A&E

Local group performs tragic 'Macbeth' in Third Street Park

By Sheeba Madan · Wednesday, Aug. 4,2004 9:14 p.m.

Macbeth," the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, will be performed at the Third Street Park over the next two weeks. As the 80th production of the Monroe County Civic Theater, this play is the second and last installment of Shakespeare in the summer series. Set in Scotland, the play traces Macbeth's ambitious rise to power with the collaboration of his wife. Inspired by the three witches' prophecy, Macbeth embarks on a series of murders, including his king, Duncan, while he is asleep. Composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth engages in a powerful exploration of the psychology and motivations of an ambitious couple who ultimately fail to retain power.

IU Opera Theatre shines in Giacomo Puccini's 'Tosca'

By Eric Anderson · Sunday, Aug. 1,2004 9:17 p.m.

The IU Opera Theatre has outdone itself. Given all earlier anxiety over acoustics and balance at the IU Auditorium, this weekend's presentation of Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca" surpassed expectation. There were challenges, but they seemed to ultimately energize the production. The auditorium's design provides a shell that naturally responds to the orchestra but tucks the singers into a hole onstage, demanding a greater amount of vocal exertion.

'Caught in the Net' opens at Brown County Playhouse

By Christopher Gagnon · Sunday, Aug. 1,2004 9:16 p.m.

The Brown County Playhouse will begin its latest production Thursday with "Caught in the Net," a hilarious British farce by Ray Cooney, which is the sequel to Brown County's 1990 production "Run for Your Wife" by the same playwright.

Statue honoring Bob Newhart dedicated in Chicago

By Alyson Brodsy and Tara Burghart · Wednesday, July 28,2004 9:07 p.m.

CHICAGO -- "Hi Bob!" could become a popular phrase on Michigan Avenue. A statue commemorating comedian Bob Newhart's role as Dr. Robert Hartley on "The Bob Newhart Show" was unveiled Tuesday in downtown Chicago near the office building shown in the TV classic's opening credits.

On a good day, a welcoming garden

By Brittany Terwilliger · Wednesday, July 28,2004 9:07 p.m.

In what is sometimes an overwhelming barrage of different ethnic restaurants on Fourth Street, Puccini's La Dolce Vita provides a soothing return to classical Italian. During the warmer months, thick bushes of hydrangeas engulf the wrought iron gates of the patio, enclosing the tables in what feels more like an Italian garden than a restaurant. Here one feels encouraged to sip on a good pinot grigio and chat with friends.

Children go 'Into the Woods' with fairy tale farce at BPP

By Jenica Schultz · Wednesday, July 28,2004 9:06 p.m.

For the last three weeks, local children ages nine through 15 have had the opportunity to experience the feeling of performing in a professional show as have been rehearsing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in preparation for this weekend's premier of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. "They're here all day. It's actually like a professional company," Artistic Director Richard Perez said. "It's comparable to a professional experience."

Silk Road Bayrem explores cultures of Central Asia

By Benjames Derrick and Benjamin Derrick · Sunday, July 25,2004 9:28 p.m.

People from all over the country traveled to experience the Silk Road Bayram festival Saturday held by the Azerbaijani American Cultural Education Foundation and other international campus organizations. The festival explored cultures from the countries along the route to the East made famous by Marco Polo. The festival featured film, music, artifacts, food and dance from Silk Road nations.

Famed pianist visits IU to conduct masterclasses

By Eric Anderson · Sunday, July 25,2004 9:11 p.m.

Since her emergence onto the American classical music scene half a century ago, Madame Alicia de Larrocha has become a giant in the world of piano performance. The artist will hold a series of masterclasses in Auer Hall this week. Hailed by New York critic Jay Nordlinger as "one of the most persistent, indefatigable, and, indeed, peripatetic of performers" of recent times, de Larrocha is making her appearance at the Summer Music Festival at the invitation of IU piano faculty member Edmund Battersby.

Around The Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, July 21,2004 10:07 p.m.

1-woman show continues tonight Amy Fortoul has added another Bloomington date to her performance of "This IS my BODY." She will perform her autobiographical one woman show about eating disorders, body image and sexuality at 7 p.m. tonight at Loving Heart Center, 111 E. Kirkwood Ave. above Book Corner.

More classical artists are crossing over to make records in other musical genres

By Alyson Brodsy and Nekesa Mumbi Moody · Wednesday, July 21,2004 10 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Soprano Jo Appleby studied opera for years, won coveted roles in key operas and performed at some of the most revered venues in classical music. Yet this year you'll find her singing a semi-operatic, semi-cheesy version of "Unchained Melody" with four other classically trained singers in the group Amici forever, which bills itself as the "world's first opera band."

Puppet show takes Buskirk-Chumley stage

By Sheeba Madan · Wednesday, July 21,2004 9:53 p.m.

The nationally acclaimed Wood and Strings Puppet Theatre Company will perform "Out of the Mist ... A Dragon" at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. The performance is part of the Buskirk-Chumley Family Series organized by the theater and Bloomington Parks and Recreation. WSPT has performed on National Geographic Live in Washington, D.C. and The Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City, and has been nominated for the Tennessee Governor's Award in the Arts.

Eastern cultures displayed in annual Silk Road festival

By Benjames Derrick and Benjamin Derrick · Wednesday, July 21,2004 9:31 p.m.

A program dedicated to the path Marco Polo followed to visit the Far East is coming to Bloomington this weekend. Hosted by the Azerbaijani American Cultural and Education Foundation, the 12th annual "Silk Road Bayrem" is dedicated to exploring the traditions and cultures of the countries along the historic route between Europe and Asia. The Silk Road was traveled for 14 centuries before Polo, the famed Venetian merchant, used it to bring its riches and culture back to Italy.

Alumna explores eating disorders in 1-woman play 'This IS my BODY'

By Jenica Schultz · Sunday, July 18,2004 9:33 p.m.

Self-loathing permeates IU alumna Amy Fortoul's "This IS my BODY," a one-woman show addressing eating disorders, body image and sexuality. In a unique combination of movement and spoken-word theater, Fortoul sang, mimed and screamed her way through the poetic autobiographical script dealing with her struggles with bulimia and self worth this weekend at the Rose Firebay in the John Waldron Arts Center. "It's healing," she said at a post-performance discussion group Saturday. "It has to be. I relive it every time."

Internationally known group returns to Auer Hall

By Eric Anderson · Sunday, July 18,2004 9:30 p.m.

Forty-nine summers ago, as the newly formed Beaux Arts Trio made its public debut at the Berkshire Music Festival, which is now the Tanglewood Music Festival, pianist Menahem Pressler had no idea he would still be performing with the same ensemble nearly half a century later. "I expected (the group) to last a week to make a record," Pressler said. The week Pressler anticipated the group staying together multiplied into decades. The group has recorded an impressive discography covering the entire piano trio repertoire and made innumerable concert appearances all over the world.

Recipes too simplistic for taste

By David Kanter · Wednesday, July 14,2004 9:29 p.m.

I get out of bed every morning for a few concentrated reasons. And I have to admit food, namely sweets, is on the top of the list. I usually wake up at about 7:30 a.m. and jump from bed at the thought of the awaiting box of Krispy Kremes and a cup of coffee. If you are addicted to sweets like me, then the newly published cookbook "Cookie Dough Delights," written by IU graduate student and former Indiana Daily Student food columnist Camilla V. Salisbury, may be the book for you.

Art Museum offers 'Jazz in July'

By Maurina Paradise · Wednesday, July 14,2004 9:25 p.m.

The IU Art Museum is home to the vibrant, soulful sounds of jazz in its Jazz in July series every Friday this month. Most of the events are scheduled to take place in the Sculpture Terrace, adding a visual edge to the musicians' work. When it rains, the concerts are moved inside the museum.

Triennial Harp Competition announces first-place winner

By Steven Chung · Wednesday, July 14,2004 9:17 p.m.

Twenty-year-old Emmanuel Ceysson didn't have much time to celebrate winning first prize at the sixth triennial USA International Harp Competition, an 11-day event that completed its final stage at IU Auditorium Sunday night. Ceysson, who hails from France, was back at it the next morning, practicing for a concert in Indianapolis Monday night.

IU student comes in 3rd at Miss Gay Indiana pageant

By Jenica Schultz · Sunday, July 11,2004 9:13 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Returning senior Chris Grooms put on his makeup, donned a wig, zipped on a white Elvis-styled jumpsuit covered in gem stones and stepped onto the Talbott Street Theater stage in Indianapolis Friday as his drag persona Miss Bianca Defy at the 26th annual Miss Gay Indiana USA pageant. Grooms placed third and won the Glamour award in what was his first state pageant. "For his first Miss Indiana pageant, I think he did exceptionally well," said Grooms' roommate and recent IU graduate Andrew Rehrig.

'Twelfth Night' is uniquely entertaining

By Kacie Leblong · Sunday, July 11,2004 9:12 p.m.

The young members of the Youth Theatre Ensemble capped off their four-week learning experience with performances of Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night" at the Bloomington Playwrights Project Thursday through Sunday. The cast, ages nine to 15, sparkled with heart and energy, lending a youthful enthusiasm to the well-known words of William Shakespeare.

Brown County Playhouse premiers 'The Foreigner'

By Christopher Gagnon · Wednesday, July 7,2004 9:11 p.m.

Brown County Playhouse premiers "The Foreigner" tonight, its second play of the season. Written by American playwright Larry Shue in 1983, "The Foreigner" is a comedy following two Englishmen in Georgia through their fishing lodge escapades.