Escape a 'Stranger Things' room, celebrate at a block party, enjoy Shakespeare this week
The unofficial beginning of summer has brought warmer weather and lots to do in Bloomington this coming week. Whether you want to celebrate with others, watch a play, play the piano, listen to Golden Age radio or escape from "Stranger Things" Upside Down, you're covered.
Celebrate art, music and food at Fourth and Rogers Block Party
The third annual Fourth and Rogers Block Party is 5-8 p.m. Friday and this year includes the monthly Gallery Walk. Art, food, and music will be part of the celebration. West Fourth Street will be closed for one block on both sides of Rogers Street. The festivities will take place regardless of weather. A variety of businesses and other organizations, including WonderLab, Lotus Education & Arts Foundation, Artisan Alley, People's Cooperative Market, will provide family-friendly art and activities. For details go to https://bit.ly/3PRWGoR.
MCCT "King Henry IV," Part 1 Shakespeare in the Park
Monroe County Civic Theater, Bloomington's only all-volunteer theater known for showcasing Shakespeare, will present "King Henry IV," Part 1 at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. See it for free at Waldron, Hill, Buskirk Park, 331 S. Washington St. Rain location will be announced soon.For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3NlmBnn/.
More: Music in the hills: Bill Monroe Music Park offers jamboree, bluegrass festivals
Bloomington Handmade Market this Saturday
Want some more bling? Or artwork? After checking out Friday's Gallery Walk, go to Saturday's Bloomington Handmade Market, open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on East Kirkwood Avenue. The juried show will have artists selling everything from prints, jewelry, clothing and quilts to journals, candles and pottery. Go to https://bit.ly/3lYC2FM for more information.
Granfalloon festival is still rolling
Our lives are insane and without purpose, believed Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut: even the term Hoosier, he said, denotes no real similarities among us Indiana folk. Life's only redemption, he believed, is humankind's whopping kindness.
This year's Granfalloon: A Kurt Vonnegut Convergence has been blasting Bloomington with wit and innovation using literature and music inspired by Vonnegut's life. Much of this year's festival is taking place through Sunday. For locations (around town) and times, go to granfalloon.indiana.edu/.
String, piano sessions Thursday through Saturday
Indiana University's Academy is offering string orchestra and piano sessions twice daily, Thursday through Saturday, for adult string and piano player as its "Music and Creativity Weekend for Strings and Piano." Participants also can choose private lessons and chamber music, health and wellness experiences, and additional creative ventures.
The orchestra has two levels: advanced-beginner and intermediate. Pianists should be advanced-beginner through early-advanced. Chamber music coaching is available, and management encourages pre-formed chamber groups. Evenings will include presentations by Jacobs School of Music faculty and guests. For more, go to https://bit.ly/3NMyKBu.
Brown County Playhouse hosts 3 radio plays in 1 show
Friday from 7:30 -9:30 p.m. your can hear three Golden Age radio plays in one show. "The Undecided Molecule," by Norman Corwin is a funny fantasy. "Sorry Wrong Number" is a creepy broadcast that became a movie. It's about 1940s New York and a bed-ridden woman, alone with a phone and good hearing. Her neighbors' walls are thin. The bonus is a new comedy from the National Audio Theatre Festivals, about a household — run by its dogs. Brown County Playhouse is the organizer, 812-988-6555. Get tickets at https://bit.ly/3NC6SQ.
'Escape the Upside Down' this weekend
If you want an immersive experience with a "Stranger Things" theme, then check out a pop-up escape room in the Graduate Bloomington Hotel's Stranger Things suite. "Escape the Upside Down" will be offered Friday, June 3, through Sunday, June 5.
Hosted by Drima, participants will try to solve the interdimensional puzzle and rescue the town from impending doom. Every ticket holder receives a special Polaroid to commemorate the experience and is entered into a raffle to win a specialty gift box with goodies provided by local businesses. Attendees can enhance their visit by joining the Friday night 80s Dance Party at Root Cellar, free cover and unlimited games at The Cade, discounted admission tickets at WonderLab and other Stranger Things-themed delights. Tickets are $35 per person; for more go to drimaevents.com.
IU professor featured in PBS documentary
Free Shakespeare in the (New York's Central ) Park is 60 years old, and a Bloomingtonian is featured in PBS' new documentary about its founder, Joseph (Joe) Papp. "American Masters: Joe Papp in Five Acts," airs at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find PBS at pbs.org.
Dennis J. Reardon, professor emeritus at Indiana University, shares the PBS stage with other stars Papp helped launch, including James Earl Jones and Meryl Streep.
The film is an account of Papp, the world-renowned theater producer, director and arts advocate, who made seeing Shakespeare plays convenient — and free. Papp also founded New York's Public Theater and produced "A Chorus Line," Hair" and "For colored girls who considered suicide/When the rainbow is enuf."
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Annual block party, 'Stranger Things' event and Shakespeare this week
