IU unveils Lee Norvelle Center

IU Department of Theatre and Drama Chairman Jonathan Michaelsen has had two recurring dreams about the unveiling of the new west wing of the Lee Norvelle Theatre.

The first, he said, was that no one would show up, and the second was that there wouldn’t be enough seating in the intimate new theater space to hold all the guests.

As Michaelsen stood at the podium Thursday night and addressed the standing-room-only house, he knew the latter of his two dreams had come true.

The newly renovated wing, simply dubbed Theatre West, has been nine years in the making and was officially presented to patrons and the Bloomington community at Thursday night’s ceremony.

IU President Michael McRobbie also addressed the audience with warm regards and outlined his hopes for the new space. Due to funding difficulties following the completion of the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center in 2002, renovations were postponed until two years ago.

“We now have a building worthy of the dreams the students will bring to it,” McRobbie said. “This has truly been a remarkable transformation of a once inadequate space to one that will be useful to undergraduates and graduate students alike.”
Theatre West consists of a performance space that seats 60 people — a setting intimate enough that audience members will never be more than a few feet away from the performers.
Additionally, there are now multiple classrooms and small rehearsal rooms that will be accessible for all productions happening within the Department of Theatre and
Drama.   
Senior Kerry Ipema said she has been anxiously awaiting the opening of Theatre West for almost three years.

“I can’t even begin to express how excited I am to see the amazing independent productions that the students have to offer,” Ipema said. “So many students have had the passion, creativity and drive but no place to perform until now. This new space will be the home for great theater performed by the students for the students.”

Along with the unveiling of Theatre West, Michaelsen was also pleased to present the addition of Indiana Festival Theatre to the Department of Theatre and Drama’s arsenal.

The new theater will open its inaugural season June 23 with “The Music Man,” which will feature more than 70 students, giving them the opportunity to work with professionals in an out-of-the-classroom environment.

As Michaelsen closed the presentation, he addressed the students for which Theatre West came to be by simply stating, “let the art begin.”