A&E

Playwright honored with lifetime achievement award

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 11:59 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Calling the arts "a highway into the soul of the people," playwright Arthur Miller accepted an international prize, an honor deferred once by Sept. 11 and a second time by the illness of his late wife. A six-nation panel of advisers gave Miller its Praemium Imperiale prize Tuesday to honor a body of work that has spanned more than half a century and that includes "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible," both standards of American theater. The panel was to announce the award last Sept. 14 in France but canceled after the September terrorist attacks. Miller missed the October award ceremony in Tokyo because of the sudden illness of his wife, photographer Inge Morath, who later died.

Big shows visit Auditorium

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 11:58 p.m.

Most students and alumni of IU and residents of Bloomington are familiar with the IU Auditorium. Since 1941, the auditorium has been a top venue for concerts, comedians, IU student events, Broadway shows and big name entertainers. The auditorium was originally made possible by state funding, and a Federal Works Agency project at the request of making the IU campus a facility capable of supporting the greatest entertainment the world has to offer. With the reputation that the auditorium has gained through the years, the auditorium needs to be run professionally. Doug Booher, auditorium director, works with the staff to provide the best possible arts and entertainment events for students, faculty, staff and the community.

Jazz Fables celebrates 25th year

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 11:43 p.m.

Every Thursday since 1989, Bloomington residents and IU students have been able to hear original jazz and favorite standards from Bear's Place house band, Jazz Fables. Tonight the group will be celebrating its 25th anniversary (13th at Bear's) of playing together and presenting jazz to the community during a no-smoking concert. The group consists of founder David Miller (trumpet), Tom Walsh (tenor saxophone), Luke Gillespie (piano), Steve Houghton (drums), Bruce Bransby (double bass), Lida Baker (flute) and special guest David Baker (cello), an IU School of Music professor. "David Miller's Jazz Fables has meant a great deal to the jazz scene in Bloomington," pianist Luke Gillespie said. "Miller has been a constant supporter and promoter of jazz music over the years, and his Jazz Fables performances with many visiting jazz artists, especially at Bear's Place, have helped to expose jazz to a wider audience, including students, faculty and the extended Bloomington community."

Telethon raises record amount

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 2:04 a.m.

LOS ANGELES — The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association received a record $58.3 million in nationwide pledges through Monday, a telethon spokesman said. The 76-year-old Lewis, his face and body bloated and puffy due to steroid medication he takes for pulmonary fibrosis, was assisted during the 21 1/2 -hour fund-raiser by co-hosts that included Ed McMahon, comedians Wayne Brady and Norm Crosby, and performers Charo and Andy Williams.

Judge squashes sale of site

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 2:02 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- A Delaware bankruptcy judge Tuesday blocked the sale of Napster to its chief investor, Bertelsmann AG, killing a deal that might have revived the song-swapping service as a legitimate business. Judge Peter J. Walsh issued the ruling in Wilmington, Del. Bertelsmann had sought to purchase the remains of the defunct Napster network for an additional $8 million after sinking $85 million into the company to keep it afloat. Napster has been off line for more than a year.

Esteemed movie director passes away

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:56 a.m.

LOS ANGELES — British director J. Lee Thompson, whose more than 50 films included the original "Cape Fear," "The Guns of Navarone," "Planet of the Apes" sequels and nine Charles Bronson movies, has died. He was 88. Thompson, who spent summers in Canada, died Friday of congestive heart failure in Sooke, British Columbia, publicist Robert Rooney said Monday. "He was a very large directorial presence," said co-producer Pancho Kohner. "He was a gentleman and such a pleasure to work with. Everyone who worked with him once wanted to work with him again and again." Kohner collaborated with Thompson to make Bronson action films including "St. Ives," "10 to Midnight," "Messenger of Death," "White Buffalo" and what became Thompson's last film, "Kinjite," in 1989. Thompson also worked several times with Gregory Peck, including 1962's "Cape Fear," with Anthony Quinn, "The Greek Tycoon" released in 1978, with Yul Brynner in "Taras Bulba" in 1962 and again the next year in "Kings of the Sun."

Trip to space a no go for pop star

Wednesday, Sept. 4,2002 1:52 a.m.

MOSCOW — 'N Sync singer Lance Bass was asked to leave Russia's cosmonaut training program because his sponsors didn't come up with the $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station, a Russian space official said Tuesday. Sergei Gorbunov, spokes-man for the Russian Space Agency, said the Russians negotiated with Bass "in good faith," but "his sponsors didn't fulfill the conditions of the contract and we never received the money."

Jazz musician leaves behind more than great music

By Alyson Brodsy and Larry McShane · Monday, Sept. 2,2002 1:27 a.m.

NEW YORK -- There was more than musical magic on stage that day in 1936 when Lionel Hampton joined Benny Goodman in a Manhattan ballroom; it was a breakthrough in American race relations. Hampton, a vibraphone virtuoso who died Saturday, broke a barrier that had kept black and white musicians from performing together in public. Through a six-decade career, he continued to build a name for himself as one of the greats in jazz history.

Singing for her supper

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Sept. 2,2002 1:22 a.m.

IU masters candidate Twyla Robinson, a soprano, took home first place in the professional division at the MacAllister Awards competition, which was held at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis. The MacAllister Awards are an annual vocal competition named for P.E. MacAllister, an Indianapolis businessman, philanthropist and the president of the Indiana Opera Theater. This competition, which is in its 22nd year, draws a field of over 800 contestants in the high school, college and professional divisions.

Around the Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Aug. 30,2002 1:19 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Postal Service is heading for Broadway to honor one of the nation's most prolific and beloved songwriters.

'Party Animals' pose problem in capitol

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Aug. 30,2002 1:18 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The idea seemed simple enough. Scatter some whimsical donkey and elephant statues around the nation's capital to coax some smiles. So what do the locals do? Turn it into politics, as usual.

London couple poses for art, safe sex

By Alyson Brodsy and Jill Lawless · Friday, Aug. 30,2002 1:17 a.m.

LONDON -- It may be the ultimate in public displays of affection. A London couple are spending a week in bed, on public view in the storefront window of a photography gallery, exposing themselves to curious gazes for the sake of art -- and safe sex.

Worst summer for fests

By Alyson Brodsy and Robert Weller · Friday, Aug. 30,2002 1:03 a.m.

VAIL, Colo. -- It has been a midsummer's nightmare for arts festivals across the country because of visa restrictions imposed to tighten security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Festival coordinators have had to find replacement performers at the last minute for top artists who have been denied entry, including performers at the recent Vail Valley International Dance Festival and the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City.

Don't forget to (stop and*) smell the roses

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Aug. 29,2002 1:27 a.m.

Welcome back to Bloomington, the epicenter of arts in Indiana. The city of Bloomington and IU have much to offer in the coming semester. There is a variety of opportunities, ranging from classic to quirky, to satisfy your cultural hunger. We, the arts editors for fall 2002, look forward to embarking on this arts adventure alongside you.

Arts reputation intact

By John DeBoer · Thursday, Aug. 29,2002 1:25 a.m.

As the curtain rises on another year at IU, it is time to look ahead to the exciting activities that await all students. Despite IU's reputation as a party school, IU is dedicated to the arts, which the Princeton Review recognized by naming the University one of the best theater schools.

Lance Bass is ready for takeoff

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 28,2002 1:08 a.m.

Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- 'N Sync singer Lance Bass won the endorsement of NASA and other space agencies Tuesday in his bid to fly to the international space station this fall.

Man passes out after water stunt

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Aug. 28,2002 12:11 a.m.

New York -- His skin crinkled and his eyes bloodshot, illusionist Criss Angel emerged Tuesday morning after spending 24 hours in a Times Square water chamber.

New exhibit confirms that comics are not just for kids

By J.P. Benitez and JP Benitez · Monday, Aug. 5,2002 12:37 a.m.

Don't worry, it is not necessary to know all of the names of the crew members from "Battlestar Galactica" to continue reading. The knowledge of how Wolverine acquired his adamantium claws need not accessed here, nor does one need to know what adamantium is in the first place to appreciate what is to come.

Revitalized Dead sells out show in Wisconsin

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Aug. 4,2002 9:41 p.m.

EAST TROY, Wis. -- It's been seven years since Jerry Garcia's guitar fell silent, but the kaleidoscope of wriggling humanity he kept on the road for more than 30 years is very much alive.

IU grad winning awards, fans with violin

By Christopher Lee · Sunday, Aug. 4,2002 9:27 p.m.

Mimi Zweig knows that some great musicians are born and not made. Violinist and IU graduate Joshua Bell is one of these. "His music making is something that comes from within him, and I doubt this can be taught ... just nurtured," Zweig said.