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(03/25/11 3:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Aside from a botched incident with a shotgun, the luck of the Irish certainly has been on Randy White’s side while directing the Cardinal Stage Company’s production of Irish playwright Martin McDonagh’s “The Lonesome West.”One of the first times using props during rehearsal, a gun loaded with blanks backfired and started a small fire on stage. Thankfully, no one was injured and nothing was damaged. White said the incident was the funniest memory of working on this production. “There are a lot of special effects used in this show,” White said. “That has definitely been the most challenging part to master.” “The Lonesome West” opens 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ivy Tech Waldron Center’s Rose Firebay Theatre and will run through April 10. Tickets are available at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office or at www.cardinalstage.org.The production centers on two Irish brothers whose father just died in a shotgun accident. The brothers are driven by greed, can’t seem to agree on anything and are at constant odds throughout the play. Only the local priest is willing to help reconcile the pair, but his drinking problem only fuels the fire and adds to the hilarity. “This is one of the most laugh-out-loud scripts I have read in quite some time,” White said. “McDonagh has an uncanny storytelling ability that makes his characters both relatable and outrageously funny.”White said the stage company’s choice to return to the Rose Firebay Theatre after a three-year absence was an easy one. “Both the architecture and intimate setting of this venue made it appealing for this show,” White said. “We have managed to essentially create a total environment which allows the audience to be more deeply involved.”
(03/11/11 4:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Campbell’s soup cans have invaded the IU Art Museum. Delicately placed in the lobby with red daisies on top, the cans welcomed patrons to the first of three Warhol Happenings. Artist Andy Warhol is famously known for this Pop art paintings of classic pop culture icons, such as Marilyn Monroe and the Coca-Cola bottle. The events are designed in conjunction with the museum’s spring guest exhibition, “Shot by Warhol.”Thursday’s affair was designed to center around music and featured local band, Tammar. Frontman Dave Walter said he hopped on the opportunity to perform at the IU Art museum because he used to work there.“I used to sing during my midnight shift,” Walter said. “The acoustics are fantastic in here.”Walter also said Tammar’s choice to cover Velvet Underground songs during its first set seemed only fitting because Warhol used to manage the band. As Tammar began to play, Velvet Underground’s lyrics were projected behind the stage in the Thomas A. Solley Atrium. Walter sang the lyrics that were also jotted down in his journal, which he held.While listening to the concert, audience members had the opportunity to tour the gallery. The IU Art Museum gallery features more than 150 of Warhol’s original photographs. Special event coordinator Madeline Bornstein said the laid-back atmosphere of the exhibit is the most interesting part.“The exhibit is set up to look like The Factory. It’s really casual and fun,” Bornstein said. Warhol’s original Factory was located in Manhattan and was the hangout for artsy types during the 1960s. Many of Thursday’s patrons were out to support Tammar and view the exhibit. However IU alumna Lea Woodward said it was the familiarity of Warhol’s name that ultimately drew her to the event.“I don’t really come to the art museum that often, but I think everyone has at least heard of Andy Warhol,” Woodward said. “And the fact that his work is being displayed so close to home was more than enough reason to check it out.”The next two Thursdays will feature different events at the museum. Both will be based on Warhol’s exhibit. A screening of “I Shot Andy Warhol” will be shown March 24 as part of the movie night. March 31 will be in the theme of Warhol’s famed Factory parties. Both events are free.Guests will also be offered special tours of the exhibition.
(03/10/11 2:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Universal Pictures’ and Eventful’s “Demand it!” is giving colleges the opportunity to vote for their school to be hosts to the world premiere of “Your Highness” on April 8. “We’re excited to be working with Universal Pictures to give college students the power to bring ‘Your Highness’ and its star-studded cast to their school,” CEO of Eventful Jordan Glazier said. From director David Gordon Green, “Your Highness” stars James Franco and Danny McBride play two princes on a quest to rescue the fiancée of the heir to the throne before their kingdom is destroyed. This is the second pairing for Green and Franco, who worked together on “Pineapple Express” in 2008. “When Danny and I decided to make this movie, we wanted a rowdy and outrageous movie like the films we watched in college together,” Green said. “In the spirit of our inspiration, it was important to premiere this movie not with the typical Hollywood crowd but at the perfect college with a crowd that would dig it the most.” IU is currently ranked 34th in the race, with the University of Illinois in first place and Ohio State in 10th. Universal Pictures campus representative Lisa Wagner is enthusiastic about getting fellow students online to vote. “IU came in fifth last year and won an advanced screening of ‘Get Him to the Greek.’ I would love to see an even bigger voter turnout for this year,” Wagner said. In addition to being host to the world premiere, the winning school will also have an exclusive after-party that McBride, Franco and Green will attend. “If our school wins, the Universal Pictures campus reps will make sure the maximum amount of students possible will be in attendance,” Wagner said. Students can cast their vote by going to www.eventful.com/yourhighness.Once there, they can look up their school and click“Demand it!”. You may cast your vote multiple times by using different e-mail addresses.
(03/02/11 4:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>GLOWfest is back and brighter than ever.Scheduled for Thursday, April 14, the festival-style concert will feature a total of six acts, with electronic band Pretty Lights as the headliner. “This is going to be an event different than any other concert IU has held before,” GLOWfest co-founder Deuce Thevenow said. “A staff of over 50 student interns has been working around the clock to make sure of that.”Mitchell Schoeneman is one of those dedicated students who promises GLOWfest will stay true to its name. “Our goal is to light up all of Bloomington,” Schoeneman said. “This concert is going to be the best and brightest party of the year.”GLOWfest will be at the Bell Tower Field, which will be fitted with a 72-foot stage. Festival admission tickets will go on pre-sale Friday for $25 and will increase to $30 beginning 10 p.m. Sunday.At the beginning of the year, Thevenow said he sent out a number of surveys to gain student feedback on who they would like to see at GLOWfest. With a mentality of “for the students, by the students,” Thevenow said he hopes to showcase artists of various genres.“We live in an electronic world that has allowed us to expand our musical tastes over a wide range,” Thevenow said. “It is time for our concerts to reflect that.” Philanthropy has also been brought to the forefront of GLOWfest this year. Zeta Tau Alpha sorority will be co-hosts of the event, and $2 from each ticket sold will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer.“This is going to be a quality show from every angle,” Thevenow said. “Our aim is to have a clean event that will be both affordable and fan-friendly.” As for the five additional acts, GLOWfest organizers will continue to make announcements on official Facebook and Twitter pages. All performers will be announced by Friday.
(02/28/11 4:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington native Travis Jacobs wasn’t introduced to singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams through a friend or an album review.“I didn’t fall in love with Lucinda until I started driving trucks,” Jacobs said from the lobby of the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. “She was all over my SIRIUS satellite radio.”Jacobs was at the Buskirk at 9 p.m. Friday to see Williams as she made a stop in Bloomington on her tour to promote her latest album, “Blessed.”Born and bred in Louisiana, Williams began playing guitar at age 12. She has produced 11 studio albums and has won three Grammys.“Her songwriting is so soulful and original,” Jacobs said. “The amount of heart in her lyrics is so unlike anything else on the radio.”As the audience of the sold-out show settled into the seats, some members talked in quiet confusion as to why there was only one acoustic guitar and an amp on the stage instead of a full band. While Williams is known to have the ability to produce both soothing folk melodies and loud rock ’n’ roll tunes, patrons quickly learned that they were in for a much slower-paced show. “I have never had much luck cutting my songs in Nashville,” Williams said during her set. “Most of the time record companies thought my lyrics were too vulgar.”Opening the set with some of her saddest tunes and accompanying herself on the guitar, Williams set the tone for an evening that would be both emotional and intimate.“This room has a great sound,” Williams said after the first few numbers. This remark was met with cheers and clapping from the audience, most of whom were longtime patrons of the theater. As the night went on, Williams continued to play many of her heartfelt songs but also found space to cover more well-known country tunes. By the time she played Blind Willie Johnson’s “Motherless Children,” many audience members were humming along. Until the encore, Williams was unaccompanied on stage; each song she played offered a different story for her to tell.This type of mellow, intimate evening was just what audience member Jim Bradley said he wanted to have.“I was just looking for a nice evening out with friends to hear some good music, and that’s exactly what I got,” Bradley said.
(02/25/11 1:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams is bringing a taste of folk and country to Bloomington. She is set to perform to a sold-out crowd Friday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. “Williams sets out to offer fans a guided tour of life’s dark clouds while honing in on the silver lining,” according to a press release for the upcoming performance. Williams’ set list will highlight her latest album, “Blessed,” set to be released March 1. This will mark the 11th studio album for the artist.“I feel like this album as a whole is positive but not my so-called ‘happy’ album,” Williams said. “My personal life isn’t the only focus — there are a lot of songs about a lot of different things.” Before Bloomington fans of Lucinda attend Friday’s show, here are some things you may not know about her.Williams is the eldest of three children and is the daughter of award-winning poet Miller Williams.Though she never learned to read music, Williams began writing songs at age 12 on a borrowed guitar. In 2002, Williams was named America’s best songwriter by Time magazine.Williams recorded a version of Glen Campbell’s “Gentle on My Mind” to be played during the credits of the Will Farrell film “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.”During a show in Minneapolis on Sept. 18, 2009, Williams married her manager and then-fiance Tom Overby in front of her fans onstage before the encore. Williams once said in an interview that she writes all of her songs at her kitchen table. For a time in 2010, Williams’ website featured a link to a petition to grant amnesty to death row inmate David Lee Powell. Powell was tried two times and was given the death penalty for murdering a Texas police officer in 1978. Williams argued that it was cruel and unusual punishment to serve a life sentence and then be executed.Williams is a frequent collaborator with Elvis Costello. Their track “Jailhouse Tears” was named the fifth best rock/country duet of all time by www.pastemagazine.com in 2008.After a recent concert in Catalyst, Santa Cruz, the city’s mayor announced that Sept. 6 would be a city-wide holiday titled “Lucinda Williams Day.”Williams has been nominated for a total of eight Grammys, including Best Female Rock, Country and Pop Vocal Performance. She has won three.
(02/23/11 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Charles Gounod’s “Faust” has undergone a makeover at the hands of stage director Tomer Zvulun and his cast. The opera, which first debuted in Paris in 1859, was originally set in 16th century Germany — something Zvulun decided to amend. “We decided to rework the concept of Faust’s journey from scratch,” Zvulun said. “Instead of the time period in which Gounod intended, we open the opera in present day.”As the original story progresses, Faust makes a deal with the devil to become a young man again but stay in his present day. This is another place where Zvulun’s direction differs. “Instead of keeping Faust in the same time period, we took him back to his original youth in the 1930s,” Zvulun said. “Faust” is set to open at 8 p.m. Friday at the Musical Arts Center. There will be additional performances Saturday and March 4 and 5. Retooling the show to fit the form of a flashback was no small feat, Zvulun said, but it was rewarding nonetheless. “Our production crew dealt with a lot of technical media that isn’t usually handled in the opera,” Zvulun said. “The show itself is also equally challenging for students to perform; the music is very challenging.”While opera may be the most challenging form of vocal performance, master’s student Rebecca Nathanson said she was ready to rise to the occasion of taking on the role of Faust’s lover, Marguerite.“Opera is like the musical Olympics,” Nathanson said. “The whole cast is trained and prepared to sing with our whole bodies. If a singer is able to perform in this way, opera is the most fulfilling and enriching form of vocal performance one can do.”The production of “Faust” is double-casted to ensure all students had the opportunity to gain experience within the opera. Both IU student Andrew Lunsford and IU doctoral student Jonathan Matthews will have the opportunity to appear as Faust in the upcoming performances.“Double casting is beneficial in student productions to further the experiences of the actors, but it also gives us the chance to see how another performer would act out the same role,” Matthews said. “It gives us a very well-rounded perspective.”The chance to collaborate with other aspiring opera stars is something Lunsford said he is equally grateful for.“I have come a long way from my first voice lesson three years ago,” Lunsford said. “I actually didn’t have an opinion of opera before that.”Lunsford previously owned a company that has since gone out of business. After losing his job and a chance encounter with an opera CD, he said he found his talent for singing. “Once I realized that I could sing loud and high, and that was a rarity, I decided to come to IU and pursue my performer diploma,” Lunsford said.Lunsford said everyone has been extremely receptive of his decision to become an opera singer, and the support of the cast of “Faust” has been remarkable. Second year doctoral student Heather Youngquist, who will also be appearing as Marguerite, agreed that this particular cast of “Faust” has been lucky to develop a sense of community. “Tomer has been very receptive to all of the actors as far as our vision for our characters,” Youngquist said. “This production really has been a special collaborative process.”
(02/21/11 2:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Tony Award-winning musical “Spring Awakening” is being performed at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the IU Auditorium as part of the 2010-2011 season. The musical, which first opened on Broadway in 2006, has received critical acclaim for its folk-rock score and mastery of conveying adult situations in a tasteful and relatable light. Auditorium Director Doug Booher said there was no hesitation when it came to booking the show. “With appropriate descriptions of the show and providing information to our audience about its mature content, we like to ensure that we are very open about the programs we present,” Booher said. “Spring Awakening” centers on the lives of teenagers in late 19th century Germany, namely those of Melchior Gabor and his love interest, Wendla Bergmann. The show opens with Wendla asking her mother to tell her where babies come from — a question her mother brushes off entirely. Meanwhile, Melchior has read many books on the subject and is trying to educate his fellow classmates about the mysteries of the female anatomy and the act of sex.While “Spring Awakening” only ran on Broadway for two years, totaling 859 performances, both national and European tours have since been formed.Booher, who had the privilege of seeing “Spring Awakening” in New York City a few years ago, said he was pleased to offer tickets for students at an affordable rate. “When I saw the show on Broadway, tickets were over $100, so I am very excited to have the opportunity to offer balcony seats to students for under $20,” Booher said.Student ticket prices range from $20-41 with valid ID, and prices for the general public are $38-60. Tickets can be purchased at the IU Auditorium box office or at www.ticketmaster.com. “Ticket sales have been going very well thus far,” Booher said. “We hope to reach sellout status by the time the curtain goes up on the 22nd.”
(02/11/11 12:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The hectic schedule of those within the greek community was the deciding factor in postponing “Greek Night at the Opera,” which was originally scheduled for Saturday.“The fact that the show was the weekend before Valentine’s Day played a big part as to why we have postponed this event,” said Caitlin Wright, Jacobs marketing department member. The Musical Arts Center had planned a night that would have included group discounts for greek students attending Giacomo Puccini’s two one-act operas, “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicci.” “We want everyone to have the opportunity and be able to attend the opera,” Wright said. “However, planning an event like this on a weekend where couples have their own plans and earlier scheduled social functions was not the most ideal for our aim of attracting a larger percentage of the greek community.”Though this event has been canceled, the MAC is planning another event for the fall semester geared toward greek students. -Corinne Lambert
(02/09/11 5:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Local performances by Dylan Ettinger are hard to come by. “In Bloomington, it seems as though it is easy to overstay your welcome in the local venues,” Ettinger said. “I try to avoid playing here too often and usually only play when invited.”However, when Ettinger first saw fellow Bloomington artists Kam Kama live, he said he decided to end his four-month concert hiatus to team up with them and Mark Trecka for a performance at The Bishop. The Bishop will be hosting all three local groups at 9 p.m. today.“I am very excited to be performing at The Bishop,” guitarist Jim Kalwara from Kam Kama said. “They are definitely the local hot spot for the under-21 crowd.”While each member is a veteran of previous musical projects, the members of Kam Kama have been playing together for a little less than a year. They first year for the band has received some reception — four local shows and two out-of-town gigs at smaller venues have rounded off the last year for Kama, along with a self-titled demo which was released on cassette. “This is definitely the first band I have felt particularly serious about,” Kalwara said. “But with five people, and two of them still in school, our practicing schedule gets hectic sometimes.”The members of Kama describe their sound as post-punk and ’80s British alternative, which is somewhat different than the music Ettinger has been working on lately.Ettinger, who has always been a self-described experimental artist, said he has been toying around with a more classic synth pop sound.“I am going to be premiering some new songs at the concert,” Ettinger said. “I am not sure if it is just me trying to stay current, but I have been really into new wave pop lately, and that will definitely come through at the show.”Ettinger said that he has stayed in Bloomington since graduating last spring because he believes it has the best music scene in Indiana. “Of course I have plans for the future though,” he said. “My music seems to be well received in Europe, so I may try my hand in making music overseas.”As for tomorrow night, bassist of Kam Kama, Scott Ferguson, said the mix of sound heard by both Kam Kama and Ettinger is something worth embracing.“Regardless of what the concert is, the bands don’t always have to mesh perfectly to make it a good show,” Ferguson said. “Sometimes it’s quite the opposite.”
(02/02/11 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the midst of what Indiana residents are dubbing “snowpacolypse 2011,” most Indiana University students are keeping close to home and hoping for a snow day. However, the one thing patrons of the IU Auditorium were hoping wouldn’t be canceled was Tuesday’s performance of the Blue Man Group.“Contractually, the only way the show could have been canceled was if Indiana declared a state of emergency,” IU Auditorium Director Doug Booher said. “And we were very lucky that that hasn’t happened.”According to local forecasts, the brunt of the ice was set to accumulate Tuesday and into the night, which caused a flood of ticket-holders to call the box office for refunds.“We have had many people ask to exchange their tickets for the second performance,” Booher said. “But because that show is nearly sold out, our box office has been scattering to accommodate everyone unable to make the first show.”Tuesday was the first of two performances of Blue Man Group at the auditorium, and Booher said he has been working diligently with the University and Monroe County to ensure the safety of the patrons.“We have been in contact with the IU emergency team since Sunday afternoon and will continue to work with them until tomorrow night’s performance,” Booher said. Blue Man Group was formed in 1987 and has since performed to audiences all around the world. The group’s reputation as one of the most entertaining shows out there is why Spencer, Ind., resident Jim Chambers said he chose to risk the icy conditions to attend last night’s performance.“When we heard that the auditorium wasn’t planning on canceling the show, I knew it was worth the drive,” Chambers said. “We have always wanted to see this unique show, so why not take our chances?” IU students were equally willing to make the icy journey to the middle of campus thanks to salting crews and the availability of auditorium shuttle busses. “Walking to the auditorium wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be,” IU freshman Max Hollingsworth said. “The heated sidewalks outside of Eigenmann also definitely helped.” Tuesday was Hollingsworth’s second time seeing Blue Man Group, and he was excited to share the experience with his parents.“Their drive down wasn’t too bad,” Hollingsworth said. “But the drive back to Louisville might be difficult.” With all the help Monroe County and the IU emergency crew can offer, Booher said he anticipates the second performance of Blue Man Group to go on as safely as possible. Freshman Terese Hullinger said a little bad weather shouldn’t be enough to keep people from experiencing this truly entertaining show.
(02/02/11 1:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Conductor Andrew Altenbach said the only thing Giacomo Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi” have in common visually is the presence of a donkey. Both of these works are part of the trilogy known as “the Triptych” Puccini composed in 1918. Angelica chronicles the tragedy of death and heartache within a convent, and Schicchi stages a lighthearted farce surrounding one family’s greed.The Jacobs School of Music presents the one-act operas at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Feb. 11 and 12. Puccini’s favorite of the three works, “Suor Angelica,” is focused on loss and repentance while the composer’s only farce, “Gianni Schicchi,” is a tale of greed based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”“There is a real hyper-emotionalism that surrounds both of these stories,” Altenbach said. “It would be safe to say that not many IU students have been a nun or lost a close family member, but Puccini makes these issues relatable even to this day.”Altenbach is returning to IU for the first time since he earned his doctoral degree from the Jacobs School of Music in 2006. “I was thrilled to be invited to conduct this show,” he said. “There is such an immense amount of resources and talent within Jacobs.”Among those talented students is Lenora Green, who is currently earning her masters in vocal performance. Originally from Macon, Ga., Green earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan before studying at Jacobs. A self-proclaimed eclectic musician, Green played both the violin and trumpet before she started singing gospel and contemporary Christian music. “This is my first go at opera,” Green said. “The process has been very long and tedious, but also quite rewarding.”Rehearsals for “Angelica” and “Schicchi” began late last November, starting with diction clinics and vocal practice.“There is so much that goes into this process before we even reach the stage,” Green said. “With the text in Italian, it makes learning about your character that much more difficult.” While Puccini’s works are vocally in a different language, Green said the beauty of the orchestral music is satisfying on its own. “Puccini’s orchestral text for this piece has quite a voice,” Green said. “The fact that he was able to tell a whole story in under an hour is quite a musical feat. The climax and ending of each opera is so emotionally beautiful.”Whether you are an opera novice or seasoned connoisseur, Altenbach said Puccini’s “Triptych” is opera at its best.“With both acts averaging just under an hour, audience members will not be left overwhelmed by tragic thoughts or a skewed opinion of the comical opera,” Altenbach said. “Our cast exemplifies all aspects of this musical style without making it an all-night affair.”
(01/28/11 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The lights on the marquee at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater often illuminate the sidewalk on Kirkwood Avenue with a warm white glow to advertise an event. But last night, the sign was painted a different color.The PRIDE Film Festival kicked off its four-day-long celebration last night, and judging by the rainbow of colored lights that now frame the famous Indiana sign, it wanted the entire community to know. “Ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between,” Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan said as he stood on stage in front of the packed theater. “I am proud.”The crowd erupted into applause and thunderous cheers. “I am proud to be the mayor of a city whose character is so unique and strong in its own right,” Kruzan continued. “We have such a supportive GLBTQ community in Bloomington, and I am proud.”The acceptance of the Bloomington community is the reason partners and Bloomington residents Glenn Lassiter and Jim Doud said they chose to retire in Monroe County. Lassiter and Doud are life partners of 35 years and have supported PRIDE for seven years.“When we moved to Bloomington, the openness of the community truly floored us,” Lassiter said.The pair also agreed that through The PRIDE Film Festival, the present generation of GLBTQ people can experience something they never could in their youth.“Through these films, we see pieces of ourselves,” Doud said. “We could never be so open when we were that age. The youth of Bloomington is very lucky.”Another patron, IU alumna Rene Henry, has returned to Bloomington to experience PRIDE for her fourth year.Henry said she has always been moved by the diversity at PRIDE.“I am always very interested to see the differentiation between the films,” Henry said. “There really is something for everyone, whether you are gay, straight, bi or anything in between.”As Kruzan concluded his speech, he simply said, “Five letters, 25 films and four days.”PRIDE events will continue throughout the weekend. Tickets are still available through the Buskirk-Chumley box office or at www.pridefilmfestival.org.
(01/28/11 4:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One week ago, IU senior David James stood on stage at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater about to perform an original song that he had written for the 25th Anniversary of Live From Bloomington. James’ song, entitled “Firing Range,” described a fictional encounter with Bloomington resident David R. Grubb, a frequent antagonist at Monroe County city council meetings. Though he had never met him, James became familiar with Grubb’s antics via his YouTube channel. Grubb spoke very openly about the reform of Monroe County land usage, drug use within Bloomington and the sexual orientation of public officials. “I saw Grubb as a very real person who could be used to inform the character in my song,” James said. “When writing these lyrics, I imagined him and I as just two people within a community and a common ground.”Much to James’ surprise, smoke inhalation resulting from a house fire took Grubb’s life Sunday night, just two days after the Live From Bloomington concert.“I didn’t know Grubb had died until the Herald Times contacted me for an interview,” James said. “I have to admit it was pretty spooky.”James has tried to shake off the coincidence of his song’s title and the circumstances in which Grubb died and says he was impressed with the community’s response to Grubb’s passing. “No matter our reputation or standing in the community, we are all neighbors,” James said. “That was the real spirit of my song, and the amount of respect for Grubb has really shown through in the community.” Though Grubb was portrayed as a man full of bigotry and hate, James’ neutrality shines through in his lyrics. Last Friday, David James stood on the Buskirk-Chumley stage and sang the words, “I may be walking aimless searching for a sign / But I won’t put you in my bullet’s line.” Little did he know he was offering advice to the residents of Monroe County on how to remember a man who deeply cared about the land Monroe County residents all share.
(01/26/11 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual and Questioning community, family is a word that can take on a variety of meanings. But for the Buskirk-Chumley Theater’s eighth annual PRIDE Film Festival, family will be applied in the broadest sense. “Every year we set a theme for the festival,” PRIDE coordinator Danielle McClelland said. “The main purpose of it is to stimulate active conversation amongst our audience throughout the festival, and family has been a constant topic of discussion in recent years.” The Buskirk-Chumley Theater will have its eighth annual PRIDE Film Festival Thursday through Sunday. The festival will feature more than 20 films from around the world that will celebrate and inform audiences of important LGBTQ issues of today. Festival passes as well as individual tickets are available at www.pridefilmfestival.org.PRIDE will also include other activities, such as a mixer at the Kinsey Institute on Friday and a dance party at the Buskirk, following Saturday’s screenings that are open to all guests.An important aspect of this weekend is the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Association Homecoming. McClelland said nearly one third of PRIDE attendees are IU GLBT alumni, and a series of special events will be programmed for them throughout the weekend.PRIDE has worked closely with local establishments and has made solid community connections throughout the years. To further the community’s involvement with the event, PRIDE developed a video shoot-out to allow local filmmakers to create their own short features to be showcased at the festival. “Everyone is more than welcome to submit a short for this part of the festival,” Steering Committee member Abby Henkel said. “The audience really enjoys this part of the festival because they are able to select their favorite short to be screened at the end of the festival.”Henkel stressed that the festival is welcoming of everyone that wants to attend. “The festival has something for everyone. The events are designed to not be extremely overwhelming and are geared toward the celebration of our community,” Henkel said.
(01/20/11 4:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Twenty-five years ago, John Plenge was a student with a dream. While studying within the Jacobs School of Music’s newly established sound engineering program, Plenge was heavily involved with Bloomington’s campus and local music scenes. Because the engineering program was in its inaugural year, he wanted to find a way to both integrate and showcase the engineering school’s talents and those so melodically heard around Bloomington. One evening during a late-night brainstorm at The Bluebird, Plenge developed the idea of cutting an eclectic album featuring a number of artists from genres across the board — all of which would be paired with their own individual sound engineer to produce and mix the tracks. After incorporating a live concert at Assembly Hall and centralizing the whole production around Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Live From Bloomington was born. “It was truly an all-hands-on-deck, around-the-clock project,” Plenge said. “For months my friends and I were running on pure adrenaline, sleep, love and Mountain Dew.”The success of the first Live From Bloomington event shocked everyone, including Plenge.“I think we had two tables set up for food in Assembly Hall, and by the end of the night we had raised over a thousand pounds of food,” Plenge said. “A majority of the canned goods were boxed up and sent home with those who needed it that night.”Four years later, in 1989, Live From Bloomington was thriving as an incorporated subset of the Union Board. Larry Jacobson, a then-graduate student within the Jacobs School, was the director overseeing production of the fifth LFB album. “I knew this was going to be a pivotal year for Live From Bloomington,” Jacobson said. “The time had come for the album to switch from vinyl to CD, and as an even bigger undertaking, I wanted MTV to nationally recognize us.” Just as Plenge had made his dream for LFB a reality a short time before, Jacobson set out to take on MTV and triumphed. That year, the MTV logo was featured on freshly pressed CDs alongside the signature Live From Bloomington wheat staff artwork. Both Plenge and Jacobson graduated from IU shortly after their time working on Live From Bloomington, and continued on to have careers within the music industry. However, this week they are both returning to Bloomington to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their brainchild. Plenge solemnly admitted that after graduation, he left Bloomington and didn’t look back. “I was completely floored when I found out that Live From Bloomington has lasted 25 years,” he said. “I am so humbled and proud to see how the Union Board has had the foresight to carry this project through the decades.”Now in 2011, Caroline Shurig is the director of LFB and is busier than ever.“We have been in development for the 25th Anniversary project since last June,” Shurig said. “That is when the concept for this album started to unfold, and Larry got involved shortly after.”The album release concert, featuring the Brio Pop Society and Murder by Death, will be held at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Shurig is anticipating anywhere between 12 and 25 thousand pounds of food to be collected at this year’s event, which is just a testament to how far LFB has come in 25 years. “It is truly amazing to know that Live has raised over 300,000 pounds of food for Hoosier Hills in the past 25 years,” Plenge said. “I will surely be around for the 50th Anniversary, but I wish we could find a solution for hunger before then.”
(01/14/11 5:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>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.”
(01/11/11 3:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the return of Twista to Jake’s Nightclub on Friday, things for promoter Joby Wright of BFA Entertainment are coming full circle. “I booked Twista at Jake’s back in 2008,” Wright said. “It was the very first show that I did, and I have been networking, promoting and booking ever since.” Wright along with BFA Entertainment has been responsible for a majority of the hip-hop acts brought to Jake’s, including Mike Posner and Gorilla Zoe.The show at Jake’s starts at 9 p.m. with Twista set to perform at 10 p.m. as part of “The Personal Trainer Tour.” Admission is $15, with VIP tickets for sale at $40. Wright said bringing Twista back to Bloomington was a project he personally supported and was excited about, and it seemed like the right way to kick off the new year. “We waited to announce the show until the first week of January to build the hype of the first hip-hop show at Jake’s of 2011,” Wright said.After the release of Twista’s latest album, “The Perfect Storm,” Wright began working on booking the hip-hop artist. “I knew Twista would draw in a large crowd,” Wright said. “His song ‘Make a Movie’ is top-10 on the R&B and Hip-Hop Billboard charts right now, so people will come see him based on the popularity and relevance of that song.”Along with new material, Wright said Jake’s is working hard to make Twista’s reappearance even more entertaining than the last. “We are working on an even larger VIP section and creating more space to fit all the fans,” Wright said. “This concert is going to start the new year at Jake’s off right.”
(01/07/11 1:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Before school is officially back in session, the Chicago-based cover band Rock University will take the stage at The Bluebird Nightclub.Rock University’s education will begin 10 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $5.With covers ranging from Def Leppard to Alanis Morrissette, Rock University performs some of rock’s staples from the past 30 years to educate fans on the different ages in music. Dave Kubiak, manager of the Bluebird, said he is confident the band will bring a large crowd of rock disciples. “Freddy Stahmer (lead guitarist of Rock U) has played the Bluebird countless times with his previous band, Hairbanger’s Ball and always drew a nice crowd,” Kubiak said. “We hosted Rock University back in August, which attracted students and Bloomington residents alike.” The reason for such a well-rounded turnout is the familiarity of the songs Rock University performs, Kubiak said. The band chooses to cover a wide variety of artists and songs.Stahmer said these choices are simply because that is the type of music he and his bandmates enjoy. “I grew up listening to Van Halen,” Stahmer said. “That is what first made me pick up a guitar and peaked my interest in ’80s rock ’n’ roll.”The concept of Rock University developed as a fun way to pay homage to some of the most influential rock songs of their time, Stahmer said. “The idea to make our band like a school was more tongue-and-cheek than anything else,” Stahmer said. “We are just a band that likes to jam and play good music that the fans can sing along to.”According to Stahmer, the new year is only going to bring more opportunities for Rock University. “We are looking to add more tour dates and traveling to our schedule,” Stahmer said. “Rock U as a whole is looking to expand and do more shows outside the Midwest.”The band hopes to play in places such as Nashville, New Orleans and Las Vegas.Even with aspirations of becoming one of the leading cover bands in the country, the members of Rock University haven’t lost sight of why they love to play other people’s songs.“We always joke that we aren’t real rock stars,” Stahmer said. “We just love to play them on stage.”
(12/10/10 5:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With blue Nikes on his feet and a mic in his hand, rapper Mac Miller burst onto the stage ready to shake the crowd. Miller’s entourage huddled around him, screaming at the audience to get its hands up as the fans at the sold-out show at The Bishop enthusiastically obeyed.Miller stopped in Bloomington for back-to-back shows at The Bishop and the Bluebird Nightclub on his “Incredibly Dope Tour.”Freshman Bryce McCloud was one of the first on the scene and was eager to hear Miller perform. “I’m here to see Mac because he’s got sick flow that’s different from anyone else in the game right now,” he said.Though openers Sonny Bamboo and S-Preme were working hard to warm up the crowd, it was clear that Miller was who the audience came to see. After opening with “Get Em Up,” a song off his latest playlist “K.I.D.S,” Miller said he wanted to try something different for Thursday’s show.“I think I’m just going to stop the beat or just stop singing randomly,” Miller said to the crowd. “Tonight, I want you guys singing along with me. We are all performers tonight.” Miller stuck to this theme for the night, dropping the beat during the Owl City-themed chorus of “Don’t Mind If I Do” and the paraphernalia references in “Senior Skip Day.”Through every song, the collective screaming of lyrics from fans was heard. Freshman Caroline Majerczyk said Miller’s songs were easy to get into. “I haven’t been a fan for very long, but I love ‘K.I.D.S.,’ and my favorite song of his is ‘Senior Skip Day,’” Majerczyk said. “I went nuts when he did that.”From singing “Happy Birthday” to an audience member to taking requests, Miller was nothing less than a crowd pleaser.From start to finish, a grin never left Miller’s face. Miller turned a typical Thursday into an “Incredibly Dope” show.