It's Orientation Week, and there are plays, concerts, and dance shows as well as copies of Tufts' publications everywhere. Sure, it's great to be a patron of all the arts groups available at Tufts, but what if you want to be a part of them? Here's a guide to some of the major arts organizations at Tufts:
For students interested in theater, the call board in Aidekman is generally the most up to the minute resource. Upcoming events and auditions are often posted on Tuftslife.com, and most groups have email updates that they will be more than happy to send to you.
Pen, Paint, and Pretzels (3Ps) is the umbrella organization for other student theater organizations at Tufts. It produces a major and several minor productions each semester. This fall, the major will be Mary Zimmerman's "Metamorphoses." 3Ps is the oldest student organization on campus. Meetings, open to any interested student, are held in Balch Arena Theater on Mondays during the open block.
Torn Ticket II is Tufts' musical theater group. It produces one major musical, and sometimes sponsors minors, each semester. This fall, the major will be William Finn's "A New Brain."
Bare Bodkin is a theater company specializing in student written and created theater. The Bodkins use "found space" on campus and off for their productions. Watch out for the 24 Hour Theater Festival early in the semester.
The Black Theater Company promotes Black theater on campus, encouraging participation in dramatic activities by students of color and production of works by Black playwrights.
The Traveling Treasure Trunk specializes in making kids happy - they're Tufts Childrens' theater collective.
When people think about improv comedy groups at Tufts University, the first name to come to their minds will likely be Cheap Sox. Performing their brand of comedy for 19 years, Cheap Sox puts on a number of shows during the school year; last year they teamed up with the mime group HYPE to put on a show called CheapHype, an interesting blend of the two mediums. However, if you're looking to experiment with improv in a more low-key, workshop setting try Stealin' the Funny. A newer group on campus, they specialize in no auditions and lots of funny.
The more musically inclined should check out the singing groups on campus. Like most colleges, Tufts has a plethora of a capella organizations: the Amalgamates, the Beelzebubs, Essence, the Jackson Jills, Shir Appeal, and sQ!. Each group fits a specific niche: the Mates and sQ! are co-ed, the Bubs are all-male, the Jills are all-female. Essence sings music of the African Diaspora and Shir Appeal performs traditional and modern Jewish music (Essence is all-female, Shir Appeal is co-ed). Other options include the Tufts Choral and the specialized chamber singers.
Performing during halftime of every home football game, and making appearances elsewhere during the fall, the Pep Band is a great way to get famous.
Wind ensemble is, as one would hope, a group of seated musicians playing woodwind instruments. Composed of about 50 people, the ensemble plays regularly around the campus, and has traveled to spots as varied as Ireland and Disneyworld. If you are interested in this group, get out your auditioning shoes. Tufts Symphony Orchestra also sticks to its name - they play instruments commonly found at a symphony, for example the cello. Or, on a good day, the clarinet.
The literal movers and shakers among you can find your creative outlets in Tufts' dance organizations (and one percussive group). For traditional types, Sarabande is the best bet - they are known for their stylized ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and hip-hop routines. Hip-hoppers can also find their muse by joining Spirit of Color (SoC), whose funky core of hip-hop, jazz, and ethnic dance has at times expanded to include stepping, glowstick/techno dancing, and b-boying.
Those who are into a more casual dance experience should check out Tufts Dance Collective (TDC) or TURBO, both of which do not require tryouts (SoC and Sarabande do). TDC, which boasts an impressively large membership, incorporates all styles of dance. TURBO is a breakdancing group and offers lessons to newcomers in addition to its normal meetings.
The musical performance group wildcard is BEATS (Bangin' Everything At Tufts). A newly-formed organization, BEATS uses everyday items like water jugs, glass bottles, plastic buckets, and even its members' own bodies to create percussion in the style of shows like Stomp.
And if you find yourself lovingly stroking the pages of this Daily and long to see your own beautiful words in print, call us. Call us now. Write us this second. But, if a daily newspaper isn't your style there certainly are other options.
The Tufts Observer is a weekly news magazine which has such features as the police blotter and student photos with quotes. Tufts' best, worst, and only conservative magazine is the Primary Source. The Source comes out biweekly, and deals with both on and off campus issues. Tufts' best, worst, and only liberal magazine, meanwhile, is Radix. Although, they may or may not exist this semester, we don't know.
Creative outlets also float around campus in multiple forms. One might say that all should join together for the good of quality - but since that's not the case, once again you will find multiple options. Optimus Prime is the most general of the bunch and accepts all forms of poetry with no specific emphasis, publishing frequently. Outbreath is the fiction journal, also featuring photography. It comes out once a semester. Onyx is the Tufts Black student literary magazine with an emphasis on Black culture featuring poetry, short stories, essays, and artwork. Hillel also has a literary publication that traditionally comes out once a semester. South Asian Literary and Arts Magazine (SALAAM) features artwork, poetry, stories, and plays. Despite the name, it accepts submissions from students of any background.
WMFO 91.5FM is Tufts' one and only radio station. Last year they increased their range with a new broadcast tower. TUTV, meanwhile is the Tufts TV Station. One of their best known programs is the Jumbo Love match-all you love birds watch out.
Oh, and if you think this list of activities is ridiculous and want to make fun of any of the groups listed in it, make sure to join the Zamboni - they're Tufts Humor Magazine.
