Some grads struggle to make ends meet

By Ilana Kowarski / April 13, 2010

“Positive reforms will not happen without a union,” seventh-year anthropology doctoral student Joe Feinberg said in an e-mail.

Graduate Students United demands union recognition by U of C

By Ilana Kowarski / April 9, 2010

Outside unions might assist GSU organizers in their lobbying campaigns for higher wages and lower tuition.

E-mails in Scrolls case may implicate prof

By Ilana Kowarski / February 16, 2010

Raphael Golb, 49, faces 51 criminal charges of identity theft, criminal impersonation, harassment, and unauthorized use of computers. He is the son of Oriental Institute Professor Norman Golb.

South Sider picked to head U of C education research

By Ilana Kowarski / February 5, 2010

Education reformer Paul Goren will head the Consortium on Chicago School Research, which conducts research on behalf of the University’s Urban Education Institute.

Dennehy’s dramatic transformation dominates one-act duo

By Ilana Kowarski / February 2, 2010

Brian Dennehy plays two wildly different characters in Goodman Theatre's double feature, Hughie and Krapp's Last Tape

The Redmoon rises over Rockefeller with Hunchback revamp

By Ilana Kowarski / October 20, 2009

Redmoon Theater is bringing its critically-acclaimed re-imagining of The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Rockefeller Chapel.

Admin visit SCRH for official opening

By Ilana Kowarski / October 13, 2009

Dean Boyer’s speech touched on the building’s significance for the University, tracing its lineage back to the era of benefactors Ernest DeWitt Burton, Frederick Woodward, and Julius Rosenwald.

DePaul graduate proves money is no matter for making movies

By Ilana Kowarski / October 13, 2009

Wetherbee is a local artist who has recently established the performance company You, Me, Them, Everybody, and works several jobs to support himself and his art—every spare cent he earns goes toward funding his creative projects, which include everything from podcasts to music videos to his current film, The Shuffle..

Goodman revamps vaudeville with kooky caper

By Ilana Kowarski / October 9, 2009

Filled with antiquated notions of love and humor, this production has a kind of tenderness that is rare in modern comedy, and makes you understand the incredible tenacity of cheerfulness through the Great Depression.

Alice and Giselle make perfect pair in UBallet spring show

By Ilana Kowarski / May 29, 2009

UBallet’s spring show mixes old and new, featuring standard and original student choreography, as well as telling two classic but very different stories.

Ibsen adaptation hampered by preachy dialogue

By Ilana Kowarski / May 8, 2009

Enemy of the People, Red Tape Theatre's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play, runs aground with stilted, didactic dialogue.

Cutting down original Carmen proves no tragedy for COT

By Ilana Kowarski / May 5, 2009

With a spare set, modest costuming, and a small cast, the Chicago Opera Theater’s (COT) production of La Tragedie de Carmen compels its audience to focus on the pure beauty of the opera's music and story.

Williams paints from varied viewpoints

By Ilana Kowarski / May 1, 2009

The Hyde Park Art Center's Julian Williams: Recent Paintings compels the viewer to put himself in the shoes of another person and see the world through his or her eyes.

Wilson’s poetry speaks nature’s enigmatic language

By Ilana Kowarski / April 28, 2009

Voices had the opportunity to interview Emily Wilson, an up-and-coming poet, and get her perspective on her own poetry and poetry in general before she read from her most recent anthology, Micrographia, this Thursday at Rosenwald Hall.

Law and Medical schools rise in U.S. News rankings

By Ilana Kowarski / April 28, 2009

The University of Chicago’s graduate programs again received high marks in rankings released by U.S. News and World Report Friday.

Goodman’s ghastly Ghostwritten mars Iizuka’s magic

By Ilana Kowarski / April 21, 2009

Playwright Naomi Iizuka fills Ghostwritten with magic, but her trite, contrived script, illogical plot, and hackneyed characters fail to enchant her audience even when they want to be enchanted.

U of C prof starts an outdoor, cross-cultural Conversation

By Ilana Kowarski / April 14, 2009

Curated by University of Chicago art history professor Wu Hung, A Conversation with Chicago: Contemporary Sculptures from China exposes a wide audience to contemporary Chinese art.

Schwimmer and other notables go to Town with Thornton Wilder’s drama

By Ilana Kowarski / February 24, 2009

If you liked David Schwimmer as Ross in Friends, then you’ll love him as George in Lookingglass’s production of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.

Student Dems, GOP debate climate change

By Ilana Kowarski / February 20, 2009

The College Republicans and the UC Dems debated climate change last night, arguing on environmental policy and whether there is a significant environmental problem at all.

Shortcut: Lisa Hannigan—See Sew

By Ilana Kowarski / February 10, 2009

After years of singing backup for big-name artists like Damien Rice and Snow Patrol, Ireland’s Lisa Hannigan makes her solo debut.

Sand Castle’s cast stands strong in face of intimidating script

By Ilana Kowarski / January 13, 2009

Lanford Wilson's drama about friendship and family falls into the capable hands of Theatre Seven of Chicago.

Precocious Blitstein chirps awhile about value of following your own path

By Ilana Kowarski / December 2, 2008

Chicago native Jonathan Blitstein fought against the odds to become one of the youngest filmmakers ever to write, direct, and produce a feature film.

Mature acting, direction drive UT production

By Ilana Kowarski / November 21, 2008

Inspired by Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, How I Learned to Drive tries to illustrate what Lolita would look like if told from the title character’s perspective. University Theater manages a production of the play relatively free of the heebie-jeebies.

Fresh-faced Sklar takes Elder and company on tour

By Ilana Kowarski / November 14, 2008

Todd Sklar, indie filmmaker and founder of Range Life Entertainment, leads his Box Elder and three other films to the Gene Siskel Film Center as part of a 22-city tour.

History panel probes question of race after election

By Ilana Kowarski / November 7, 2008

History doctoral students and a Chicago activist spoke at a roundtable discussion sponsored by the History Department and CAPS on Wednesday about the role that history played in this week’s election.

History panel probes question of race after election

By Ilana Kowarski / November 7, 2008

History doctoral students and a Chicago activist spoke at a roundtable discussion sponsored by the History Department and CAPS on Wednesday about the role that history played in this week’s election.

Hyde Park airs concern over UCPD’s working relationship with community

By Ilana Kowarski / November 4, 2008

“The relationship between the University and the community has a lot of room for improvement,” said third-year Stephanie Zwiebel, citing what she perceived as a lack of University “subtlety” and communal focus in its dealings with the community.

U of C police chief unveils latest plans to foster campus safety

By Ilana Kowarski / October 31, 2008

University of Chicago Police Department executive director Rudolph Nimocks spoke to students Wednesday about his plans for the University’s safety, including installing security cameras and mandating a card-swipe system for entry into some buildings.

Alumni’s election webcast to feature viewer content, drinking contests

By Ilana Kowarski / October 28, 2008

Those looking for “fair and balanced” election-night coverage might want to stay away from the Pilsen Interactive Media Project, a live webcast led by two U of C alums who promise to drink a shot for every battleground state Obama wins on November 4.

Steppenwolf’s casting confuses Menagerie

By Ilana Kowarski / October 28, 2008

The Steppenwolf production of The Glass Menagerie conveys the play's theme of pain, even though it fails to accurately convey the world Tennessee Williams was trying to create.