Where did the Indianapolis Civic Theatre go?

The Indianapolis Civic Theatre, which was once linked onto Marian Hall at Marian University, has now moved its location to Carmel, Indiana and is now known as the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre. Questions are beginning to rise as to why the location has changed and how will Marian University occupy the empty theater left behind.

            Back in 2004, Marian University welcomed The Indianapolis Civic Theatre to its campus bringing in many visitors and lovers of the arts. This is the Civic Theatre’s third location change; before Marian University, its original home was at the Indianapolis Museum of Art during 1973 to 2004.

            “The Indianapolis Civic Theatre moved for many reasons,” said Deborah Lawrence, Vice President for Administration and General Counsel. “Among them was the need for more space for performances, rehearsals and educational programs, as well as the desire for more amenities for patrons, including reception and entertainment spaces and parking.”

            Marian University’s partnership with the Indianapolis Civic Theatre brought in thousands of patrons. Lawrence feels that Marian University has lost a vital connection to the larger Indianapolis community and a cultural resource for the students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

            The movement has caused fury and controversy from those who were a part of the Indianapolis Civic Theatre. With feelings of abandonment and disagreement of moving away from Marion County, the Civic Theatre lost 10 percent of donors and subscribers.

            Bob Sobera, artistic director, and Cheri Dick, executive director, signed a 100 year lease at the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre. They plan to reach to different audiences and provide various classes in the arts.

            “We will use the rest of this academic year to assess the needs of the university for the now renamed Marian University Theatre,” said Lawrence. “Many academic departments, including the theater and music programs, would like to be able to use that space more frequently. Once we have determined the needs of the Marian community, we will reach out to the local arts community to offer this venue to them for performances.”

            With already being approached by small art groups, Marian hopes to offer a wide range of enriching performances to the Indianapolis community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni. They don’t plan to have a resident company like Civic Theatre occupy the building, which should eliminate challenges of scheduling and hopes to uphold a strong community connection.

*Article was written for Marian University's The Knight Times and published in the fall semester of 2011.

MU students tour through haunted Irvington

On October 24, students from Marian University got in the Halloween spirit and ventured through Indiana’s most haunted community, Irvington, on a ghost tour. Alan Hunter, a columnist for the Eastside Voice, led the students of Marian University through Irvington, educating everyone on the spirits that haunt the neighborhood and sharing famous ghost stories that shape its culture.

Irvington, being named after Washington Irving who wrote the famous tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” holds quite an exquisite history that haunts over its citizens. Spirits such as Bona Thompson (a student who once studied at Butler College), George W. Julian (a politician who served in Congress who really doesn’t want drinking, drugs, or cursing nearby his house), and even Abraham Lincoln’s train (which carried his corpse to Springfield, Illinois after his assassination) remain on the grounds where they once lived and make frequent appearances.

Hunter discussed and showed a few houses which contain disturbing facts and stories for those living in Irvington. Students learned about D.C. Stephenson, who was Indiana’s leader of the KKK, and the madness that occurred in his mansion. Stephenson was charged for second-degree murder of Madge Oberholtzer, who lived down the street, which led to the deconstruction of the Klan in Indiana. Also, Hunter told students of the haunted cottage where H.H. Holmes once stayed and the murder of boy traveling along with him. These stories remain famous; however, people rarely go near these locations due to fear, especially when the sun has gone down.

            Travis Ybarra, a student who took the tour, really enjoyed learning about the paranormal in Irvington and plans to return to take pictures and recordings of the various haunted locations.

            “I really enjoyed the tour guide; I felt he was well-spoken and likeable,” said Ybarra. “I’m really interested in the paranormal and what happens after life, so the experience was really cool. I enjoyed the H.H. Holmes story and found it to be most fascinating.”

            It was revealed in the tour that a movie about H.H. Holmes is in the works and will be played by the one and only, Leonardo DiCaprio. Residents of Irvington hope that some of production will take place in Irvington where H.H. Holmes murdered a little boy in one of the cottages in the neighborhood.

            Learn more about the spirits that lurk through Irvington and its history. Irvington Ghost Tours will offer their last tours of the year on Friday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. This Saturday, Irvington will also be hosting their annual Halloween Festival, which will include a costume parade, a five mile run, performances, and readings.

 

*Article was written for Marian University's The Knight Times and published in October 2011.

Namaste, yogis!

Interested in yoga? You should give yoga a shot. Seriously, it’s changed my life. Ever since I started practicing yoga in the beginning of 2012, I’ve fallen in love with it and cannot get enough of it. Not only have I improved my strength and flexibility, it’s become a positive attribute. Yoga is magnificent because it releases stress and keeps me motivated in all aspects of my life. I urge you all to give it a shot in a classroom setting. Trust me; it’s so much better than doing an instructional video.

One of my favorite places to take yoga is at Totally HIP Fitness in Brownsburg. For beginners, I highly recommend taking Jessica’s classes. She’s very laid-back, friendly, and extremely helpful. Her classes are taught in a dim room, where she plays calming music and walks everyone through poses step-by-step. She guides you through sun salutations, beginner balance poses, and various stretches. If you ever feel you’re not doing a pose correctly, just raise your hand and she’ll be by your side to push you further and position your body appropriately. And yes, even she falls sometimes in balance poses. But instead of shaming herself, she dusts herself off, laughs, and gets back into position. You’ll feel so comfortable in her presence and have a lot of fun. Guaranteed!

Also, I love Peace Through Yoga in Zionsville. There is also a location at Eagle Creek, but unless you want to pay for admittance into the park, I suggest making a trip to the Zionsville location. My good friend, Laura Fiddler, instructs on Sunday nights for beginner to intermediate yogis. Let me tell you—she is awesome. Most of her classes are heated, which I personally love, because there’s nothing more satisfying than challenging yourself and leaving class dripping with sweat. Sorry for the nasty details, but who doesn’t love validation that you kicked butt? Anyways, back to PTY and Laura, give them a shot after you’ve practiced yoga for a while. Also, Laura has a yoga blog where she shows beginners how to excel on various poses step-by-step in the privacy of your home. Check out www.yogabylaura.blogspot.com for more information!

At the beginning, I was rather intimidated going into this practice; I felt everyone in the room could smell I was a newbie. While everyone was mastering their headstands, I was just glad I could nail the dolphin pose. However, I learned after a few trips to class, that nobody is wondering where the heck I am came from, or why I can’t master my chaturanga, which I still haven’t fully grasped. Everyone is in their own world and focusing on their practice, NOT judging others. The only person who can judge you is you. Don’t ever judge yourself. They call ‘yoga’ a practice for a reason: practice makes perfect. Don’t worry so much about what the person next to you is doing—concentrate on how you’re bettering your mind, body, and spirit and go with the flow. Challenge yourself, but don’t be so harsh on yourself. Most importantly, have fun!