21st century.” Throughout his research on Martha Sharp, Durnford said in amazement that “here’s a woman in 1940 who couldn’t vote and is dealing with the highest levels of government, the Nazis and the Red Cross.

She pulled it all off.” Due to the extensive research the Keene State professors acquired, Durnford said that there is “no reason why not to make another documentary based on these records.”

Keene State College professor Paul Vincent said that he primarily served as the historical consultant throughout the film’s production. Vincent also said that he played a major role in nominating Waitstill and Martha Sharp for the Righteous Among the Nations award from the state of Israel for service to the Jewish community.

Regarding the film’s impact on viewers, Vincent remarked that genocide is “such a tough issue in a political environment.” Vincent also related the film’s subject to the political and societal issues of the 21st century:

“The reason to respond [to genocide] is much greater now than when World War II began. Hearts aren’t going out enough; people don’t immigrate unless the situation is dire.” Vincent also said, “This film is coming out at a great time in history. There are currently more refugees in the world today than in the 1940s.”

Durnford also shared similar thoughts with Vincent about the film’s impact. Durnford said that “the application of what you see in the film is not dissimilar to what is going on in the United States with the Syrian refugee crisis.” Durnford elaborated further and said, “I hope the film provides a wake-up call to young people and has international ramifications.”

Both Vincent and Durnford also noted that the film had a significant impact on them as scholars and as individuals. Vincent said, “I know large facts [about the Holocaust], but when it comes to personal stories like this one, that is what enriches my studies.” Durnford said that the “whole involvement with this project has changed my life and has put me in a new level of research.”

Keene State College sophomore Lizzie Zelenka attended the screening of “Defying the Nazis: The Sharp’s War.” Zelenka said that the film was “really heavy and emotional; it will take a while to really digest it.”

Peter Knox, a first-year at Keene State, said that the film was “an amazing montage of technology used to tie in historical photographs, which was really interesting.” He also stated that the film was “extremely powerful and inspired me to vote in the election.”

“Defying the Nazis: The Sharp’s War” featured actor Tom Hanks and humanitarian Marina Goldman as the voices for Waitstill and Martha Sharp. The film was co-directed by Artemis Joukowsky III and Ken Burns. Burns also served as executive producer and presenter of the project.

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

The Keene State College theater and dance program featured the revue “A…My Name Is Alice” at the Redfern Arts Center’s Wright Theater the week of Oct. 18. Directed by Kirstin Riegler, the production highlighted performances by Keene State students Sydney Aldrich, Heather Hunt, Amy Lesieur, Emily McIntyre and Claire O’Brien. The performance was complemented with piano accompaniment by Thomas R. Martin and choreography was by Makayla Ferrick.

Director Kirstin Riegler said that she chose the show “‘A…My Name Is Alice’ because, “I wanted to keep musical theater present in our season here at Keene. I also wanted to showcase that a musical doesn’t have to be this large grandiose production; it can be an intimate conversation between audience and actor. I was very passionate about it because bringing five women together and doing a show that is all women is a very strong statement, and I wanted to do that for Keene.”

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

Regarding the selection of the Wright Theater as a venue, Riegler said “I never saw this story being in this big space because along with my concept of this whole group therapy session, I wanted the audience to feel like a part of the therapy session. So I figured having it in the Wright Theater…where you’re in a circle group and just chatting, it would set the mood more appropriately than in a bigger space.

While the revue was originally written in 1983, Riegler stated that the message is still relevant in today’s society. As a feminist production, Riegler said, “I’m a big fan of  women who don’t need a man to be strong. An independent woman is crucial. I think all I can say is the power just speaks for itself the way the material was written. It was conceived by two women in 1983 and they just wanted to make a statement that you can do a show dominated by women. In the 80s, musicals –  a very male dominated profession – had that male lead and that male-female couple. Here, we can still tell the same story with five women.”

Riegler also remarked that she has thoroughly enjoyed working with the cast of “A…My Name Is Alice.” She described the actress’ ability to work together as, “absolutely hands down from our first day to learning the music.” Riegler said that one of the more rewarding aspects of working with the all female cast was “seeing them kind of be their own director” by learning their assigned songs. Riegler was also impressed with  how each cast member individualized each song. She said that she enjoyed seeing these women create their own through line [when an actor has an objective for a line, thetheatredictionary.org] connecting their characters back stories to the main story, and how all five of them were able to allow their stories to mesh in a cohesive manner was literally incredible, and it was all done by them.”

Colton McCracken / Equinox Staff

As director, Riegler added her own ideas, mainly the group therapy session, to “A…My Name Is Alice.” She said that she invented it “because I just think just reading the text as barren, I felt like everything could totally be something you talk to a therapist about. Or to all of these women, something crucial just happened in their lives and they’ve talked to all of their family friends. They just need that outside help or connection with someone that might be going through the same thing.” Riegler also rearranged the order of the songs “to make a through line possible for these actresses to find.”

Audience member Lauren Bennett, a graduate student in the KSC special education program, said, “I enjoyed the kindergarten aspect of the musical review in its nursery rhyme style songs such as the ABCs in performers’ introductions.”

Other audience member Chloe Melville, a sophomore nutrition major at KSC, said that the production featured “so many things that you can relate to life.” Melville also said that she “didn’t expect the musical to be as good as it was.”

First produced in 1983,  “A..My Name Is Alice” was written by Joan Micklin Silver and Julianne Boyd. The production won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Revue.

Ethan Chalmers can be contacted at echalmers@kscequinox.com

Fletcher Rice can be contacted at frice@kscequinox.com