2008 Woodie Awards
Hopkins Got Talent shows off students' skills
Issue date: 5/1/08
Last Wednesday an audience of enthused students was dazzled and entertained by "War On Mind: Hopkins Got Talent." The American Idol-esque show, organized by the student group Vision XChange, brought together some of the top performance groups at Hopkins to raise money for UNICEF. Despite the controversy behind the event, Vision XChange successfully pulled the show off and attracted almost 200 students - quite the accomplishment for an event held in the middle of the week.
Renowned comedian Maysoon Zayid served as mistress of ceremonies. You know you have someone special when she introduces herself as "a Palestinian, virgin Muslim with cerebral palsy." She delighted audiences with hilarious anecdotes about her less-than-perfect journeys to the Newark Airport, her father who looks like Saddam Hussein and the customs of Muslims and Arabs. I was bawling in my seat - mostly because I knew exactly what she was talking about.
Maysoon's humor appealed to the general audience and not solely the Muslims and Arabs. Her witty and humorous comments struck a chord with the entire audience. Her humor complemented the evening rather than detracting from the humanitarian theme, bringing greater awareness to the cause.
Twelve different groups performed, each with their own energy and vitality that enhanced the show. Despite the great differences between each individual performance, the common thread between all of them was the energy and excitement they projected onto the audience. The audience swayed to the soothing melodies, clapped their hands to the beat and tapped their feet to the rhythm. Audiences were not silent observers but actively engaged in the performances, bringing vitality to show.
Bits and Pieces began the show with the song "My Pain," an original rock piece composed by band leader Haris Ali. The song was a nice mix of classic rock and jazz fusion, a combination that was, in a way, soothing. There were issues, however, with balance: At times the lyrics could barely be heard, and at others the drums would drown out the bass or the bass would drown out the guitar. Overall, however, it seemed the crowd was not fazed by this matter.
Renowned comedian Maysoon Zayid served as mistress of ceremonies. You know you have someone special when she introduces herself as "a Palestinian, virgin Muslim with cerebral palsy." She delighted audiences with hilarious anecdotes about her less-than-perfect journeys to the Newark Airport, her father who looks like Saddam Hussein and the customs of Muslims and Arabs. I was bawling in my seat - mostly because I knew exactly what she was talking about.
Maysoon's humor appealed to the general audience and not solely the Muslims and Arabs. Her witty and humorous comments struck a chord with the entire audience. Her humor complemented the evening rather than detracting from the humanitarian theme, bringing greater awareness to the cause.
Twelve different groups performed, each with their own energy and vitality that enhanced the show. Despite the great differences between each individual performance, the common thread between all of them was the energy and excitement they projected onto the audience. The audience swayed to the soothing melodies, clapped their hands to the beat and tapped their feet to the rhythm. Audiences were not silent observers but actively engaged in the performances, bringing vitality to show.
Bits and Pieces began the show with the song "My Pain," an original rock piece composed by band leader Haris Ali. The song was a nice mix of classic rock and jazz fusion, a combination that was, in a way, soothing. There were issues, however, with balance: At times the lyrics could barely be heard, and at others the drums would drown out the bass or the bass would drown out the guitar. Overall, however, it seemed the crowd was not fazed by this matter.
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