Panel discusses creation of musical genius

Yesterday marked the world premiere of a new musical written by Music senior Sam Davis and graduate student Ron Nyren. "Mina & Colossus" is based upon the life of Mina Loy, a poet and visual artist who fell in love with boxer / poet Arthur Cravan during the '20s. The show is directed by Music professor John Neville Andrews and is produced by Music Prof. Joan Morris.

Mina Loy was born in London in 1882 and traveled throughout much of Europe, including Munich, Paris and Florence, before settling in the United States. Loy's friends included Man Ray, James Joyce, Gertrude Stein and Marcel Duchamp. The students found inspiration for the musical in the book "Becoming Modern : The Life of Mina Loy," by former Berkely Prof. Carolyn Burke.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Amanda Satchell and Matt Witten star as Mina and Arthur in the musical "Mina and Colossus."

Burke arrived in Ann Arbor Saturday to witness the musical's premiere. Today at noon, Burke, along with Davis and Nyren, will appear in a panel discussion about Mina Loy and the creation of the musical.

Burke was first introduced to Mina Loy when she was studying in Paris in the '70s. "I read many expatriate memoirs and her name was mentioned over and over. I did some research and found some of her poetry, which I discovered to be shockingly modern. I became more and more interested," Burke said.

Burke's biography of Loy describes her as a modern woman. "She was a woman trying to throw off conventions of Victorian age," Burke explained. "She was determined to live more freely as an artist. She was a political social being rebelling against artistic social upbringing."

PREVIEW
	The Making of Mina and Colossus Today at noon 1534 Rackham

Mina's life was not entirely glamorous, as her love life and career provided for an unhappy existence. "Much of the time Mina was disappointed and sad. She may be a role model in the idea that she was a risk-taking experimentalist. She was a remarkable poet, a brave woman who I looked up and to wanted to learn more about," Burke stated.

As for "Mina & Colussus," Burke hadn't seen any version of the musical until this past weekend. "I was contacted by John Neville Andrews, and I thought "This would be so much fun. How delightful!" Burke exclaimed.

"I was sent the first draft, which I read. I extremely like the lyrics. (The students) definitely got the spirit in their medium," Burke said. "A musical is such a hard thing to tell a story with because factual details have to be condensed. But 'Mina & Colussus' seems right and feels right."

As for Burke's novel, the book has received wide acclaim. "Many critics have said that this is a good introduction to the modern art movements of the '20s. Dadaism, futurism, and surrealism are all explored. There were many left-wing political types in that era. My book explains the differences in the radical political and radical artistic circles. It gives a lot of help to understand aspects of modernist art.

-"Mina & Colossus" will be presented tonight and tomorrow in the Media Union on North Campus at 8 p.m. Tickets are free, but a reservation is required through the League Ticket Office or by calling 764-0450. On Friday it was reported that mos t of the performances were sold out.

04-20-98