A&E

Words keep women poets in touch

They use rhythm and meter but make no music. They paint a vivid image without a canvas and breathe life into characters without a story. They are the Five Women Poets, a group with a 26-year tradition of writing poetry. The women have monthly meetings at members' houses and an annual public reading. At 8 p.m. Saturday in a small studio in the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St., they read poems to an audience of about 50. After each of the six poets read their selections, the audience created a riot of applause that far exceeded one's expectations of 100 hands.

Eroticon focuses on education

Licking edible body paint from a random stranger is generally frowned upon in civilized society. But at the fifth annual Eroticon, attendees will be asked to leave their inhibitions at the door. Axis Nightclub, 419 N. Walnut St., will be awash with throngs of revelers in liquid latex and leather Friday from 9:30 p.m. to the wee hours of the morning.

Wyclef to headline hip-hop lineup

For Wyclef Jean, life seems to be all about moving up in the world. Formerly one-third of The Fugees, the hip-hop visionary is now promoting his successful solo career as well as taking on many extracurricular projects, including his new record label, Clef Records.

Civic Theater brings Moliere to town

The noted French playwright Moliere had a macabre sense of humor. When he started work on "The Imaginary Invalid" in the winter of 1672, he had been struggling with a chronic, hacking cough for years. He knew he was dying.

WFIU clears half-century mark

Sept. 30, 1950 marked a special occasion for the Bloomington campus. It was the birth of a radio station, WFIU 103.7 FM. During October, the station will promote several special events to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Local band has big plans

Cream, King's X and Nirvana were all power trios that started low on the ladder in the dregs of their hometowns. But these bands rose out of their communities to become relatively famous in the history of rock music. The next group trying to claim their success is right here in Bloomington, the Deric Rush Band.

Dylan to return to campus

Robert Zimmerman, raised in Duluth, Minn., took up the guitar and harmonica at an early age. He formed his first band, The Golden Chords, by the time he was a freshman in high school.

Funk-fueled band to perform at Axis

Fishbone will fill Axis, 419 N. Walnut St., with funk Wednesday night, entertaining a crowd of college students after spending time recording with the likes of Perry Farrell, the Red Hot Chili Pepper's Flea, John Fusciante and Chad Smith, Gwen Stefani and George Clinton.

Jazz musician to play Buskirk-Chumley

It's not common for a bassist to serve as frontman in a jazz group. But Christian McBride breaks that mold. The accomplished jazz artist will play with his namesake band 7:30 tonight at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. Tickets are $14 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors.

Exhibits

Bloomington welcomes an old friend

Juliana Hatfield will roll into Bloomington at 10:30 p.m. today to play at Second Story, 201 S. College Ave. With ties to Bloomington via former band mates, Blake Babies, John Strohm and Freda Love, Hatfield's show at Second Story is a significant stop on her current tour. Old fans will see how far Hatfield has progressed musically, and new fans will see her two distinct musical personas.

'Equus' confronts weighty themes

During its initial wave of productions in the early 1970s, many theaters banned Peter Schaffer's "Equus." With full frontal nudity, implied bestiality and an act of ghastly mutilation, the Tony award-winning play ruffled more than a few feathers. "It's a brutal work, shockingly violent, very disturbing," said professor Murray McGibbon, who directs the University Theatre production opening Friday. "It's a raw piece of total theater. Schaffer stripped away all of the theatrical artifice, leaving a work that haunts and resonates."

Ballet season opens with 'Les Sylphides'

"Les Sylphides" will open IU Ballet Theatre's fall program at 8 p.m. Friday in the Musical Arts Center. It is a Mikhail Fokine ballet, choreographed in 1908, set to the music of Fredric Chopin. "Les Sylphides" is a monumental piece of dance that has withstood the test of time and continues to be performed by ballet companies across the globe.

City Lights to show early silent films

Ballantine Hall 013 will be transported to the dawn of cinema at 8 p.m. Sunday. Seven short films by silent celluloid director Georges Melies will be screened along with live musical accompaniment from Phillip Johnston's Transparent Quartet. A talk by Communication and Culture professor Joan Hawkins will precede the event. The evening is free and open to the public. There is also free parking in the Ballantine Hall garage when a handbill or City Lights schedule is left on the vehicle's dashboard.

Around the arts

Concerts around the region.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 more addictive than cigarettes

With the recent release of Sega Dreamcast and the upcoming release of Sony's Playstation II, fans of the original Sony Playstation will no doubt experience a lag in the manufacture of new and exciting games. But one recent Activision sequel has certainly lived up to, if not surpassed, the standard of quality expected from Playstation games.

Fugard's visit left lasting impression

South African playwright Athol Fugard's visit to campus ended Sept. 23, but his presence left a lasting impression on students and faculty alike. During his stay, he explored his work and his life with student audiences, sharing insight about the history of his homeland and the beauty of his craft.

'Scotland Road' production leads off Waldron season

The dramatic lure of the Titanic has not been lost on the theater world, as is demonstrated by the mystery "Scotland Road," the John Waldron Arts Center 2000-2001 theater series kick-off production.

Gilbert and Sullivan returns to town

Fall movie preview

The year 2000 so far has truly been a disappointing one for movies. Of course, the triumph of television's "Survivor" in the midst of the summer season doesn't help. Now the television's reality craze has finally come to an end and the Oscar race has officially begun, there are a number of fall films that look just promising enough to renew the faith of moviegoers. Although it's unlikely most of these films will be played in Bloomington thanks to the generally tasteless and always greedy Kerasotes Theatres, these films still give us something to look forward to on the shelves of Classical Film & Music.