The University of Blog

I went to a one-man show Wednesday night and wrote an article for my news class about it:

The audience gasped, clapped and laughed as they traveled on Fosberg’s journey of self-discovery.
Freelance actor Fosberg opened his one-hour, one-man show “Incognito” Wednesday night at Jesse Hall. The show presents issues of race and identity against a sparse set and asks the audience to confront those issues.
After spending 32 years in a white middle-class family, Fosberg began to search for his biological father. His journey ended with the discovery that his father was black.
“I grew up white, thinking I was white and found out that I’m not,” Michael Sidney Fosberg said.
His play chronicles the experiences of finding and meeting his new family. He plays himself and 12 other characters.
Fosberg began touring schools two years after the show opened in Chicago in 2001. The number of schools that he visits has doubled every year since then.
What started as a one man show has become a cross-country journey of identity and race issues for Fosberg, who is always on the quest, as well as the audience who may just be learning about these issues.
“I make my living to provoke profound discoveries about race,” Fosberg said. “I feel like I’m really contributing by provoking questions about race. It is those moments that I love what I do.”
When Fosberg reveals the truth about his ethnicity, the audience is introduced to complicated issues of identity, race and stereotypes.
“It is at that point that people start to look at me differently,” Fosburg said. “People start to look for signs, and at the end of the show, I confront people. Perhaps there is a different way to look at race. I challenge people on those issues.”
Fosburg created a one-man play around his experiences to provoke profound discoveries about race. After reading aloud excerpts from his unfinished book, audience reactions influenced Foster to take his story to the stage.
With the support of the Mizzou Alumni Association, Counseling Center and Division of Student Affairs sponsored the event.
“It brought a greater awareness of identity,” junior Devona Moore said. “To find out who you are is difficult when you are from two different ethnic backgrounds.”
Counseling Center Psychologist Anne Meyer said the center helped bring this program to campus because it speaks to the university’s mission of diversity.
“I was so blown away by his story,” Meyer said. “Identity is such a complex topic, and it is performed in such an engaging way to challenge your own thoughts on who you are.”
Foster raises unanswered questions and opens the discussion about race by using his personal story as a springboard.
“What if we could be entertained and think about society,” Fosberg says about his performance. “I want people to have a good time and be provoked about questions of race and stereotypes.”
One member of the audience asked how Fosberg’s life has changed as a result of doing the show.
“My life has become richer and fuller,” Fosberg said. “I am in a place to provoke change.”

The insomniac tour of the Hirshhorn museum had live music as well as samples of Starbucks for an entrance fee of $12.
It would make sense that the Nation’s Capital is very accessible. The museums are free, the monuments are open late, and there are tons of local events available to the entire public. Just about the only closed aspect of the city are the politicians. Luckily we were not cooped up in the hotel all weekend and had time to explore this open city. Since I have been to D.C. several times, I did not feel a need to see the monuments again. I decided instead to follow my friend who interned for NPR this summer around to her favorite local sites. I am always to excited to explore a city from the perspective of a local.

We were able to go to eat Thai food in Chinatown, go shopping for some deals, and experience the nation’s capital by night. One restaurant, Rosa Mexicana, decorated with pink and leopard print, catered to the crowd looking for a chic place to eat. There were several carts there manned by guys who make the guacamole right in front of the tables. It doesn’t get better than that. Although it does when you can have free tacos at the National Press Club. We went a couple of times and I kept wondering who were those that were around me.

With our badges, we were able to meet other journalists at the National Press Club.

On Friday night, we went to the Hirshhorn, a modern art museum that spirals up through several stories of contemporary art like Morris Lewis. This was the “insomniac tour” of the museum complete with live music and then a DJ. Starbucks showed the flavor pairings for several of their blends of coffee and offered $5 gift certificates for the samplers. Of course, I am always up for a deal, and I had to partake. Then, if we had enough time we could have decorated canvas bags. I must say that this event gave me a taste of a sophisticated life.

Sunday morning we headed out to the Eastern Market on Capital Hill, which is a blend of a local farmers market as well as a flea market. Local vendors lined the street to sell their handmade jewelry as well as fresh produce. Even old shoes are available to the interested buyers. This event was the best way to be able to get a feel for how to it would be to live in D.C.

The local events mixed with the professional events provided a mini educational vacation. And in the mist of all the projects, midterms, and articles, this break could not be more welcomed and allowed me to get an idea of what I would like to do after college. It is a very clouded notion, but at least it is becoming more clear.

The Roots ’N’ Blues ’N’ BBQ festival attracted around 60,000 people to downtown Columbia. Boone County National Bank sponsored the event for their 150th anniversary. There are currently no plans to host another event, but I believe that it was great success. Around 50 vendors shared their crafts as the smoky smell of BBQ filled the air.

I was able to interview Chris Thomas King for The Maneater. He played Tommy Johnson in “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” as well as a bandleader in “Ray.” King also won a Grammy for Best Album for his work on “Oh Brother Where Art Thou.” Read the article here.

The Missouri Student Association (MSA) brought in Rilo Kiley to perform at Jessie Hall last Wednesday. I only knew a few songs by them, but I was able to get into it. It was not as satisfying as bringing in Ben Folds last year, especially when there was not a huge crowd there, but I was still able to dance and appreciate the music. In a highly glittered outfit, Jenny Lewis dazzled with her vocal and keyboarding talents.

I heard that the band was comprised of all child stars. This is interesting because sure enough, the guitar player Blake Sennett was in Boy Meets World and Lewis was in Troop Beverly Hills. The musicians are not only in Rilo Kiley. Sennetts’ other project includes The Elected, which has some awesome songs. Lewis has Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins. It is interesting how many connections there are among bands. Everyone who is anyone has multiple projects and bands.

Jenny Lewis sings with Rilo Kiley at Jessie Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007.

The sweet smell of kettle corn and smoke from the blacksmiths’ fires filled the air as over 40 crafters and 100 performers demonstrated their skills and knowledge of the 1800s and before during the 30th Annual Heritage Festival and Craft Show.
Thousands showed up to see authentic crafts, enjoy the weather and watch history come alive during the event on Sept. 15-16, 2007 in Nifong Park.
“Everything is traditional,” Public Information Specialist for Parks and Recreation Tammy Miller said. ”We strive to make it a truly historic festival.”
The festival, which takes place during the third weekend of each September, has grown significantly since its birth in 1977. According to the Parks and Recreation Department, many of the artisans return year after year.
Some of the crafts included handmade jewelry, weaving, candles and pottery. During the festival, the artisans showed how they created their works to make it an interactive experience.
“I am teaching my granddaughters a trade,” said Columbia resident Pat Kelley, who brings her eclectic jewelry to festivals around the area.
With the help of her granddaughters, Kelley picks up beads at the festivals that she visits to design necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Kelley saw an ad in the newspaper to be a vendor at this year’s event and decided to participate.
“I really like this festival,” Kelley said. “It’s my first year, but I definitely want to come back.”
Further recreating history, the department also brought in professional performers. Oral historian Jim Two Crow Wallen presented his knowledge of fur trapping as a mountain man. Wallen has prepared 19 different historical characters and presents an average of 300 performances a year.
“This is all I do for a living,” said Wallen who began performing in 1980.
Wallen, who is part Cherokee, grew up with an appreciation of oral history through his grandfather. He has been to 46 states sharing his love of history, educating both youth and adults.
“Festivals like this bring history alive,” Wallen said. “This is an interactive thing. When you can go inside a tepee and feel it, it brings it to life. People come expecting to see history.”
Even on a MU football weekend, many people showed up to experience history by attending performances, participating in interactive drumming or talking to local artisans.
“It is fun and educational,” Miller said. “The Heritage Festival is really well known in Columbia and is a true tradition.”

(left) Man weaving his loom. (right) Mr. Peddlesworth displaying his unique bicycle collection.

A performance by Wilco concluded Columbia’s outdoor concert series Summerfest last night. More than 2,000 people gathered Ninth Street outside the Blue Note to listen to some music and to enjoy the atmosphere. Dr. Dog from West Philadelphia opened with their three-part harmonies off of their new album We All Belong.

Wilco gave a great show and really appealed to the audience. They performed at Summerfest two years ago and seemed to be a crowd favorite. When “You Are My Face” was played, the crowd immediately gathered closer toward the stage. Creator Jeff Tweedy told us that that we were the best audience on the tour. After leaving the stage once, the crowd cheered them on for three encores, and Wilco did not disappoint. Since the band was formed in 1994, it is true that Wilco have been around for awhile. However, they still know how to please a crowd and provide an entertaining, enjoyable show for all ages.