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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Arts

A$AP Rocky greets a sea of fans at his first show back in NYC since his arrest in Sweden. (Photo by Iffat Nur)

Rolling Loud Festival Pulls up to NYC for the First Time

The hip-hop mega-event hosted two days' worth of unforgettable, high-energy chaos.
Iffat Nur, Contributing Writer October 14, 2019

“OPEN THAT SH-T UP! OPEN UP THAT MOSH PIT!” These words rang throughout the entire weekend as Rolling Loud, billed as “the largest Hip-Hop festival in the world,” made...

Ryan Perez, an NYU Tisch alumni, is working on a new podcast, An Actor Despairs. (Photo Courtesy of Ryan Perez)

NYU Grad Ryan Perez Reveals Why ‘An Actor Despairs’ on New Podcast

On his podcast, NYU alum Ryan Perez intends to tell his story and explore the journey of his guests, whose experiences span “Black Panther” to “Vice”.
Jessica Xing, Contributing Writer October 14, 2019

Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute at NYU is known for its catchphrase “An Actor Prepares.” Ryan Perez, a 2010 graduate of the Strasberg studio, started a podcast —...

Rachel Sennott, an NYU Tisch alumna, is an actress known for her appearance in High Maintenance, Shiva Baby and Hostess. (Photo Courtesy of Jenny Wong)

Tisch Alumna Talks ‘Shiva Baby,’ Goal-Setting and Twitter

Rachel Sennott discusses her time at Tisch and her upcoming projects.
Julie Goldberg, Books and Theater Editor October 14, 2019

“I never made any of the, like, cool comedy groups,” says Rachel Sennott, looking back on her first year at NYU Tisch. “I auditioned a bunch of times, never got in. But I...

“Ghosteen” is an avant garde poetic epic recounting the trials of grief and mourning, created and released in the wake of the death of Nick Cave's son. The album focuses on grief in the long term, rather than an immediate reaction. (via Nick Cave)

Nick Cave’s ‘Ghosteen’ Is a Heartbreaking Lesson in Musical Mourning

“Ghosteen,” Nick Cave’s first album since the death of his 15-year-old son, is as poetic as it is avant-garde.
Sophia Letson-Ettin, Contributing Writer October 11, 2019

Nick Cave has done it again. The conclusion to his trilogy that also includes 2013’s “Push the Sky Away” and 2016’s “Skeleton Tree,” “Ghosteen” is a poetic epic...

Sami Staitman, Corbin Williams, Ariana Valdes, and Eli LaCroix act in The Green Room, a musical at the American Theatre of Actors. (Photo Courtesy of S. Scott Miller)

‘The Green Room’ Is a Love Letter to Thespians That Falls Short of Its Premise

While the play promises a story of a group of actors’ struggle to make it Off-Broadway, “The Green Room” delivers a high school drama instead.
Megan Chew, Staff Writer October 11, 2019

“The Green Room,” which made its New York premiere Off-Broadway on Sept. 27, tackles the gravity of our choices — in our relationships, careers and education — and how...

Promotional poster of The Birds. The Birds is a 1963 American horror film directed by Hitchcock. (Via Wikimedia Common)

Unpopular Opinions: Scary Movies

The films that haunt the dreams of the Arts Desk.

“Where The Wild Things Are” When I was younger I adored Maurice Sendak’s book “Where The Wild Things Are,” so when I heard that a movie adaptation was coming out in...

The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda by Ishmael Reed returns to stage at Nuyorican Poet Cafe this October. (Via Facebook)

Rebutting the Warped History of ‘Hamilton’

“The Haunting of Lin-Manuel Miranda” refutes Lin-Manuel Miranda’s portrayal of Alexander Hamilton by shedding light on the untold stories of his victims.
Julianna Bjorksten, Contributing Writer October 10, 2019

“Hamilton,” one of the most decorated and beloved musicals in Broadway history, is under attack. Although the hip-hop-inspired production has received overwhelming critical...

Timothée Chalemet stars in Netflix's new film, The King. (Via Netflix)

‘The King’ Falls Short of Potential

Timothée Chalamet plays a reluctant king in this rendition of Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” jam-packed beyond its bursting point with action and intrigue.
Nicholas Weid, Contributing Writer October 8, 2019

Timothée Chalamet, starring as King Henry in Netflix’s “The King,” has his hip signature hairstyle and carefree bachelor life cut short as he ascends the throne of his grudge-ridden...

Sabrina Claudio’s new album, “Truth Is” has a distinct tonal shift from her debut album.  (via Atlantic Records)

Sabrina Claudio’s ‘Truth Is’ Goes To Dark Places

The R&B singer solidifies her style and signals experimentation ahead with an unprecedentedly dark project.
Destine Manson, Staff Writer October 8, 2019

Sabrina Claudio’s new album “Truth Is” paints a picture of true love, but its ambiguity makes it more Mona Lisa's smile than lovers embracing. Romance has been the primary...

Tame Impala's 2015 album Currents. (Via Twitter)

Album Art Provides a Snapshot of Artists’ Personalities

Students reflect on the visual component of music consumption and how it can affect us more than we think.
Izzy Salas, Staff Writer October 7, 2019

Album art is the face of music. It is a visual representation of what’s inside an album. It isn’t always as on the nose as the Beatles strutting across Abbey Road on a beautiful...

Scene from Easter Snap, directed by Oscar nominee RaMell Ross. (Via Field of Vision)

‘Easter Snap’ Is What Nonfiction Films Should Strive to Be

RaMell Ross’s “Easter Snap” is a quietly elegant look into a distant way of life.
Nicholas Pabon, Contributing Writer October 7, 2019

“Easter Snap” is not a normal documentary; there is no narration and it isn’t explicitly informative. No, “Easter Snap” is hardly a documentary at all — it is a piece...

Joker, a psychological thriller, was released in theaters on Oct. 4. (Via Twitter)

‘Joker’: A Mesmerizing Making-a-Murderer Tale

The first R-rated live-action Batman film features a Joker performance to rival Heath Ledger’s.
Nyssa Joseph, Contributing Writer October 7, 2019

It seemed that Heath Ledger’s famous performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight Rises” would remain unmatched forever. Ledger’s take on the character cast a shadow on...