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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

Alex Cullina

Alex Cullina, Theatre & Books Editor

Alex Cullina is the Theatre & Books Editor for WSN. A native Clevelander, he is a junior studying English and History in CAS. Growing up in Ohio before coming to New York, he’s very defensive of the Midwest, despite its many (many) flaws. Beside keeping up with the best in new film and TV, you can often find him curled up with a good book or the latest issue of The New Yorker.

All content by Alex Cullina
luciana achugar from the interactive dance performance "Brujx." (Courtesy of NYU Skirball)

‘Brujx’ and the Excruciating Monotony of Labor

Karl Marx Festival "Brujx" dance performance reflects on the labor that goes into theater from both the audience and performers.
Claire Fishman October 23, 2018

Friday night, in the foyer of Skirball, Luciana Achugar greeted her audience nervously; Achugar doesn’t normally give speeches before her performances. “I went back and...

(photographs by Katie Peurrung)

Hammerkatz

Sketches, Not Skits!
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor October 11, 2018

An extravagant businessman walks into a classroom to meet with his son’s elementary school teacher. The father is horrified to find out that his son has been flinging poop at...

Melissa Lozada-Oliva

Melissa Lozada-Oliva

Doesn't Want to Be Relatable
Alex Cullina, Books & Theatre Editor October 11, 2018

Poet and performer Melissa Lozada-Oliva has never known how to keep her own secrets. “I have a deep need to confess things,” she said. “A big part of being a performance...

Timo Vollbrecht

Timo Vollbrecht

Painting Musical Portraits of Humanity
Nicole Rosenthal, Music Editor October 11, 2018

For Timo Vollbrecht, a Steinhardt doctoral student in Jazz Studies and Composition, capturing the essence of worldly encounters is just a regular day’s work. The internationally-performing...

Richie Merritt and Matthew McConaughey in "White Boy Rick."

‘White Boy Rick’ Misfires

"White Boy Rick" delivers a scene-stealing performance by Matthew McConaughey, but fails to impress everywhere else.
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor September 17, 2018
"White Boy Rick" delivers a scene-stealing performance by Matthew McConaughey, but fails to impress everywhere else.
The Rise of Queer Cinema

The Rise of Queer Cinema

Alex Cullina, Staff Writer April 5, 2018
In the last few years, it seems like there has been an increase in the number of films both by and about queer people.
Performers in “RIOT,” an interactive dance experience showing in Skirball Center of Performing Arts.

The Politics of Joy in ‘RIOT’

Alex Cullina, Contributing Writer February 20, 2018
“RIOT,” Irish theater collective THISISPOPBABY’s multi-genre theater piece, is 100 minutes of spectacle –– both joyful and political –– being deadly serious and ridiculously fun.
Joe Carman throws a punch in Jeff Unay’s new documentary, “The Cage Fighter,” now showing at the IFC Center on Sixth Avenue.

The Two Worlds of a ‘Cage Fighter’

Alex Cullina, Contributing Writer February 5, 2018
Joe Carman has a secret. A retired mixed martial arts fighter and the subject of Jeff Unay’s new documentary “The Cage Fighter,” Joe has broken the promise he made to his family to stay out of the ring.
“A New Brain” is a 1998 musical based on the book of William Finn and James Lapine that follows the life of songwriter Gordon Schwinn who is diagnosed with a brain condition. Hosted by The Gallery of Players, the play runs until Feb. 18.

‘A New Brain’ Is a No Brainer

Alex Cullina, Contributing Writer February 5, 2018
Drawn largely from creator William Finn’s own life, "A New Brain" follows a creatively blocked songwriter who is hospitalized with a mysterious brain condition.
The 2018 Oscars Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will honor the best films of 2017 on March 4, 2018 in Los Angeles.

NYU at the Oscars, Again

Alex Cullina, Contributing Writer January 26, 2018
The Academy Awards' efforts to reform and diversify its membership shone a little brighter this year with wide-ranging nominees and multiple NYU alums.
On Sept. 8, upwards of 40 people ran through the Washington Square Arch like anime character Naruto. CAS Sophomore Iffat Nur organized the viral event.

Students Run Wild for Naruto

Nicole Rosenthal, Contributing Writer September 25, 2017
CAS sophomore Iffat Nur's Run Through Washington Square Arch Naruto Style and Scream Like Goku In Front of Washington Square Arch events have garnered national interest and spawned copycat events throughout the country.