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(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Helen Sarah Walker will be honored March 30 in a musical tribute by her friends and peers, the University Players. Walker, who had just completed her junior year at IU, was killed in an automobile accident last May. \n"Closer Than Ever," a compilation of Broadway songs celebrating Walker's life, will be performed at the Willkie Auditorium at 8 p.m. Juniors Ann Aurbach and Gilana Alpert coordinated the program to celebrate Walker and the joy she brought to their lives.\n"It started out as a tribute about her, but it has become a tribute to her," Alpert said. "We don't want it to be another upsetting thing -- it's a celebration of her life. We want to bring to others the joy she brought to us."\nAurbach believes it's important to remember what an integral part of the community Walker was. \n"We're doing this because we care so much for her," she said. "Even if you didn't know her, you'll be able to feel her warmth." \nThe program begins with a group performance of the title song, "Closer than Ever," includes one duet and several solos, and ends with a group performance of "Season of Love."\n"One thing we said was to try to find upbeat songs," Alpert said. "We didn't want this to be ballad after crying ballad. There are some songs that are really going to rip at the heartstrings, but there are some that are lighter."\nGeorge Pinney, faculty member from the Department of Theatre & Drama, will also speak at the program. He and Walker worked together on several musicals. \nMembers of the cast and crew belong to the University Players, of which Walker was a board member for more than two years.\n"Our mission is to provide theatrical opportunities specifically to undergraduates," said senior Sara Bancroft, University Players Managing Director. "We put together a season of about three shows a year. We decided this was one of the things we wanted to do this season. We wanted to hold a celebration for her, and we wanted to benefit the (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) chapter locally."\nThe public is welcomed and encouraged to attend. \n"We want as many people to experience this as possible, so we're not going to charge a fee," Alpert said.\nThough admission is free, Alpert said donations to the Bloomington chapter of MADD would be appreciated.\n"The main thing we want to emphasize is that this event, although it is named for Helen, is also commemorating other victims of drunk driving as well," said junior Blake Wilson, University Players Artistic Director. "The money is going straight to MADD." \nAurbach said the University Players appreciate the chance to give back to the community. \n"This is something that we like to do, and we finally have a purpose for it," she said. "We just want to open the eyes of the community here and we hope to give back to the community. We want to make it a safe community for all of us."\nAlpert said she hopes attendees will take away a little more personal responsibility for themselves and the situations they find themselves in.\n"It only takes one person on one night making a bad decision," she said, "and you can lose someone who you love"
(04/26/02 4:15am)
Most of Bloomington has probably heard of Straight No Chaser, but many may not have seen the group perform. Those not familiar with the group's work will get their chance Saturday at the IU Auditorium, where SNC will perform its spring CD release concert at 8 p.m.\nThe new CD, "Thank You," can be purchased at the IU Auditorium after the concert Saturday, as well as from TIS Music, Borders, Karma, the IU Alumni Center gift shop and soon via SNC's Web site, www.sncproductions.com.\nThere's something different about SNC that sets it apart from typical oompa pa-ing barbershop quartets. For example, the group's sound is distinctly different. It may be because its large numbers -- nine in all -- allow the group to perform more advanced harmonies.\n"A lot of times, we have songs that call for more than four parts," junior member Pat Schuette said.\nAnd while SNC consists of nine members, only six major in voice.\n"We have guys majoring in vocal performance, telecommunications, business, theater, computer science and a couple others," junior member Ryan Ahlwardt said. "People are often surprised to find out we're not all music majors."\nThe audition process all potential members endure is extensive. Ahlwardt said the process involves several steps.\n"There are two days of initial auditions where prospective members sing any type of song they want for us," Ahlwardt said. "We test their range a bit, as well as their pitch-matching skills. If they make callbacks, there is an interview each guy goes through."\nWith the popularity of the group, Ahlwardt said there is always a big turnout for auditions.\n"This past January we had approximately 30 guys show up, but we've had 50 to 60 in years past," he said.\nSNC only takes a few new members each year, leading to fierce competition for the few available spots.\n"Usually, we take between zero and five, depending on voice parts we need and the talent that auditions," junior member James Neff said.\nNeff remembers his own audition well. \n"It was long," he said. "Callbacks were all day learning SNC songs and trying to blend and perform with the group."\nBut for those who make it, that effort is rewarded right away.\n"I found out I had made the group around 6 p.m. that day, and then there was a huge new member party for us," sophomore member Jermaine Miles said. "It was great."\nMiles was motivated to audition by his love of performing. He said he thought joining Straight No Chaser would be the perfect way for him to gain performing experience.\n"I've been performing since I was very young, and it's what I want to do with my life," he said. "We are able to perform at least once a week, which is something you normally don't get. It's really great for us to be able to do that a lot. I need as much experience as I can get."\nSNC isn't picky when it comes to taking performance offers. The members said they are willing to perform almost anywhere at almost anytime.\n"We've sung for any type of show you can think of," Ahlwardt said. "There's really nothing we won't sing for."\nThat ranges from church events to sorority dinners to basketball games -- a wide variety of gigs and a lot of exposure both locally and around the country.\n"Since we're sponsored by the IU Alumni Association, we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to perform for IU alumni clubs all over the country," Ahlwardt said.\nWith their extensive performance schedule, the members of Straight No Chaser have many opportunities to travel and experience different places. Miles lists traveling as one of his favorite aspects of SNC.\n"We usually manage to have a good time wherever we are," he said.\nSchuette appreciates the opportunity to meet SNC supporters from all over the state.\n"It's nice, because we get to meet a large group of fans -- whether from this area or from around the state," he said.\nThis Saturday SNC will perform 23 to 25 songs, including crowd favorites such as "Africa," "Insomniac" and "Return to Pooh Corner," as well as a few recent additions.\n"We're throwing in some surprises -- recent repertoire with some R&B and pop influences that we hope will appeal to our college-aged fans," Ahlwardt said.\nSome of these pieces are included on SNC's newest album, which will be released at the concert Saturday.\n"The new CD is entitled "Thank You" and serves to show our fans how much we've appreciated their support over the five years that SNC has been at IU," Ahlwardt said. "We have many different genres of music on it, including pop, funk, rock, R&B and alternative. I'm really excited to receive our fans' responses to the album."\nSenior member Michael Seidenstein said he also thinks highly of the CD, which has taken more than 100 hours to record.\n"I feel like it is a CD that you can listen to all the way through and not find a bad track on it," he said.\nWith the season coming to a close, SNC members reflect on what being a part of the group has contributed to their time spent at IU.\n"When I tried out, I didn't know much about the group," Schuette said. "But it really ended up changing my college career around. I just know that college would have been a lot different for me without it."\nAhlwardt said SNC has made an impression on his college career, too.\n"SNC has definitely made my college experience," he said. "The memories and friendships I have made will last a lifetime"
(04/23/02 5:13am)
Cultures come together today to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month through the opening of a batik exhibit, "A Glimpse of Africa," by Filipino American, Valerie Jelski. The exhibit, sponsored by the Asian Culture Center and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, opens at noon in the Bridgewater Lounge of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and runs through April 29.\n"A Glimpse of Africa" will showcase 10 to 12 batik wall hangings done in the traditional African style. Jelski\'s family spent one year in Uganda after her husband won a Fulbright Scholarship. During their stay, she became interested in displays of batik textile work exhibited in a local café. Jelski's designs follow natural themes based on her experiences in Africa. \n"Attracted to earth colors and natural subjects, her patterns and designs are derived from Ugandan history and wildlife," said Melanie Castillo-Cullather, director of the Asian Culture Center. \nBatik is a method of applying colored design onto textiles by waxing those parts that are not to be dyed. Jelski uses cassava flour in place of wax as is traditionally done in Uganda. Though Jelski follows African methods, she said batik originated in Indonesia. The word "batik" is derived from the Indonesian word "tik" which means "a drop" -- referring to drops of wax. \nJelski said the unpredictability of the process makes batiking truly original.\n"Although I lay out my design on the material, I don't really know how it will come out after applying the resist," Jelski said. "There are surprises and that's the fun of it. If I make mistakes during the process, I just have to go and work around it. Mistakes that are made actually add beauty to the pieces." \nCastillo-Cullather said she chose to invite Jelski because one of the objectives of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is to honor the accomplishments and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans. \n"But it is important to note that Ms. Jelski's exhibit is co-sponsored by the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center," she said. "The exhibit will show how much Ms. Jelski appreciates African cultures."\nJelski said she is often asked why she chooses to do African designs instead of Filipino designs. \n"I do African designs to show my gratitude because that's where I learned batik," Jelski said. "I really learned a lot about the African culture. I learned about the people and how they lived, and I loved the natural beauty. I think I can pass some of that on to students."\nIn addition to a glimpse of Africa, the exhibit offers students the opportunity to learn about an art that dates back 2000 years. \n"Mine is a really special kind of art," Jelski said.\nElizabeth Art, president of Terre Haute's Wabash Valley Art Guild, said she values the originality of Jelski's art. \n"We're happy to have her as a member because of her unique background and because the type of work that she does is not mainstream," Art said.\nThe guild named Jelski "Artist of the Month" this past March. Jelski resides in Terre Haute. \nIn addition to the uniqueness of her medium, Jelski's work is unusually innocent and sensitive. \n"Her work is sort of naïve and childlike, yet she draws very well," Art said. "She has good taste in the combinations of colors and shapes she uses. She's very intuitive." \nJelski said she appreciates the chance to bring her pieces to such a large campus. \n"I'm grateful and thankful for the invitation of the Asian Culture Center and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center," Jelski said. "I'm honored to be invited"
(04/12/02 5:19am)
"Parade" isn't your average song-and-dance musical. The spontaneous bursts of song that characterized musicals of the past have been tossed out, and a new era of musically driven drama has taken center stage.\n"Musical theater that's been written in the last 80 years has been a lot of song and dance and boy-meets-girl," said senior John Armstrong, who plays Leo Frank in "Parade." "In the last 20 years or so, they have come to be written for the actor. You can't just sing and smile anymore -- you have to rely on the acting."\nBased on the novel written by Alfred Uhry, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning "Driving Miss Daisy" and Tony Award-winning "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," "Parade" is about the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man wrongly accused of murder in Atlanta in 1913. The musical deals with the trial that ensued and the unexpected love story that developed between Leo and his wife through their struggle to clear his name. "Parade" subtly examines class and race relations, mob mentality and prejudice in the South at the turn of the century.\nIn addition to a strong script based on Uhry's novel, the drama is accompanied by an award-winning score by composer Jason Robert Brown.\n"It's a new musical, so some of the songs may not be familiar," director George Pinney said. "What's important is that it won the Tony Award for best book and best score."\nPinney said he believes audiences can relate to the themes of the musical.\n"I think what draws me to the show is that the topic is so relevant to these times," he said. "What the whole production focuses on is the cycle of violence, prejudice and hate and the inability of that cycle to be broken."\nThe show's serious message has impacted the actors on more than one level. Graduate student Coryell Barlow, who plays Mrs. Phagan, said it has made her think twice about judging others from first impressions.\n"The message really opens your eyes," she said. "We can have such notions about people, and yet we can be devastatingly wrong."\nArmstrong said he appreciates that the characters are more serious than most in typical musical theater.\n"This show gives you the opportunity to take on a more complex character and to do some serious acting," he said. "This is my last semester, and one thing I needed to learn before I left college was how to take on a character like this."\nThe production will be accompanied by a 17-piece orchestra. Armstrong said he believes the music is an integral part of "Parade."\n"The music supports the plot, and the dialogue supports the music," Armstrong said. "In a musical like this, the music drives the action. It is as essential to the plot as are the characters and the dialogue."\nThe Department of Theater and Drama's production of "Parade" will mark the premier of this show in Indiana. "Parade" opens Friday at 8 p.m. and continues April 13 and April 15-20 at the Ruth N. Halls Theatre.\n"Being in the new theater, the stenography of lights, sets and costumes is really melding together in a wonderful way," Pinney said.\nPinney said he is confident the cast and the script will impress audiences.\n"It is guaranteed to engage an audience member," he said. "The cast is quite fantastic, and this truly is a very passionate, moving musical"
(03/22/02 4:44am)
For more than a century, Carnegie Hall has been hailed as one of the world's finest concert halls. An appearance at Carnegie Hall has become synonymous with success. Internationally renowned performers and speakers such as Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill have graced its stages, and March 23, the IU Children's Chamber Choir will join the ranks.\nBecause of their exceptional performance at the National Kodály Convention in Williamsburg, Va., last year, the Chamber singers have been invited to Carnegie Hall to participate in a choral festival as a featured ensemble. The National Choral Festival brings together eight children's choirs from across the nation to perform a mass concert under the direction of the distinguished Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. In addition to performing works with the mass choir, the Chamber singers are to be featured and will perform several of their own pieces, including works by Mendelssohn, Debussy and others.\nThe Chamber Choir is a 35-member ensemble of children ages 11 to 16. As well as performing its own concerts, the choir regularly participates in University productions in which children's voices are needed. It performed in the opera "Hansel and Gretel" this fall and participated in the production of "Carmina Burana" last year. \nKevin Skelton, a graduate student in the School of Music, serves as interim director this year.\n"I love having fun, and I like being able to make a difference," Skelton said of his position with the Chamber Choir. "They really trust what I tell them, and they really try."\nJulie Copland has been a part of the IU Children's Choirs for three years. Her mother, Thea Bransby, said Copland appreciates being part of an ensemble.\n"She loves the experience of singing with all the others around her. She likes the repertoire," Bransby said.\nSanchita Dutt's daughter, Anischi, joined the IU Children's Choirs when the Dutts moved to Bloomington from India. Sanchita Dutt said her daughter joined because she grew up with a culture of song and music.\n"We love music -- that's the main thing," she said. "Music is something which doesn't need any language."\nKatie Avers, a six-year member in the IU Children's Choirs, said she enjoys the group's camaraderie.\n"We get to travel, and we have a lot of fun together," she said.\nDuring their stay in New York, the singers will attend the Broadway show "Aida," visit the Hayden Planetarium and tour attractions including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Empire State Building. Anna Hallagan, a three-year member of the choirs, said she looks forward to working with the other ensembles.\n"I'm looking forward to meeting new people and having tons of fun," Hallagan said. \nThe Chamber Choir's next local performance will be April 21 at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. Donations are always welcome, said Ruth Boshkoff, director of the IU Children's Choirs. \n"The Chamber Choir is completely self-sufficient, even though it is associated with the University," Boshkoff said. \nDonation information, as well as downloadable performances by the choirs, are available at the following Web site: www.indiana.edu/~iucchoir/.