In a recent post to this blog a patron wrote: "I do have to recommend, though that anyone attending your fine theater who approaches a mere six feet in height, as I do, should avoid the balcony seats. I assume there is more legroom on the main floor."
Thanks for the note. Yes, there is more leg room on the main floor. And when that seating is available, our box office staff tries to encourage taller patrons to move downstairs. Some choose to. That said, others, like me (and I'm 6'2"), enjoy the height of balcony seats and the perspective I get of the stage from there.
Indeed, balcony seating has its ups and downs ...
Regrettably, regrading the balcony to create more leg room during our renovation would have required tearing the balcony out and essentially starting from scratch. Unlike the low-grade sweep to the front rows of the main floor, the balcony is structured in its stairs and levels, providing a real physical obstacle to retooling the theater to fit our increasing height. It's a problem historic theaters have on Broadway and nationwide.
Long story short, I hope everyone will come to know the limitations (a tighter fit) and advantages (a great view) of sitting in the balcony, then order early to get the seats you want most. We've tried to do a lot through our renovation of providing comfortable seating for our patrons (and the improvements have been great), but there are some realities with this almost 90 year old theater we just can't overcome as easily.
We'll also work to provide more information about this problem for you in the near future. Our box office manager recently walked through the theater with a tape measure and has lots of new facts about our space we'll share as soon as we can get them compiled ...
Patron comments
This sort of ties into a previous post about seating…my husband is 6’7” and when we last went to the symphony, we were in the balcony. We were on the main floor this time, and his FIRST comment was how much room there was…that paired with the underseat cooling made for a very enjoyable evening (not to mention Chopin).
As a teacher, I have taken classes and sat in the balcony…which is wonderful….not ONCE did I hear “I can’t see.”
Anyway- thank you for providing such a great place!
--Kelly Mathy
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hal Holbrook in "Mark Twain Tonight"
Hal Holbrook brought his Tony, Emmy, and Drama Desk Award-winning "Mark Twain Tonight" to the BCPA on Friday, wrapping the capacity crowd around his finger with the yarns he's been spinning from Mark Twain's own writings for over 54 years.One of the things that is most amazing about this show, other than Holbrook's spot-on characterization of the writer, is how Twain's century-old stories still address the current social and political issues of our day. Holbrook is a master storyteller, a devoted student of Twain who revises his presentation of the show regularly to highlight certain areas of Twain's work to fit the mood and atmosphere of the day.
Holbrook is also a true gentleman, and was a joy for the many people who got to work with him and meet him during his stay in Bloomington. He arrived on Thursday and, I've heard, sat and chatted with the guests and staff of his hotel while he was sitting in the lobby. He also met a group of fans after the show for autographs and photos. He was exhausted but spent 25 minutes with the crowd making sure everyone had their chance to say hello.
He even signed our office microwave, which we'd lent him for his dressing room ...
Another interesting story leading up to his performance:Holbrook came to Bloomington from a mid-week performance in Memphis. When he arrived in Illinois it was discovered that a crew member in Memphis accidentally removed the shipping labels from one of his costume boxes, and the box was mistakenly stored away backstage instead of being sent on to the next stop on his tour as expected. When the mistake was discovered, Holbrook's road manager arranged for the box to be expressed to us, but it didn't arrive in the morning shipment, as expected, keeping everyone a little on edge until it finally arrived later in the afternoon, just in time for the show.
Were you at the show? We'd love to hear more about your experience ...
Email me at jaalberts@artsblooming.org and I'll get it posted.
Patron Comments
Hal Holbrook/ Mark Twain brought out the passion in me. He made me laugh and yes he made me cry. He made me think have we advanced in our strife to better ourselves or shall we always be chained to the same emotions year after year century after century? In retrospect his dialog fit much of 2008 as it did in 1905... amazing! So now I dont know what to say... so I shall just smile.
- Paula Ward
We LOVED it! We were expecting a lot and were not disappointed. It was also great to see the house so full. Don't know who else you could get to come here that would be comparable to Hal Holbrook, but we'd sure go to anything else like this. Thanks!
- Jerry and Phylis Versteegh
We attended Friday night’s performance and found the program most enjoyable. We love the facility.
- Karen McKinney
Hal Holbrook's Mark Twain is amazing! His stage presence and delivery is superb. The content makes you think ...and laugh...and it's very relevant to today's world. The BPCA is a beautiful facility to be able to see the performers well from almost any seat and the acoustics are wonderful. It's definitely a treasure for our community.
-Deanna Frautschi
My wife and I found out about the show just last week and were lucky to find tickets still available. Looked like it was completely full. What a show! I expected the laughter, but the tears were coming quite often, also. Yes we are still a ridiculous people, and that's fortunate for the humorists of our day, but isn't that kind of sad, too.But the real tearjerking moment was the reading from Huck Finn. When Jim was telling of his dreams of getting work when they got to Cairo, and saving all his pay, so he could buy his wife; not buy his wife a dress, or a ring, but actually buy his wife out of slavery, I was floored. It seemed Mr. Holbrook was himself shaken at times while reading the part.
I do have to recommend, though that anyone attending your fine theater who approaches a mere six feet in height, as I do, should avoid the balcony seats. I assume there is more legroom on the main floor.
-James Bacigalupo
Monday, March 3, 2008
"I Love a Piano"
Touring the nation to terrific reviews, the Irving Berlin revue "I Love a Piano" rolled into the BCPA on Saturday night, March 1. The evening started off with a very interesting pre-show discussion led by Illinois Wesleyan Emeritus Professor Jared Brown, talking about Berlin's history, including his over 1500 compositions, his musical abilities (or lack thereof; he could neither read nor write music and could only play the piano in one key), and his lasting place in American musical history.
The pre-show set the mood off right for a high energy performance featuring over 64 of Berlin's songs. Six performers took the stage leading the audience through the history of the America Berlin saw in his 70 years of work as a composer. From the ragtime of the '20s through World War II, and his final hits from the movie "Easter Parade," the show was a snapshot of Berlin's musical genius.
For me, the most impressive thing about the show, created by Bloomington-Normal native Ray Roderick, was the energy of the six performers. The three men and three women wove in and out, and around the stage, trading solos, harmonizing with ease, and maintaining a high level of energy throughout.
And, heaven knows these performers need high energy. The show loaded out quickly after the curtain fell to get everyone on the road for an 8 am load-in 33 hours later ... in Panama City, FL.
The night ended with a reception for the BCPA's Arts Partners and to thank Jerry and Carole Ringer for their generous event sponsorship. One of the perks of being an Arts Partner, the reception was a great time to enjoy some refreshments and talk about the great performance.
Were you there? Did you "Love a Piano"? Click here and let us know ...
PATRON COMMENTS
My husband and I were so delighted that we had purchased tickets for this show – we loved every minute of it! That was one of the best entertainments we’ve seen, although we have seen many great shows throughout this season. Thank you Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts for bringing good, family entertainment to our cities.
--Karen Stivers
My wife Carole and I very much enjoyed the program. We look forward to"Mark Twain Tonight" and Arlo Guthrie. We look forward to yourofferings for the next season.
--Albert Semmler
The pre-show set the mood off right for a high energy performance featuring over 64 of Berlin's songs. Six performers took the stage leading the audience through the history of the America Berlin saw in his 70 years of work as a composer. From the ragtime of the '20s through World War II, and his final hits from the movie "Easter Parade," the show was a snapshot of Berlin's musical genius.
For me, the most impressive thing about the show, created by Bloomington-Normal native Ray Roderick, was the energy of the six performers. The three men and three women wove in and out, and around the stage, trading solos, harmonizing with ease, and maintaining a high level of energy throughout.
And, heaven knows these performers need high energy. The show loaded out quickly after the curtain fell to get everyone on the road for an 8 am load-in 33 hours later ... in Panama City, FL.
The night ended with a reception for the BCPA's Arts Partners and to thank Jerry and Carole Ringer for their generous event sponsorship. One of the perks of being an Arts Partner, the reception was a great time to enjoy some refreshments and talk about the great performance.
Were you there? Did you "Love a Piano"? Click here and let us know ...
PATRON COMMENTS
My husband and I were so delighted that we had purchased tickets for this show – we loved every minute of it! That was one of the best entertainments we’ve seen, although we have seen many great shows throughout this season. Thank you Bloomington Cultural Center for the Performing Arts for bringing good, family entertainment to our cities.
--Karen Stivers
My wife Carole and I very much enjoyed the program. We look forward to"Mark Twain Tonight" and Arlo Guthrie. We look forward to yourofferings for the next season.
--Albert Semmler
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Tim Reynolds and TR3
It's safe to say, it shredded!
Tim Reynolds -- Dave Matthews collaborator and guitar god! -- reunited with his trio TR3 for an amazing night of funk, rock, blues, and just about anything else you could imagine.
The enthusiastic crowd of just under 600 people heard Tim with Mick Vaughn on bass and Dan Martier on drums perform a number of original compositions and absolutely fantastic covers of acts including Neil Young, James Brown, and the Doobie Brothers.
Check out those videos below. More video clips from the concert can be found here.
"Ohio"
"Jesus Is Just Alright"
"Sex Machine"
A much different set list than what you've heard on his acoustic duo tours and CDs with Dave Matthews, it was great to hear what he can do plugged in with his old mates. Like with his acoustic, he can make the guitar do things you never dreamed were possible.
Were you there? What did you think? Write a review to me here (jaalberts@artsblooming.org) and I'll post it to the site.
PATRON COMMENTS
I mixed this fun one at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. Tim and his band were a treat to work for and a super talented three piece band to mix. THANKS!) I wish I had my camera to savor the moment, but I didn't know about Tim's "open taping policy" until after mixing the FOH show seen above (THANK YOU jaalberts for the box seat view). I asked Tim after the show why he didn't want me to mic James Brown and he said, "He never worked before tonight, we weren't quite sure what to do. When he was given to us someone said he was broken. What did you do to him?" Someone on the crew said that they changed the batteries and we all had a good laugh.
-Todd "Igor" Ward
Tim and trio rocked. I would love to see more shows like this at BCPA. He gave me chills with some of the guitar solos, and it was refreshing to see such a show locally! Usually I have to hit CHI or STL to catch a similar show. Keep it up! Just wish the crowd was a little looser.
-Alison Brandow
I enjoyed the Tim Reynolds concert. After seeing him play along side Dave Matthews for years it was nice to see his solo act. I would like to see more artists like Tim come through Bloomington. I found out about the show when I drove by the performing arts center and caught Reynolds name out of the corner of my eye. With two universities in town the show could have been advertised more around the campuses.
-Zack Wolfe
(Marketing note: Lots of advertising was done at both IWU and ISU. If anyone reading this knows of a venue where we aren't advertising, but should, email me at jaalberts@artsblooming.org. We're planning to do more programming of this sort next year and we definitely want to get the word out.)
Tim Reynolds -- Dave Matthews collaborator and guitar god! -- reunited with his trio TR3 for an amazing night of funk, rock, blues, and just about anything else you could imagine.
The enthusiastic crowd of just under 600 people heard Tim with Mick Vaughn on bass and Dan Martier on drums perform a number of original compositions and absolutely fantastic covers of acts including Neil Young, James Brown, and the Doobie Brothers.
Check out those videos below. More video clips from the concert can be found here.
"Ohio"
"Jesus Is Just Alright"
"Sex Machine"
A much different set list than what you've heard on his acoustic duo tours and CDs with Dave Matthews, it was great to hear what he can do plugged in with his old mates. Like with his acoustic, he can make the guitar do things you never dreamed were possible.
Were you there? What did you think? Write a review to me here (jaalberts@artsblooming.org) and I'll post it to the site.
PATRON COMMENTS
I mixed this fun one at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. Tim and his band were a treat to work for and a super talented three piece band to mix. THANKS!) I wish I had my camera to savor the moment, but I didn't know about Tim's "open taping policy" until after mixing the FOH show seen above (THANK YOU jaalberts for the box seat view). I asked Tim after the show why he didn't want me to mic James Brown and he said, "He never worked before tonight, we weren't quite sure what to do. When he was given to us someone said he was broken. What did you do to him?" Someone on the crew said that they changed the batteries and we all had a good laugh.
-Todd "Igor" Ward
Tim and trio rocked. I would love to see more shows like this at BCPA. He gave me chills with some of the guitar solos, and it was refreshing to see such a show locally! Usually I have to hit CHI or STL to catch a similar show. Keep it up! Just wish the crowd was a little looser.
-Alison Brandow
I enjoyed the Tim Reynolds concert. After seeing him play along side Dave Matthews for years it was nice to see his solo act. I would like to see more artists like Tim come through Bloomington. I found out about the show when I drove by the performing arts center and caught Reynolds name out of the corner of my eye. With two universities in town the show could have been advertised more around the campuses.
-Zack Wolfe
(Marketing note: Lots of advertising was done at both IWU and ISU. If anyone reading this knows of a venue where we aren't advertising, but should, email me at jaalberts@artsblooming.org. We're planning to do more programming of this sort next year and we definitely want to get the word out.)
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