Legacy celebrated diversely

For the second time in the new millennium, the Bloomington Playwrights Project will celebrate minority rights "across the board" with its annual Diversity Festival.\nThe BPP will use a day of theatre to also commemorate the works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The events take place Monday from noon until midnight at the BPP at 312 S. Washington Street.\nThe BPP held its first Diversity Festival in January of 2002 after a break of some years. The original festival was held in the early 1990s, but came to a brief hiatus with the departure of BPP's then-Artistic Director Richard Ford. \nFestival Director Breshaun B. Joyner planned the events, which include children's material, a reception with live performances of music from around the world, and mainstage events including dance, plays, and monologues. \n"The challenge was to find a really good festival director who is good for the community," said Candace Decker, Marketing Director for the BPP.\nThe planning began in October of 2002. Joyner says she was surprised to learn she would be undertaking the planning of a 12-hour event. Kilroy's Sports Bar is one of the largest donors of the event making the performances for the 2003 event free of charge to the public. The event cost almost $3,000 to plan and produce.\n"I think the Diversity Festival is an opportunity for many people to discover new art forms and styles," Decker said.\nJoyner has been a part of the Bloomington theatre community for over 13 years. Her experience includes work at the BPP, the John Waldron Arts Center, and the IU's T300 venue. Her most recent works include roles in "Life in the Faust Lane" and "Rapunzel" at the BPP and in JWAC's "Les Liaisons Dangereuses."\nThe Festival features events targeted at children, a reception, dance performances, live music, monologues and a play performance headlining the event. \nThe children's events include storytelling sessions, a puppet show, and short plays. Presenting international delicacies, the reception starts at 5:30 and runs until 7 p.m.\nThe Windfall Dancers will present a 'Diversity in Dance' show that includes modern dance pieces that express and promote diversity and tolerance.\nThe featured performance is 2001 Dorothy Silver Award-winning 'Visions of Right: Staged Reading' that was written by one-time Bloomington resident Marcia Cebulska. Following the reading's conclusion at 9:30 p.m., BPP features special guest Bloomington resident Hakan Toker in what Joyner calls a "musical feast with many surprises." \n"The Diversity Festival is an important event for the Bloomington community because it provides opportunities for audiences to see different artists and art forms that throughout the year don't always get the exposure it deserves," Decker said. "The event is free which allows those who can't afford to attend an artistic event to see quality and diverse work."\nBut while the Diversity Festival takes place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the festival also celebrates more than the Civil Rights Movement. \n"Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader for minority rights groups and helped set an example for other minority groups," said Derrick English, an 18-year-old IU freshman, who volunteers at IU's Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Student Support Services. "He was a voice for the black community. Civil rights and women's rights led to the birth of gay rights too"