What to do in 2024: Here's a list of live theater and music happening in Bloomington
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From an Indiana University collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera to the bridal-comedy "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress," there is a load of local live theater and music popping up in 2024. With not nearly enough room to mention everything, here's a peek at a few.
How live theater and music might help in time of skepticism
According to NewYorkTheater.me, some theater audiences attend hoping what they see will enhance the world. Others hope simply for a brief breather from the world.
After the pandemic, these two audience groups, along with creatives, have been rethinking how to appreciate and produce theater and music. Some shows have landed on Broadway only to sell few tickets, e.g., "KPOP" and sadly, “Ohio State Murders.” Advocates blame failing to identify new audiences; doomsayers blame theater's universal slowdown. They say many theaters emphasized works that were diverse, new, social-justice centered but forgot to rake in the audiences who go for those themes.
In the Bloomington area this year, both talent and audiences can feast on a varied diet of live performances. The productions that do the best may teach our local producers lessons.
World premiere at IU Jacobs, with the Metropolitan Opera
IU Jacobs School of Music will co-produce a show with New York City's Metropolitan Opera. "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" by Mason Bates and Gene Scheer is a musical version of Michael Chabon's 2000 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2001. The Met commissioned the work for an upcoming season, and its world premiere will be at Jacobs in November. Plot: In 1939 New York City, a young artist who can pull off Houdini-type maneuvers has sneaked his way out of Nazi-occupied Prague. His cousin, meanwhile, looks for a partner with whom to create the (brand new) comic book industry.
More entertainment in 2024: Coming in 2024: Can't miss events in and near Bloomington, Indiana
IU Auditorium features 'Hairspray,' 'Simon and Garfunkel Story'
Tony winning musical comedy "Hairspray" returns to the IU Auditorium after 16 years. The two performances are Feb. 6-7. Although "Hairspray" can look fluffy at first, its themes include body image, racial inequality and the power of changing one's mind for the better.
"Simon and Garfunkel Story" comes April 25. With state-of-the-art video projection, lighting and a full live band, this concert-style show follows folk-rock duo Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from modest beginnings as "Tom and Jerry" to being one of the best-selling 1960s music groups (and their 1970 split). The show ends with their “The 1981 Concert in Central Park” reunion, which attracted more than half a million fans.
Constellation Stage & Screen brings 'The Play That Goes Wrong,' 'The Break'
"The Play That Goes Wrong" by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer comes to the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium March 21-April 7 via Constellation Stage & Screen. In this farce, things go from bad to ruinous. The leading lady is unconscious, there's a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors are tripping.
"The Break" with music by Michael Kooman, book and lyrics by Christopher Dimond, is a new rock musical from the Emmy-nominated creators of "The Enlightenment of Percival von Schmootz." "The Break" is a rom-com with feeling. Sam and Charlie have been together since freshman year of college. They decide to take a 30-day break to date other people. Hmmmm. See Constellation Stage & Screen's production June 6-23 at the Waldron Auditorium.
Monroe County Civic Theater performs 'Vanya, Sonya, Marsha, Spike' and more
Sibling comedy "Vanya, Sonya, Masha, Spike" comes Feb. 22-March 3 to the Ted Jones Playhouse. One Acts and Short Plays are in September and October and "Comedy of Errors" in early June, for 35th anniversary of Monroe County Civic Theater's Shakespeare in the Park.
Feb. 17 brings "Love Lost Love Found" a cabaret with 21 local performers. Tickets are free at mcct.org.
"We'll be doing several programs around the 35th anniversary," said president Emily Bedwell. "We will also have more events with the library and the community."
'The Little Mermaid Jr.' by Stages Bloomington
Disney's "The Little Mermaid Jr.," a youth musical for grades 3-8, comes alive April 5-7 at The Warehouse, 1525 S. Rogers St., via Stages Bloomington. Based on Disney's 1989 animated film and the story by Hans Christian Andersen, it tells of a mermaid wishing to experience life on land. Visit stagesbloomington.org.
Another Round of voices at Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Another Round, a men's a cappella group formerly known as Straight No Chaser, will perform its spring show at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater at 8 p.m. March 29. These men form an Indiana University all-male a cappella group and have entertained in Bloomington and beyond for two decades.
Jewish Theatre of Bloomington performs 'Another Antigone'
April brings Jewish Theatre of Bloomington's staged reading of "Another Antigone" by A.R. Gurney. The play is a witty reworking of Sophocles’ story of Antigone, a princess who feuds with her royal uncle, about her brother's right to a respectful burial service. Gurney sets the plot on a current university campus. The staged reading is scheduled for April 11, 13, 14, 18 and 20.
Brown County Playhouse: 12th annual Fingerstyle Guitar Fest, etc.
The 12th annual Fingerstyle Guitar Fest is July 29, with world-famous acoustic guitarists. Recently, tribute bands have rocked the Brown County Playhouse stage and will include Dogs of Society: An Elton John tribute March 1 and Midnight Blue — The Foreigner Experience on March 22.
Brown County Playhouse is one of the few venues that regularly produces retro radio plays, with "Sunset Boulevard" coming Feb. 2-4. The fully staged drama "Women of Lockerbie" — about the Lockerbie plane bombing — comes in April. "Philadelphia Story" and a another comedy come later. The Playhouse is in downtown Nashville at 70 S. Van Buren St.
Eclipse Productions brings 'Streetcar Named Desire' and more
Tennessee William's intensity explodes in "Streetcar Named Desire" (1947) coming May 9-26 through Eclipse Productions. The comedy "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" (1993) comes in Aug. 29-Sept. 15. "Closer" (1997), a play about people's relationships with truth, will be performed Nov. 7-24.
Off Night Productions, stay tuned
Off Night Productions, which performs on days other theaters are dark (closed), hasn't released its new season, but this new company is planning big things. Keep in touch by going to onptheatre.weebly.com.
Brown County Music Center books the big names, including guitarist Steve Hackett
To enjoy performances by some well known musicians and performers, go on over to Nashville's Brown County Music Center.
Feb. 4 "Daybreak: The Music & Passion of Barry Manilow" features a hyper-authentic tribute of the 1970s.
March 21 brings renowned English guitarist, producer and songwriter Stephen Hackett. He rose to fame as lead guitarist of the band Genesis in the 1970s, then left to launch his solo career. As a Genesis member, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
On May 2, The Guess Who, famous for hits including “American Woman,” “These Eyes” and “No Time,” will perform. Visit browncountymusiccenter.com to see the full events roster.
Editor's note: Connie Shakalis is a board member for the Brown County Playhouse.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Lots of live theater, music options are coming to Bloomington in 2024
