A&E

Waterworks’ ‘Crucible’ Ignites the Stage

By Alyssa Robertson | November 21

There’s something about walking into Waterworks’ Players that feels like a secret only the visitors are in on. It’s tucked away, right off of West Third St, in an almost cozy lot. Walking into the warm, dim-lit lobby, I was comfortable — that was, until the play started, and I got sucked right ...

---

A&E

Battlefield 6: Back to the Basics

By Ashwin Smith | November 20

On July 24, 2025, Battlefield 6 was officially revealed to the world, sparking excitement among fans worldwide. Given Electronic Arts’ reputation, many were speculating what the game would bring to the table. With Battlefield 6, Electronic Arts proved that they were listening to fans loud and clear. ...

---

A&E

‘The Revolutionists': Performances Worth Losing Your Head Over

By Brandi Dawson | October 21

Longwood’s production of “The Revolutionists”, performed by the theatre department, was astounding. All of the actresses in this show did a phenomenal job in playing their roles and with keeping the audiences’ captivated, even with only four people being in the cast. Not only did the acting ...

---

A&E

'The Life of a Showgirl': A Shell of an Icon

By Tyler Bagent | October 6

If I had to summarize my thoughts about Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” in one word — disappointment. Complete and utter disappointment. Taylor Swift, for the past several years, has operated as a machine rather than a pop artist. Two surprise-released studio albums in 2020 (“Folklore” ...

---

A&E

'Weapons': Class Dismissed… Permanently?

By Brandi Dawson | October 3

“Weapons” premiered in theaters on August 8, 2025, bringing an interesting and new perspective to horror. The movie explores the lives of many people in the small town of Maybrook, who all become panicked when every child from the same class, except one, mysteriously vanish from their houses on ...

---

A&E

'KPop Demon Hunters': The Essential Animated Film of 2025

By Cameron Balderson | September 22

“KPop Demon Hunters” has quickly become one of 2025’s biggest sensations. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released on Netflix on June 20, the film has received both commercial success and critical acclaim. Its popularity has raised the bar for the quality of animated films and, to an extent, ...

---

---

A&E

Layers of “Red”: Waterworks Brings Rothko to Life

By Brandi Dawson | May 15

Waterworks Players’ production of “Red” was captivating, jarring and contemplative. The two actors, Jordan Whiley (Mark Rothko) and Elijah Logue (Ken), put on an incredible performance full of emotion and superb storytelling. The acting skills of Whiley and Logue, the direction and choices of ...

---

A&E

“Snow White:” Is The Controversy The Problem?

By Brandi Dawson | April 19

With the new “Snow White” movie coming to theaters, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the film and the cast, including political anger and personal feuds between the main stars, Rachel Zegler (Snow White) and Gal Gadot (the Evil Queen). The whirling controversies have severely diminished ...

---

A&E

Waterworks’ “Appropriate:” An Outstanding Production of an Important Play

By Tyler Bagent | April 3

Editor’s Note: Contains spoilers for “Appropriate,” which includes potentially disturbing content.Tucked at the far west end of Farmville – past main campus, Lancer Park and Centra – sits Waterworks Players, Farmville’s community theatre. From Feb. 15 through Feb. 23, Waterworks put on their ...

---

A&E

Rotunda Review: “Little Women,” Big Performances

By Brandi Dawson | March 31

Longwood’s theatre production of “Little Women” was exceptional, with a perfect balance between the acting aspect and the musical aspect. All of the actors in this production did a fabulous job in telling the story. Not only did the acting ...

---

A&E

"Nosferatu:" Succumb to the Darkness

By Ashwin Smith | February 26

Set in 1830s Germany, real estate agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) travels to Transylvania for a fateful meeting with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), a prospective client. During his absence, Hutter’s new bride, Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp), is left under the care of their friends, Friedrich (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) ...

---

A&E

Rotunda Review: We’re Off to See Wicked!

By Brandi Dawson | February 6

In 2003, “Wicked” struck the Broadway stage. After its Broadway debut, “Wicked” quickly became one of the most successful Broadway shows of all time, being seen by more than 65 million people across the globe, according to the official Broadway site.After being a hit on Broadway, fans were long ...

---

A&E

“A Complete Unknown:” Another Side of Bob Dylan

By Elena Lavigne | January 29

The ever-profitable genre of musician biopics struck again with James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown,” a surprisingly-solid biopic about the early years of Bob Dylan. Between an eclectic mix of songs, excellent casting, and a stellar final sequence, this movie succeeded in creating a balanced portrayal ...

---

A&E

Joker 2: Manic Pixie Manson Wife

By Elena Lavigne | January 24

Todd Phillips’ 2016 hit Joker was a beautiful but ultimately vapid meditation on the cruelty of the mental health system. It masqueraded as an origin story to the Batman supervillain but was quickly and publicly co-opted by men who admired the film’s murderous protagonist, Arthur Fleck, for his ...

---

A&E

Deadpool and Wolverine: A Fun Return to Disney Standard

By Elena Lavigne | September 23

While Tim Miller’s 2016 superhero comedy Deadpool was far from the first R-rated superhero movie (the Blade trinity, Watchmen, and various adaptations of The Punisher were all released years before, to name just a few examples), it came at just the right time to actually hit it big. The Marvel Cinematic ...

---

A&E

‘Cowboy Carter:’ Sprawling, Genre-Defying, Beautiful, and Chaotic

By Tyler Bagent | April 22

Country music, in my book, has been on a downward spiral since the late 2000’s.  In the wake of all of the 2010’s hitmakers of country leaving relevance, they were replaced with some of the worst artists to hit radio in decades. Morgan Wallen makes bad country-inspired hip-hop for Trump Supporters, ...

---

A&E

The Holdovers Left Nothing Behind This Christmas

By Anthony Anderson | March 11

Alexander Payne, director and screenwriter of award-winning films such as “The Descendants,” “Nebraska” and “Sideways,” has just released the next winter classic in “The Holdovers.” With a budget of 16 million dollars, Payne and the film's cast blew away viewers at the Toronto International ...

---

A&E

Rotunda Review: “GUTS” by Olivia Rodrigo

By June Bollinger | October 31

Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album “GUTS” is a confident step forward that remains in touch with her earlier work. “GUTS” is as tightly themed as “SOUR”, Rodrigo’s first released album, and keeps the spotlight on the artist’s signature sound while exploring a larger variety of instrumental ...

---

A&E

Taylor Swift’s Pop Reign Continues With “1989 (Taylor’s Version)”

By Tyler Bagent | October 31

In 2014, the New York Times’ review of the original “1989” declared, “Ms. [Taylor] Swift is aiming somewhere even higher, a mode of timelessness that few true pop stars...even bother aspiring to.” That same year, the success of “1989” prompted iconic journalist Barbara Walters to declare ...

---

A&E

The Cure: Shows of a Lost World

By Elena Lavigne | September 26

For a show played 44 years after their 1979 debut, the Maryland date of post-punk/pop group The Cure’s tour “Shows of a Lost World” was stunningly good. The Cure performed at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, an amphitheater in Columbia that served as a catch-all date for the entire DMV. And catch ...

---