Art and Entertainment
GWHS Dance Company Shines with Creativity and Community
The GWHS Dance Company is a lively place for creativity, offering students the chance to explore various dance styles from jazz to ballet. With classes made for all levels, this company not only helps students improve their skills, but builds a strong community among dancers.
Attention: It’s Free! An Interview with the Director
Washington’s 2024 fall play is currently in the works. “Attention: It’s Free” is a student-written show, created with a process called Devised Theater. Ms. Rydell, the new drama teacher and the director of the show, shares about the process of auditioning, writing, rehearsing, and more.
One Direction Star Liam Payne Dead at 31
By: Asha Ingram
Former One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from a balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 16. He was 31 years old.
Payne, most notably known as a former member of the hit boy band One Direction, died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires.
At 5 p.m. that day shortly before his death, police said in a statement they were informed by hotel staff of a man potentially under the influence of drugs and alcohol whose life was in danger. When police arrived, there were reports of a loud noise in the inner courtyard, where Payne was found dead.
The autopsy report obtained by Today.com from the Argentina National Prosecutors Office stated that Payne's official cause of death was "polytrauma and internal and external bleeding."Following Payne's death, multiple substances including drugs and alcohol were seized from his hotel room.
Payne rose to fame with One Direction in 2011 after releasing their debut single "What Makes You Beautiful," which reached No. 4 on Billboard's Hot 100. Prior to their debut, the five band members had been paired up on the British reality competition show "The X Factor."
In the five years the band was together, they released hits like "Story of My Life," "Drag Me Down" and "Time Changes" until their split in 2016. One of the more prominent band members, Payne was credited for co-writing hits like "Story of My Life" and "Through the Dark."
Even after the band's split, Payne found moderate success in his solo career, writing hits like "Strip That Down" and "Teardrops." However, despite his success, Payne had a history of addiction, with multiple rehab stints after the band's split in 2016, including a 100-day stint last year. He described his addiction to alcohol and drugs as a way for him to cope with the "loneliness" that fame had brought him. Despite his struggle, Payne came out of his 2023 rehab stay hopeful for a better future free from addiction.
"It's good to be in this position," he said in a YouTube video updating his fans. "I definitely don't need those things anymore. The party's over." Fans and fellow singers and songwriters are now paying their respects to Payne, including all Payne's fellow One Direction members, who have released their individual statements on social media.
Renaissance Tapestries Make U.S. Debut at De Young Museum
By: Langston Montgomery
The de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park unveiled its Renaissance exhibit on Oct. 19, featuring historic tapestries displayed for the first time in the United States.
The exhibition, a collaboration between the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and international partners, showcases seven massive tapestries depicting the Battle of Pavia. Created by court artist Bernard van Orley, these 27-by-14-foot panels illustrate the pivotal 1525 clash between Roman Emperor Charles V and French King Francis I during the Italian Wars.
The pieces represent the Great Period of Tapestry (late 14th to 18th century), when these woven textile artworks reached their artistic peak. The exhibition also includes period armor and weaponry.
Bay Area residents can view these historic tapestries at the de Young from Oct. 19, 2024, through Jan. 12, 2025. San Francisco's selection as the first U.S. venue highlights the city's growing prominence in the international museum community.
SF's Hidden Music Treasures
By: Christopher Gallegos
San Francisco's underground music scene is exploding with a new wave of talent and innovation. Local artists and bands are redefining the city's musical landscape through a series of secret shows, from abandoned warehouses in SoMa to intimate basement venues in the Mission District.
These events, occurring throughout fall 2024 and beyond, represent a resurgence driven by grassroots organizers and passionate musicians determined to keep San Francisco's musical heritage alive.
Popular venues for live underground music include Underground SF, Bottom of the Hill and Rickshaw Stop. Notable acts include "Wet Hazard," known for house, jungle and hard techno, and the R&B/hip-hop inspired rave "Cry Me a Raver," featuring top local DJs.
Students can discover this scene by asking friends for recommendations or exploring related artists. They can support underground musicians by attending concerts, streaming their music and purchasing merchandise.
PJ Harvey Mesmerizes at Masonic Shows
By:Audrey Parker
PJ Harvey's performances at the Masonic this month left her audience enchanted. English singer-songwriter Polly Jean Harvey performed a two-night stint at San Francisco's famed Masonic Auditorium earlier this month. Throughout both nights, each element of her show was carefully and artfully calculated, leaving the audience in captivated awe.
Unlike many artists who leave the audience to wait in built-up suspense for their arrival, Harvey's punctuality was impeccable, beginning the show at promptly 8 p.m. on both evenings. Her timely entrance was only the beginning. Every part of the show was precisely timed to create a perfect artistic flow. From the changes of the lights to the transitions between tracks to the very movements of the band members, the audience could feel the careful planning of the entire show. It took the experience beyond just seeing music — the audience got to witness a true performance art piece.
On stage, Harvey had a varied yet cohesive collection of desks and chairs, which she moved between throughout each track. Her interactions with the crowd were minimal, never breaking focus from her art. Each word she spoke and movement she made was a deliberate part of her production. As if in careful reflection and observance of what they were watching, the audience remained in a quiet hush throughout the evening.
As for the music itself, Harvey's setlist contained a beautiful blend of old and new. She played many of her hits from the '90s when she commanded the indie scene, including "Man-Size" and "50ft Queenie," as well as several tracks from her 2023 album, including her eerie and atmospheric opener, "Prayer at the Gate." She closed the show with two encores before vanishing from the crowd, leaving the entire room awestruck.
Grammy Winner Thundercat Closes Summer of Music in Golden Gate Park
San Francisco's underground music scene is exploding with a new wave of talent and innovation. Local artists and bands are redefining the city's musical landscape through a series of secret shows, from abandoned warehouses in SoMa to intimate basement venues in the Mission District.
These events, occurring throughout fall 2024 and beyond, represent a resurgence driven by grassroots organizers and passionate musicians determined to keep San Francisco's musical heritage alive.
Popular venues for live underground music include Underground SF, Bottom of the Hill and Rickshaw Stop. Notable acts include "Wet Hazard," known for house, jungle and hard techno, and the R&B/hip-hop inspired rave "Cry Me a Raver," featuring top local DJs.
Students can discover this scene by asking friends for recommendations or exploring related artists. They can support underground musicians by attending concerts, streaming their music and purchasing merchandise.
Fall Means Gilmore Girls!
It's everyone's favorite time of year! Air getting crisper, movies getting scarier, pumpkin spice lattes breaking everyone's wallet. Fall is a favorite season for many, thanks to the unique comfort and nostalgia it brings. Each season has its traditions, and for fall, “Gilmore Girls” is a show that gets a lot of attention. The values of fall, warmth, togetherness, and change are brought to life in the show, making it a perfect watch during this time of year.
The Horrific Effect of Abuse and Trauma: “Baby Reindeer”
Netflix's Emmy-winning series “Baby Reindeer,” released on April 11, 2024, offers a gut-wrenching exploration of stalking, sexual abuse, and trauma. Based on Richard Gudd's real-life experiences and starring Gudd himself, the show has captivated audiences with its raw portrayal of a comedian's life spiraling out of control.
