Ashley Nicole Lewis

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Theater promoting health kicks off year 2

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | August 26

As Interactive Theatre Carolina launches into its second year with bold ambitions and new material, organizers are counting on students to audition. The theater group, sponsored by Counseling and Wellness Services, uses both scripted and improvisational theater to promote health, wellness and awareness of prevalent social justice issues on campus. "We're looking for strong performers, who also have a passion for health and social justice issues," said Ben Saypol, program coordinator. "Students of all majors and all schools are welcome and encouraged to attend."

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Bringing out the beat

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | April 24

Audience members were able to experience authentic African dance while learning about the ongoing global HIV/AIDS epidemic Wednesday night at Memorial Hall. The Spirit of Uganda dance group, which appeared as a part of the Carolina Performing Arts series, is a cohort of the organization Empower African Children. The group tours the United States regularly to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and the 2.4 million orphaned Ugandan children.

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Jews and Muslims unite through festival

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | April 17

Many Jewish and Muslim students at UNC will aim to overlook international conflicts today through a shared appreciation of art and entertainment. And to do her part, senior Sophia Malik is looking to comedian Adam Sandler for inspiration. As part of the fourth annual Muslim-Jewish Arts Festival, Malik will sing an acoustic adaptation of Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah Song" to add some humor to the festival. "The Jewish and Muslim communities deal with a lot of serious issues, so I decided to do something more entertaining to lighten the mood," Malik said.

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Production gets to the heart of music

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | February 29

The cast of "A New Brain," Pauper Players' latest production, aims to promote a simple message: "You gotta have heart and music to make a song." The musical production debuts today at 8 p.m. in the Student Union Cabaret and returns March 6 to 9 at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. "A New Brain" is the group's premiere winter show and one of four productions Pauper Players will put on this season - the most, organizers say, the group has ever put on.

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Play transcends time to urge voter involvement

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | February 14

Although the Pulitzer Prize-winning political satire "State of the Union" was written more than 60 years ago, Deep Dish Theater Company is bringing the play back to the stage and into the 21st century beginning tonight. "State of the Union" takes place in the time preceding the 1948 presidential election, but according to the show's producer Paul Frellick, also Deep Dish's artistic director, it draws several insightful and comedic parallels to the current political landscape in the United States.

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Performances explore legacy

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | January 22

The Sonja Haynes Stone Center was filled Monday night with people of all backgrounds trying to explore Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy through poetry, music and spoken word. "He Was A Poem: A Gathering in the Tradition" included performances by musician Bradley Simmons of the Duke University Djembe Ensemble, poet Lita Hooper, and spoken-word artists Kim Arrington and UNC junior Donovan Livingston. Also performing as a part of the musical tribute was Ron Baxter and R-EFFECT, a local five-member jazz band. The annual event was sponsored by the Stone Center.

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Burch scholars, Ground UP produce coming-of-age play

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | January 11

This weekend a group of UNC students who collaborated with several different professional theater groups will bring a taste of New York to the local stage. Last semester 16 UNC students moved to New York City as a part of the Burch Field Research Seminar, "Living Theater Live in New York." Students were placed in various organizations to experience the flavor of professional theater life. The students, in conjunction with the group Ground UP Productions, are presenting "The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek" in Bingham Hall, beginning today.

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Carrboro Film Festival attracts crowd

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | November 19

In its second year, the Carrboro Film Festival saw larger audiences in attendance and additional awards presented to some of the 27 local films screened Sunday. The Carrboro Century Center again played host to the festival. In addition to the original four handmade trophies presented to the best films, eight smaller craft awards were also presented for directing, acting and technical positions.

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Muslim poet to be celebrated

By Ashley Nicole Lewis | September 26

Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities will join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's celebration of "The Year of Rumi" by offering events that celebrate what would have been the Muslim poet's 800th birthday this week. The festival, called "Rumi Fest," will kick off at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro at 8:30 p.m. today. The festival is a part of the Worlds Arts Festival that the ArtsCenter is hosting this year.