http://www.collegian.psu.edu/venues/2009/03/19/check_out_a_guide_to_304_befor.aspx
TV
Posted on March 19, 2009 4:00 AM
STUDENT SITCOM
Check out a guide to '304' before the season finale
By Nick Johnson 
Collegian Staff Writer
One student-focused sitcom made by Penn State students for Penn State students is being produced -- not on a primetime network, but on campus at University Park.
The project, 304, is produced by students from both the Theater and Film schools, and is entering its third year.
"Every aspect of the show is getting better," said Matt Richards, the current director. "We now have faculty backing and a full cast of writers and crew."
Richards (junior-theatre) said he was most proud of the quality and relevance of the show.
"You don't have to turn to network television to find characters you can relate to," he said.
The show, which will be filming its sixth and final episode of the season at 6 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Pavilion Theatre, has a cast of six main characters and features several intertwining plots that have been developing throughout the entire season. Actor Eddie Szewczyk explained what has happened so far.
"There are lots of parallel plots," Szewczyk (junior-theatre) said. "There's a big build up with Bethanne coming out to Layla, Dan helping Chris with his mayoral run and the relationship growing between Seth and Jamie."
Writer and actor Brad Einstein said the show, although not seeking to be "deep," has a central theme.
"It answers the question, 'How do a group of people still relate to one another when the unifying core is removed?'" Einstein (junior-theatre) said. "It's unique."
QUICK GUIDE TO 304:
The Basics
Set at an unnamed university not unlike Penn State, 304 follows the lives of six college students who share a house. As will happen when any group of relatively unsupervised college students gets together, hilarity ensues.
"Dan is powerful, pompous and way kick-ass cool," Szewczyk said describing his character. "He's a study in human assholeyness."
"She's really passionate about everything," Longwell said. "As a result she's always flustered and hypersensitive."
A member of the student government, Layla has also been dabbling in environmental activism.
"He doesn't know how to approach her," Biddle said. "There has been some headway made, however."
"A lot of her past is still cloudy," Sussman said. "She's also kind of lost, and is trying to find her place."
"Chris has his own core motivations unique to him," Einstein said. "He is learning to relate to people better."
His current run for mayor has helped his social development, and may be the first thing Chris has truly cared about.
"The big storyline for Bethanne this season is her coming out," Mulligan said. "It's something she needs to deal with."
The project, 304, is produced by students from both the Theater and Film schools, and is entering its third year.
"Every aspect of the show is getting better," said Matt Richards, the current director. "We now have faculty backing and a full cast of writers and crew."
Richards (junior-theatre) said he was most proud of the quality and relevance of the show.
"You don't have to turn to network television to find characters you can relate to," he said.
The show, which will be filming its sixth and final episode of the season at 6 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Pavilion Theatre, has a cast of six main characters and features several intertwining plots that have been developing throughout the entire season. Actor Eddie Szewczyk explained what has happened so far.
"There are lots of parallel plots," Szewczyk (junior-theatre) said. "There's a big build up with Bethanne coming out to Layla, Dan helping Chris with his mayoral run and the relationship growing between Seth and Jamie."
Writer and actor Brad Einstein said the show, although not seeking to be "deep," has a central theme.
"It answers the question, 'How do a group of people still relate to one another when the unifying core is removed?'" Einstein (junior-theatre) said. "It's unique."
QUICK GUIDE TO 304:
The Basics
Set at an unnamed university not unlike Penn State, 304 follows the lives of six college students who share a house. As will happen when any group of relatively unsupervised college students gets together, hilarity ensues.
Dan - Eddie Szewczyk (junior-theatre)
In Dan's own eyes he is a born leader, working as the puppet master behind Chris' run for mayor and breaking up with Layla when she, and not he, is re-elected to the student government."Dan is powerful, pompous and way kick-ass cool," Szewczyk said describing his character. "He's a study in human assholeyness."
Layla - Victoria Longwell (junior-theatre)
The most normal of the female inhabitants of the house, Layla still has her quirks."She's really passionate about everything," Longwell said. "As a result she's always flustered and hypersensitive."
A member of the student government, Layla has also been dabbling in environmental activism.
Seth - Derek Biddle (junior-theatre)
Seth is intelligent, a good friend and hopeless when it comes to pursuing women. The straight man of the sitcom, he is often an unwilling accomplice to the shenanigans of his housemates. He does, however, have a growing crush on Jamie."He doesn't know how to approach her," Biddle said. "There has been some headway made, however."
Jamie - Rebecca Sussman (junior-theatre)
Having moved in during the first episode, she is the newest of the housemates, and much of Jamie's past is still unknown. What the audience does know is she is from Canada, has lived around the world and may have some feelings for Seth."A lot of her past is still cloudy," Sussman said. "She's also kind of lost, and is trying to find her place."
Chris - Brad Einstein (junior-theatre)
Following in the footsteps of Kramer, Buster Bluth and Fez, Chris is the house's resident oddball. Executing pretzels and kidnapping political rivals, there is never a dull moment when Chris is around."Chris has his own core motivations unique to him," Einstein said. "He is learning to relate to people better."
His current run for mayor has helped his social development, and may be the first thing Chris has truly cared about.
Bethanne - Alyssa Mulligan (senior-theatre)
The house mom and clean freak of the show, Bethanne helps hold the house together. Of all the housemates, Bethanne is the only one who comes close to understanding the character of Chris. She spends time helping him with his problems, even though she has her own issues -- in particular a crush on Layla."The big storyline for Bethanne this season is her coming out," Mulligan said. "It's something she needs to deal with."
