Weekend Arts Roundup: Composers, Cannabis, Improv Comedy, and More

Prefrosh weekend is upon us! And for those of us whose hearts are too hard to be warmed by naïve little '14ers, the upshot of the impending insanity is it brings a host of arts events to campus this weekend. While they're designed to court impressionable newbies, these events also provide exciting entertainment (we promise!) for the more jaded upperclassmen.First up: the spring concert from Princeton's Undergraduate Composers Collective, which is happening at 8:30pm tonight in the Rocky Common Room. Founded in 2007 by Todd Kramer '11 and Nick DiBerardino '11, the Composers Collective holds weekly workshops where student composers can test out their pieces and swap ideas.For people who associate modern music with atonal screeches and bangs, the Collective offers a refreshing surprise. "The concerts are a great way for people to find out what they like, see what their friends are up to, and learn that 'contemporary music' does not always mean ear-splitting dissonances that seem to go on forever," says Kramer, a graduate of the Juilliard School's Pre-College Program." People are often surprised to discover that most of our composers write tonal music."Tonight's concert features 11 Princeton composers, each premiering an original work. Although most pieces are written in the classical style, the concert also has a number of works from pop, jazz, and electronic music composers. Kramer's piece will feature two guest performers from Juilliard, violinist Erno Kallai and pianist Chloe Pang.Matt Prast, a sophomore whose string sextet will be performed tonight, was thrilled about the chance to premiere his piece in such a welcoming environment. "I wanted to see whether I could achieve a layered and complex sound from a small string ensemble, and while this is more of a composing exercise than anything else, I feel like it has a good deal of character. I'm excited to hear it in concert, and to see how people respond to it as well!"Also up this weekend:

• Thomas Kail, director of "In The Heights," is giving a talk on what it takes to direct a Tony-Award-winning Broadway musical. Thursday, 3-4:20pm at the Lewis Center for the Arts, Room 109. Free.
• Reefer Madness, a musical about the dangers of drugs. Warning: cannabis and cannibalism (they have the munchies, okay?) make for an irresistible combo. Co-Presented by PUPlayers and Theatre Intime. Thursday-Saturday, 8pm, Theatre Intime. $8, TigerTickets eligible.
• Encore!, the PUBallet's Spring Show in the Frist Theatre. Thursday-Saturday 8pm, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday. All proceeds from the matinee go to earthquake relief in Haiti. $8, TigerTickets eligible.
• Shakespeare's Ramesh and Juhi, a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet by PSAT (Princeton South Asian Theatrics). Thursday-Saturday, 8pm, Wilson Blackbox. $5, TigerTickets eligible.
• Mistress of the Arts: Music and Dance in Madame de Pompadour's Versailles, a baroque music presentation at the University Art Museum by the Department of Music. Friday, 8pm. Free, but seating is limited.
• Quipfire tempts prefrosh with a one-night-only show in Mathey Common Room. Friday, 8pm. Free.
• Wu Open Mic Night, sponsored by Butler College in the Butler Ampitheatre. Friday, 8-10pm. Free, with t-shirts for all performers.
• The Man Show, a male a cappella marathon with the Footnotes, Nassoons, and Tigertones in Theatre Intime. Friday, 11pm. Tickets on sale in Frist; all proceeds go to Newark NOW.
• The Great Immensity, an original environmental theater piece written and produced by students in the Lewis Center's spring Atelier course. Saturday, 2pm and 7:30pm, McCarter's Berlind Theatre. Free, but tickets are required.
• Handel's Esther, with professional soloists and period orchestra, performed by the PUGlee Club. Saturday, 8pm, Richardson Auditorium. Ticket prices vary; TigerTickets eligible.
• Mozart's Mass in C Minor, performed by University Chapel Choir in the Chapel. Saturday, 8pm. Free.