Set in Joseph Stalin’s Russia, this engrossing new American play was inspired both by Stalin’s real-life efforts to remove any hint of “aberrant” sexual behavior by Russia’s most famous composer from the history books and the idea that government intrusion in the private lives of citizens threatens everybody’s most basic freedoms. The Letters has received rave reviews from Time Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, and the the LA Theatre Review.

Show times
May 2: 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
May 3: 7:00 pm
May 4: 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
May 7-9: 7:30 pm
May 10: 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm
May 11: 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm
May 14-16: 7:30 pm
May 17: 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm
May 18: 2:00 pm

The show is 75 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at cardinalstage.org.

The 16th Annual Spring Studio Tour features 18 artists and 12 studios throughout Brown County. This is a unique opportunity to meet artists doing what they love and to purchase art from its source. Collectors will enjoy the new work available especially for this occasion.

Studios help with funding the “Brown County Art Scholarship,” established by the tour organization in 2005. Each year, local students receive scholarships to further their art education.

The tour is free. A detailed map can be found at browncountystudiotour.com/tourmap2014.htm

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sunday: Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Spanish Painting in the 1960s: Works from the Collection of Doris Steinmetz Kellett
May 6–September 7, 2014
Gallery of the Art of the Western World, Doris Steinmetz Kellett Endowed Gallery of Twentieth-Century Art, first floor
Works by members of the Catalan-based group Dau al Set and artists associated with the avant-garde Galeria Juana Mordo in Madrid are featured.

Focalpoint: Personal Objects: Art from Eastern and Southern Africa
January 14–May 11, 2014 Raymond and Laura Wielgus Gallery of the Arts of Africa, the South Pacific, and the Americas, Focalpoint, third floor From jewelry and headdresses to household objects such as containers, headrests, and spoons, the art of eastern and southern Africa for the most part is intimately connected with the individual. Though these regions of Africa do not have the large numbers of masks and figural sculpture for which western and central Africa are known, the personal objects found there frequently reflect the deep cultural significances and attention to form and detail seen elsewhere on the continent. This installation has been organized to coincide with the A352/A552, Art of Eastern and Southern Africa, a course being taught during the spring 2014 semester in the Department of the History of Art.

New in the Galleries: ‘Max Beckmann’s Woodcuts’
Gallery of the Art of the Western World, Doris Steinmetz Kellett Endowed Gallery of Twentieth-Century Art, first floor
February 4–June 22, 2014
Although the German Expressionist artist Max Beckmann was a prolific graphic artist (producing 374 prints during his lifetime), he created fewer than 20 woodcuts. Most were produced during the 1920s, when Germany was experiencing a revival of interest in the medium. Seven prints from this period will be featured in this installation.

Special Exhibition: Matisse’s Jazz and Other Works from Indiana University Collections
April 2–June 29, 2014
Special Exhibitions Gallery, first floor
In addition to highlighting the IU Art Museum’s rare complete suite of twenty color stencil prints from Jazz—Matisse’s last and greatest book project—this exhibition will include more than thirty other works by this modern master from the holdings of the Art Museum and Lilly Library. Special attention will be paid to the artist’s works on paper and book illustrations from the 1920s through the end of his career.

Special Exhibition: Francesco Solimena: Picturing the World for an Eighteenth-Century Royal Wedding
April 2–June 29, 2014
Judi and Milt Stewart Hexagon Gallery, first floor
Through a selection of pieces coming from the Getty Research Institute, the IU Fine Arts Library, the Lilly Library, and the IU Art Museum collection, this exhibition focuses on one of the IU Art Museum’s masterpieces, Francesco Solimena’s Allegory of the Four Parts of the World, highlighting the painting’s history, patronage, and iconography. This exhibition features a thirteen-minute documentary, The World around Solimena.
Special Exhibition: Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibitions

April 2–May 11, 2014
Special Exhibitions Gallery, first floor
At 6:30 p.m. during the opening receptions, each exhibitor will give a brief talk about his or her work in the Thomas T. Solley Atrium, first floor.

April 30–May 11
Jared Gelormino, Sculpture¬
Maria Korol, Painting
Zachary Norman, Photography
Opening Reception: Friday, May 2, 6:00‒8:00 p.m.

“Featherspholio”
A photographic exhibition by Bloomington artist and avid birdwatcher Scott Evans featuring birds of North America. Runs through May 31.

Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm

The Bloomington Battle Games Club, a chapter of the national foam-fighting organization Belegarth, meets every Sunday at Bryan Park (weather permitting) to fight. Medieval and fantasy – inspired combat is re-enacted using foam weapons of several varieties. Multiple styles of gameplay are practiced, including team-based and free-for-all. Visit the Facebook page for further information.

Friends of the Monroe County Library Bookstore at the Ellettsville Library Branch is holding a Clearance Sales starting on Friday, May 9, 2014 through Monday May 12, 2014.

The sale offers thousands of popular and scholarly books, and books for children and young adults at bargain prices!

Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. prices are $1 for hardback and $ .50 for paperback. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. prices are cut in half!! Sunday from 1-5 p.m. is Fill-a-Bag/$2 a bag. Patrons can fill as many bags as they want! Monday is Free Day when all remaining materials are free to the general public!

Shop early for the best selection!!

All proceeds go to support your library’s numerous programs.

Forest Rambler is a five piece band based out of Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana featuring Aaron Smith (vocals, guitar, viola, harmonica), Jacob Eaton (lead guitar, vocals, banjo), Jessica Maclean (vocals, violin, mandolin), Aaron McCracken (bass), and Mike Coletti (drums, percussion). With a wide variety of influences from classical to R&B, they bring a sound that is both unique and familiar. They have released their first full length album and are currently working on playing shows and writing more material. All songs were written and recorded by Forest Rambler at Rewind Records in Bloomington, Indiana during the summer of 2013.

DJ ENGLISH & Misfit Toy Karaoke. Come to sing. Come to dance. DJ English & Misfit Toy Karaoke present no cover karaoke and dancing every Sunday. Sometimes if you ask nicely we are known to get the furry costumes out. Could be the bear. Could be the bumble bee. $2 drink specials.