New auditorium director ready for role

When Doug Booher volunteered as an usher at the IU Auditorium during is college years at IU he never imagined that auditorium would play such a large role in his life. Now after seven years of service, he has been named the director of the auditorium. \n"It is very exciting to get the chance to work in such a great community and at a place where I strongly believe in the value of what we do," Booher said.\nThroughout his time at the auditorium, he has served as a student usher, the supervisor of the usher corps and full-time house manager. Winston Shindell, the executive director of the Indiana Memorial Union and the IU Auditorium believes Booher's experience is a very valuable asset. \n"Well I think we are very fortunate from the stand point that his whole life has revolved around the IU Auditorium," Shindell said. "He has seen all facets of the auditorium and IU, and he is highly respected and liked. He is also very capable. He has been a part of fashioning a vision we have for (the auditorium). \n"It is always nice to be in a position to reward someone for their service and promote from within. Doug was certainly deserving of that opportunity."\nWhen he began as an usher, auditorium long time co-worker and Box Office Coordinator Joal Jacobus never imagined Booher would have such a long career at IU. He didn't think Booher would stay with the auditorium.\n"We have hundreds of people who go through this auditorium every year, and the general operating scheme is that people tend to graduate and leave. Well, except for me, I have been here forever. It is a very transient job environment," Jacobus said.\nIn addition to his responsibilities of working with the professional, hourly and 400-member volunteer staff, planing the seasons and budgeting and finalizing performances, Booher is also looking forward to building stronger ties with the arts organizations on the IU campus and in the Bloomington community.\n"He has a great understanding of the Bloomington community and the IU Auditorium, so I think he is the perfect person to expand our partnerships with other arts organizations like the School of Music," Shindell said. "He is also going to work with the Union Board Concert Comity. It is something that he is enthusiastic about and enjoys doing and the energy shows."\nBooher is working directly with the School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Drama to program events that will meet the educational needs of their students. \n"We hope to broaden this effort by encouraging partnerships with other academic units on campus and arts groups in the community," Booher said. "These partnerships will include opportunities for young people to interact and learn from their experiences of seeing the professional artists we bring to Bloomington."\nAlthough the Auditorium does not work with local acts, Booher believes the Auditorium still plays an important role in the local arts community.\n"We are one of the few organizations who bring national professional events to Bloomington, so I believe that distinguishes us from some other arts groups," he said. "However, our staff is committed to helping these other groups grow and prosper. Many of our staff members serve as volunteers, board members and informal consultants for campus and community arts groups." \nBooher believes that variety and listening to the community are the keys to making the IU Auditorium a viable resource for both the campus and the community.\n"I listen to everything from Blues to classical, and enjoy Cirque du Soleil as much as much as a Broadway show or opera," he said. "I believe that our community has the same kind of tastes, so we spend time and resources asking the students and community members what kind of events they would like to see at the Auditorium." \nEach Fall the auditorium conducts a survey on its Entertainment Network e-mail list that allows recipients to vote for the shows they would like to see the following season. Anyone can join the list at http://iuauditorium.com. IU students who want to volunteer at the Auditorium can sign up to be a member during the first week of classes in the fall at the Auditorium from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or they can e-mail housemgr@indiana.edu.