Indiana University announced today that it's moving its summer theater program from Brown County Playhouse in Nashville, IN, to the main campus in Bloomington. There, it will be developing a summer theater festival.
What's good news for Bloomington--which continues to grow as a home for quality theater--is bad news for the Brown County town. Nashville, well known for painters and folliage, has been a more desirable destination thanks to the presence of the Playhouse and the quality of work done there.
While I didn't take advantage of it as often as I would have liked, I can honestly say that every production of seen there, from "The Rainmaker" to this year's "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" has been well worth the trek.
It will be missed.
Your thoughts?
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And then, after I started blogging about theatre and therefore started planning whole weekends around theatre destinations, there always seemed to be more shows than I could possibly see here in the Indianapolis area.
I guess if I had wanted it more, I would have tried harder to make it happen, but still... I agree with Chuck that it's the end of an era. And I agree with you, Lou, that having strong performance art in Nashville made it a more desirable location for art lovers in general.
On the other hand, if I were still living in Bloomington but as the theatre addict that I am now, I would love to have another strong, convenient source for live theatre during the summer.
In any case, I agree with you that Bloomington is becoming quite attractive in terms of live theatre. I am looking forward to seeing and writing about the Cardinal Theatre Company's production of "Grapes of Wrath" this weekend, for example, and the Bloomington Playwrights Project has an intriguing season planned as well.
So many shows, so little time...It's a good problem to have!
Hope Baugh
Indy Theatre Habit
What is impportant is that Brown County has some very excellent entertainment options...The Coachlight Musical Theater (all orginal with local talent), the Red Barn Jamboree (Robert Shaw as a young Elvis and a young Johnny Cash), Mike's Dance Barn, The Figtree Gallery (live local music) so much so that we have created the Entertainment Trail of over 20 entertainment venues throughout our County, making Brown County/Nashville an even more desirable destination.
So while this is dismaying, Brown County is growing and doing well...We invite you all. Maybe next weekend for our annual Outhouse Races!
TOm Vornholt
President
Brown County Economic Development Commission
I love the idea of an Entertainment Trail!
Hope Baugh
Indy Theatre Habit
I look forward to future trips--and to see what happens with the Brown County Playhouse space.
--Lou
http://www.browncountyplayhouse.org
Great line up of shows...no longer part of IU, now operated by Brown Countians.