Laughin' it up at USU’s new Caine College of the Arts

The Student Life section of Utah State Today highlights work written by the talented student journalists at Utah State University. Each week, the editor selects a story that has been published in The Utah Statesman or the Hard News Café or both for inclusion in Utah State Today.

 

 

By Ty Rogers in The Hard News Café, Tuesday, November 9, 2010

 

In its first half-year of existence, USU’s new Caine College of the Arts is making an effort to cater to the desires of the students when it comes to its productions and performances.

 

Events put on by the college range from student improv groups to Finnish acrobats, but the ultimate goal is to satisfy the students at Utah State University, says Jarrod Larsen, the colleges’ director of production services.

 

The Caine College of the Arts, comprised of the departments of Art, Theatre, and Music, was formed in July by the division of the former College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences into two new colleges.

 

A year ago, before the CCA was officially established, a student survey found that students wanted more comedy.

 

“What we realized is it [comedy] is one of the things that the academic programs may or may not be able to provide,” Larsen said.

 

Larsen is letting the music and theatre departments handle what the students need, while he tries to give the students what they want.

 

“As the Caine College of the Arts, why don’t we see if we can find people out there that can satisfy the students and let them get exposed to all aspects of the college?” Larsen asked.

 

The college’s recent “Late Night Comedy” show at the USU Performance Hall featured two different improv troupes. “Mission Improvable” came up from Ogden to join Logan’s “The Antics” in a 90-minute improvisational comedy show.

 

Each troupe had six people on stage at once, participating in games that required audience involvement. The show featured clean comedy that was family-friendly.

 

“We had a lot of fun,” said Mission Improvable emcee and manager Josh Nufrio. “It was a very good, responsive crowd.”

 

The Antics will continue to perform on one Tuesday night a month at the Performance Hall through the fall semester.

 

“Comedy isn’t the only thing we are working on,” said Larsen, “but if it’s funny, that’s great because everybody likes to laugh, especially around this time of the year.”

 

Production services for the CCA is interested in hearing suggestions from student groups that need a place to gain experience.

 

“What we have are the venues and the people to staff the events, but our goal is to showcase the arts to everyone,” said Larsen.

 

CCA events can be found online at the college website.

 

Mission Improvable performs at Salt Rock Coffee in Ogden every Saturday at 9:30 p.m., while The Antics perform at the Logan Arthouse every Friday at 10:30 pm.