The Forbes Blackbox shook with laughter as Evan Younger '08 unleashed a melodic falsetto, then a rumbling baritone, upon his audience. His fingers deftly strummed a guitar to the tune of the Magnetic Fields' "Yeah! Oh, Yeah!"
Younger took the stage at Forbes College's inaugural "Alive in the Blackbox" event last Friday, a two-hour series of student performances of stand-up comedy, song, dance and poetry.
"It was a nice opportunity to play in a low-pressure environment," said Younger, who added that he had not previously performed at Princeton.
Ian Segal '08 planned the event in an attempt to create a new kind of venue for artistic performance on campus.
"I wanted people to hear and see things they usually wouldn't," said Segal, who added that his event was the first on campus dedicated to presenting a variety of artistic genres.
Tonight's slate of 11 performers includes a number of new acts, including the Katzenjammers a capella group and comedian Patrick Cunningham '05. Some performers from last week's event will return to the stage as well.
"There's all these groups on campus each doing their own thing," said Segal. "But I wanted to have somewhere where you might hear a poem and then get the inspiration to write a song, or vice versa."
Segal said the event offers an unusual combination of informality and regularity. "It's not like a benefit concert, and it's not like a poetry reading. I want it to feel like a workshop," he said.
The laid-back setting encouraged experimentation by some of the artists. Younger confessed to the audience that he had never played or sung his piece before, while others casually commented on their repertoire and took requests from friends in the audience.
About 80 students came to the first show, despite competition from eating club pickups and initiations. People drifted in and out of the small theater, with audience members filling the wings during each act.
The basement theater, with its austere black walls and drapes, allowed for an intimate atmosphere, performers noted.
"I really liked how I was on the same level as the audience," said Yiwen Wang '08, who read poetry.
Although dominated by amateur performers, the event featured a few veterans of the stage, including comedians Jacob Gold '06 — also a 'Prince' columnist — and Jason Lawrence GS, and singer-guitarist Anna Jakubek '08.
"I really liked its intimacy and simplicity," Jakubek said. "It's even different from something like Café Viv's open mic night."
Though Segal promised he would improve the sound system — which lacked even vocal microphones — some audience members appreciated the low-tech, low-pressure ambience.
"It felt more like just going to a friend's room to listen to guitar than going to a concert," Bryan Suchenski '08 said. "I hope it stays that way."
"Alive in the Blackbox" will take place at 9 p.m. every Friday in Forbes College's Blackbox theater.
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