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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1999)
Joslyn to feature pictures of Dali By Danell McCoy Staff writer Forty-five years ago, two friends . collaborated to make a book of pictures with a surrealist touch. The focus of the photos was the mustache of a well known artist named Salvador Dali. Beginning Jan. 23, Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St., will be carrying a special exhibition displaying me enure ji origi nal pictures pho tographer Philippe Halsman took for his book, “Dali’s Mustache.” - The book was reprinted in 1994 by Flammarion in Paris. The focus on his mustache was not new to Dali. It was, in actuality, the artist’s most well-known accessory and his most recognizable feature. The photographic rendezvous between Halsman and Dali took place in the United States as both were refugees from German-occupied France. During the shoot, an interview took place and the answers Halsman received from Dali inspired the image that was created for each picture. Questions and answers that were given during the interview serve as cap tions to each of the photographs. Although some of the questions were serious, the responses Dali gave were, as Joslyn curator Janet Farber said, “purposely playful” and because of tiie humor in the answers, the photos are more amusing. When Dali and Halsman first met in 1941, Halsman was a highly regard ed portrait photographer and Dali had already made a name for himself as a premier figure of the surrealist move ment in Europe. It was while working with Dali that Halsman’s^work became surreal in nature. The photos that were produced also gave the world a look into the head 1 of Dali, already a global celebrity. “I think that these pictures are a delightful investigation into the nature or Dan as an artist and Dali as a per son,” said Faiber. “They give an absurd look into surrealism as Dali saw it” The Joslyn Art Museum received the pho tos for this exhibi tion through an organization called Curatorial Assistance, Inc., from Los Angeles. The company circu lates various exhibits throughout the country and sends information about the exhibits to different museums. The museum board then decides whether to show the exhibition or not Halsman’s photos of Dali, as well as the notes of the interview that took place during the photo shoot, were being kept in the late Halsman’s archives before the exhibition began. The inventiveness and light humor of the photos is what later made Halsman a successful celebrity photog rapher after World War H. But it was his focus on Dali’s signa ture feature that gave the world a vision of what could be done with just a little imagination. Gallery Preview Hm Facts What: “Dali’s Mustache” Where: Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. When: Jan. 23-April 18 Cost: $5 for adults $3 for seniors and students $2.50 for ages 5-17 The Skinny: The absurd narrative of an artist’s signature feature Courtesy Photo “DAU’S MUSTACHE: A Photographic Interview” opens Saturday at Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum. The interview is conducted through captions underneath the photos. To the question “Why do you wear a mustache?” Dali answers, “In order to pass unnoticed.” ‘Grease’ revival slides into Lied Center for weekend shows By Diane Broderick Staff writer The movie. The sequel. The re release. The megamix. “Grease” has had many incarna tions since its 1972 Broadway origins, and this weekend its , stage revival will visit the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St., for three perfor mances. The produce tion is part of a T r i o k a Matt Haney/DN Organization touring road show, and like the original Broadway production of “Grease,” it differs widely from the movie. But one cast member has a con trary view. “The movie is based on die play, so actually the movie is a lot different than the play as opposed to the play being a lot different from the movie,” said Sandy Rustin, who plays Sandy in die r . •. v traveling production. “The man who directed this pro duction was in the original Broadway production. Basically, everything we do is faithful to the original produc tion.” The differences to the movie i involved include basic name differ ences - the Burger Palace Boys take the place of the T-Birds, and wm Sandy’s last name is Dumbrowski, not Olsen-and some song changes. “‘Freddie My Love’ and ‘Those Magic Changes’ appear on juke boxes in the movie, but they’re solo performances in the play,” Rustin said. “You’re the One that I Want” was created for the movie, but doesn’t • . ii. . Li_ Mfs^svux m uiv [nay. But the basic plot remains the same: Sandy transfers to Rydell High in the fall of 1958 and runs into Danny Zuko, her summer love. He blows her off, but later repents and all the while several musical numbers ensue. The play’s director, Ray Demattis, played Roger, a Burger Palace Boy, in the original Broadway production. Demattis was cast with John Travolta, in his pre-Danny Zuko and pie-movie career days. Travolta played Doody, another Burger Palace Boy. Though, to many, Travolta epito mizes the image of “Grease” along with Olivia Newton-John, there is something more that has made the stage phenomenon so successful. Lisa Mattia, the show’s company manager, said “Grease” has remained so popular over the years because it provides so much fun for the audience. Rustin said such universal appeal is what has given “Grease” its staying power. “It's a popular movie,” she said, “so everybody’s familiar with the music. “Kids who are not yet teen-agers can’t wait to be teen-agers, and people who are teen-agers, they’re living that right then. And then adults can relive that time of the ’50s and ’60s.” Rustin herself experienced that fas cination with “Grease” as a child. “I loved it. We used to play ‘Grease’ at recess when I was little,” Lied Center The Facts What: “Grease” Where: Lied Center for Performing Arts When: Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Cost: $29, $34, $38 and half-price for students The Skinny: Stage revival brings “Grease” back to its roots she said. Rustin was cast in August and has been performing Sandy’s role since September. She said this is the only professional production of “Grease” on stages right now. At times the show features famous actors in cameo roles, including Frankie Avalon reprising his Teen Angel role from th&film. Fabian and __ Eric Estrada have also appeared as Vince Fontaine, the MC at Rydell High’s dance. But this weekend’s performances feature die regular cast. Rustin’s description of the cast members’ affinity for one another brings to mind strains of the Pink Ladies’ and Burger Palace Boys’ ode to friendship - “We Go Together.” “There’s 24 people in the cast. We’re together for a year,” she said. “We travel together. We share rooms. Everything we do is together. Very close friendships are formed between cast members.” And this weekend, “Grease” cast members won’t be the only entertain ers at the Lied. A preshow dance contest for audi ence members starts 15 minutes before performances. Prizes will be awarded, Rustin said, and audience members are encouraged to wear ’50s clothing. i i OMf LOVr. ONr HrART. OMr Q&cAT K>A<?TYUf IT’S THAT V«M* OS? YrAf WttffM THOUSANDS Of STUijeKTS cow Vo JAMAICA VO fEVl PtGMV « fFOfc AM MM*MnL«-VA»Mr VMtCwHf Mf IAMAIPA aI student Trawl Sendees 1 800-648-4849 JuA|1i|ll| IjJIl Price is per person based on quad occupancy; from select departure cities. Other cities may qualify for reduction or require surcharge. US and Jamaica departure taxes (currently $59) and $9 handling charge additional. Rates increase $30 on 12/15/98. 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