Held on the first Friday of each month, Gallery Walk is an iconic, one-of-a-kind event in Bloomington — a chance for friends and family to meet downtown, take in some of the area’s best art, and enjoy one of the most vibrant cultural hubs in the Midwest. Talking with the artists in any of the 12 galleries, no one walks away from Gallery Walk without exploring what’s fresh and new in the local art scene. Click here to read about all the galleries in Gallery Walk.
Cardinal Stage has developed many resources for kids to expand on their experience of seeing live theatre. Partnering with Monroe County Public Library, the IUCU Education Initiative, local schools, and others, Cardinal uses shows like the upcoming The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley to help young audiences learn more about the world around them.
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Francesca Sobrer is back in Bloomington, performing in Cardinal Stage’s The Glass Menagerie. Her life experiences have helped her prepare for the role of Amanda in a new way: “Amanda is usually seen as a monster of a mother, but she truly loves her children,” Sobrer says. "And I will defend her because of that.” Click here to read more.
Rounding Third is a sharp comedy by Cardinal Stage about the contrasting styles of two Little League coaches who “act more childish than the kids they coach!” says Director Matt Decker. Writer Julie Warren calls it “a complex show, with developed characters and realistic conflict that make the jokes hit even harder.” Click here to read about Cardinal Stage's next show Rounding Third.
“I think there are a lot of forces at work in our culture that divide us, and this show is a work of art that cultivates empathy in the most beautiful and moving way,” says Kate Galvin, Artistic Director of Cardinal Stage Company, about its season finale, Fun Home. The Tony Award-winning musical adaption of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name is a dark comedy Bechdel’s childhood in a family-run funeral home, her coming of age and coming out, and her relationship with her own closeted father. Click here to learn about the production, as well as Cardinal’s community programs for the show.
Block parties, summer fairs, art shows, theater, music, comedy, and festivals galore — these define a Bloomington summer. And that’s just the first weekend! Writer Benjamin Beane gets us going with a sampling of the events and activities on the first weekend in June. Click here to read the full story.
Cardinal Stage Company announces a 2018-2019 season that will bring a rich mix of classic and contemporary productions to town, as well as a new look! This is the first full season of shows selected by Artistic Director Kate Galvin, who joined the Cardinal staff last fall. Click here to read about Galvin’s vision for the upcoming year.
Politics, like theater, relies on the relationship between the stage and the audience, writes LP columnist Jennifer Pacenza in her Behind the Curtain preview of Church & State. The latest production of Jewish Theatre of Bloomington puts this relationship center stage in a “funny and heartrending play with a powerful message about God, guns, and politics.” Click here to read the full story.
Robin Hood is a story as relatable now as when it was first told. And, as writer Julie Warren puts it, “Cardinal Stage Company’s production will make that story tangible for young people in Bloomington, inspiring another generation to consider what is right and how to stand up to those who are wrong.” Click here to read more about the Cardinal for Kids production of Robin Hood.
After Jean Magrane became the city’s first female firefighter in 1987, it took years for most of her male colleagues to accept her as an equal. But she persevered because she valued the work more than any other job she’d had. Writer Michael G. Glab tells the story of this barrier-breaking firefighter. Click here to read the full story
