A line-up of eclectic performers and sold-out shows took center stage at the Ogle Center box offi ce last semester, with more performances to come.
After struggling through the recession, the Ogle Center marched to the beat of a different drum last semester, opening their 2009 to 2010 season with sold out shows in their “Diff erent Drummer Series.”
Kyle Ridout, manager at the Ogle Center, said the center is climbing out of last year’s low subscriptions season passes and lower funding from sponsors.
“People are looking for something to do close to home,” Ridout said.
The three big lines of funding for the center include sponsors, advertising and ticket sales.
Ridout said with increased funding from sponsors such as Chase Bank, Brown-Forman and Clark Memorial Hospital, increased advertising in programs and ticket sales, bigger and bett er talent was able to be booked.
“There is about an $187,000 budget surplus projected for this season,” Ridout said.
The Ogle Center’s opening show featured, “Barrage,” an eclectic mix of music, song and dance, in the center’s “Different Drummer Series.”Australian guitarist and two-time Grammy-nominee Tommy Emmanuel and the Grammy-nominated bluegrass band, Cherryholmes, were also part of the “Different Drummer series.”
Barrage and Cherryholmes were both sold out shows in the series. Scheduled performances for the “Diff erent Drummer series” include the Five
Browns, a quintet of pianists, on Feb. 13 and Vishten, a musical quartet mixing French, Irish and Scottish styles of Eastern Canada, performing on March 13.
The Ogle Center’s “Discovery Series,” beginning Jan. 29, will feature musicians from the IU Bloomington Jacobs School of Music.
Students include Rose Armbrust, violist, performing Jan. 29, followed by Susan Chou, pianist, on March 5 and Danbi Um, violinist, on April 9.
The Ogle Center’s “Global Village Series,” featured performances such as Nick Pitera, Disney animator and one-man duet founded on Youtube, will feature KJ Denhart, urban folk and jazz artist, performing on Feb. 20.
The “Chase Bank Children’s Series” presents free shows to children and parents, reservations are required.
The children’s series featured talent like Thaddeus Rex, musician, martial artist, song-writer and actor in the Emmy-winning PBS kid’s show, “The Friday Zone.”
The series also featured Dan Kamin, illusionist and master-mime who created the physical comedy sequences for Robert Downey Jr. in “Chaplin,” Johnny Depp in his role for “Benny and Joon” and for Tim Burton in “Mars Att acks!.”
Mandy Starks and her 5-year-old son Ethan Starks attended Kamin’s performance on Jan. 15.
“I think it’s great that the show was free,” Starks said. “My son loved him.”
The Children’s Series will present Mama Yaa Asantewaa, known as “Storyteller Mama Yaa,” on Feb. 3, 4 and 5, Mark Kistler, artist, on Feb. 17, 18 and 19 and Jim Cosgrove, known as “Mr. Stinky Feet,” award-winning kid-rocker, on April 14 and 15.
“Mr. Stinky Feet” performance for April 16 is already sold-out.
The IUS Department of Music and the IUS Department of Theater also perform in the Ogle Center. The IUS concert band will perform on Feb. 14 and the Department of Music will host the Southern Indiana’s Women’s Choral Festival on April 19.
The Department of Theater will be performing “The Boys Next Door” in February and “Vanities” in April.
Tickets for all shows at the Ogle Center can be purchased at the Ogle Center box offi ce or at www.ticketmaster.com .
Ticket prices for the Ogle Center series’ performances range from free for the “Chase Bank Children’s Series” and $20 to $30 for other series or season subscriptions may be purchased. Student discounts are offered for some shows. Ticket prices for the IUS Department of Music and the IUS Department of Theater performances range from $6 to $12.
The Ogle Center is home to the Richard K. Stem Concert Hall, The Recital Hall, Robinson Theater, the Ronald L. Barr Gallery and an outside amphitheater used for IUS commencement ceremonies.
The center was named after Paul W. Ogle.
By LEAH TATE
Staff Writer
lmtate@ius.edu