The Monthly

April 2019

In this edition of The Monthly:
Comedian and NU alum Jen Spyra talks writing for Colbert and finding her voice in a male-dominated industry.

Further reads:
Northwestern student production “Better Days” is premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. A student follows in his mother’s footsteps and finds his comedic voice. The arts and entertainment editor delves into The Daily’s current obsession — “Survivor.” The assistant photo editor reviews Jordan Peele’s new film “Us” for the “Reel Thoughts” section, and a Daily staffer discovers the North Shore’s hidden gem restaurant in a bowling alley.

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Editor’s Letter: Reflecting on The Monthly’s legacy, two years in
The magazine’s editor reflects on two years of The Daily Northwestern's monthly magazine. Though The Monthly has blossomed from an abstract concept to a reality, there is still room for growth and increased representation, she said.
Northwestern alum and comedian Jen Spyra on standing out among the laughs
Through work on publications like The New Yorker, The New York Times, McSweeney’s and most notably, The Onion — where she served as a senior writer for almost three years — Jen Spyra has used her voice to fill gaps in the industry. And after hearing that Stephen Colbert (Communication ‘86) would be taking over the Late Show, Spyra knew that’s where she wanted to be.
Northwestern web series on day of awkward encounters to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival
"Better Days" focuses on Armaan, a “Muslim-American twenty-something” played by Nabeel Muscatwalla, who navigates a string of awkward encounters over the course of a truly terrible day. The series was recently selected to be screened at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival as a part of Tribeca N.O.W., a program which aims to highlight new online work.
Northwestern’s Charlie Hall guest stars on Veep and delves into the world of comedy
The forward on the Northwestern men’s basketball team the took on a very different role this summer when he guest starred on an episode of his mother’s political satire show, “Veep.” The episode, which premiered April 7, features Hall as an over-exuberant fan of an influential political donor.
A Q&A with NU alum and former Survivor contestant Hannah Shapiro
Famed reality television show “Survivor” has been a part of Hannah Shapiro’s (Communication ’14) life for a long time. At 24 years old, Shapiro tied for second place in the show’s 33rd season — a ten year dream coming full-circle.
Choreographers connect dance and history for the 2019 Waa-Mu Show
In a Monthly video feature, follow the choreographers of the 2019 Waa-Mu Show “For the Record” as they create original dance numbers about the history of overlooked women.
Open Tab: The North Shore’s hidden gem restaurant might just be a bowling alley
Recently, reporter Ally Mauch went to Classic Bowl with a few friends, thinking they would order a couple drinks at the bar, bowl (terribly) and maybe grab a bite to eat at what seemed like a mediocre fast food restaurant. What they got — Boba Burger — turned out to be much, much better than mediocre.
Reel Thoughts: ‘Us’ seeks to scare and intrigue – and succeeds at both
While “Us” is first and foremost a horror movie, it is a thought-provoking one, filled with complex questions and nods to its predecessors. And while it’s primarily a horror film, you need not be a fan of the genre to enjoy it — director Jordan Peele lets the film stand on its own, writes reporter Owen Stidman.
The Monthly is an arts and entertainment magazine that delves into student art on campus and the work of alumni in Chicago and across the country. Read the issue in full here.