The Current Online

by Emily Ellsworth

Love books? Love to read? Then the Longview Library is calling your name. The library will host World Book Night at 11:30 a.m. on April 23. A drawing will take place to win the Ray Bradbury book “Fahrenheit 451,” which is named after the temperature at which paper burns. The scene is set in a dystopian society where firemen exist to set fires rather than put them out. Bradbury, who died in 2012, wrote about a futuristic society that sees no value in books and instead bans and burns them upon discovery. The novel’s hero struggles with the indoctrination of society and the persistent idea that the content inside a book may just be worthwhile, and gives the reader a whole new perspective on books. The Longview Library has 20 of these to give away, so don’t forget to head to the library and enter to win before April 23.

MCC-Longview will host the 2013 Mega Kite Festival on Saturday, April 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the main lawn of the college. The event has drawn as many as 10,000 visitors in previous years

Bring your own kites, lawn chairs, and blankets and enjoy the beautiful display of mega kites floating in the air. There will be face-painting, kite-making, food and beverages available for purchase and so much more. Alcohol, glass containers and pets are prohibited.

~Lindsey Moore

Adam Baldwin of “Firefly” (MCT Campus)

George Takei, Wil Wheaton, Adam Baldwin, and Peter Mayhew are some of the biggest names in the sci-fi genre, but what else do they have in common? They are all coming to Kansas City’s Bartle Hall Convention Center for Planet Comicon. From April 6 to 7, dozens of comic book creators, artists, writers, and actors will gather for one of the greatest nerd and geekdom event in Kansas City. For more information and a list of guests go to planetcomicon.com.

~Sean Kim

by Sean Kim

Sean Kim/The Current (Click on the photo to see the slide show.)

It knows that you’re watching. The large, yellow, mouse-like creature quickly darts away from your gaze as you start to chase after it. It’s quick  and cunning as it weaves in and out of the maze of people gathered to watch the odd spectacle. Your years of training have made you tough. As you make your way through the crowd, you retain your gaze upon the yellow creature. It stops, looks up, its black eyes and red cheeks staring right back at you. It opens its mouth, and yells: “PIKACHUUU!!!”

Fans of anime, or Japanese animation, rejoiced and celebrated at Naka-kon anime convention in Overland Park March 15-17. Every year Naka-Kon hosts variety of different panels and has invited many different voice actors, including Kyle Herbert, aka Teen Gohan and announcer from Dragon ball Z; Richard Epcar, aka Gladiator from X-Men; and Raiden from Mortal Combat. This year some of the panels included Religion in Anime, Japanese ghost stories, and much more. and much more. [...]

by Emily Ellsworth

MCC Longview’s theater department is working on the upcoming play “The Exonerated.” Written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen and directed by Ryan Morehead, the play features a cast of 10. The 10 MCC students will portray true stories of six people falsely accused of crimes, sentenced to death, and then later cleared, thanks to DNA evidence. The cast list includes Greg Phillips, Jacob Meireis, Kristin Cox, Julie Miller, Ro Johnson, Rose Crosby, Broderick Hill, Rocky Chael, Beth Vernon, Mark Buergler, and Daniel King.

“The Exonerated” opens on April 19 and continues on April 20, 25 and 26 at Longview’s Cultural Arts Center. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start selling March 18. They will cost $8 in advance, $9.27 online, or $10 at the door. MCC students interested in purchasing tickets can call 816-604-2200 or go to mccexonerated.brownpapertickets.com.