A&E

Comedy troupe strives for variety

By Nicole Beemsterboer · Friday, Feb. 20,2004 12 a.m.

The Bloomington Playwrights Project comedy show "IU's All Sorts of Trouble for the Boy in the Bubble" will perform its last show before Spring break Saturday night. The project's sketch comedy series theme is "Straight Up Funny" said Eric Jenkins, coordinator of the program, and will feature satire on current pop culture issues. The "Boy in the Bubble" comedy troupe features IU students as performers and writers. They have been working and performing together every few weeks for over four years. Their sketch comedy features a menagerie of farce, satire, physical comedy, shock and improvisation.

'Pollen' combines professionals, students, amateurs

By Jessica Dalsing · Thursday, Feb. 19,2004 11:59 p.m.

Myth, movement and music combine to create "Pollen: The Musical," the show debuting today at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, at 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. "Pollen:The Musical" brings flowers to life in order to help their gardener, Ben. Through both song and dance, Ben meets each of the flowers. He falls in love with Mother Nature -- played by Jennifer Heichelbech. Yet, tragedy hits the garden and Ben struggles to save it. A twist of fate brings Ben's former lover, Miss Noble, back into his life allowing another chance at love.

BPP presents 'Harry and the Streetbeat'

By Haley Beck · Thursday, Feb. 19,2004 11:58 p.m.

"Harry and the Streetbeat" a play written by nationally-known African-American playwright OyamO, will premiere in Bloomington this weekend. The Bloomington Playwrights Project will present the world premiere of "Harry and the Streetbeat" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. OyamO will be present at both performances and at the "talk back." Following the Saturday showing of the play, the Bloomington Playwrights Project will host a "talk back" -- audience members are invited to ask the cast, director and writer questions.

Fashion Function

By Annie Russell · Thursday, Feb. 19,2004 12:36 a.m.

"Ally's" alarm goes off two hours before class begins. She showers, blow dries and straightens her hair, smears some makeup on her already flawless complexion, slips into her designer jeans and pulls a $60 sweater over her bare shoulders as different pieces of Tiffany's jewelry dangle off her wrists and neck. After a quick once-over in the mirror, a faint smile appears across her face. "Ally" might not be ready for a day full of tough courses, but at least she looks good. According to Evelyn Brannon, author of "Fashion Forecasting," fashion is a style popular in the present or a set of trends that have been accepted by a wide audience.

Billboard contest features youth art

By Jane Charney · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:36 p.m.

What do first through 12th-graders and billboards have in common? For the entire month of March, they'll join to form one of the largest outdoor exhibitions of children's art in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Courtesy of "Your Art Here," a Bloomington-based, non-profit organization, art by students from Bloomington and Indianapolis schools will be on display on billboards at four Bloomington and four Indianapolis locations. Recent IU photography graduates Shana Berger, Alyssa Hill, Nathan Purath and Owen Mundy dreamed up the idea of putting art on Bloomington billboards in August 2002. The group formed "Your Art Here" because of the need to reclaim the often-disregarded exhibition space, Mundy said. "We wanted to take a hand in the most dominant form of visual communication," Berger said in an earlier interview. "Billboards aren't available for exhibit to most people, yet they are seen by large numbers of people everyday."

Students learn costume history

By Mallory Zalkin · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:34 p.m.

The Elizabeth Sage Collection, a costume collection at IU, preserves clothing that traces the evolution of fashion. Elizabeth Sage founded the collection in 1937, when she was appointed IU's first professor of clothing and textiles. The collection is located off-campus in a private warehouse. Items in the collection are never worn again but are used in certain exhibitions for perspective. The Sage Collection is a historic collaboration, consisting of more than 17,000 artifacts representing the evolution of styles from 1765 to modern day. The collection features men's, women's and children's clothing. It also includes a large array of fashion books, articles and magazines such as Vogue, with issues dating back to 1920. The collection is limited to dress and adornment of Western fashion. It doesn't include ethnic or folk dress.

Around The Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:33 p.m.

IU professor performs faculty pieces Voice professor Patricia Stiles will present a recital of songs by composers who have taught or are currently teaching at the IU School of Music. Tonight's program will begin with a cycle of 13 songs, titled "Haiku," by Dr. Edwin Penhorwood of the Opera faculty. Stiles will also perform a world premiere of three songs by piano professor Emile Naoumoff set to the text of poets Paul Valery, Emile Verhaeren and Armand Marquiset. The program will also feature Sven-David Sandstrom's "Three Love Songs for Voice, Violin, and Piano"; "3 poems of E.E. Cummings," by the late Thomas Beversdorf; and "Songs of Living and Dying," a cycle of songs by jazz professor David Baker using texts from the Harlem Renaissance. The program will begin at 8 p.m. in Auer Recital Hall. Admission is free. For more information contact 855--1583

Fashion knows no borders

By Patrice Worthy and Patricia Worthy · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:27 p.m.

Last week was the heart of New York Fashion Week -- a week full of runway shows, parties and free gifts. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this season, but my misfortune opened my eyes to a bigger picture. On my way to New York, I got into a car accident and so I asked Mallory Zalkin, a fashion reporter for the Indiana Daily Student, to report on the week's festivities. As I was editing her story, I had to log on to an Associated Press site and pick out pictures to accompany her coverage.

'Apollo' can turn amateurs into acts

By Jenica Schultz · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 12:53 a.m.

Junior Stephani Parker and senior Alaina Williams will have the opportunity of a lifetime this weekend when they travel to New York City to compete at "Showtime at the Apollo," a singing competition hosted by comedian Mo'Nique. The show is taped for television and viewed by big-name music producers and recorders.

Churches reserve tickets to 'Passion'

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Feb. 17,2004 11:36 p.m.

The anticipation surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" is prompting several churches across Indiana to buy up blocks of tickets for the film, and in some cases arrange special screenings. The film is due to be released Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, but at least one church, East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, has arranged for three screenings over the two previous nights.

'Guilty Feet' provides guilty pleasure

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Tuesday, Feb. 17,2004 11:35 p.m.

"Guilty Feet," an unabashedly girly novel by British author Kelly Harte, is a delightful pleasure. Part of the invasion of British penned novels in our post-Bridget Jones world, this is a delightful addition to the genre of Brit chic lit. If the neon pink cover isn't a hint to any unsuspecting male, I don't know what would be. This book is by a girl and for a girl, no doubt about it.

'Boy Gets Girl' teaches some lessons

By Jenica Schultz · Tuesday, Feb. 17,2004 11:32 p.m.

The University Players production of Rebecca Gilman's "Boy Gets Girl" premiered at the Rose Firebay Theatre in the John Waldron Arts Center Friday. The play, dedicated to stalking and issues about the objectification of women, ironically came just in time for Valentine's Day. For the most part, this play was well-acted, but a few things about the play bothered me.

Fashions inspired by exotic landscapes

By Mallory Zalkin · Tuesday, Feb. 17,2004 12:54 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Collections for the fall 2004 season differed in style and designs making them special, but all had similar reoccurring themes. Lavenders and greens were the two hot colors of the runway, while fur, tweed and satin were most popular for fabrics. Although designers used some of the same cuts and fabrics, each designer personalized his or her line with familiar touches reflecting their style. Despite the Indiana native's death last year, Bill Blass is as strong as ever with the talented Michael Vollbracht as his successor. Vollbracht created a collection following Blass's taste for fine apparel.

The sentiments of a culture

By Joelle Petrus · Monday, Feb. 16,2004 11:18 p.m.

If you have a fetish for old churches like I do, France is an absolute haven. I don't practice a religion personally, but I still have to say the French know how to build a house of God.

Saxophone Cartel more than a brass band

By Laura Glesing · Sunday, Feb. 15,2004 11:15 p.m.

The Saxophone Cartel, a local saxophone sextet, will be featured on 'Live from Bloomington,' a CD which hits shelves later this spring. The cartel' s main focus is on creating a unique sound using an array of different instruments. The brainchild of cartel composer Benjamin Himpel, the group came together in 2003 after Himpel found "very good woodwind players with the right mindsets."

Confessions of a metrosexual

By Alyson Brodsy and Andrew Welfe · Sunday, Feb. 15,2004 11:13 p.m.

Hello. My name is Andy, and I am a metrosexual. Instead of the wide range of people you may see at an AA meeting, Metrosexuals Anonymous is filled with 20 and 30-something men -- all well-dressed. We sit up straight in the chair, and our coats are either tucked neatly underneath our chairs or hung in the closet by the door.

Modernized 'Les Yeux Noirs' group kicks off Lotus Concert series

By Andrew Welfe and Andrew Welfle · Thursday, Feb. 12,2004 11:55 p.m.

There is an old proverb that says, "Variety is the spice of life." And it is true -- someone who enjoys a wide variety of literature is usually better-read than someone who only reads Victorian novels or sports magazines. Many believe someone who loves Italian, Mexican and French food usually fares better than one who eats exclusively at McDonald's.

IU 'After Hours' holds singles' dance

By Jennifer Griffin · Thursday, Feb. 12,2004 11:53 p.m.

February is upon us, and love is in the air. As that magical day of romance draws near, couples in Bloomington search for the perfect setting for the most love-filled day of the year. Some buy their significant other flowers, candy or even splurge on dinner at a fancy restaurant.

McFuzz, Horton hear a Hoosier

By Meredith Hahn · Thursday, Feb. 12,2004 11:52 p.m.

Every year, many students in the IU Theater and Drama and Music departments journey to New York in the hopes they'll make it big on the stage. The competition is stiff, and the odds are tremendous. But now and then, things fall into place for a few lucky individuals.

Dancing with an edge

By Claire Blaustein · Thursday, Feb. 12,2004 12:37 a.m.

In the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Room 167, a heated basketball game is being played and the screech of sneakers on polished floors and yelling teammates is audible from the hall. Further down the hall, the ambient noise changes quite a bit. Looking in H169, you see girls donning heels instead of running shoes and boys practicing spins and back steps on the side of the court. It is a meeting of the IU Ballroom Dance Club.