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Ladely gives life to the Ross
■The director of the theater since
1973 has helped the theater earn
nationwide recorpiidon.
BYMAURSENQALLAflHBt
Dan Ladely is good at what he
does. Scheduling movies. Rubbing
elbows with celebrities. Putting
together a film festival. Lobbying
funding for his job as director of the
Mary Riepma Ross Film Theatre. It
suits him.
Since he became the director in
1973, Ladely has turned die program
from a low-budget theater that
irregularly showed movies to one
with a national reputation that regu
larly shows movies four nights a
The movies that show at the Ross
are unlike ones you would see
downtown, and this, according to
Wheeler Dixon, UNL film studies
professor, is very important
“The Ross widens the perspec
tive of students so they aren't always
dependent on commercial
Hollywood fare,” Dixon said.
The first step into turning the
Ross into what it is today, though,
was to find the funding. Ladely and
the Ross Theater rely on funding
from the National Endowment for
the Arts, the Nebraska Arts Council
and the support of Mary Riepma
Ross. Once the funding was found,
there was no stopping Ladely.
He has expanded the Ross Film
Theater so much that it has out
grown its present location in the
Sheldon Gallery.
“We have only limited access to
the auditorium,” Ladely said.
“There’s just not a lot of flexibility
with our current location.”
Currently, Ladely is inundated
with requests from student organi
zations like the India Association
and the University Program Council
for use of the theater.
It’s hard to fit all of these
requests in with the Ross’s regular
schedule and with the films shown
for the film studies program on
Mondays and Wednesdays.
Construction begins this spring
on the new Ross Film Theater, which
will be located next to the Temple
Building.
The new theater will be much
larger and contain two screens.
“With the new building, we’ll be
able to accommodate more people,”
Ladely said.
One screen will function like the
current theater, showing films every
evening with many afternoon mati
nees. The second theater will show
classical films, experimental films,
documentaries and be used by the
film studies program.
“Eventually, I hope to show stu
dent films,” Ladely said.
In addition, with the new build
ing Ladely hopes to hold more open
screening nights in which local film
makers can show their films.
*1 want to be able to showcase
local talent, good or bad,” Ladely
said.
Ladely’s desire to give local tal
ent an audience also spawned the
Great Plains Film Festival, a biannu
al film festival for filmmakers of the
7 enjoy putting together a
program, coming up with
ideas and making them
happen”
Dan Ladely
Ross Film Theatre director
region. The films or the filmmakers
must have some connection to the
Great Plains.
Although the first Great Plains
Film Festival was held in 1992,
Ladely actually began planning
about five years prior.
*1 wanted to do something dif
ferent and unique,” he said.
It wasn’t easy for Ladely’s brain
child to become a reality, but it has
been worth the work.
“It's been slow growing, but it’s
getting easier,” Ladely said. “It’s
growing into a very nice event.”
Hie sixth festival will be held in
July, but before the festival begins,
the Ross has a full spring schedule.
On April 7 actor Peter Riegert will
be at the Ross showing his Academy
Award nominated short film.
Soon after, from April 10 through
April 22, will be a festival called
Women Directors/Feminist
Directions, showcasing recent films
by female directors.
Organizing events such as these
is Ladety’s favorite part of his job.
“I enjoy putting together a pro
gram, coming up with ideas and
making them happen.”
Honky inspired
by local talent
BY CASEY JOHNSON
Duffy’s Tavern reeks of a Sunday
night, but the crowd looks as though
they forgot what day it is. On stage is the
alternative rock pop band Drive-by
Honky and as the set continues, the
band plays catchy tune after catchy tune
to a dead silent O Street backdrop.
The trio started in 1998 as a two piece
with Dan Jenkins as front man and Tom
Cabela on drums. This combination
resulted in the band’s first release enti
tled "god damn beriin."
And the name of the band?
“It came out of necessity," Jenkins
said. “We needed a band name, and it
was the first thing that popped into my
head."
The band stayed a two piece until
about a year and a half ago when they
added Mike Keeling on bass guitar for
their latest album “Thrift Americana” to
give “oomph” to its sound.
It seems to have worked because
after the band first released “Thrift
Americana," it got a lot of air play on
radio stations like KRNU and KZUM.
The band is not happy with this success
alone, though.
“It would be way cooler to hear us on
The Blaze or one of the oldies stations,”
Keeling joked.
All kidding aside, Jenkins said that
hearing himself on the radio was a
strange thing.
“Sometimes it can make me really
uncomfortable, but at the same time, it
is really cool,” he said. “I mean what bet
ter feeling can you have then to get into
your car and start it up, and you are on
the freakin’ radio.” ''
Even though his band has received a
lot of play on radio stations and has
many gigs under its belt, Jenkins admit
7 mean what better feeling
can you have then to get
into your car and start it up
and you are on the freakin
radio.”
Dan Jenkins
Drive-by Honky singer
ted some reviews of "Thrift Americana"
hurt him.
“I’m a very fragile individual,” he
said.
Perhaps some of the success has
come because of their background and
influences.
Keeling was in the much acclaimed
local independent band Leafy Green
Things and Cabela and Jenkins have
been playing together for almost ten
years.
Although the band members men
tioned several recognizable bands such
as “Reo Speedwagon," "The Who" and
“Pavement," they said they were more
influenced by local bands such as
"Opium Thylor” and "Mercy Rule."
"When I play what I play, I am more
influenced by local bands,” Jenkins said.
When asked about what the band
thought about the local scene right now,
Keeling said although there were some
good things going on, there did seem to
be a lack of unity.
"In the early to mid-90s, there was a
very solidified scene in Lincoln, and I
think that right now there is not a lot of
demand for guitar-based rock, but it’s
just a lull, and that will change, because
it always does," Keeling said.
Nebraska Jazz has 25th
■ The Orchestra's silver anniversary will
feature saxophonist Bobby Watson and
is almost sold out
BYBUYSMUCK_
In its fourth concert of the season, the
Nebraska Jazz Orchestra will be celebrating
its 25th Anniversary Season big-band style,
performing with guest artist Bobby Watson.
The concert will be held tonight at the
Comhusker Hotel 333 S. 13th St, die new
home of the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra.
Priority seating for season ticket members
begins at 7 pan. and general admission seat
ing begins at 7:15 pjiL for tickets purchased
at the door.
Music Director and saxophonist Ed
Love said that the concert was almost sold
out with nearly600seats already accounted
for
That’s good news for the orchestra but
bad news for those interested in attending
with hopes of dancing.
“We’ve been lucky enough to draw a
large amount of people," Love said. “There
wasn't much room to set up a dance floor."
Having performed with many popular
musicians like trumpeter Clark Terry, saxo
phonist Don Menza and trombonist Bill
Watrous, the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra is
enthused about playing with saxophonist
Watson.
Executive Director and trumpeter Dean
Haist said it was “an honor."
“Wa're delighted to be working with an
artist with the caliber of Bobby Watson,"
Haist said. “He’s a phenomenal saxophon
ist."
Watson trained at the University of
Miami, and after graduating in 1975, moved
to New York hitting the big time by joining
and soon becoming musical director of Art
Biakey’s Jazz Messengers.
In the 1980s, Watson played with several
groups such as The George Coleman Octet,
Charlie Persip’s Big Band, the 29th Street
Saxophone Quartet and the Savoy Sultans.
By the late 1980s, Watson had become
one of the best-kept secrets in jazz, later
gaining national recognition after recording
albums that broadened his artistic vision
and his audience.
Some of the selections tonight will
include: “La Parguera," “Phil Not Bill,"
“Booke Ends," “On theWestside” and “One
More Time.” In addition to the concert per
formance, Haist said Watson would be
teaching a master dass on the second floor
of the Student Union on Friday, March 2
from noon to 1 p.m.
Love said the Nebraska Jazz Orchestral
mission was to preserve big-band tradition.
Because many of the old band leaders are
gone, they want to make sure the tradition
doesn't die offon a local level
The orchestra also tries to focus on edu
cation with the annual Jazz Camp foryoung
musicians in July at Nebraska Wesleyan
University
Along with their appeal to younger
musicians, Love said, there was an increas
ing interest among younger audiences as
wdL
“We're seeing more younger people at
our concerts,” Love said.
Love said these are concerts the mem
bers of the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra would
like to participate more often in, but that
isn't always financially feasible
“We’re all musicians, and we’re paid for
our services,” Love said. “Unfortunately,
economics dictates that we play infrequent
ly"
Theatrix continues to thrill
■The afl-female cast offhe
Ouhtakes on the male world in
this humorous, poignant story.
mramraMucx
In what is an unusual story
portraying male chauvinism,
“The Club” has an interesting
twist - the cast is entirely
female.
The six female cast mem
bers, part of UNLs second stage
Theatrix, a student-run organi
zation, will be performing “The
Club* at the Howell Theatre
located on the first floor of the
Temple Building. The perform
ance will be on March 1 and 3 at
7:30 p.m. and March 2 at 10:30
p.m.
Set in 1903 at an exclusive
men’s club, “The Club" is a gen
der-bending musical that sati
rizes male attitudes in a clever
and effective manner.
Graduate student Erinn
Holmes, who plays Henry, said
the musical was more powerful
because the roles were played
by women.
"If men tried to do this, the
play would not have the same
effect," Holmes said.
Holmes said the story cen
tered on the men and how they
bonded by making fun of
women.
A performance for mature
audiences because of the sexist
jokes, lewd comments and
constant innuendoes, "The
Club” is not meant to offend.
Instead, it takes a humorous
and sarcastic look at the
absurdity of character attitudes
that still exist today.
Holmes said the show had
“It really opens
your eyes. It's
funny, but itrs not.m
Erins Holmes
UNL graduate student
an immediate impact with its
humor and left an aftertaste
once the show was over.
“It’s the land of show that is
like tasting a sweet piece of
candy,” Holmes said, “and after
you’ve swallowed it, the taste
stays with you.”
In other words, what stays
with the audience, Holmes
said, was the vein of truth in a
fictional scenario that isn’t
Please see PU¥on9
Monkeybone like a bad dream
BY SEAN MCCARTHY
This monkey's gone to heaven. Thank god.
By the time you finish reading this article,
“Monkeybone,” the Brendan Fraser vehicle, will be
removed from Lincoln theaters and headed for a
quick video release
The promotion was aimed to sucker-punch
audiences into flocking to a new movie “from the
director of ‘The
Monkeybone
movie was titled, “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare
Before Christmas,” some people may have assumed
that he was the director. And because Tim Burton’s
work (“Beetlejuice,” “Ed Wood,” “Sleepy Hollow”)
attracts a loyal audience, it would seem that
“Monkeybone” would have a lock for a strong open
ing weekend. Only problem: Burton didn’t direct
“Nightmare;” that honor belonged to Henry Selick,
who also directed the visual bonanza “James and the
Giant Peach.”
Selick’s streak of inventive movies comes to a
dead halt with this pile of cinematic dung. You would
Courtesy Ait
'Moekeyboue’stars Brendan Fraser and Bridget Fonda as a
couple about to get married before a tragic acddent
think a movie based on a cartoon personification of
a person’s sexual libido would be mildly amusing,
but think again.
Fraser plays Stu Miley, a shy, pensive cartoonist
who is about to unleash his crude cartoon creation.
Please see MOVIE on 9
