A&E

'Candide' opera to close 'Magic, Mystery' season

The season of "Magic, Mystery and Mayhem" at the IU Opera Theater will close with the April 6, 7, 13 and 14 run of Leonard Bernstein's "Candide." Despite war, separation from loved ones and even a shipwreck, the title character remains optimistic as he learns valuable life lessons.

Spielberg's 'A.I' vision a long way off

The IDS has long been dedicated to bringing its readership tough-as-nails, hard-hitting arts and culture coverage. It was in that noble spirit -- certainly not the spirit of idle Internet-surfing spurred on by boredom -- that I visited the promotional Web site of "A.I." "A.I.," a widely lauded futuristic rumination on what it means to be human, rose to the top of the box office in its opening weekend and has since sank like a stone. It is thus, officially, the first Steven Spielberg picture loved by the critics and loathed by moviegoers.

Art in everyday life

After the Thomas Hart Benton murals were displayed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, they sat forgotten in a barn until Herman B Wells rescued them. They now adorn the walls of several campus buildings, including the IU Auditorium.

Around The Arts

Jerry Lewis raises record $56.8M LOS ANGELES -- Jerry Lewis, headlining his 36th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, raised a record $56.8 million to fight neuromuscular diseases. The telethon, originating from CBS Television City in Hollywood, was broadcast for 21 1/2 hours on about 200 TV stations around the country during the Labor Day weekend. As usual, the variety show featured celebrity co-hosts, including Ed McMahon, Norm Crosby and Casey Kasem.

Walker honored with University Players tribute

Helen Sarah Walker will be honored March 30 in a musical tribute by her friends and peers, the University Players. Walker, who had just completed her junior year at IU, was killed in an automobile accident last May.

Black Crowes, Oasis rock Indy

Despite the predictions of inclement weather Friday night, The Brotherly Love tour's stop at Verizon Wireless Music Center, featuring the Black Crowes and Oasis, went off without a hitch and without the rain. The nearly four-hour long concert flowed smoothly, and there was hardly any wait between the bands' sets.

West celebrates East at festival

Do you enjoy tea? Do you appreciate the beauty of a wild stallion? Do you like money? Have you ever used toilet paper? Then you have the entire eastern half of the world to thank.

Consider the hand you're dealt

When viewing a theater piece of any kind that has multiple casts, one must always be conscious of separating the production from the piece from the performers. Yet, at the same time, a show also must include those three aspects without distinction. When one falters, all falter.

'Theater for the people'

A farcical romp through a storybook Naples awaits audiences at "Scapino! A Long way off Moliere" this weekend. A comedy of love, "Scapino!" is based on the 1671 Moliere production "Les Fourberies de Scapin." Adapted in 1975 by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale, "Scapino!" tells the tale of two wealthy young Italian men who have fallen madly in love with women whom their fathers would never allow them to marry. To solve their heartache, the two enlist the aide of the witty servant Scapino.

Strawberry shortcake a summer favorite

Sweet, ripe and naked -- that's how most people go for strawberries. Their juicy succulent flesh, curvaceous shape and seductive aroma are irresistible unadorned, but coupled with a warm buttery biscuit and crowned with a dollop of whipped cream? Ambrosia.

Hip-hop to get attention

Little 500 is done, and gone are the concerts and events that fill the week leading to the race. But that doesn't mean campus will be dead this week. Following a week with performances by hip-hop artists Nelly and Jurassic 5, the IU chapter of The Hip Hop Congress will host a hip-hop awareness festival today in Dunn Meadow.

This Weekend's Calendar events

Bloomington Playwrights tell an old story from a new angle

Throughout the ages, many tales have been told of the enigmatic life of Theodora, a Byzantine empress. But this week, the Bloomington Playwrights Project, 312 S. Washington St., tells the story from a different perspective -- a female point of view.

A community 'in step'

Iris Rosa's energy is contagious, especially when the subject of dancing comes up. Her graceful hands help in telling a story, and her soft brown eyes sparkle with excitement for the future. For Rosa, associate professor in the Department of African American Studies, dancing is not just a hobby; it's a part of someone.

New exhibit explores the abstract

Jared Janovec is interested in the parallels between human portraiture and botanical phenomena. He never had a particular flair for horticulture, but that didn't stop him from using fruits and vegetables as his medium in a School of Fine Arts exhibit that is now showing ceramics, metal works and paintings by last semester's masters of fine arts students. SoFA gallery director Betsy Stirratt said there will be a reception to officially kick off the show on Friday, Jan. 11 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The reception will be open to the public.

How to feng shui

With bulky residence hall room furniture and little financial freedom, challenges exist for students who want to practice feng shui. But experts, practitioners, books and articles are full of tips to help.

Live from Bloomington

For the 16th year, the Live From Bloomington program is offering a diverse mixture of the local bands' music through its Club Night and compilation CD. The project features country, blues, rock and roll, folk and punk music from community musicians to benefit charity.

'Essence' shared tonight

In the past, Lucinda Williams would spend years perfecting the lyrics, rhythms and melodies of her songs before she stepped into the studio to record them, as the uncompromising singer-songwriter would settle for nothing less than perfection. But her latest album, Essence, was written at Williams' kitchen table during a short, intense six-week burst of creativity and has been praised just as highly as her earlier works that took three times as long to complete.

Habib Koité kicks off Lotus Festival

Trills of approval from barefoot dancers and audience members filled the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre during every break in the music Wednesday night at the kick-off concert for the Eighth Annual Lotus World Music and Arts Festival. Habib Koité and his band Bamada switched flights, stayed in airports for hours and finally made it to Indiana in time to open the world music festival that is dancing on despite seven artist cancellations in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks. Paris Combo and the Gangbé Brass Band were set to send the music world spinning for Wednesday's special reduced-price show until they had to cancel because of travel complications. But judging from the cheers and energy from the audience Wednesday, Koité and Bamada more than filled in.

Out-of-town music talent reaches Bloomington

As the temperature rises, an array of musical talent from around the country -- and across the Atlantic -- promises to heat up Bloomington even more this week. Music lovers of all ages should find something to strike their fancy, whatever their taste might be.