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.

New in the Galleries: 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.

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.

“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.

The Angel sculpture on the B Line Trail is being dedicated on Sunday May 18 at 2 pm. Joe La Mantia created this collaborative artwork with community members. The Bloomington Peace Choir will be singing and there will be refreshments served. Wander the B Line south of West Second Street, near Allen Street and you will find the Angel sculpture. All Are Welcome!

“Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn has been creating incorruptible independent pop music since the late 1990’s. She has released over a dozen solo and collaborative recordings on K Records, Kill Rock Stars and various domestic and foreign independent labels. Defined by her graceful songwriting and adventuresome recordings, Pitchfork has praised her “incredible voice—a versatile coo that can flit from low, sultry tones to high, airy falsetto in one breath.” Amrit Singh of Revolt TV has called her “an extraordinary lyricist with a piercing sense of melody and a constant interest in subverting the standards of songcraft and production.”

Mirah has always sought the creative company of unique collaborators, from multi-media artists and orchestral composers to dj’s, Baltic music enthusiasts, and entomologists. A partial list of some of her collaborators includes Phil Elverum (The Microphones/Mount Eerie), Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs), Tara Jane O’Neil, Khaela Maricich (The Blow), Melanie Valera (Tender Forever), Jherek Bischoff, Lori Goldston, Britta Johnson and Ginger Brooks Takahashi. Her hotly anticipated new release, Changing Light is due out on May 13th on her own imprint, Absolute Magnitude Recordings. Presented by Spirit of ’68. Must be 18 or older. “

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.