A&E

Benefit to help local non-profits

About three months ago, Phil Kasper, Bloomington resident and volunteer at both the Bloomington Playwrights Project and the Community Kitchen decided he would try to pull together a benefit event that would help both of the needy not-for-profit agencies. "We both recognize the need for it because we both need a great deal of support. I am constantly aware of the needs of the community kitchen. We are in a time of some economic distress and arts organizations are very hard hit when it comes to government funding," Kasper said.

Hip-Hop Congress holds extravaganza

"The winner of tonight's MC Battle by Rappsearch.com is Castro. Let's give it up for all these MCs, though," said Chicago freestyle performer Gridlock, to cap off the opening of Wednesday night's hip-hop event, "Hip-Hop Elements Extravaganza." The event was held by Rappsearch.com and the Hip-Hop Congress at Vertigo, 107 W. Ninth St.

Swept away to the 'South Pacific'

The cacophonous melody of the pit orchestra tuning its instruments. The smell of a fresh playbill held tightly in your hand. The luxurious gaudiness of a fine theatre with its red ascending chair rows and golden, glowing stage. These are the things that make my heart skip a beat each and every time that I go to the theatre. I will be the first to admit it...my name is Meredith Hahn, and I am a theatre junkie. Yes, I save each and every program, ticket stub, and flier. I denounce anyone who would dare be so bold as to put his feet upon the faux velvet seat back in front of him. I have been known to turn any statement into a song cue and burst into a Broadway-style solo the likes of which should never leave the confines of an acoustically sound bathroom. I'm looking for a twelve-step program for this seemingly incurable malady, but until the time I either rid myself of this musical obsession, or wake to find myself with enough talent to make it on old Broadway, I'll just have to do the next best thing; buy a season pass and enjoy the madness!

Space 101 features New Mexico artists

Space 101, a little known alcove above Blimpie's is becoming a haven for budding young artists looking for outlets for their work. Anyone interested in having a show at the space may rent it out from Dave Britts, the owner of the Collective Chaos record shop. This week the "gallery" will host a show featuring three artists from New Mexico.

Fake Harry Potter book hits China

BEIJING -- Roll away, "Sorcerer's Stone''! Step aside, "Prisoner of Azkaban''! Harry Potter and Leopard-Walk-Up-To-Dragon are here! Chinese fans of the British boy wizard with the lightning-bolt scar on his forehead are snapping up the fifth book in the wildly popular series.

This Weekend's Calendar events

Actor Jack Lemmon dead at 76

LOS ANGELES -- Jack Lemmon, who brought a jittery intensity to his roles as finicky Felix Unger in "The Odd Couple," the boastful Ensign Pulver in "Mr. Roberts" and a cross-dressing musician in "Some Like It Hot," has died. He was 76. The two-time Oscar winner died at a hospital Wednesday night from complications related to cancer, spokesman Warren Cowan said. Lemmon's talents were so broad that of his seven lead-actor Oscar nominations, five were for dramas and two were for comedies.

In a search for answers, 25-year-old finds success

NEW YORK -- The walls of Jonathan Safran Foer's apartment are covered with everything from a framed piece of blank paper from Susan Sontag to random sketches made by his friends. There is even an enormous canvas of a huge hand that the author himself painted.

Arts graduates pursue their dreams

There are not many times in life when such a clearly defined ending point is in front of you. Graduating college is one of those times. Yet for many seniors, graduation marks a time for choosing which door to go through. It is a time to take all the knowledge acquired during undergraduate years and apply them to their new lives. This is especially true for students who are graduating with an arts degree.

Charged Particles serves up a summer treat

Nothing spells summer quite like a setting sun, a warm breeze, cool jazz and neo-primitivist art.

'Blast' earns professor Emmy

When Professor of Theatre and Drama George Pinney went to bed Saturday night, he was almost sure he had won an Emmy. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had nominated Pinney and fellow choreographers Jon Vanderkolff and Jim Moore for an Emmy in Outstanding Choreography for "Blast!," the brass, percussion and dancing extravaganza that has its roots in Bloomington and has gone to London, Broadway and now the small screen, courtesy of PBS.

Author compares Pryor's humor to Greek drama

The style of humor offered by legendary comedian Richard Pryor can be traced back to the ancient Greek traditions of comedy and tragedy, Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Alan McPherson said during a lecture at IU last Thursday. McPherson, a University of Iowa English professor who wrote Hue and Cry, Crabcakes and other collections of fiction, said Pryor did something few comics have done before him or since.

Decorating feng shui style

Alissa Koenig had chi problems. The senior didn't go to the health center, didn't consult her friends and didn't seek professional help. Instead, she cleaned her room, painted her walls and hung silky pink imitation roses around her bedroom. Disaster averted, her chi was in good shape again and life was better than ever.

IU choir performs with Indianapolis Symphony

The Pro Arte Singers, the premiere chamber ensemble of the IU School of Music, will perform Wednesday evening with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of the choir's conductor Paul Hillier. The concert is part of the Basically Baroque Series, sponsored by Barnes and Thornburg, and will be performed in Indianapolis at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. This is the first collaboration of the Pro Arte Singers and the ISO. They will combine their talents along with four IU soloists -- graduate students in voice Jolaine Kerley, Andrew Hendricks, Kevin Skelton and Seth Keeton, and the ISO's Concert Master Hidetaro Suzuki and principal oboist Roger Roe. "This is really a new opportunity," Tim Northcutt, media relations director for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, said. "It not only gives us an opportunity to present a wider range of music, it gives our musicians an opportunity to grow artistically." The ISO is currently searching for a new music director after Raymond Leppard, the music director for the last decade, has stepped down.

Beginning a life of opportunity

Charleston Sanders, a masters student, recently said, "The best job in the world is doing something you love and being able to pay the bills doing it. I want to make a difference in people's lives, and music will be one of the avenues through which I can make that difference."

Carlin pleases with trademark wit

Comedian George Carlin strode onstage in his trademark black jeans and shirt, with nothing more than a few papers, a glass of water and his notoriously filthy mouth to keep him company. Despite his loathing for politics and complete disregard for tact and compassion, he started by addressing the issue of the World Trade Center attacks. He even practiced some of the act he intends to use in his upcoming performance in New York to see if it was well--received.

From city hall to center for arts

The stone building at 122 S. Walnut St. was once Bloomington City Hall. Until 1985, it housed the police department. And 10 years ago it was redeveloped to fulfill a new purpose: bringing the arts to Bloomington. Through all the residents, the building's face has changed little. It is unlike any other place in Bloomington. The two theaters and three galleries in the John Waldron Arts Center give local artists and performers a place to show their work.

Band makes music life's pursuit

The Bouncing Souls never desired nine-to-five office jobs. Good times and music went hand in hand, and that meant too much for them to trade in their instruments for suits and ties or their BMXs for laptops.

Ladies First celebrates album release

Wednesday night, a group of female students rehearsed -- fine-tuning every note, reviewing choreography, straightening out any last wrinkles in their performance. In a few days, they would be entertaining a live crowd, promoting the release of their second album. Ladies First, IU's female a cappella group, will celebrate the release of their new album Ticket to Anywhere today at 8 p.m. at the Willkie Quad Auditorium. The concert will feature songs from the new album.

Music fraternity enriches life with song

During its 98-year history, the Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity has sought to enrich local communities with free concerts and recitals, community service projects and music education and appreciation classes.