Author: Thomas Moran

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorHow long have you been interested in music?I’ve always loved to sing. Music has always been a part of my life. Growing up, my family and I would go on cruises, and I always sang karaoke. Literally, every night I would leave dinner early to go to karaoke.I never really thought of it as a career though. I never saw myself becoming famous or being “pop star.” I still don’t honestly. I just make music because I love it.The first time I thought of singing as a career was when I got my first…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorWith spring break just around the corner, students are solidifying their plans for the cherished week with no classes. Some go on cruises, head home or work throughout the break. However, some students stay in Waco, which might be seen as uneventful or boring. But the Lariat staff members have plenty of ideas of things to do in Waco to make this spring break a “staycation” worth remembering. The Lariat Editor-in-Chief, Phoenix senior Molly Atchison recommends taking ,advantage of the free local resources like Cameron Park. “I love hiking, and Cameron Park has some…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life Editor Tuesday, March 5 Open mic night at The Backyard | 8 – 9 p.m. | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Free | The local restaurant and performance venue welcomes anyone interested in performing to sign up. Slots are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Waco Community Band | 7:30 p.m. | Ball Performing Arts Center | Free | The group performs frequent concerts during its eleven-months season. Wednesday, March 6 Meet & Catch Up | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Art Forum of Waco | Free | Participants and visitors of…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorFor the first time in the organization’s history, Kappa Chi Alpha sorority’s All-University Sing Act qualified for Pigskin Revue and earned third place among the 19 organizations that competed. The show, called “Home Sweet Home,” opened with a sequence featuring candy canes and lollipops dancing and singing of their happiness in Candyland. After the opening sequence, the licorice entered the stage to overtake Candyland. After a confrontation between the two groups, the licorice changed its tune and the candy groups decided to live in harmony. Baytown senior Abigail Gregorcyk performed as a lollipop in…

Friday, March 1 First Friday Waco | 6 – 10 p.m. | Several business in the downtown area will participate in the monthly event with live music, snack and more. Gungor with The Brilliance and Propaganda | 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Common Grounds | $28 tickets | Doors open at 7 p.m. Improv Comedy Night | 8:30 p.m. | Brazos Theatre, Suite Q |$10.50 student tickets | 7524 Bosque Blvd. | The Brazos Theatre Group will perform the comedy act, all made up on the spot. Saturday, March 2 Waco Downtown Farmers Market | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorWith many things in life, hard work pays off with some sort of reward. However, not all rewards are tangible or last as long as others. In the world of theater, casts and crews pour their hearts into shows for months with only a few showings to commemorate their hard work. When the curtain closes for the final time on the show, it can only take a few minutes to tear down the set, store the costumes and erase any signs showing the production ever happened in the first place. Washington, D.C., senior Hanna…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorTuesday, Feb. 26 Open mic night at The Backyard | 8 – 9 p.m. | Backyard Bar Stage & Grill | Free | The local restaurant and performance venue welcomes anyone interested in performing to sign up. Slots are given on a first-come, first-served basis. Dr. Swanson’s Trivia Tournament of Champions | 6:30 p.m. | Dancing Bear Pub | The local pub will host the weekly trivia tournament every Tuesday until April 23. Wednesday, Feb. 27 Cafe Resume | 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Moody Library Lobby | Representatives from the Career and…

By Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorOn the top floor of the Mary Gibbs Jones Family and Consumer Sciences Building, tucked away in the farthest classroom, you can be sure to hear laughter and chatter, accompanied by low, constant humming of sewing machines. It’s an apparel design classroom, and the students inside are preparing for the annual Spring Fashion Show, during which the seniors will showcase their collections. The many mannequins throughout the classroom come in countless shapes and sizes, some wearing unique pieces that represent countless hours of labor of work by a student. The students started working…

By Thomas Moran | Arts and Life Editor Last night, Chi Omega took to the stage to debut their All-University Sing Act “Can’t Stop the Bees.” The act featured bees, beekeepers and Broadway-style theatrics. But behind the smiles, makeup and costumes, some of the girls have been battling a variety of illnesses that could have kept them from performing, but didn’t. Flu season peaks in February and March, and with hundreds of people congregating in a tight space to rehearse a Sing act, the spreading of sickness is a borderline inevitability. Forney senior Samantha Caldwell managed to avoid sickness for…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorDisplayed in one of the hallways of the Mayborn Museum Complex is one of its latest exhibits, “Young at Art: A Selection of Caldecott Book Illustrations,” which features illustrations from 28 Caldecott Award-winning artists. According to the Association for Library Service to Children, the organization that awards the Caldecott Medal each year, the award is granted “to the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year.” Rebecca Nall works as the assistant director of exhibits, communication and visitor services at the Mayborn and…

Tuesday, Feb. 19 Open mic night | The Backyard Bar and Grill | 8 – 9 p.m. | The local venue and restaurant will host its weekly mic night with slots given on a first-come, first-served basis. Wednesday, Feb. 20 Christian Writers Workshop | First Baptist Church | 6 – 7:30 p.m. | The group will congregate for local writers to meet one another and share their works. “On Changing Tides: Doris Miller, Pearl Harbor and the Civil Rights Movement” – Dr. T. Michael Parrish lecture and book signing | Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, Room 250…

Friday, Feb. 15 “Peter and the Starcatcher” | Jones Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | Baylor Theatre’s most recent production tells the story of Peter Pan and how all of his friends found their way to Neverland. Dave Wild Trio | Klassy Glass Wine Bar | 8 p.m. | The group will perform jazz music at the local wine bar. Moulin Rouge! shadowcast | Waco Hippodrome Theatre | 7 p.m. | $10 | Watch the musical performed live in front of a showing of the film. Ralph Breaks the Internet | Bill Daniel Student Center | 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life Editor Orphans, mermaids, mad men and magic all collide in Baylor Theatre’s latest main stage production, “Peter and the Starcatcher.” If you’re on the fence about whether or not to see the production, the show is certainly worth the watch. “Peter and the Starcatcher,” adapted for the stage by Rick Elice from the book “Peter and the Starcatchers,” tells the origin story of Peter Pan. The story follows two ships with two identical trunks, one with common sand inside, the other with magical “star stuff.” Through a comical swap of the trunks, a spilling…

Tuesday, Feb. 12 Baylor Jazz Ensemble | Jones Concert Hall | 7:30 p.m. | Free| Come listen to the Baylor Jazz Ensemble perform the music it’s prepared this far in the semester. Peter and the Starcatcher | Jones Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | $17 | Come see the opening Baylor Theatre’s first show this semester. Open mic night at The Backyard Bar, Stage & Grill | 8 – 9 p.m. | The local venue will host its weekly mic night. Slots are given on a first-come, first served basis. Wednesday, Feb. 13 Christian Writers Workshop | First Baptist Church |…

Friday, Feb. 8 Texas Heartbeat | The American Legion Post 121 | 7 p.m. | $5 | Texas Heartbeat is a local country band. Baylor Symphony Orchestra and Choirs – President’s Concert | Jones Concert Hall | 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. | $15 | The various groups will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” conducted by Stephen Hyde. Thomas Csorba | Cultivate 7twelve | 8 – 10 p.m. | $20 | The local songwriter will perform in the arts gallery. Lunar New Year | Barfield Drawing Room of the Bill Daniel Student Center | 6 – 9 p.m. | The…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life EditorWhat differentiates a cult film from the countless other movies released from Hollywood every year? Why do these movies stand the test of time and, more importantly, maintain fervent multi-generational followers? In this series, Cult Film Crash Course, I’ll attempt to answer these questions about cult film qualities and more. If you haven’t seen it, you’ve probably heard of it. If you haven’t heard of it, you’ve probably heard it quoted. “On Wednesdays we wear pink.” “You go, Glen Coco!” “That is so fetch.” “Get in, loser. We’re going shopping.” These quotes and countless…

February 1 Into The Dark: Down: Episode 5 Premiere (Hulu Original) Record of Grancrest War: Complete Season 1 (Aniplex) A View to Kill (1985) The Animal (2001) Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatre (2002) Bad Santa (2003) Barefoot (2014) The Big Lebowski (1998) The Bounty (1984) The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) Born on the Fourth of July (1989) Broadway Danny Rose (1984) Caddyshack (1980) Caddyshack II (1988) Capote (2005) Chaos (2005) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Chasing Liberty (2004) Dazed and Confused (1993) Deep Blue Sea (1999) Delta Farce (2007) Dr. No (1962) Equilibrium (2002) Escape from Alcatraz (1979) Field of…

Have you ever wondered what the great composers dealth with while composing their masterpieces? Dr. Bettina Varwig, musicologist and lecturer in early modern music at the University of Cambridge has the answers. Varwig visited Baylor Monday afternoon as a part of the Lyceum Series. Her presentation was focused on examining some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s religious music and the debate surrounding it. Varwig opened her presentation by explaining the historical context during which Bach composed much of his music. Bach lived in Germany relatively soon after Protestantism began spreading through Europe. As a member of the Lutheran church, a younger…

Friday, Feb. 1 First Friday Waco | Various downtown businesses| 6 – 9 p.m. | Free | Several local businesses participate in the monthly event with freebies, music and more. Meet the artists from “A Touch of Red | Cultivate 7twelve | 6 – 9 p.m. | Free | Opportunity to meet some of the artist featured in the latest exhibit at the art gallery. Very Eric Carle | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Come see the new exhibit exploring the works of Eric Carle, author of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Improv Comedy Night |…

Thomas Moran | Arts and Life Editor A new exhibit just crawled into town. The Mayborn Museum Complex opened the “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit” on Saturday, inspired by the life and works of Eric Carle, the author of iconic children’s books like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “The Very Lonely Firefly,” and “The Very Busy Spider.” Entering its doors, visitors are met with bright colors, exciting sounds and at the right hours, a cacophony of giggles from the little kids exploring the immersive exhibit. Some of the activities include an oversized patch of grass…

What’s coming to Netflix: February 1About a BoyAmerican PieAmerican Pie 2American WeddingAs Good as It GetsBilly ElliotDear ExFinal DestinationFree Rein: Valentine’s DayHairsprayHostelJawsJaws 2Jaws 3Jaws: The RevengePersonal ShopperPretty in PinkRussian DollSiempre BrujaThe Edge of SeventeenTrue: Happy Hearts DayVelvet BuzzsawFebruary 2Bordertown: Season 2Romance is a Bonus BookFebruary 3Disney’s Beverly Hills ChihuahuaFebruary 5Ray Romano: Right Here, Around the CornerFebruary 6The SoloistFebruary 8¡Nailed It! MéxicoEl árbol de la sangreHigh Flying BirdKevin Hart’s Guide to Black HistoryOne Day at a Time: Season 3ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam CookeThe Epic Tales of Captain Underpants: Season 2Unauthorized LivingFebruary 9The Break: Season 2February 10Patriot Act with Hasan…

By Thomas Moran | Arts & Life Editor Two Baylor graduates involved in film and television, Derek Haas, ’91, and John Lee Hancock, ’79, visited campus Friday afternoon to share their experiences in the film industry and offer advice to student seeking to pursue careers in the field. Haas, writer and producer of hit television series “Chicago Fire,” spoke alongside Hancock, a writer and director who earned fame through blockbusters like “The Blind Side” and “Saving Mr. Banks.” The duo discussed everything from their beginnings as creatives to the more nuanced elements of working in film. Haas, an Austin native,…

Tuesday Open mic night at The Backyard | Backyard Bar stage & Grill | 8 – 9 p.m. | Free McLennan County Jr. Livestock Show | Extraco Events Center | 8 a.m. Very Eric Carle | Mayborn Museum Complex | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Come see the new exhibit exploring the works of Eric Carle, author of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” The Neoclassical Gaze | Martin Museum of Art | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Come see the new exhibit exploring engravings of ancient Roman and Greek sculpture. Wednesday Therapy Dogs | 6:30 – 8 p.m. |…

Friday, Jan 25th Dean & TImeless Country | The American Legion Post 121 | 7 – 10 p.m. Steel Magnolias | Waco Civic Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | $20 | Watch the story of a small-town beauty parlor and the development of unlikely friendships. Alice in Wonderland Jr. | Jubilee Theatre | 7:30 p.m. | $12 | Watch the story of Alice as she explores new worlds and encounters odd characters. Los Roachez | Backyard Bar Stage and Grill | 9 p.m. Cameron Park Zoo | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Creed II | Bill Daniel Student Center | 9…

After weeks of anticipation since the closing of the previous exhibit, the Martin Museum of Arts finally opened its doors Tuesday with a new exhibit. Upon entering the door, viewers are met with stunning engravings and large reconstructions of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, all a part of the free exhibit, “The Neoclassical Gaze: Myth and Reality of Ancient Sculpture.” Dr. Sean DeLouche is a lecturer of art and art history, specializing in 18th and 19th century art. He was the curator of the exhibit, along with Dr. Nathan Elkins who teaches Greek and Roman art and archaeology. “The two…

Wednesday, Jan. 23 The Neoclassical Gaze | Martin Museum of Art | Free | The Martin Museum is opening a new exhibit featuring a series of early nineteenth-century engravings of Greek and Roman sculptures. Touch of Red | Cultivate 7twelve | Wednesday – Friday | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | The exhibit features small works of art by the Professional Artists of Central Texas. Most pieces are for sale. Common Grounds Open Mic Night | 8 – 10 p.m. | The local coffee shop will host its weekly open mic night with slots given on a first-come, first-served basis.…

A group of Baylor Theatre students traveled to New York City last weekend to participate in an audition weekend designed to get as many students as possible in front of scouts for theaters and schools across the nation. The students participated in a variety of auditions, from dance to acting to vocals. Washington, D.C., senior Hanna Rose Hunt traveled with the group to the Big Apple. Like many of the students who attended, Hunt auditioned through the University Resident Theater Association, or the “URTAs.” “Twenty to 50 schools will register, and then artists, actors, tech people and other people will…

Shortly after the release and subsequent praise of his hit thriller “The Sixth Sense,” director M. Night Shyamalan released a new thriller, “Unbreakable,” in November 2000. Like the Shyamalan film before it, “Unbreakable” took audiences by storm with its edgy twist on the life of a superhero. Seventeen years later, Shyamalan threw audiences for a loop again with a new installment of the series, “Split,” that no one knew they were going to get. It wasn’t until the final scene of the film that audiences were made aware that the film was connected to the “Unbreakable” plot line. Now, over…

Friday, Jan. 18 Heart of Texas One Stop Shop Hop | 10:00 a.m. | Waco Convention Center | $6 entry | More than 40 quilt stores will be set up to sell their goods. MLK Jr. Day Empowerment Banquet – “Empowering the Artist Dream” with Michael Guinn | City of Waco Multipurpose Center | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. | $25 entry | Global Revive is hosting activities to commemorate the national holiday, featuring speaker Michael Guinn. Sundown Session: Robin Hood | 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. | Bill Daniel Student Center | The Student Union will host two…

Here is everything coming to Hulu in January.