A&E

Rapper\'s kin offer alibi for death

By Alyson Brodsy and Associated Press · Thursday, Sept. 12,2002 1:22 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- The family of rapper Notorious B.I.G. has released documents and an audiotape that they say prove he was in a New York recording studio the night rival Tupac Shakur was shot in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Times reported last week that Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was in Las Vegas the night Shakur was gunned down, and that he provided a Compton gang member with the murder weapon and promised to pay the gang $1 million for the assassination.

8 of 23 Broadway shows go on

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Kuchwara · Thursday, Sept. 12,2002 1:20 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Many theaters were dark and strangely quiet, but the show went on for eight of 23 Broadway productions, including such big musicals as "The Producers," "Hairspray" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie." "In a way, we have to treat it as any other day, as far as going out there and performing," said Brad Oscar, star of "The Producers," the laugh-filled Mel Brooks musical. "We can't bring on stage the gravity and the weight and the enormity of what Sept. 11 means, especially with this show. And it's that contrast which makes performing on Wednesday so hard."

Local symphony orchestra welcomes new conductor

By Julia Balnford and Julia Blanford · Thursday, Sept. 12,2002 1:19 a.m.

During an early autumn evening last Thursday filled with wine, music and conversation, over 150 musicians, patrons and Monroe County public welcomed Leonardo Panigada as the new conductor of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra at the Oliver Winery. Co-sponsored by 103.7 WFIU, IU's public radio station, the BSO fundraising event opened at 6:30 p.m. to guests with gourmet hors d'oeuvres and a plethora of Oliver wines for visitors to taste. Providing the evening's entertainment was Karl Sturbaum's Jazz Group, whose lead member, Karl Sturbaum, is a cellist for the BSO. With jazz music floating in the humid, twilight air, guests browsed the tables laden with prizes for the night's raffle. Among the gifts were concert, theater and sports tickets, gift baskets, retail gift certificates, fine arts and crafts, CDs and more. The master of ceremonies for the night was George Walker, the classical music programmer for WFIU. Opening the evening with welcome remarks, Walker soon gave the microphone away to Panigada, whose thick accent gave all in attendance a hint of what is to come for the BSO concerts.

\'Rolling Requiem\' crosses campus

By Alyson Brodsy and Brandon Morley · Thursday, Sept. 12,2002 1:01 a.m.

Sept. 11, 2001, was equivalent to memories of Pearl Harbor and memories of the assassination of JFK. It was the MTV generation's shocking awakening to the world. In the year since the occurrence of Sept. 11, an event unmistakably scarring the minds and hearts of people around the world, several songs have become anthems capturing the emotions describing what we saw, as a collective mind, first hand.

9/11 musical to debut in Austria

By Alyson Brodsy and William J. Kole · Wednesday, Sept. 11,2002 12:29 a.m.

VIENNA, Austria -- Sergei Dreznin knows it's risky to debut a musical about Sept. 11 on the anniversary of the attacks. However, Dreznin, a Moscow-born composer who lives in New York City, says he couldn't resist capturing how the spirit of New York has endured. He felt compelled as an artist, he says, "to tell the most important story that could possibly be told."

Broadway arising as a different being

By Britany Ausmus and Brittany Ausmus · Wednesday, Sept. 11,2002 12:28 a.m.

NEW YORK -- In the center of Times Square people wait in a line that snakes as far as the eye can see, all in the hopes of purchasing inexpensive tickets to Broadway productions. The people waiting patiently are surrounded on all sides by promoters selling their show, vying for the crowd's attention with statements promising more than the last.

Eminem tour bus catches fire

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Sept. 10,2002 12:21 a.m.

PITTSFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Friction from a flat tire caused a bus with the Eminem-headlined Anger Management Tour to catch fire on a highway Sunday, fire officials said.

Comfort brews at coffee shops

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Sept. 10,2002 12:18 a.m.

Sometimes all you need is a study break. Starbucks, Soma, Copper Cup, Borders and Barnes and Noble are all excellent study breaks, friendly hang out spots and a good place to go on either a hot summer day, or a cold winter night. Even the Hoosier Café offers Starbucks coffee where students find themselves studying, eating or just chilling with their friends. Students can either curl up in a comfortable chair and read a book, or write a paper on a table that looks like a chessboard.

'One World View' showcases artists' representations of Sept. 11

By Joelle Petrus · Monday, Sept. 9,2002 1:26 a.m.

In anticipation of the first anniversary of Sept. 11, the John Waldron Arts center launched its newest exhibit Friday, Sept. 6, entitled "One World View." The display showcased artistic representations by Indiana residents of the attacks.

Around the Arts

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Sept. 9,2002 1:25 a.m.

Reward offered for information regarding Madison bridge burning Willie Nelson cancels concerts after suffering from broken blood vessel

Wall Street brokers rejected in ads

By Alyson Brodsy · Monday, Sept. 9,2002 1:23 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Wall Street and Madison Avenue never cross -- in New York City, it's geographically impossible. On television, however, the two boulevards intersect constantly, and the result can sometimes be a rubberneck's delight.

Comedy troupe ready to entertain Bloomington

By Katie Killebrew · Monday, Sept. 9,2002 1:22 a.m.

"All Sorts of Trouble for the Boy in the Bubble…auditions today, performance tonight!" These flyers have been seen on campus in previous years, but people do not know exactly what this means. What is the "Boy in the Bubble," and what is it all about?

The Pianist premiers to emotional Polish audience

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 5,2002 11:46 p.m.

WARSAW, Poland — An emotional Roman Polanski returned to Poland for the premiere of "The Pianist," based on the memoirs of a Polish Jew who survived the Nazi occupation.

Texan takes home 'American Idol' title, record contract

By Alyson Brodsy and David Bauder · Thursday, Sept. 5,2002 11:45 p.m.

NEW YORK -- Kelly Clarkson, a cocktail waitress from Texas whose signature song was Aretha Franklin's "Respect," was judged America's next pop star Wednesday by the viewers of "American Idol."

Vatican paper decries church abuse film

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Sept. 5,2002 11:39 p.m.

VENICE, Italy -- The Vatican newspaper denounced a film at the Venice Film Festival that recounts the story of an abusive Catholic convent, calling "The Magdalene Sisters" an "angry and rancorous provocation."

Clothing as much about culture as fashion

By Roseanne Hennessey · Thursday, Sept. 5,2002 11:38 p.m.

The message behind Sunni M. Fass's upcoming exhibition is that successful communication requires a shared knowledge of culture, and this shared knowledge comes from an understanding of nonverbal communication in the forms of dress and adornment.

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.