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Byte Reviews


Behind the curtain

A show such as "My Fair Lady," which opens at 7:30 tonight at University Theatre, consists of several components. The actors are the face of the performance, but there are so many more people who have worked to transfer the show into what the audience sees each night. Thirty students comprise the cast but there are at least 20 people involved behind the scenes.



Actors prepare for 'My Fair Lady'

A red curtain is pulled across the black hard floor as the actors practice their vocal warmupss. Meanwhile, downstairs a group of theater students trained as makeup artists prepare to gloss the actors. This completes a fraction of the process involved in preparations for a theater production.



SCENE SELECTION: Film explores ways we consume violence in media

I can't say I generally watch films that engage the viewer the way "Funny Games" does. It isn't a film about happy endings, story, character or even morals. The movie follows a family on vacation who are targeted by serial killers, and it looks into the way the media treat violence.


Theatre contest showcases local talent

Despite the slow economy and high travel costs, a group of local theaters will gather at the Muncie Civic Theatre on Saturday for the annual Indiana Community Theatre League competition. Even though the show is limited this year, Grubbs said the ICTL is a "wonderful festival." He said last year's event attracted more than 250 people.


FROM THE HOOD: Know your rights before police run-ins

As college students, we tend to lead risky lifestyles. We drink underage, speed while driving and occasionally damage property. Normally we get away with it, but sometimes the police catch up with us.


Body of Purdue student found after 3-day search

FISHERS, Ind. (AP) — Authorities say they've found the body of a missing Purdue University freshman inside his car after it was pulled from a suburban Indianapolis retention pond.



Congress gives college aid a boost

WASHINGTON — More needy college students will have access to bigger Pell Grants, and future borrowers of government loans will have an easier time repaying them, under a vast overhaul of higher education aid that Congress passed Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.


THE BOGEYMAN: Can't be an expert at everything

I was arguing with an economist the other day about the relative merits of global warming. He was challenging data on the grounds that it was incomplete. I sent him a whole list of data sources and pointed out that he could resolve his claim by examining the data itself.



Students design official BSU fashion pieces

Students from Ball State University's department of fashion design worked to have a design for Ball State's official neck tie, scarf, pocket square and scarf after receiving the request from President Jo Ann Gora.


MEN'S TENNIS: Pavia garners weekly MAC award

Pavia has also excelled as the Cardinals' No. 1 singles player; he defeated Butler University's Ben Raynauld in a barnburner, 6-7 (5), 6-4 (14-12), Saturday at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center. In all this season, Pavia is 11-2 at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.


LIVE VIDEO: Bobblecast

In this week's episode of the comedy-news podcast, assistant photo editor Sam Householder and chief photographer Bobby Ellis discuss weird arrests in Muncie, the health care bill passing and Dog the Bounty Hunter's appearance at the Muncie Mall.