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(02/03/12 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sex and seduction produce both vengeance and humiliation in the “Les Liasions Dangereuses” theater production, which opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Wells-Metz Theatre. Intrigue and drama will usher in the theater department’s first show of the spring-semester season. The story is about the Vicomte de Valmont, who strives to seduce an unavailable woman, and the Marquise de Merteuil, who intends revenge against a former partner. Both individuals manipulate and degrade others around them through lies and corruption. The play, based on a novel by Choderlos de Laclos, is the IU directorial debut of Nancy Lipschultz, an associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Drama. The production will feature Molly Casey, a third-year MFA acting student, as the Marquise de Merteuil, and Adam St. John, a first-year master’s degree acting student, as the Vicomte de Valmont. Thomas Beaver, a junior in the Theater Department, said everyone in the Bloomington area should attempt to see the production.“Just because the shows are performed primarily by students, the work that is done by the actors, stage crew and designers is of a professional level and something that shouldn’t be missed,” Beaver said.Matt Herndon, an IU theatre alumnus, said he anticipates a spectacular show and plans to see it twice.“I’m actually heading up to Chicago this weekend for unified auditions for MFA Acting programs,” Herndon said. “I can’t think of a better way to fire me up for that process than by going to see this excellent show before I take off. I’ve had high hopes for this show since December, and I know those hopes will be met and exceeded.”Matt Keeley, a sophomore in the Theater Department, said he plans to attend the show because of January’s Princeton Review ranking of IU as the ninth-best collegiate theater program in the country.“The departmental plays are produced with the talent and dedication of a professional production,” Keeley said.
(02/02/12 3:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the second half of the IU Theatre and Drama Department’s production season kicks off this weekend with “Les Liaison,” theater students will already begin preparing for work this summer.The current production season of the IU Theatre and Drama Department, as well as theater courses students are involved in, will provide preparation for the upcoming Indiana Festival Theatre season.This season of the festival marks its second year at the IU campus. The program was put in place last year to correspond with the mission statement of the department, which encourages training professional artists through experience. The Indiana Festival Theatre does so by providing an atmosphere similar to the professional world of acting and allowing students to put into practice what they learned during the academic year, said Scott Jones, the BFA liaison of the Musical Theatre Program.Students involved in the Festival Theatre run full days of production preparation without the stress and time constraints of classes. This preparation, Jones said, is usually comprised of a day of rehearsal followed by evenings of repertory to learn three productions that involve many of the same actors in each show — all in a matter of weeks. “It’s a hefty and quick learning time,” Jones said.In addition to providing a professional atmosphere, the summer program brings in professional actors and directors to aid the students in their endeavors. Professional actors Rob Johansen and Henry Woronicz were a part of a Festival Theatre production last summer and provided the young actors and stage technicians with practiced guidance.Information about professionals who will attend this summer’s festival is not yet available.The Festival Theatre productions for this upcoming summer will be “Damned Yankees!”, “Taming of the Shrew” and “You Can’t Take It With You.”“Students will be moving from studying costumes to actually building costumes,” said Drew Bratton, arts administrator of the theatre program. He also compared performing in the show to having a hands-on acting class every night of the week.The Festival Theatre is not exclusive to IU students, either.Denise Dorotheo, a Bloomington High School South sophomore, participated in the festival’s production of “The Music Man” last summer. “IFT showed me what it was like to be in a more professional environment,” Dorotheo said. “Witnessing the performances of more mature actors taught me a lot. IFT also gave me more confidence in my own abilities.”Dorotheo said she advises future participants to plan to give a significant amount of time and energy to the Festival Theatre.“You’re expected to work hard and be professional, but it’s still a great joy. Anyone who does IFT will grow as a performer,” Dorotheo said.
(01/30/12 3:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dim, red lighting in the Tudor Room of the Indiana Memorial Union provided dramatic effect for the evening of cabaret presented by IU Musical Theatre students Friday.Members of the Theatre Circle, contributors to the IU Theatre and Drama Department, family, friends, faculty and students sat at tables chatting over chicken roulade and vegetable tortes prior to the performance. Terry LaBolt, musical director of the Musical Theatre Program, said the cabaret setting offered the chance for performers to be themselves and to discover their own tastes in performance style. “The students have to be themselves — they can’t have an English accent,” LaBolt said. “They just have to be them.”As the dinner portion wound down, students began to prepare for their performances.Theatre Department Chairperson Jonathan Michaelson opened the evening by thanking audience members. The evening was created to celebrate the students and to thank the Theatre Circle members for their charitable donations throughout the year, Michaelson said.In addition to showing his gratitude to the patrons of the cabaret and the actors themselves, Michaelson announced to the audience the upcoming, intended show selections for the theatre. LaBolt also expressed thanks for some of the other faculty members and then proceeded to the performance section of the cabaret, playing piano for most of the students’ musical ensembles.Students performed a variety of solos and duets for the audience. Song selections varied from contemporary to more classic pieces. “You can have a good time with the audience — interacting with them as opposed to the fourth wall that’s usually present,” said sophomore musical theatre student Colin Van Wye. “It’s not as much pressure — it’s more laid back.”Junior Evan Mayer said the cabaret offers opportunities not given in other performances. “We get to do a lot of material we don’t usually perform,” Mayer said.The performance included songs such as “Nothing Really Happened” from the musical “Is There Life After High School?” sung by Jenna Schneider, Nat King Cole’s song “Almost Like Being in Love” performed by Nathan Robbins and “Rita’s Tune” from the musical “Sweet Smell of Success” sung by Charnette Batey.“It’s remarkable to watch them discover the material,” LaBolt said. “It seems foreign and dated at first, and then, like Shakespeare, the poetic language unlocks for them and they develop real affection.”
(01/17/12 4:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Dance Theater lights flickered and indicated Saturday’s show was about to begin. Inside the theater, many patrons were ready for IU Department of Kinesiology and Theater and Drama’s “Contemporary Voices” performance to begin, but outside, the line for tickets was long.As 7:25 p.m. turned into 7:30 p.m., the advertised start time of the show passed. Theater staff placed a pause on the performance and accommodated all the unseated, ticketless supporters.“We usually don’t hold this long,” said Miriam Poole, the theater’s assistant house manager.The hold turned into 10 minutes. Poole advised that, for future performances, attendees arrive early to be sure to have a secure ticket.But for Bloomington resident Bobbie Saccone, attending “Contemporary Voices” was a last-minute decision. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a contemporary dance performance, so I’m just hoping for an exciting show tonight,” Saccone said. She said she attended the show to introduce her 10-year-old daughter, Grace, to modern art. “She’s been to the ballet before, but never contemporary dance,” Saccone said.But after 15 minutes had passed, the show had to go on, and unseated patrons waited until after the first and second performances to be seated. Finally, by the third piece, all the audience members were in place, and the performance began. Individual dance pieces ranged from modern pieces such as “Lucy’s Bones,” a dance choreographed by Elizabeth Shea, coordinator of the IU Contemporary Dance program, to more theatrical pieces such as “STOP!!!,” a performance that caused audience laughter and tension at various intervals. It was choreographed by George Pinney, head of musical theater.Following the final piece, many of the actors and coordinators of “Contemporary Voices” said they were pleased with the final showing.“Every single piece was amazing tonight,” Elizabeth Shea said. “I held my breath during the solo that I choreographed, though. That was very difficult using technology with dancers.”Some of the dancers agreed that keeping up the energy of the performance was the hardest part. “The energy of one last time was amazing,” showcase performer Alejandro Fonseca said.
(01/13/12 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Modern dance is an all-encompassing field, said Elizabeth Shea, director of IU’s Contemporary Dance Program. “The continuum of modern dance is huge,” Shea said.This year’s Contemporary Dance performance is titled “Contemporary Voices.” The recital, presented by IU Dance Theatre, will be held in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, and at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.The show features guest choreographers Larry Keigwin and Nicole Wolcott, who choreographed “Straight Duet,” Laurie Eisenhower of “Night Music” and Ben Munisteri, creator of “Muse of Fire.” New work by IU dance faculty will be shown.Iris Rosa, director of the African American Dance Company and professor in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, said the showcase features many music and performance styles.Eisenhower’s “Night Music,” is performed by six students on a sofa, and “Straight Duet,” is performed by a couple on a mattress.“In terms of props and sets, we have a very special year,” Shea said.The props tell a story about parts of the home, which Shea said helps audience members connect with the dancers.“All we need is the kitchen table, and we’ll have a house,” she said. “Most people don’t have a sky dancer in their home, but maybe after this show they will.”Shea also has a performance piece funded by an IU Collaborative Research and Creative Activity Award from the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.Shea’s piece includes two projections and a video in the score. She said she wanted to use technology to enhance but not overload the experience.“(The showcase) is an experimental take on modern dance,” said Joe Musiel, a junior and performer in the concert.Rosa said it should be an exciting concert for all in attendance.
(01/06/12 5:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A good theater program is about more than producing good actors and stage producers.“You start with the faculty and the strength that they have and how they train students,” said Jonathan Michaelsen, chairman of the Theatre and Drama Department at IU.According to the recently surveyed crowd of the Princeton Review, IU’s theater program corresponds with these objectives. The Theatre and Drama Department at IU was recently ranked one of the top 10 college programs. For aspiring Neil Patrick Harrises and Idina Menzels on campus, knowing how the IU theater program stacks up to other colleges might be a wise idea. However, Princeton Review studies rely on student opinion rather than strictly statistical data; they are peer reviews of the topics at hand and do not always reflect the actual quality of a program.John Kinzer, director of audience development, said many of the other colleges in the ranking are smaller schools, causing IU’s honor to be proportionally a good thing. For a large school such as IU, Kinzer said it is an amazing feat to be capable of drawing large amounts of its student body to partake in the viewing and producing of productions.“We try to consistently produce at a very high level,” Kinzer said. “I think if you were to travel around the country and see other theater productions, you’d notice that.” Kinzer said the production selections are carefully taken into consideration prior to the season.“Play selections are driven by the academic mission and also try to challenge the directors,” Kinzer said.In addition to paying close attention to the plays produced, the program also tries to prepare actors and stage technicians for the real theater world by providing proper training in various areas. “What I like about the department of theatre and drama is the broad-based education and the variety of each year’s productions,” sophomore Rachel Fernandez said. “All theater and drama students are required to take an introductory script analysis, production, lighting, costuming and acting class. That way, you have a solid foundation in multiple theatrical disciplines.”Drew Bratton, arts administrator of the Theatre and Drama Department, said program directors try to give students a full perspective.“The program is not just focused on the student,” Bratton said. “What we’re trying to do is teach them about the craft in its full variety. The students hone the skills that they want, but they can express it through the entire medium of theater.”Kinzer explained that the program consists of diverse professors who each teach in their own way to provide different perspectives to the students.“We are not sending performers into the world without proper training,” Kinzer said.
(11/07/11 2:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For 12 hours Saturday, the Collins LLC Coffehouse was filled with music and chocolate-hazelnut spread. This year’s Nutella Fest, however, was about more than just appreciating the sweet treats and tunes.Wyatt Jackson, a junior and vice president of programming for the Residential Hall Association, said Nutella Fest was a celebration of diverse music and entertainment. Although music was largely the aim of the event, Nutella was available for the masses throughout the festival. The use of the name “Nutella” as part of the event’s label was based on the common interest of students and the organizers’ hope to attract those students, Jackson explained.In the Cheshire Cafe of Collins, there were tables set up with Nutella and potential food items to place Nutella on or in. “We had practically any and everything that you can put Nutella on,” said Laura Persico, advisor of the RHA Programming Board. Persico said available food included s’mores, fruits, cookies and chips. Those in attendance said they were were eager to take a taste, and the food needed to be replenished three hours into the festival. Li Pietruszka, the Collins representative for the RHA Programming Board, estimated that about 300 to 400 people attended this year’s event. “We had Nutella Fest last year, but we wanted the entire campus to be able to enjoy it (this year),” Pietruszka said. She said Nutella Fest was originally just a Collins event. The RHA Board, however, decided to make the event more widespread for the entire campus this year.Jackson said it was an attempt to reach out to the entire campus and expose all students to different styles of music. He said it was more of a “cultural thing.” Musicians, such as Anti-Swag Fiend Party, Sleeping Bag, Rodeo Ruby Love and duo Brice Fox and Daniel Weber, performed at this year’s event, drawing crowds of different types of fans to the event, which was part of the initiative in organizing this year’s fest.“I picked bands that offered diverse performances,” said Kevin Tanner, a sophomore RHA board member who planned the musical performances. Tanner said although some bands dropped out, he still tried to maintain the draw of a diverse set of performances. The music of Nutella Fest drew the attention of WIUX and students from across the IU campus. Piestruszka said, as an RHA board member, she was required to stay throughout the entire event. Last year, she attended the affair loosely and would leave at will. She said she was able to get to fully enjoy the different bands in attendance this year since she stayed the entire time. “(Nutella Fest) consists of treats for your ears and for your mouth,” Pietruszka said.
(10/27/11 1:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Long behind us are the days when Patrick Stump was the lead singer in Fall Out Boy. Call it change for the better, change for the worse or maybe simply getting out of the shadow of former bandmate Pete Wentz, who had been the most noticed person in the group, Stump is taking his solo album, “Soul Punk,” to the next level of wannabe punk music.All grown up in his style, Stump infuses dance tunes along with punk inspirations to form his debut album. The album includes songs such as “Allie,” which have remnants of old Fall Out Boy-esque melodies and lyrics, and songs such as “This City,” which features Lupe Fiasco, creates a hip-hop feel.Stump seems to be taking small steps away from his past while still playing with music that has had a lot to do with his fame in the first place.However, there’s a lot of growth in the singer’s music, and the album could very well be worth a second listen.
(10/19/11 10:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although the cinematography featured an array of angles and camera positions, the plot for “The Big Year,” starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson, was, well, for the birds. Let me explain. Bird-lovers will love the movie. The film is about three men obsessively following their passion for birding, or, according to good old Merriam-Webster, “to observe or identify wild birds in their habitats.” The three men each struggle with balancing their lives and homes throughout the course of a year with a birding competition, known as the Big Year. The film displays what they need to give up to fulfill their dreams.Of course, a film with the stars that “The Big Year” boasts is bound to be a comedy in some respect. However, compared to many comedies by the actors from the past, the humor tends to fall short. Fans of the comedians probably shouldn’t get their hopes up when going to see this movie. But don’t fret: There are some points when it’s okay to giggle. They just don’t appear regularly.
(10/10/11 11:52pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It started with a violin. From there, “Nathan and the Luthier,” the coming-of-age story written and directed by recent IU graduate Jacob Sherry, evolved from an idea into a Heartland Film Festival-worthy production.“(The violin) was something I was familiar with,” Sherry said. “I knew I wanted to write a coming-of-age story but from the point of view of someone who was repairing a violin.”While Sherry admitted he never played the violin, he said his sister played the instrument while he was growing up, and music has been a part of his life for years.Sherry played the piano when he was younger and, because of his sister and friends’ playing, has been in and out of violin repair shops throughout his life. Co-producer Jon Stante explained that the violin had a subliminal meaning apart from it’s instrumental use. He said the instrument served as a representation of the broken father-son relationship between the main character of the film, Nathan, and his deceased father. Nathan, a man in his 30s, lives a lost life in the film. His mother and father are estranged at the beginning of the story. Then, he receives an unexpected call from his mother. She tells him his father has just passed away and asks him to come home. From this point, the film shows Nathan rebuilding relationships at home — with his mother, Melissa, and with his father, through the repair of a broken and long-forgotten but cherished violin. “I used rebuilding a violin as a metaphor for getting over something or growing,” Sherry said.The film, which premiered at the IU Cinema in April 2011, will next be screened at the Heartland Film Festival, a 10-day celebration of independent films.The role of Nathan is played by Jeffrey Grafton, a 2008 graduate from the IU department of theater & drama master’s program.“There’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that it was sort of worth having stood in an open field for hours with a wind chill factor of 10 degrees below zero,” Grafton said of the filming process. Sherry said the film took approximately one academic year to make.“I think that a film’s life begins once it is made,” Sherry said. Sherry said once the film’s concept was conceived, he faced the challenge of making it reality. He added that the production and post-production are essential to the life of the film, from finding actors to bring characters to life to getting the film screened to having the production distributed. “You have to just desperately need to tell the story,” Sherry said. “It’s exhausting, and you have to somehow build and keep momentum going. You have to find a story to tell that’s really, really important to you.” According to Stante, the film took around five weeks to produce with approximately 280-300 hours of production work. “We shot straight, every single day, for the first week of January and heavy weekends after that,” Stante said.Exhausting as it was to make, the cast and crew of the film said they hope everyone can relate to the characters of the film in some way. The messages of the film resonated especially deeply with some members of the cast.“Losing my own dad was a bit surreal — fully experiencing the stages of grief, employing unhealthy coping mechanisms, fighting with my brother on the front lawn the day of the funeral,” Grafton said of his own experience. “Human beings can’t predict how they will react to profound loss. When I read the script, I maintained that whether or not Nathan admits it to himself, his dad, despite his flaws, genuinely loved him.”Whether viewers relate to the film on this personal level or not, Sherry said the messages in the plot are particularly relevant to young adults.“I think almost everyone can relate to the main character,” Sherry said. “Almost everyone feels lost and will ask, ‘Who am I?,’ especially young people who are trying to find their purpose and who are still soul searching.”Sherry anticipates continuing to direct films that will have an impact on people’s lives. Currently he is working on an independent film production company, Colorblind Pictures.Colorblind Pictures is currently in the process of producing a documentary in India. The film will be a rickshaw voyage to find the happiest person in the country. Sherry said he hopes seeing how people live through this film will provide a substantial message for his viewers. “Don’t be afraid to ask for anything,” Sherry advised aspiring filmmakers. “Something that I really experienced through this was the fact that it’s amazing what people will give you when you ask. It’s amazing what doors will open.”
(10/07/11 2:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The dim lighting of the back room at Bear’s Place Ale and Eatery added to the mellow mood of the cool jazz music. The crowd of about 40 people was mainly older in addition to some music school graduate students. The Jazz Fable’s Concert Series performance yesterday featured guest performer and Jacobs School of Music alumnus Marcos Cavalcante.Cavalcante has worked with many of the other musicians in last night’s show for years, but new to the band was Jacobs School of Music graduate student Bruno Cabrera. Cabrera has studied classical and popular percussion throughout the years, but he has only been in Bloomington for a short while.Prior to the performance, Cavalcante spoke enthusiastically about the skill of young Cabrera. He mentioned the connection between the student and himself in the sense that both are Brazilian natives. “He is awesome,” Cavalcante said. “I just met him, and he is a great kid. He’s beyond potential — he’s the real thing.”Cabrera expressed equal appreciation for the chance to play with Cavalcante. “He’s a very nice person and very nice musician,” he said. The performance received applause throughout many of the pieces. The musicians provided the audience with Brazilian-inspired and classical jazz, some of which were Cavalcante’s original compositions.Audience member and Bloomington resident Jenny Perkins said he appreciated the music. “We come here every Thursday,” Perkins said, speaking of her and her husband. “We are dedicated jazz fans.” Perkins mentioned that she and her husband try to absorb all the different types of jazz music that are presented at Bear’s Place and have grown to appreciate all kinds of jazz music.“I hope that the crowd has fun and that they notice that I play with people I love,” Cavalcante said. “I hope they feel good about the music.”
(10/06/11 1:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jacobs School of Music alumnus and jazz musician Marcos Cavalcante will perform Brazilian-style jazz with faculty members at 5:30 p.m. in the back room of Bear’s Place Ale House and Eatery for the Jazz Fable’s Concert Series. The cover price for the concert is $7 at the door. “There can be anywhere from 40 to 100 people or more,” General Manager of the venue Logan Neumann said. “We’ll get some students — mostly music students. Other than that it’s somewhat of an older crowd.” The event is one of the many concerts as well as showcases that occur at Bear’s Place, located at 1316 E. Third St. Musicians include faculty and graduate students and featured artists who happen to be in the Bloomington area. The concert series was started by David Miller in 1989 and features jazz performers from the Jacobs School. “We have a lot of Bloomington artists in the series,” Miller said. “It’s different every week.”Cavalcante, who is originally from Bahia, Brazil, graduated from IU with his masters in jazz and a doctoral degree in classical guitar. Miller explained that this concert is not the first Cavalcante has performed for the Jazz Fable’s series. In fact, Cavalcante has performed with most of the other performers in this show in the past. The group will play original Brazilian jazz compositions of Cavalcante’s and pieces from composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal and Guinga.However, calling the music that Cavalcante performs “Brazilian jazz” seems to be inaccurate, according to Cavalcante.“It’s not called Brazilian jazz in Brazil,” he said. “The reason it’s called ‘Brazilian jazz’ is generally because in jazz festivals, the harmony is more sophisticated than mainstream, commercial music. Jazz is an American thing.”— Raven Carpenter
(10/05/11 9:32pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The moment you play Twin Sister’s newest album, “In Heaven,” you are greeted with music that falls into the ever-growing chillwave movement. Lethargic music trickles from percussionist Bryan Ujueta and keyboardist Dev Gupta while it entwines with the rhythmic sounds from guitarist Eric Cardona and bassist Gabe D’Amico. Then you’re introduced to the hypnotic, hazy voice of Andrea Estella. By the time the music really kicks off, the album’s tunes are almost as refreshing as a summer storm — soothing, strong and steady.The Long Island group comes around for its first full-length album that differs from previous EPs. This album has a lot more of an electronic tone to it than previous EPs but stays true to the relaxing, indie melodies. “In Heaven” is created with diverse tracks like “Kimmi in a Rice Field,” which has undercurrent beats that are vaguely similar to a 1980s video game, and “Spain,” which has a sassy introduction that mingles along with psychedelic-turned-electronic, white-noise tones.Mellow and electronic seem to be the key factors with this album, and that is fine by me.
(09/27/11 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Merrill Garbus, better known as tUnE-yArDs, has described her style as wild, according to her Facebook page.Listening to tUnE-yArDs’ music, one can find a number of loops with Garbus’ vocals and instrumental pieces put together into single songs.On the Facebook page for the musician, under her interests, Garbus writes, “WILD CATS. And altering the way the music industry functions to positively and responsibly impact our communities and our people, to act not only as soothing pacifiers with music but also activators, inspiring innovators and revolutionary booty-shakers.”After releasing her newest EP “Gangsta” last month, tUnE-yArDs is performing at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Rhino’s Youth Center.“There are still tickets available,” said Dave Walters, director of the youth video program. “There’ve been a lot of calls, though. People are pretty interested.”While Walters was not able to recall if tUnE-yArDs had ever played at Rhino’s before, he was able to talk about his previous experience seeing the musician.“I thought it was very interesting. I immediately liked her and her ability to seamlessly pull off the loops she did live,” Walters said.James Paasche, sales clerk at Landlocked Music, had similar thoughts about the musician.“High-concept but low-fidelity,” Paasche said. “The way she puts things together is very intricate and done well but executed with really simple instruments and really simple beats.”Paasche describes the musician’s style as “joyous.” “I heard her first album and it was really low-fi, and it was just a bedroom recording. Her new album sounds so much better and bigger,” Paasche said. “I’m really excited for the show.”— Raven Carpenter
(09/22/11 2:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>About an hour before the fan-proclaimed chillwave artist Toro y Moi’s concert began, doorman for the Bishop Kieran Blackwood announced to the crowd of young adults that the concert had sold out. “I wasn’t going to be able to come, but then my professor cancelled my morning class,” Jory Kleemann said. Kleemann was one of the people turned away while trying to purchase a ticket at the door Tuesday night.“I was going to meet my cousin and boyfriend, but they had already got their tickets. I’m not too struck by the news,” she said.Blackwood said this is the second time Toro y Moi has sold out at the Bishop, and he has had to turn away patrons both times.Fans say the artist has increased in popularity and is definitely growing, especially after Toro won a “Best New Artist” award from Pitchfork.Attendee Chelsea Freistroffer said her boyfriend, Schad Bollenbacher, was the reason she began listening to the artist’s music. Freistroffer said seeing Toro in concert at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago really helped, as well.“I had to listen to it more than once to really appreciate it,” Freistroffer said. “I find with good music and new things you have to listen to them more than once to fully absorb the sound.” Bollenbacher described Toro y Moi as creating an “awesome chillwave album,” referring to the artist’s premier album. Toro y Moi’s performance opened with colored lights and psychedelic swirls on the screen behind the stage, and fans immediately began dancing and grooving along to the beats. The small venue’s crowd was large, making it difficult to move.Bollenbacher described the Toro’s newest album “Underneath the Pine” as having a “different sound.” He said the artist’s sound is constantly changing and evolving.Blackwood predicted that Toro y Moi will likely end up increasing his fanbase and move from simply young college students younger than 21 to more of an early to mid-20s age group. Blackwood said if this happens, he could see the artist performing in Indianapolis as opposed to small venues such as the Bishop.
(09/20/11 2:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Based on increasing ticket sales since his first appearance in Bloomington, Chazwick Bundick, better known by his stage name Toro Y Moi, has been growing as a musician and is performing at 8 p.m. today at the Bishop. Toro Y Moi released his first full-length album, titled “Causers of This,” in January 2010. From there, the musician continued to grow after releasing his sophomore album, “Underneath the Pine,” in early 2011. The album won Pitchfork’s “Best New Music” award.Tickets are currently on sale at Landlocked Music, the Bishop, and have recently sold out at the Buskirk-Chumley box office.Bishop owner Stephens Westrich said the performer is reaching a younger audience that seems to be “very in tune with certain trends” and is “very cutting edge.”Elizabeth Mortenson, graduate assistant at the Buskirk-Chumley box office, said, “This is a much different type of show, but the tickets have sold really well, despite having competition from other events.”Jason Nicki, owner of Landlocked Music records store, had similar thoughts about the size of the upcoming show. “We’ve sold a lot of (tickets), for sure,” Nicki said. “I think it’s one of the bigger shows this month. We’ve sold more for this show than the other shows in the past week.”This will be the third time Toro Y Moi has performed in Bloomington and his second performance at the Bishop. Toro Y Moi seems to be increasing ticket sales each time he performs a show in Bloomington, said Caitlyn Kuhs, assistant manager of the box office at the Buskirk. “I’m not sure if they did tickets with us the first time, and I was here the second time he came here,” Kuhs said. “At that point he hadn’t sold out. So he must be doing a lot better now.”
(08/11/11 10:25pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU traditions make the University atmosphere unique. During many sporting events, the crowds are a sea of crimson and cream, with both students and alumni cheering on the team. “We never turn on our team no matter what, and even in a rough season, we’re always there,” junior Carly Lovett said.Indiana fans chant cheers and sing the school fight song during many of the athletic events at the University, often in tandem with the Marching Hundred, IU Cream and Crimson cheer squads and the Redsteppers dance unit.Popular dances and cheers at the games include the “Zombie Nation” dance, which includes extending arms and mimicking zombie moves and the boisterous “Doctor Hoosier” cheer. Many of the traditions are passed down through new student orientations, said Co-Director of the IU Visitor Center, Cole Dietrich.Another job of the Visitor Center is to hand out print-outs with the school fight song. “Having it in printed form is something the kids can hold on to if they decide to come to IU.”Traditions at IU do not always revolve around the Big Ten conference sports, though. Sophomore Kaitlin Karr said she enjoys the Little 500. “I love how an intramural sport can bring so many people together, and it feels amazing to be part of such a big tradition,” Karr said.At IU, there’s something for everyone to support.“I feel like we have a lot of spirit,” Lovett said. “We are loyal fans, which is very unique and encouraging to me.”
(08/11/11 10:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sex is usually a pretty taboo conversation subject, but at IU’s Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, the bedroom is their business.The Kinsey Institute, while sometimes controversial, has become one of the top places for sexual research in the world, and it is located right on IU’s campus.The Kinsey Institute’s primary focus is to provide research and analysis to researchers and the public about sexuality. Alfred Kinsey, a biologist and zoologist, was the founder. He was curious about human sexual behaviors and relationships. He researched his theories using face-to-face interviews, which, especially during the initial period of this research, caused quite a commotion.From this, he developed the Kinsey Reports, two books featuring human sexuality, one for males and one for females.“Kinsey was a revolutionary of his time, and we get the opportunity to see his research and see what he did in person,” junior Jon Allen said. In 1947, the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction was brought to Indiana University as a stable and secure location for Kinsey’s research.“It’s one of the treasures of Indiana University. There are many students who are interested in human sexuality, and there are not very many academic sources for studying topics related to sexuality,” said Jennifer Bass, communications director for the Kinsey Institute.Today, the Institute has grown to include artwork, books and resources, in addition to being a location for research about sexuality, gender and relationships. The institute has even branched out to create Kinsey Confidential, a web-based question and answer blog, for students to learn more about sex and relationships in a straight-forward and objective fashion. Students agree that the Institute provides excellent resources to help them to learn more about the world of sexuality and gender. “I feel that most college students need somewhere to learn more about sexuality,” sophomore Minjin Choi said.
(08/07/11 9:37pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This summer saw IU Associate Professor of Music Phuc Phan working to create an opera about traditional Vietnamese culture.Creating an opera takes time and money, which is why Phan turned to the New Frontiers in Humanities and Arts grant program. “Writing an opera is a multi-year task,” said Faith Hawkins, IU chief of staff to the vice president for research. “We are really pleased that we were able to help this out. “It was very exciting and very unique and probably wouldn’t be possible without New Frontiers.”During the 2010-11 academic year, the program administered around $600,000 in grants to faculty members in order to help them become better educators. The program provided faculty members with grants up to $50,000.“There are very few universities in the nation that dedicate that much money to faculty of the arts and humanities,” Hawkins said. Science topics often have a better chance of receiving research grants than arts and humanities; however, the New Frontiers program exists to allow other topics surrounding the liberal arts a chance to receive money for research. “There are much more funding opportunities in sciences than arts and humanities, and it makes faculty better for students,” Hawkins said.Ellen Wu, an assistant professor in the Department of History, was previously granted money for research through the program and said participating in it was an honor and privilege.“The grant has provided me with the necessary resources to conduct historical research at a number of archives and libraries across the country,” Wu said.“In these lean economic times, especially for the arts and humanities, I hope that Indiana University will continue to fund the New Frontiers program.”
(06/14/11 2:24pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For many students beginning their college years, there is the concern of how to make their new home away from home actually feel like home. It can be a difficult process, but with the right guidance from parents, it doesn’t have to be too painful. Different things such as visits, care packages and learning about resources on campus are great ways to make students comfortable. Bill Shipton, director of Student Programs and Services, said parents should be there to help students feel comfortable without overwhelming their child.“It’s difficult for parents to understand the difference between supporting and rescuing,” he said.While many Indiana students agree that parent visits can be great, senior Brittney Little said if a parent arrives unexpectedly, it can cause more trouble than help. Many other students agreed with Little. Students said parents should come during the day and during more slow-paced weekends when there isn’t much going on. They also said they should give their student plenty of heads up. Little said visits — parents heading to Bloomington or students heading home — should be short and not too frequent so as to allow students to adjust on their own without becoming overly dependent. Little explained that her own parents had her wait at least 6 weeks before they visited.Another great way for students to feel at home while on campus is having their parents mail items to them from home such as favorite foods and letters in the form of a care package. Care packages are great to send, surprised or planned. Sophomore Britni Farace said receiving a care package during the holidays or randomly throughout the year is an excellent way for parents to get students what they need and a little piece of “home sweet home.” The more personal the care package, the more effective it will be for students, Farace said.It is also a good idea to help first year students adjust to campus by parents educating themselves more about the help resources on campus, said Melanie Payne, associate director of First Year Experience Programs. Parents should learn where they can encourage students to go when they need help. “The beauty of IU is that no matter what the problem is, someone here can help,” Payne said. “Parents should not be the person rescuing the students, but instead helping to empower students.”Build the perfect care package