Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Karissa Schaefer

Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts

Karissa Schaefer (She/Her) is a senior journalism major from Long Island, NY, who is also minoring in psychology and publishing. This is her sixth semester writing for The Beacon, and she previously served as the Living Arts editor and ELA Bureau Chief. When she’s not writing, you can find her (slaying) binge watching a TV show and drinking a Schweppes ginger ale. 

Latest from Karissa Schaefer
Mass.-born artist Rosie Darling returns to Boston for sold-out show Feb. 6

Mass.-born artist Rosie Darling returns to Boston for sold-out show Feb. 6

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 14, 2023

Originally from Canton, Massachusetts, Rosie Darling grew up singing, messing around on the piano and guitar, and obsessing over Taylor Swift.  There’s...

Cara Connors, photographed by Sela Shiloni.

Cara Connors: layers of a comedian

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
June 8, 2022

Not long after their first 15 North American shows, stand-up comedian Cara Connors will return to the stage on June 9 at The White Bull Tavern in Boston’s...

Photo: Karissa Schaefer

‘You’ve Got To Let Go If You Want To Be Free,’ and boy did I let go

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
May 19, 2022

After consistently having Disclosure as a top artist since middle school, I can finally say the dream of seeing the DJ duo in concert has been disclosed...

AAADT in Revelations April 28. Photo by Robert Torres.

Motions of emotions: Alvin Ailey’s Boston return

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
May 4, 2022

I grew up dancing in recitals and competitions, yet over the course of two decades, I have never been to a professional dance show—until now, and I was...

Perspective Photo from spring 2022 Into the Woods. Photo by Craig Bailey.

‘An American fairytale’: EmStage’s musical production of ‘Into the Woods’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
April 20, 2022

The Cutler Majestic Theatre transformed into the storybook fairytale of “Into the Woods” for this year’s Emerson Stage’s spring musical.  The...

Jimmys Traveling All-Stars. Courtesy of Zoe Seitz.

‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,’ commonly known as Jimmy’s Traveling All-Stars

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
April 20, 2022

From Los Angeles to Skidmore College to right here at Emerson, Jimmy’s Traveling All-Stars’ eventful spring semester filled crowds with laughter at...

Lauren Shaws Photo Practicum exhibit poster.

‘It’s just a melting pot of creativity’: Photo Practicum class to hold upcoming exhibition

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
April 13, 2022

Professor Lauren Shaw’s Photo Practicum class will showcase their exhibit “Metamorphosis” from April 19-27, featuring diverse individual projects...

Haley Morales. Photo by Carys Hirawady.

Emerson Urban Dance Theatre returns to the Semel for spring show April 8

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
April 6, 2022

Emerson Urban Dance Theatre presents their spring show “Vices and Virtues,” featuring an eclectic mix of heavenly and sinful student choreographed...

Sounds of the City. Courtesy of Bright Lights.

Emerson Film Festival returns in person Mar. 30

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 30, 2022

From narratives and documentaries, to experimental and animation, Emerson returns for its 21st annual Film Festival on Mar. 30, featuring 10 films from...

Courtesy of Kickstarter

‘Long Story Short’ program launches third edition of exposure for up and coming filmmakers

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 23, 2022

Drawing success from its short film category that’s seen more than 7,000 shorts, Kickstarter’s third annual month-long celebration Long Story Short...

(L to R) Chris Sullivan, Wayne Brady, Anthony Veneziale, Aneesa Folds, and Kurt Crowley (on keyboard) in Freestyle Love Supreme at the Booth Theatre. Photo by Joan Marcus.

‘Freestyle Love Supreme’ brings waves of laughter to the Colonial Theatre

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 23, 2022

Left with no set or costumes for their Boston opening night on Mar. 18, it was up to the cast of “Freestyle Love Supreme” to make the show go on without...

Photo: Karissa Schaefer

Tyler, The Creator sure knows how to create a memorable performance

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 16, 2022

Tyler, The Creator hit Worcester’s DCU Center on Mar. 3 with his “Call Me If You Get Lost” tour—well Tyler, what’s your number because five Bostonians...

LaTanya McQueen. Photo credit: Maryam Thompson of Maryam Thompson Photography.

Author alum wins 2022 NEA Creative Writing Fellowship

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 3, 2022

Two-time published author and Emerson alum LaTanya McQueen ‘06, who received her MFA in creative writing, has been named a 2022 creative writing fellow...

Courtesy: Boston Music Project website

BCE senior capstone students work to provide Boston Music Project a new PR plan

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 2, 2022

As part of the business of creative enterprises senior residency capstone class, four seniors are partnering with Boston Music Project nonprofit to promote...

Tia Fuller and the Bruno Mars Ensemble. Photo by Dave Green.

Berklee honors important Black artists Thursday at their Legacy Award Concert

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 23, 2022

Berklee College of Music continues to commemorate African American artistic legacies this month by hosting the Berklee Legacy Award Concert Thursday Feb....

Perspective photo from Emerson Stages 2022 As You Like It production. Photo by Craig Bailey.

EmStage’s ‘As You Like It’ will certainly have you liking it

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 23, 2022

Vibrancy, love, and community—these are just some of the words to describe Emerson Stage’s production of “As You Like It.”  Director Eddie...

Kendrick Lamar on The DAMN. Tour at TD Garden in Boston on July 22, 2017. Photo by Kenny Sun.

The ‘22 Super Bowl Halftime Show: a memorable, multi-generational performance

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 16, 2022

There’s a reason I write about living arts and not sports, so the real celebratory moment on Super Bowl Sunday for me was the halftime performance, not...

The kids surrounded around the TV watching their parents. Courtesy of HBO Max.

College newspapers participate in HBO roundtable for reality dating show ‘My Mom, Your Dad’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 16, 2022

While college students are already trying to navigate the complexities of their romantic life, HBO Max takes it a step further with their new reality dating...

Promotional poster for Grace: Live. Credit: Isabella Bertram.

The Girlie Project returns Friday with new rendition of ‘Grease’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 3, 2022

The Girlie Project is back Feb. 4 with another staged performance—this time, with their own comedic read-through of the classic musical “Grease,”...

Makeup Atelier logo, created by Julia Magdziak.

First-years start new student makeup organization

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 3, 2022

New student organization Makeup Atelier, created by two first-years in the business of creative enterprises major, is the most recent addition to Emerson’s...

Bright Lights spring logo, courtesy of their Instagram.

Bright Lights announces spring 2022 lineup

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
January 26, 2022

Bright Lights Film Series recently announced their spring-2022 lineup, returning to in-person screenings on Jan. 27 for Fanny: Right to Rock.  This...

Alex Disenhof on the set of Alice.

Emerson students, both past and present, litter the 2022 Sundance Film Festival

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
January 20, 2022

The chances of spotting an Emerson alum in the entertainment industry are high, and the 2022 Sundance Film Festival—taking place Jan. 20 to 30—is no...

The artwork for SEVENTEEN

Seventeen again: alum relives her last year of high school in new podcast

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
January 20, 2022

Seventeen is an age that resonates with many—an age full of friendships, appearances, and emotional ups and downs—and that’s no different for Laura...

Dancing the night away, Kaytranada style

Dancing the night away, Kaytranada style

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
January 9, 2022

A disco ball, blinding colorful lights, and a non-stop flow of dancing and R&B represent the perfect concoction for DJ Kaytranada’s Dec. 9 set at...

James P.W. Martin 13 posing with his new anthology, Eggplant Emoji Volume 1.

‘Laughter is medicine’: alum published comedic short story anthology

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
November 18, 2021

Labeled as “humor for the culturally refined” and promising to subvert expectations—Eggplant Emoji Volume 1, a new collection of comedic short stories...

Grammy Award-winning composer, bassist, and vocalist esperanza spalding.

Opera ‘Iphigenia’ world premiere at Cutler Majestic Theatre Nov. 12 and 13

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
November 12, 2021

“Iphigenia,” an opera inspired by the Greek myth of the same name, will be making its world premiere at the Cutler Majestic Theater on Nov. 12 and...

The main characters of the Million Dollar Quartet.

Tony winning musical ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ hits Boston this weekend for three shows

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 28, 2021

The Tony Award-winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet,” which chronicles a real-life recording session with rock ‘n’ roll legends Elvis Presley,...

The Girlie Project performing their comedy show, Alaina.

Comedy troupe, The Girlie Project, performs hilarious rendition of ‘Annie’ called ‘Alaina’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 28, 2021

Most people are familiar with the classic story of “Annie”—an orphan girl who is selected to live with rich man Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks who eventually...

WILLOW performing her new album.

11 years later, I’m still whipping my hair to Willow

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 21, 2021

In 2011, I vividly remember using my iPod touch voice memos to record WILLOW’s “21st Century Girl” off YouTube. I’d repeatedly replay it, singing...

Still from Sky Hopinkas “Maɬni–towards the ocean, towards the shore.”

‘Bright Lights Film Series’ hosts first in person event since pandemic

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 14, 2021

After 18 months of Zoom screenings and discussions, Emerson’s “Bright Lights Film Series” hosted its first in-person event since Mar. 12, 2020 on...

From left to right: Stephen Colbert, Matt Lappin, Opus Moreschi ’00, and Ballard C. Boyd ’03 at the Emmys

Three Emerson alums win Emmy awards

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
September 30, 2021

Three Emerson alums, two of whom had won previously, took home trophies at the 2021 Emmy Awards on Sept. 19 for their behind-the-scenes work in television.  Randy...

Amanda Richards 10 and Dawn Steinberg 82 worked on the Fantasy Island Reboot.

Emerson alums help create “Fantasy Island” reboot

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
September 23, 2021

Two Emerson alumni—who graduated the college nearly 30 years apart—found themselves collaborating in Sony’s casting department to bring Fox’s reboot...

Two NBS members at the fall 2021 org fair.

Student organizations return to in-person gatherings

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
September 16, 2021

After 18 months of only using Zoom, student organizations are once again filling theaters, staging scenes for film sets, and collaborating with each other...

Anum Hussain, one of the founders of Below the Fold.

Emerson alum creates daily newsletter

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
September 9, 2021

In 2020, Anum Hussain ‘13 launched Below the Fold, a free daily newsletter determined to catch stories that fall in between the cracks of mainstream...

Art by Lucia Thorne

The 10 songs that got me through my first year at Emerson

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
May 24, 2021

One of my favorite ways to connect with people is through music. During my first year at Emerson, I discovered so many great new songs that are part of...

Three weed dealers––Jamie, Alex, and John––who spoke with The Beacon on the condition of anonymity, discussed their life as dealers on campus and how it impacts their customers.

Let’s Be Really Blunt: Student dealers on what it’s like being “The Plug”

By Campbell Parish and Karissa Schaefer
May 1, 2021

College students, often overwhelmed by the pressures of schoolwork, social life, and on-campus extracurricular commitments, not to mention jobs, have increasingly...

Police restrict the south campus gate at Boğaziçi University in Turkey.

Protesting for educational freedom, Free Literature is getting support from Emerson’s Professor Swanson

By Mariyam Quaisar and Karissa Schaefer
April 15, 2021

A group titled “Free Literature” (Serbest Yazın in Turkish), made up of students from Boğaziçi University in Turkey, have been protesting for educational...

8 ways to enjoy Boston’s spring season safe from COVID-19

8 ways to enjoy Boston’s spring season safe from COVID-19

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
April 5, 2021

Although spring in New England is typically a long, dreadful month with no break, the warm weather springing up in Boston over the past few weeks allowed...

Documentary subject of “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness,” Joe Exotic

Ten binge-worthy shows that got us through the pandemic

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 17, 2021

Since the COVID-19 lockdowns began about a year ago, we’ve been given a plethora of TV shows to binge on streaming platforms. Whether it was a show returning...

AMC Boston Common 19

Movie theaters are becoming a thing of the past, for better or for worse

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
March 9, 2021

With the COVID-19 pandemic came the closing of movie theaters everywhere. This changed the way people consume movies, going from sitting in front of the...

Britney Spears

New documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears’ released, reviving discussion of conservatorship

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 28, 2021

The New York Times’ “Framing Britney Spears” Hulu documentary was released on Feb. 5, of this year, yet Britney Spears has remained in a conservatorship...

Still from Disneys Raya and the Last Dragon

Ryn Soorholtz ’16 serves as production coordinator on Disney’s ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 23, 2021

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon” takes viewers on an epic journey through the eyes of lone warrior, Raya, as she tracks...

The Big Scary S Word post-screening virtual discussion and Q&A

‘The Big Scary ‘S’ Word’ documents American socialism at Bright Lights Emerson film series

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
February 7, 2021

A public school teacher and a former Marine turned to socialism due to their financial struggles in a documentary directed by Yael Bridge. The Big Scary...

Plastic Hearts: Why Miley Cyrus is the musical chameleon of Gen Z

“Plastic Hearts:” Why Miley Cyrus is the musical chameleon of Gen Z

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
January 31, 2021

Gen-Z follows Miley Cyrus through it all. From living a double life on screen as Hannah Montana to a Tiktok trend where fans do whatever Cyrus comments....

Video games are the modern form of storytelling

Video games are the modern form of storytelling

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
January 20, 2021

Video games have been around since the 1950s, bringing forth old-school classic computer games like “Tennis for Two” and “Spacewar.” Since then,...

A worker dispensing salt along the Washington and Boylston Street intersection.

11 ways to celebrate the holiday season COVID-free

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
December 22, 2020

Decorating, family time, movies, shopping, and holiday food are just a few hallmarks of the holiday season. But in a normal year, no one has to account...

Emerson Mystic celebrating Halloween 2019

Emerson Mystic hosts virtual event to celebrate Gaelic festival ‘Samhain’

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 31, 2020

This year, Emerson Mystic, an organization dedicated to anything “witchy,” offered a dorm-safe alternative to the traditional Samhain bonfires and...

Katie Lacadie, a senior writing literature and publishing major, was one of two students to have their manuscript selected by Undergraduate Students for Publishing. Her manuscript, along with senior Clarah Grossmans, will be published in December of this year.

Pub Club announces semesterly student manuscript winners

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 28, 2020

Come December, Emerson students will be able to read about a medieval woman who fights societal constraints in the name of friendship and a love story...

The Media Art Gallery opened an exhibition for the first time since Covid-19 forced the schools closure in March.

Emerson Contemporary debuts new blog, fall exhibit amid pandemic

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 14, 2020

Six months after the pandemic shuttered its operations, Emerson Contemporary, the college’s visual arts platform, is back with a new blog and in-person...

Members of Kappa Gamma Chi opted out of recruitment this semester.

Fraternity and Sorority Life navigate the semester under COVID-19 regulations

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
October 6, 2020

Fall is typically the peak semester for fraternity and sorority life on campus, who usually welcome a new member class through recruitment events. But...

Oujia boards were banned from the Charlesgate hotel in 1990 because of the psychological effect they had on students.

Getting ‘ghosted’ at Emerson? It’s more common than you think.

By Karissa Schaefer, Staff Writer, Living Arts
September 24, 2020

While working a lighting call on “Follies” in the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Greg Crafts ‘03 remembers being pushed to the edge of the top balcony...

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