URTC presents 'Word Up!'

URTC presents 'Word Up!'

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Dancers warm up backstage before the start of "Word Up!" Tuesday night at the Playhouse Theatre on Penn State's University Park campus. The production marks the end of the spring season for the University Resident Theatre Company.

Image: Penn State
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Audience members read the playbill before the start of "Word Up!" at the Playhouse Theatre. The production runs through April 26. Tickets are available at the Penn State Downtown Ticket Center, Eisenhower Box Office, Bryce Jordan Center or by calling 863-0255 or (800) ARTS-TIX.

Image: Penn State
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In conceiving "Word Up!" director Steve Broadnax used the latest genre of theatre, hip hop theatre (the use of graffiti art, deejaying, emceeing or spoken word, and dance), to offer insight to the social, political, economic, religious and social issues that affect the subculture.

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The goal of the show's creator was to take pre-conceived notions about hip-hop, and ask, "Are these notions valid?" In some cases, "Word Up!" cements previous understandings of hip-hop, but often adds a twist. In some cases, "Word Up!" smashes previously accepted notions about hip hop, and demands that members of the audience expand their own views of this form.

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A variety of numbers were performed during the show, each intended to confront the ideas and experiences of the current generation in an entertaining, yet educational format.

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Backstage, ensemble member Alano Miller (in red) gives instructions to those in the dressing room as performers change costumes between numbers.

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B-Boy All Star Quester Hannah gets into character backstage before his performance.

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The performance included several dance numbers, including Mad Luv, Battle, Hip Hop Fosse, Hip Hop Salsa, Ghetto Fly, Gun Shot, Jesus Walks and others.

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Audience members react to the performance on stage. One of the goals stated by director Steve Broadnax in the program is for every audience member to look at their respective worlds, notice injustice, and then make some noise about it.

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For show times for the remainder of the run for "Word Up!" visit live.psu.edu/story/30036 online. For more information about the School of Theatre, visit www.theatre.psu.edu/ online.

Image: Penn State

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