IU graduates set up troupe

Bloomington Music Works is a local community theatrical troupe comprised of local artists and IU students. The troupe, which is currently in its fifth season, specializes in musical theater and produces three to four shows every year. Most of the shows are performed in the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. \nBrian Samarzea, a graduate of IU's School of Music and BMW's artistic director, founded the company along with other graduates of the School of Music after a theater group with which he was affiliated fizzled out.\n"We decided that we would start our own company and we thought that we could do just as good a job as this existing troupe and be a little more organized," Samarzea said. "(We) were done with school but had been living in town and wanted something to do to still use our musical abilities … and there wasn't anything available to us, so we started our own."\nThe troupe holds open auditions for each production and individuals from the Bloomington community as well as from IU participate. Junior Dan O'Neill became involved with BMW four years ago after seeing the company's production of Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music." \n"I could see that this was a high caliber theater company and was eager to get involved," O'Neill said. "The director then told me about auditions for 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' and I signed up." \nO'Neill has been active in BMW ever since and is currently working on his seventh production with the group. He is not a music major at IU, (he is a biology major), but he still enjoys musical theater; the art form proves to be a good contrast to his intense studies.\n"Doing theater keeps me balanced, enabling me to do something different and use the other side of my brain when all the science gets a little dry," he said.\nO'Neill not only participates in the acting end of BMW, but also gets involved with the technical aspects of theater. \n"With BMW as with any group, you need to come in with an open mind ready to offer your services where they are needed," he said. "You learn more that way anyway."\nPeople of all ages are needed to volunteer in every area of BMW, said Linda Dausend, volunteer coordinator for the company. Helping with set construction, marketing, administration, ushering and locating props are alternatives for those who wish to be involved in the theater group but are less comfortable with performing. Dausend said volunteers receive two free tickets to each production that they assist. \nSamarzea said high quality of the BMW productions does not diminish the need for new talent. \n"It's always a surprise to hear people come in and audition that may not be School of Music-trained or are just kind of your local Joe … and they come in and they sound amazingly wonderful," he said.\nSamarzea said BMW has a place for all people interested in theater, whether they are budding Broadway stars or are more comfortable behind the scenes. The troupe will perform Rodgers and Hammer-stein's "Cinderella" at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, and on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.\nOnce people become involved in BMW productions, they are often reluctant to leave, Samarzea said. O'Neill agreed.\n"I have met so many talented people, and gained so much confidence and experience from BMW," O'Neill said, "that I've continually returned to learn as much as I can and grow as a performer." \nThe next production in need of volunteers will be "The Wiz," which is due to open in February, Dausend said. Those interested in assisting with the non-performance side of BMW can contact Dausend at ldausend@hotmail.com. Other information, including audition information, membership information, and performance dates and times is available on the BMW Web site, www.bloomingtonmusicworks.org.