The first bite
John and Fred Baldini, children of immigrant parents from Lucca, Italy, brought pizza, a little-known novelty in America at the time, to town in 1936 when they opened Lucca Grill in Downtown Bloomington. A 1953 Vidette ad touted Lucca’s “choice steaks, Italian pizza, and spaghetti.”
Takeout options, such as Casella’s Pizza Palace, opened near campus in the mid-1950s. A 1955 Vidette article introducing Homecoming court nominee Mary Broomfield ’56 contained the paper’s first account of a college student enjoying pizza under the headline “Mary Likes Pizza.” Another Vidette story in 1957 described “a pizza party and dancing” at Smith Hall.
Charles “Tot” Baldini, son of Lucca Grill co-founder Fred Baldini
Delivering dough
By the late-1950s, pizza ads included phone numbers for delivery. “Have pizza, will travel” became Casella’s slogan. Ronnie’s Pizza boasted “fast, speedy delivery.” A 1962 ad for Pizza on Wheels described “a real Italian pizza completely prepared and baked in our spotless, radio-dispatched, mobile kitchen enroute to your door.” Mr. Kelly’s, across from the Normal Theater, offered “rush service on pizza.” And Tobin’s, which opened in 1963, assembled the largest fleet of food delivery vehicles in town.
Yet some students still preferred dining in. Ragusa’s Pizza Palace and Italian Restaurant opened in the early 1960s on Dale Street. Avanti’s opened a block north in 1971. It served pizza, pasta, and sandwiches on its famously sweet bread.
“If dad wanted to take me to dinner on Sunday night before he headed back home, we ate at Avanti’s,” remembered Barbara (Fairweather) Byer ’75. “Nothing else compares.”
Pairs well with beer
A pizza renaissance was set in motion on July 9, 1973, when previously dry Normal approved the sale of alcohol in town. Because establishments serving alcohol were also required to sell food, pizza was a tasty option for restauranteurs catering to the Illinois State crowd. Among the first to receive liquor licenses were The Gallery and The Welcome Inn (upstairs restaurant)/The Cellar (downstairs bar) in Downtown Normal, which featured pizza on their menus.
“Our friend, Patricia Cronin ’81, worked at The Cellar, and once in a while she would bring home a pizza for my roomie, Sue Mallonee Necessary ’79, and me, at midnight after they closed,” recalled Marguerite “Peg” Vahldieck ’79. “If we were already sleeping, we would get up and eat that wonderful deep dish.”
Josie’s Pizza Kitchen opened a two-story restaurant on East Beaufort Street in 1976 that served pan pizza and beer and featured trees and plants growing under a skylight in the center of the bar.
Newspaper feature
Vidette extras
Landing “The Flying Tomato”
Garcia’s, a pizza game-changer, opened its first Normal location in 1978 on Dale. Owners Ralph Senn and Joe Ream, known as “The Flying Tomato Brothers” for their iconic hot air balloon that occasionally floated over the Quad, pegged Illinois State’s campus as a prime location to grow their Champaign-based business.
Garcia’s differentiated itself with rectangular pan pizza by the slice. It also served sharable thick crust “pizza in a pan” and stuffed pizza available as a “Gutbuster,” heaped with cheese, sausage, green peppers, mushrooms, and onions.
A second location on Broadway Avenue invited patrons with an indoor waterfall, tropical greenery, balconies, and a 1,000 square-foot skylight from which patrons could see 10-year-old Watterson Towers rising high above. Pinball machines and arcade games including Centipede and Galaga added to the appeal.
“It was considered ‘cool’ to work there with our blue jean shirts and red bandanas,” said Karen Mordini-Schnorr ’82. “I met my future husband at a party after work. I was still in my work clothes and swore he was attracted to the scent of Garcia’s pizza.”
Many relationships were launched at Garcia’s. Others failed to take flight. “I remember being on a not-so-great date when my date announced he had the recipe for Garcia’s pizza sauce,” said former student Sandy Stolberg. “For that all-too-brief moment, the date improved dramatically.”
Garcia’s, also located on East College Avenue and inside the Bone Student Center, became “intermingled with the ISU college experience,” according to a 1988 Vidette article.
Explore more from Garcia’s
Ralph Senn, co-owner Garcia’s Pizza in a Pan
Normal twist on Chicago flavor
“My check register was: Micheleo’s, Micheleo’s, Micheleo’s, Kroger,” said Mick Hall ’89. “Those were priorities in the ’80s.”
As the food manager and treasurer for his fraternity, John Narish ’93 took full advantage of a Micheleo’s Sunday evening deal. “I looked at what the regular meal was going to cost versus taking the house to the pizza place,” Narish said. His favorite was cheese, sausage, and extra sauce. “Micheleo’s was far cheaper than the cost of feeding the guys through our service. Everyone loved it, and I was a hero.”
By the late-1980s, more than 25 pizza places served Bloomington-Normal. The list included Chicago Dough Company and Papa John’s, which was unrelated to the national franchise and located in a “small shack at the corner of Willow and Normal,” according to the Vidette.
Pizza World, which originated in Normal in 1970 and became a small franchise, was another student favorite. In 1979, the company paraded its fleet of 34 red and white AMC Spirit delivery cars through campus, and across Central Illinois, to mark its rise in the world of pizza.
Micheleo’s Pizza founders Mike and Geri Koch
Late-night pie
Grog’s joined the scene in 1989. Located on East Beaufort, it offered 12-inch pizzas for $3.99 and was open until 2 a.m. on weeknights and 3:30 a.m. on weekends. “We would walk in and order a small cheese—and onions and green peppers were always free,” recalled Scott Urbon ’94. “I can’t tell you how many times I burnt the roof of my mouth sitting on the curb outside.”
Grog’s later became Prime Time Pizza, which continued the tradition of baking affordable pizza into the wee hours of the morning. Jake’s, Rhino’s, and Dirk’s also served Downtown Normal.
Across campus, students living in Dunn-Barton and Walker halls needn’t go far to grab a quality slice. They had Chatter’s in the basement of Walker. “A whole pizza done to order, plus they sold pints of Ben & Jerry’s,” said Kathleen (Prohaska) Podraza ’09. “We used to walk across the road, from Hamilton, late at night and then have everyone over, crowded into someone’s room, watching movies.”
David Foster Wallace
In Bloomington, Monical’s Pizza was a favorite of the late David Foster Wallace, an Illinois State professor and author of the acclaimed novel Infinite Jest. His first interview with Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky for his book, Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself, took place at the Monical’s on South Eldorado Road in 1996.
A fresh slice
The new millennium brought more options including ZaZa’s Pizza Palace, Redbird Pizza, and Gumby’s with its deliciously greasy Pokey Stix, while a few legendary pizzerias served their final slices. Garcia’s left Normal in 1999, and Micheleo’s closed in 2010.
For alumni craving nostalgia, Tobin’s also serves Micheleo’s, and Garcia’s still operates in Champaign. Avanti’s, Lucca, and Tobin’s remain major pizza players in Bloomington-Normal.
Uptown Normal’s transformation in the mid-2000s sparked investments in new restaurants such as Medici, featuring stone oven pizza, and Firehouse Pizza. One of Uptown’s newest restaurant’s, Pizza Payaa, serves artisan pan pizzas. A 2021 Vidette article noted “the menu includes square pies, gluten-free pies and more.” Flingers Pizza Pub is another community favorite.
Today’s Redbirds have more options for different styles of pizza than ever. But instead of thumbing through the phone book or dialing a memorized number like 888-9999 (for Prime Time Pizza), they’re more likely to order through a mobile app. And while the selection has changed, generations of Redbirds hold shared experiences of laughing with friends or cramming for an exam between bites of crispy crust, melted cheese, and their favorite toppings.
“We’d get our pizza by the slice at Jake’s, and we’d talk about classes and work and dreams and bucket-list vacations … and everything else you can think of,” recalled Ryan Elias ’04. Because when it comes to nourishing the college experience, pizza always delivers.
Guess the Pizza
Hover or navigate to images for the answers.
Avanti’s
Monical’s
Garcia’s
Micheleo’s
Tobin’s
Lucca
Garcia’s
Flingers
Avanti’s
Monical’s
Gumby’s
Lucca
Jake’s
Tobin’s
Special thanks to Julie Neville, M.S. ’12, Illinois State University senior archives specialist; Bill Kemp ’88, M.S. ’00, McLean County Museum of History librarian; Larry Carius, Bloomington-Normal Restaurant Scene founder; and Clay Jackson, Pantagraph photographer.
When Rick Valentin was a young college musician and had an opening for a bass player, he turned to Rose Marshack. There was only one problem: Marshack had never played bass.
“His bass players kept quitting,” Marshack said. “He didn’t know he needed me as his bass player.”
Appears InThe choice was between Marshack and a guy named Pete. “But Rose had perfect pitch, and she was into punk rock,” Valentin said. “Obviously, she was the right choice.”
Marshack and Valentin have been bandmates for 38 years, married for 28 years, and Illinois State University faculty members in the School of Creative Technologies (CTK) together for more than a decade (Marshack was hired in 2007, Valentin in 2009). Both are CTK professors. Marshack is the school’s interim director.
The parents of two sons, Gram and Dao, they still play music together—just not as often as they once did.
Their journey began when they met as undergrads in their dormitory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Their band, Poster Children, played dorms and house parties on campus and later opened for bigger punk bands. They were a touring band for over a decade. The years rolled by, and the shows piled up. Poster Children has played over 800 dates in the U.S. and Europe and released 10 albums. They’ve had music videos on MTV and been featured in wide-ranging media, from The New York Times to the Cartoon Network.
As computer science majors, they knew a lot about technology. They designed their own album covers and were early adopters of new technologies. They posted blogs and podcasts on the internet long before those terms were part of our lexicon. It was a way to connect with their growing fan base. They published their first podcast in 1999, although that’s not what it was called back then.
“We knew that we could create an audio file, and we knew that we could put it on the internet so anyone could access it,” Valentin said. “And then we started just the two of us doing a recorded kind of chat and putting that up.”
Marshack wrote about the band’s history and her experience in it in Play Like a Man: My Life in Poster Children, published last year. It chronicled the band’s do-it-yourself (DIY) ethic: writing original music, booking its own shows, selling T-shirts, driving a van all over the country, and sleeping on the floors in the houses and apartments of fellow musicians in the cities they played. (They reciprocated the hospitality when musician friends came to play in Central Illinois.)
Play Like a Man also documents the band’s innovative ways and DIY approach to technology. Skills honed by Marshack and Valentin from their experiences playing in Poster Children have served them well as professors in CTK, where they infuse their teaching with the same innovative spirit they’ve brought to their band.
—Rose Marshack
“We teach students that community is important, and that they’re a community of students.”
Valentin remembers feeling out of place as a tech-savvy musician back in the 1980s, but his students today embrace the identity. “Now it seems pretty normal to be kind of a creative, techie person, but it was unusual then,” he said. “Now more people have seen the value of that mix of creative work and how technology can be creative.”
But other lessons learned from the road permeate their teaching, too. They try to build the same community in the classroom that they have felt as a community of musicians.
“We teach students that community is important, and that they’re a community of students,” Marshack said. “I tell them in the middle of class when I’m teaching, ‘OK, take a break now and see if the person next to you is caught up. I want you to make sure that they know exactly what’s going on in the class.’
“Because we’re all in this together. Once you leave here, you’re going to be working with other people. You need to learn to take care of them.”
Valentin said CTK offers a collaborative environment to help students thrive. It’s by design.
“We want the modern or future student to be able to ride the waves of technology and changes and still be able to be relevant and do good work,” he said. “Because of their skills, a lot of times they become the sort of connectors in situations where the engineers can’t talk to the creatives. So, they can be the person who is trying to get everybody to understand each other. That’s a really valuable job and skill.
“You can call it networking, or you can call it community. And that’s where we came from. And I think that’s typical of musicians.”
CTK is growing at Illinois State—it grew from a program to the School of Creative Technologies in 2023—and Marshack and Valentin have played no small part. But they haven’t done it alone. Marshack praised her predecessor, Aaron Paolucci, for his leadership, program creator Dave Williams for his vision, and advisor Jody Decremer for building relationships—and community—with students.
“I’m just thrilled to be the caretaker. We’re a really tight-knit group of professors who really respect—I could even say love each other,” she said. “I’m thrilled that Rick is also part of it. These people are my heroes.”
Marshack recalls being impressed by the personal touch at Illinois State during the interview process. “The faculty were talking about students by name, and I was like, ‘You know their names!?’” she said. “I thought: ‘I’m home. I want to be here.’”
She still feels that way about her colleagues, describing them as “extra generous and extra caring.”
At her first winter commencement at Illinois State some years ago, Marshack was seated next to a faculty member from another department. She was curious about his experience.
“I poked him, and I was like, ‘Dude, my group of people, my faculty that I get to work with, I love them. Is it like that where you are too?’” Marshack recalled. “And he goes, ‘Yeah, just like that.’
“And I just thought, ‘Wow, what a great place.’”
Steve Pankow ’11 stands in the entryway to the Chicago Bulls equipment room deep inside the United Center holding a Nike Zoom Kobe 4 “Fade to Black” basketball shoe. There’s a five-inch gash above the shoe’s hard rubber midsole that Pankow wiggles four fingers through as part of an equipment manager’s postmortem examination.
Appears InLess than 24 hours earlier, the shoe was in fine working condition. It was on the left foot of Bulls guard Alex Caruso, who had helped engineer what was about to be a stunning upset of the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves. But late in the game as Caruso and company were putting the finishing touches on the win, the 2023 NBA All-Defensive First Team selection jumped to contest a shot from Minnesota all-star Anthony Edwards. Caruso landed awkwardly as the shoe exploded.
Pankow was among the first to realize what had happened. He sprang into action, sprinting 40 yards to the locker room to retrieve a backup pair of shoes.
“When something like that happens, it’s an adrenaline rush,” Pankow said. “Whether it’s blood on a jersey or a blown-out shoe, that’s what we prepare for, and that’s what gets me cranked up.”
Amid a late-season playoff push, Caruso couldn’t wait even the few seconds Pankow needed for the retrieval, instead finishing out the game wearing teammate Dalen Terry’s Adidas models. The Bulls won the game, 109-101.
Pankow recounts it all the next day at the mouth of the equipment room as the Bulls prepare for a game against the Atlanta Hawks that’s still a couple hours from tipoff. Bulls players and personnel coming from every direction squeeze past Pankow as they complete their pregame routines. Eventually Caruso arrives, puts his arm around Pankow, and laments the demise of his favorite pair of shoes.
Pankow is the Bulls’ head equipment manager and team travel coordinator. At 6-foot-4, he’s as tall as some players but skinnier than all of them. A Sharpie marker clipped to the collar of his team-issued polo serves as his trademark piece of flair, indicating to fans who surround the team bus when the Bulls arrive in another NBA city or kids who line the tunnel when the team takes the court that Pankow is not one they’ll see on the court that night.
He doesn’t play for the team, but he’s an integral part of it.
Pankow got his start in sports at Illinois State University after sending an email to then-head football coach Denver Johnson the summer before his freshman year asking Johnson if there was anything he could do for the team. That led to four years as a student manager, internships with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts, and a job with Navy athletics before a full-circle moment when he returned to Illinois State as a full-time equipment manager.
Now in his “dream job,” Pankow travels full time with the Bulls, sits behind the bench, and loves every minute of it. He’s one of at least eight Illinois State alumni working full time for the NBA team. Though none of them are scoring points or dishing out assists, they form the team behind the team. Several of them got their starts in sports at Illinois State.
“It’s different every day,” Pankow said. “That’s the part I love about it, and that’s what I think most people love about it.”
Dr. Ani Yazedjian was named vice president of Academic Affairs and provost after serving in the position in an acting role since February 2023. She received a five-year contract.
Appears In“Dr. Yazedjian is a highly regarded, confident leader with a strong dedication to our strategic priorities concerning teaching, learning, and research at Illinois State,” said President Aondover Tarhule. “The experience she brings as the University’s chief academic officer provides the stability and valuable insight needed to help guide Illinois State on its trajectory toward excellence.”
Yazedjian previously served as associate provost at Illinois State from 2019-23. The former chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences was named a University Professor in 2013.
“It is an honor to continue to serve Illinois State in this capacity,” Yazedjian said. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen partnerships across the campus and local community as we relentlessly pursue our mission to prepare students to become engaged and informed citizens.”
As acting provost, Yazedjian established and revived professional development opportunities for academic leaders, implemented initiatives to support faculty research and creative activity, and led the development of a framework for online learning and microcredentials. She convened the interdivisional Committee on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence, shepherded new program development processes, allocated additional funding for student support services, and oversaw the completion of the self-study for the accreditation process of the Higher Learning Commission that is currently underway.
Yazedjian additionally launched a provost fellows program for tenured faculty, reinvigorated a professional development series for academic administrators, conceptualized the campuswide Women as Transformational Leaders event, secured Illinois Board of Higher Education approval for several new academic programs, and implemented the advancing research and creative scholarship program.
“My guiding framework over the last 15 months has been focused on people, programs, and processes grounded in equity and driven by a deep sense of purpose about who we are as an institution and why we do what we do,” Yazedjian said upon her promotion. “This focus will not change.”
Irelan named Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts dean
Dr. Scott R. Irelan was named dean of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts. He succeeded Jean Miller, who retired in June.
“Dr. Irelan brings years of experience as a faculty member, department chair, associate dean, and administrator to his new role as dean of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Ani Yazedjian. “He also brings a strong record of accomplishments related to program development; strategic planning; and faculty, staff, and student success using an equity-focused approach.”
Irelan previously served as an associate dean at Western Michigan University. He began his career as a faculty member in Illinois State’s College of Fine Arts. “Returning to a place that shaped the trajectory of my academic career feels like a fitting continuation of that journey,” Irelan said. “The Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts has an outstanding reputation, and the momentum behind its current initiatives is truly impressive. It is both an honor and a privilege to be chosen to serve as the next dean, and I look forward to our collective future.”
Illinois State recognized in U.S. News & World Report rankings
Illinois State University continued to rank among the top 100 “Best Value Schools” and “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 “Best Colleges” rankings. Illinois State also ranked among the top public universities and top national universities in the United States.
Illinois State ranked 65th in “Best Value Schools” and 32nd in “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.” Illinois State also ranked among the nation’s best in “Top Public Schools” (112th), “Top National Universities” (209th), “Best College for Veterans” (147th), “Top Performer on Social Mobility” (198th), and “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs” (112th).
Committee formed to explore responsible AI use
The Committee on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was formed to create a strategic plan concerning the ethical usage of AI and collaboratively address its increasing prevalence and adoption. The 30-member group composed of faculty, staff, and students met for the first time in April. Chairs Charles Edamala, vice president of Technology Solutions and chief technology officer, and Dr. J. Cooper Cutting, assistant vice president for Academic Planning, outlined the committee’s goals.
“Ideally, what we would like ISU to do is at least come out with a draft of a statement of, ‘This is our stance on AI and the responsible use of AI at the University,’” said Cutting.
President Aondover Tarhule provided opening remarks at the inaugural meeting. “My hope is that we’ll tread this frontier confidently,” Dr. Tarhule said. “Illinois State will serve as a model for harnessing the benefits and managing the potential risk of AI for the benefit of the campus community, and I am filled with anticipation for all we can accomplish in shaping the trajectory of AI at Illinois State.”
Redbird Esports wins three titles at inaugural MVC Championships
Illinois State University swept the Missouri Valley Conference Esports Championships, securing wins in all three titles at the inaugural league championships hosted on campus in April. The Redbirds emerged victorious in both Overwatch and Rocket League to remain undefeated throughout the entire regular season and playoff run. Redbird Esports also earned a win in Super Smash Bros.
“I’m thrilled Illinois State was able to showcase our gaming facilities to support and host the inaugural MVC Esports Championships,” said Redbird Esports Director David Kirk, M.S. ’16. “The energy we saw from the students and teams who traveled to Normal was electric and an experience I have no doubt will stick with them the rest of their lives.”
Illinois State’s Overwatch team also captured four national tournament titles during the spring semester.
College of Engineering welcomes inaugural administrators
Illinois State University’s College of Engineering named Dr. Matthew Aldeman its founding associate dean of engineering and Branden Delk its first director of equity, diversity, inclusion, and student success.
Aldeman previously served as an associate professor in Illinois State’s Department of Technology. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, having served as a reactor electrical division officer on the USS John C. Stennis, and as a gunnery officer and legal officer on the USS O’Bannon. “I am thrilled to join the team in the new College of Engineering, where we will prepare students for rewarding careers in mechanical, electrical, and general engineering,” Aldeman said.
Delk has served as coordinator of equity, diversity, and inclusion in Illinois State’s Admissions Office since 2021. “I’m excited to start promoting the College of Engineering to middle schools, high schools, community-based organizations, community colleges, and other potential student pipeline sources,” Delk said.
Donors recognized at Gratitude Gala
The second annual Gratitude Gala honored donors from several of Illinois State’s giving societies, recognizing the generosity and philanthropic commitment of some of the University’s greatest ambassadors.
Wonsook Kim ’75, M.A. ’76, M.F.A. ’78, and Thomas Clement were presented the Redbird Philanthropist Award, State Farm received the Investor in Excellence Award, the Wheeler Foundation earned the Innovation in Philanthropy Award, and Nancy Ridenour received the Above and Beyond Philanthropist Award.
“You are investing in students’ futures in immediate ways, such as in the case of scholarships, but some of your philanthropy may not be quite evident for years, or even decades,” Illinois State President Aondover Tarhule told event guests. “What’s even more exciting is seeing this commitment only growing stronger over the years.”
Birds Give Back surpasses goals
Illinois State University’s sixth annual Birds Give Back on February 22 surpassed goals with over 4,200 total gifts and $1.6 million raised in challenges, pledges, and gifts. Over 50 challenges were issued by Redbird alumni across various colleges and departments to celebrate the annual day of giving.
“This is more than teamwork; it’s the spirit of Redbirds in action,” said Vice President for University Advancement Pat Vickerman. “Our collective enthusiasm and philanthropy continue to energize our future, reaffirming the incredible power and impact of our united efforts for Illinois State.”
Parsi wins Diverse Voices Playwriting Initiative
The Crossroads Project selected Novid Parsi’s The Life You Gave Me as winner of the 2024 Diverse Voices Playwriting Initiative, a new play development program for BIPOC playwrights. The Crossroads Project is an advocacy committee comprising faculty, staff, and students that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Parsi’s play about an Iranian American man’s relationship with his mother was selected from over 100 submissions. He provided a workshop and a staged reading on campus in April. “The Life You Gave Me is partly about the perceptions that writers of color must face in order to be heard, and how those perceptions ultimately shape the narrative,” Parsi said.
Illinois State, State Farm develop VR-based driving platform
A partnership between Illinois State University and State Farm Insurance has produced a virtual reality (VR) platform for teen drivers, placing them in scenarios they may encounter on the road like heavy traffic, unexpected deer crossings, and rolling fog.
The immersive VR platform allows a driving coach to configure different hazardous scenarios and highlight students’ deficiencies and successes in a post-session debriefing. “The goal is to create a scenario-based learning environment where teen drivers can experience various road driving situations without being exposed to physical dangers,” said Dr. Isaac Chang, associate professor in Illinois State’s Department of Technology.
Feedback sought in reaccreditation process
Illinois State participates in a 10-year cycle of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and 2024 is the end of the current cycle. The University has been accredited since 1913 by the HLC. The HLC’s decision to grant or deny accreditation is pivotal to the University’s legacy and affects the campus community and beyond.
There are several requirements Illinois State must complete by this fall. One of those requirements is soliciting public comments to determine how the University is ensuring student success. Feedback from the community is very important to the University’s reaccreditation process.
Directors chosen for Alumni Association
Three alumni were elected to three-year terms on the Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABD). They include Breana Brown ’17, of Normal, an academic advisor for Illinois State University’s University College; Matt Coates ’11, of Normal, a board member for the Illinois Prison Review Board; and Dr. Marcos Fernandez ’80, of Lafayette, Indiana, a professor of animal science at Purdue University.
Susan Nelson-Brown ’78 is president. Karyn L. Aguirre ’86 is vice president/president-elect. Julia Durnell ’19, M.S. ’22, is secretary. Stan Shingles ’82, M.S. ’88, is treasurer. Tim Griffin ’93 serves as past president.
Interest for the AABD is sought each year. For more information on how to get involved, visit Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Association.
Acclaimed Mexican-American writer, translator, and editor Chloe García Roberts will visit Illinois State University on October 24 to celebrate and discuss her new book Fire Eater: A Translator’s Theology (co•im•press, 2024). She will take part in PubUnit Presents, a two-part event series centered on embracing the interdisciplinary English studies model of the Department of English by bringing in writers who are also editors, and who often embody additional literary and educational roles. This event series is hosted by the Publications Unit in the Department of English.
Both of the PubUnit Presents events are Thursday, October 24, at University Galleries. At 11 a.m., García Roberts will be in conversation with Dr. Steve Halle, director of the Publications Unit, about her roles as a writer, translator, and deputy editor of Harvard Review. There will be a question-and-answer period afterward.
The second part of the event is at 5 p.m. and will be a reading from Fire Eater: A Translator’s Theology. The reading will be followed by a question-and-answer session and book signing. Fire Eater will be available for purchase from the publisher in mid-October with options for pick-up at the event. Both events are free and open to the public.
“Like a Nuestra Señora Desatanudos—Our Lady of Untying Knots— Chloe García Roberts loosens the tangles and snarls of origin, trauma, motherhood, and language itself in these stunningly poetic and philosophical essays to reveal the “glinting line of love” that can pull us back into the fold of belonging when we feel most alone, blown violently by circumstance into the deep, cold ocean of our existence.”
—Rosa Alcalá, author of YOU
About the Fire Eater: A Translator’s Theology
Fire Eater: A Translator’s Theology by Chloe García Roberts presents an astonishing collection of poem-essays that seek to reveal firm footholds and guiding threads to lead readers—and the author herself—through the treacherous and often ill-lit forests of liminality. In essays covering language worship, translation as sacrament, the allusion of memory, and more, García Roberts creates a cumulative argument across 10 works of intensifying emotional registers: Language is not only a medium for communicating knowledge but is itself a font of understanding. Churning with boundless heart, thought, and wild desire to plumb the depths of self and spirit in search of geneses, these essays develop their form through the interplay of memory, etymology, religion, and translation. Collectively, Fire Eater offers a beacon for spiritual seekers and linguaphiles alike: a divination with the dictionary that is at once an invocation to unravel the complex knots of our in betweenness and an antidote to our despair.
About the Author
Chloe García Roberts is a Mexican-American translator and poet. She serves as deputy editor of Harvard Review and as a lecturer of poetry at MIT. She translates from Spanish and Chinese, which includes Tang poet Li Shangyin. Her translation of Li Shangyin’s Derangements of My Contemporaries: Miscellaneous Notes (New Directions) was awarded a PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant. She has also translated collected poems by Li Shangyin which was published in the New York Review Books/Poets series.
In 2021, she was the recipient of an NEA fellowship in translation for her translation of the novel Carne de Dios by Mexican author Homero Aridjis (forthcoming from University of Arizona Press in 2025). Additionally, she has translated numerous children’s literature such as True Story of a Mouse Who Never Asked for It by Ana Christina Herreros which was named a Best Children’s Book of 2021 by the New York Times, and Cao Wenxuan’s Feather (Archipelago). Her first book, The Reveal, is a book of poetry published as part of Noemi Press’s Akrilika Series for innovative Latino writing. Fire Eater: A Translator’s Theology (co•im•press, 2024) is her second book.
The event is sponsored by the Harold K. Sage Foundation; the Illinois State University Foundation Fund; the College of Arts and Sciences; and the Publications Unit in the Department of English.
For additional information, contact Holms Troelstrup, assistant director of the Publications Unit, at jhtroel@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-3025. Follow the Publications Unit on X @PubUnit_ISU and on Instagram @PubUnit.
Illinois State University’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Film presents a workshop production of Erlina Ortiz’s Honey Bee Baby, directed by M.F.A. directing student Alejandra Luna.
Can you imagine life without bees? What about a world with endless storms, scarce resources, and overpopulation? Would you bring a child into such a world? Melisa desperately wants a child, despite living in such a world where the government forces potential parents to pass strict screenings to make sure they are not part of these environmental problems.
Meanwhile, a young Clarisa lives in a world that seems perfectly carved by her parents as if she were Rapunzel in a tower. Clarisa does not know she, too, needs to pass the life-or-death test just to survive. How will Melisa and Clarisa navigate their journey to find the places where they belong?
While Honey Bee Baby dives into dystopian themes, it hits home with the urgent issues we face today: climate change, overpopulation, and discrimination. Playwright Erlina Ortiz shines a light on the dangers of believing one group is better or more deserving than another, reminding us that “when you start thinking your tribe is better and deserves more than others, that is the problem.”
With heart and compassion, this play pushes us to rethink our sense of right and wrong, challenging the standards we use to judge others. The production establishes a futuristic world with an ironically artificial nature, vividly imagined by creative designers and brought to life by a fearless cast, inviting you into a world you could not imagine alone.
Performances are in Westhoff Theatre September 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. and September 28-29 at 2 p.m. The performance runtime is approximately 90 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office on the campus of Illinois State University, by calling (309) 438-2535, or online.
If you need an accommodation to fully participate in this program, please contact the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at (309) 438-2535. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.
Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts will celebrate eight alumni during the Illinois State University Homecoming Alumni Day Luncheon on Friday, September 27.
Art
Mitch Brinker ’07 has worked as a graphic designer and art director since graduating from Illinois State University. He spent the first half of his career in Chicago developing design solutions for global brands including Harley-Davidson, Sappi Fine Paper, and SRAM. He also created work for Chicago-based nonprofits including Active Transportation Alliance and Chicago Children’s Theatre. Since moving back to Normal with his family in 2015, Brinker has been working as an art director at State Farm where he leads design teams in the development of high-quality, engaging creative for the brand. Beyond his day job, he stays active at a local level as a freelancer, providing design and brand identity solutions for local small businesses and nonprofits.
Karen Schaschwary-Brinker ’08 is a proud Redbird who has been teaching visual art for 15 years in many school districts in the Chicago and Bloomington-Normal area, with her currently teaching for District 87. She enjoys the challenge of carefully balancing and braiding together student creativity, skills and techniques, artists and cultures, and child development. She obtained a master’s in art education from the University of Florida in 2016 and joined Art21 Educators in 2023. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, dog, and many art supplies.
Creative Technologies
Following his graduation from Illinois State University, Chase Granat ’16 continued his education at Icon Collective, graduating from the prestigious music production school in Los Angeles. These institutions played a crucial role in his development as a music producer, singer, songwriter, and audio-visual technician. Currently, Granat holds a prominent position at Paintscaping, where he orchestrates audio-visual shows for major brands, artists, and iconic locations worldwide. His work includes notable projects such as the NFL Draft in Las Vegas, music videos for artists like Lady Gaga, Dominic Fike, and Porter Robinson, and spectacular installations at the Bellagio Fountains and the Hollywood Sign. In addition to his audio-visual work, he releases and DJs electronic music under the name Sybreeds and is working on his forthcoming vocal album, Chase The Gemini, which explores his love for pop, R&B, and indie genres.
Music
A native of Puerto Rico, Marta Hernandez, M.M. ’11 has had an impressive and influential career as an educator and music therapist. She earned a master of music in music therapy at Illinois State, where she held an assistantship as a teacher in the ISU String Project. She also holds graduate degrees in viola and string pedagogy from Temple University and achieved a doctorate in music education from the University of Granada in Spain. Dr. Hernandez is currently an associate professor at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, where she teaches courses in music education and music therapy. She has been instrumental in launching the first music therapy degree program in Puerto Rico. She also founded the San Pablo hospital system’s music therapy program and continues to practice as a therapist working in a variety of care settings.
Cindy Ropp, M.M. ’84, Ed.D. ’08 has nearly forty years of music therapy clinical and teaching experience. After practicing in the field for many years, Dr. Ropp began her faculty position at Illinois State in 2003 and went on to assume the role of director of the music therapy program in 2008. She has worked closely with numerous undergraduate and graduate music therapy majors spanning two decades, bringing her expertise to both introductory courses and to thesis development. Her unwavering passion for this field has been essential to the program’s success and longevity, helping it celebrate its 50th year on campus. An active member of the American Music Therapy Association, she has presented her research at numerous regional and national conferences. Ropp has positively contributed to the well-being of the community through her therapy work at BroMenn Hospital, Luther Oaks, the Livingston County Special Services Unit, and other regional care settings.
Todd Stalter ’88, M.M. ’90 has served as director of bands for Eureka High School in Eureka, Illinois since 1991. Under his direction, the Eureka High School band program enjoys a state-wide reputation of musical excellence. The concert band was invited to share an on-campus concert with the ISU Symphonic Band in 2023, and the marching band is a 15-time winner of the Class 1-A Illinois State Marching Band Championships. His ensembles have performed in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, the Cotton and Liberty Bowls, and Walt Disney World. An accomplished composer for wind band, his music is performed worldwide. Many of his works appear on state festival repertoire lists and are featured in the renowned reference series “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.” As a conductor and clinician, he has led All-State bands in Delaware and Georgia, numerous local and regional honor and district bands in Illinois and presented sessions at the Illinois Music Educators Conference and the ISU Band Director Workshop.
Theatre, Dance, Film
Karen Erickson ’70, M.S. ’77 has been a professional teaching artist for more than 20 years. As executive director of Creative Directions, she trains artists and teachers in drama education, curriculum planning, arts integration, and assessment development nationally and internationally. She has published seven drama education books used in schools throughout the country. Her most recent publication, The Arts: Keystones to Learning (2005) documented 26 arts integrated programs in the Chicago Public Schools. Erickson has written more than 15 plays for youth and adults produced by theatre companies across the United States. She works with the Kennedy Center’s professional development programs including Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA).
Kathryn Ervin, M.F.A. ’80 recently retired as a full professor from the Department of Theatre Arts at California State University San Bernardino, where she began teaching in 1989. During her tenure there, she served three terms as chair of the department; taught courses in directing, acting, creative drama, and African American theatre, film, and culture; and directed dozens of plays and musicals. She has directed throughout the country and co-edited African American Scenebook (Routledge 1999) with Ethel Pitts Walker, a text that compiled some of the best scenes from 60 years of African American theatre. She is a past president of the Black Theatre Network and a fellow of The California Arts Projects. In April 2018, she was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, one of the highest honors for educators and professionals in theatre careers.
Latinx Heritage Month celebrates the contributions, vibrant cultures, and resilience of Latinx communities in the U.S. and Latin America. This annual observance officially runs from September 15 to October 15, aligning with various Latin American independence celebrations. While Illinois State University’s Latin American and Latina/o Studies program celebrates the Latinx community beyond this month, we take this time to give extra recognition to community members, scholars, and artists in a lineup of thought-provoking events and activities. Join us this year in our Latinx Heritage Month celebration from September 17 to November 1.
Dr. Maura Toro-Morn, the director of the University’s Latin American and Latino/a/x Studies program, states the role of this event for us, “Our academic year of programming begins with Latinx Heritage Month. Every year we strive to bring new voices to campus to shed light on the issues and concerns that connect to the classes we teach and to student’s lives, families, and communities. This year is no different. We have worked hard to draw on the local perspectives and talent in our community. The community panel that we are hosting with the McLean County Museum of History is now the third year that we have gathered at the museum. These programs are recorded and kept at the museum archives for posterity. Similarly, the “conversando entre nosotros” series allows us to showcase the talent that we have in our program, from doctoral students to colleagues who have been founding members of the program.”
As we celebrate contributions, culture, and the resilience of Latinx people, we foster dialogue between local and international perspectives and critically engage with community, such as the experiences of those with migrant backgrounds. For more information and updates on these events, please visit our website or follow us on social media.
You can also contact Vanessa Hernandez-Gutierrez at vaherna@IllinoisState.edu and/or Dr. Maura Toro-Morn at mitmorn@IllinoisState.edu.
A month of enriching activities
Navegando una Nueva Comunidad: Recent Immigrant Arrivals in the Bloomington-Normal Community
Date Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time 6 p.m.
Place McLean County Museum of History
This year, we will once again launch our Latinx Heritage Month celebration at the McLean County Museum of History. They will host an engaging discussion about the resilience and experiences of recent immigrant arrivals in Bloomington-Normal. Our panel, which consists of community members and activists, aims to shed light on the various factors that drive immigration to this community and the day-to-day realities of many Latinxs living around us.
Moderators
Dr. Maura Toro-Morn, Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program
Vanessa Hernandez-Gutierrez, ISU Anthropology
Panelists
Yolanda Alonso, Latinos in Blono
Miriam Padilla, Community member
Jesús Islas, Community member
Jair Bustos, The Immigration Project
Camila Graunke, The Immigration Project
Sponsored by: McLean County Museum of History, Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program
Art Exhibit: A moon, a peephole, an explosion, or a flashing memory by Rafael Soldi
Exhibition Open through September 29, 2024
Lecture Wednesday, September 18
Time 4-5 p.m., with a reception from 5-6 p.m.
Place University Galleries
Rafael Soldi’s A moon, a peephole, an explosion, or a flashing memory features photographs, a handwritten text installation, and an EKG made from 2009 through 2023. The exhibition’s title comes from a written piece called The Sun Will Set in the Same Place, from Soldi’s book, Imagined Futures, and a black-and-white photograph of what appears to be a brilliant, radiating orb. When Soldi witnessed the sunset over the Pacific Ocean in Seattle, he recalled regularly seeing the same sight as a child in Peru. This realization struck Soldi with a wave of nostalgia and a desire to reconcile his feelings about his home country. This exhibition draws from other elements of Soldi’s book, such as grief surrounding the futures abandoned after immigrating, social violence enacted on queer bodies, and the fluidity between Spanish and English. Driven by the artist’s queer and Peruvian identity, Soldi’s work explores “states of in-betweenness”, especially within language. His art offers insight into borderlands, immigrant identity, and a rich metaphor for queer experience.
Sponsored by: University Galleries in collaboration with the Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program
Funding received through an AIB Grant—a Multicultural Center Initiative, the Illinois Arts Council, and Alice and Fannie Fell Trust
Conversando Entre Nosotros: Mi Mama, Mis Amistades, Mi Comunidad: The Representation of Mental Health Support in Latinx/e Youth Literature & Culture with Edcel Cintron-Gonzalez
Date Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Time 4 p.m.
Place Williams 314
Edcel Cintron-Gonzalez is a Ph.D. candidate within the Department of English whose interests include children’s and young adult literature, children’s literature; young adult; sea literature; animals in fairy tales, folklore, and myth. His presentation will focus on how Latinx/e youth literature & media are opening and providing a safe space to talk about mental health issues within the Latinx/e community. He considers how authors like Andrea Beatriz Arango, Claribel A. Ortega, Kat Fajardo, and Alexis Castellanos, demonstrate how a Latinx/e youth protagonist engage in topics of mental health in explicit and implicit ways by exploring themes such as generational trauma, migrations and displacement, and redefining the concept of home.
Sponsored by: Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program
Conversando Entre Nosotros: Creando nuestra Revolución/Juntas en la Lucha – Transformando la Biblioteca Académica for Latinas in Grad School with María Tudela
Date Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Time 4 p.m.
Place Williams 314
Maria Tudela is a librarian at Milner Library and assistant professor at ISU who engages with critical librarianship by sustaining diversity, equity, and accessibility practices for library staff, and trauma informed librarianship. Her interests heavily inform this discussion as she notes how, oftentimes, Latinas in grad school are forced to navigate higher education alone, without guidance, and in survival mode. This presentation will identify locations for transformation in the academic library to center the Latina graduate student while considering the various histories, backgrounds, and areas of study that make up these experiences, and speculate on how we can go about creating safe and inclusive spaces for Latinas in higher education.
Sponsored by: Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program, Milner Library
Conversando entre fronteras: La cultura de San Sebastián del Monte desde una perspectiva interdisciplinaria
Date Friday, October 4, 2024
Time 4 p.m.
Place Williams Hall 314
This event is centered around the three-year interdisciplinary project that aims to describe, collect, and revitalize knowledge related to local plants, culture, and language of the community in San Sebastian del Monte. The first year was centered on botany and the description of native plants, community trainings on the project, the propagation of cactus plants, video recording, and interview techniques. In this year, the second year, the main focus is on the creation of documentaries and the beginning of linguistic analysis. The third year will focus mainly on linguistic analysis and the preparation of pedagogical material based on the information collected. Having just completed the first year of this project, participants will come together to reflect on year one and address the expectations for the next two.
Presenters
Félix Cortés, Linguist and Language Teacher, member of the community of San Sebastián del Monte
Dr. Eder Ortiz Martínez, Independent Scholar
Dr. Fernando Severino
Dr. Iara Mantenuto, Associate Professor of Linguistics, California State University Dominguez Hills, CA
Sponsored by: Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program
Haunting the Sonoran Desert: How the Migrant Dead Escape Capture with Dr. Babara Sostaita
Date Thursday, October 10, 2024
Time 6 p.m.
Place CVA 149
Join us in welcoming our keynote speaker Assistant Professor in Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of Illinois, Dr. Barbara Sostaita. Sostaita is a scholar of migration and religion whose work traces sacred mobilities and fugitive routes that yearn for “connection in the face of utter disconnection.” She currently serves as the Higher Education Director for Migrant Roots Media—a platform that centers the voices of migrants, children of migrants, and people struggling to stay and thrive in their homelands.
Her work has been featured in several publications, such as The Nation, Bitch, Teen Vogue, and Remezcla. A passionate writer, she currently is in the process of developing her second book, An Infinity of Traces. Elements of her first book, Sanctuary Everywhere: The Fugitive Sacred in the Sonoran Desert, will overlap with her presentation here at ISU. In this lecture, Sostaita traces the work of Álvaro Enciso, who makes and plants crosses to honor migrants who died attempting to cross the Sonoran Desert and highlights the tensions between the living’s urge to offer the dead rest and the dead’s desire to resist closure. In their haunting, they prompt volunteers to deal with the violence in the borderlands and unfinished losses in our personal lives.
Sponsored by: Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program, Women’s Gender and Sexuality studies, Milner Library, and the President’s office EDI
Book Launch: Puerto Ricans in Illinois by Maura Toro-Morn and Ivis Garcia
Date Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Time 6 p.m.
Place Milner Library, floor 6, southwest corner
This year, we take great pleasure in recognizing the work of our program director Dr. Maura Toro-Morn and Dr. Ivis Garcia, associate professor at Texas A&M University. This event is centered around their very recent publication, Puerto Ricans in Illinois, which is the first book to document the experiences of Puerto Ricans in the state, illustrates the multiple paradoxes underlying the experience of Puerto Ricans, and the “pedacito de patria” they have carved in Illinois from the hardships they have faced. This book provides readers with a perspective developed from the voices of the people, such as the history of Puerto Rico, insights about the migration of Puerto Ricans to Illinois, and the cultural, economic, and political contributions that Puerto Rican women, men, and families have made.
Sponsored by: Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Milner Library, and the Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program
Latino Cultural Dinner: Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Date Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time 5 p.m.
Place Brown Ballroom in the Bone Student Center
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is an activist, musician, and a prolific voice for his generation. Xiuhtezcatl grew up with deep ties to family and community in the U.S. and Mexico, lending him with the ability to smoothly incorporate Spanish, English, and Nahuatl in his musical stylings. His Xochimilca and Mexican roots anchor his thought-provoking lyrics that center around identity and environmental justice. His advocacy has taken him to serve on various panels with prominent figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, Shailene Woodley, Pharrell, and more. He has also delivered multiple keynote speeches to the General Assembly of the United Nations and was awarded the Community Service Award by President Barack Obama in 2013. His presence at our Latino and Sustainability Cultural Dinner will undoubtedly inspire and educate our campus community.
Tickets
Students with a meal plan can get a ticket for one meal swipe. Must purchase online in advance. Please visit Housing.Illinois.State.edu for more information. $25 for Illinois State University alumni, staff, and faculty without a meal plan and non-ISU community members. Tickets are non-transferrable.
Creating a Community of Belonging and Academic Success
Date Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Time 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Place Stevenson Hall 401A
Join faculty and the director of the Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) program to discuss the innovative ways LALS faculty are teaching Introduction to Latino Studies, a general education and IDEAS course. Infusing culture, language, and student success skills, COBAS (Communities of Belonging and Academic Success) sections of LALS 109 help our bilingual students find community and success. Hear from our panelists about how they are transforming the general education experience for our students.
Moderators
Rocio Rivadeneyra, associate dean for Academic Programs and Student Success, College of Arts and Sciences
Panelists
Dr. Maura Toro-Morn, Latin American and Latina/o Studies program
Fernando Severino, School of Communication
Marta Ascherio, Criminal Justice Sciences
Sponsored by: College of Arts and Sciences and the Latin American and Latina/o Studies program
Latinidad via Mediated Quinceaneras: The Status of Latinx Youth in Mainstream Media with Dr. Angharad Valdivia
Date Friday, November 1, 2024
Time 1 p.m.
Place Williams Hall 314
Dr. Angharad Valdivia is a professor emerita at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for Latina/Latino Studies and the Insitute of Communications Research. Her work combines the areas of gender studies, ethnic studies, and Latin American studies in the examination of contemporary mainstream popular culture, exploring the tension between agency and structure within a transnational setting. How she applies this interdisciplinary approach will be displayed in her presentation. In her lecture, Valdivia analyzes Quinceaneras in media. In particular, she notes how this coming-of-age tradition has become a trope of authenticity, signifying the presence of Latina girls and Latinidad as an ethnicity transitioning from emergent to mainstream status.
Sponsored by: Organization of Latinx Employees (OLE), Latin American and Latina/o Studies Program, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, School of Communication, and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Dia de los Muertos Celebración
Date Friday, November 1, 2024
Time 5 p.m.
Place McLean County History Museum
Sponsored by: McLean County Museum of History
The Illinois State University School of Theatre, Dance, and Film presents the fall 2024 production season. Performances will be held on the campus of Illinois State University with location, dates, and times listed for each show below.
Honey Bee Baby
Written by Erlina Ortiz
Directed by Alejandra Luna
Thursday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 28 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 29 at 2 p.m.
Westhoff Theatre
Melisa is a kind-hearted follower of rules. She desperately wants a child, if only she could pass the government mandated test that will allow her to do it. Young Clarisa knows nothing except the perfectly curated life her parents have carved for her in their fortified underground mansion. She too has a test to pass, if only she could focus, follow, listen; the way Mother wants her to. In Erlina Ortiz’s magical Honey Bee Baby, the bees are gone, the resources are scarce, and everyone must earn their place in this world where the lines between right and wrong are blurred with blood.
Medea
Written by Euripides
Adapted by Ben Power
Directed by John McCall
Friday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 13 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Center for the Performing Arts, Theatre
Medea is a wife and a mother. For the sake of her husband, Jason, she’s left her home and borne two sons in exile. But when he abandons his family for a new life, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children. Cornered, she begs for one day’s grace. It’s time enough. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear.
Puffs
Written by Matt Cox
Directed by Emily Grimany
Friday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 3 at 2 p.m.
Wednesday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Westhoff Theatre
For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs … who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.
Fall Dance Concert
Artistic direction by Darby Wilde
Thursday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m.
Center for the Performing Arts, Theatre
Normal native Leah Marlene will join Peach Pit as their show opener during the 2024 Homecoming concert at Braden Auditorium on Tuesday, September 24, at 7 p.m.
Marlene was a finalist on American Idol in 2022. Since then, she has become a source of pride for the Bloomington-Normal community, having watched her grow as an artist from her high school years to the release of her most recent EP, “We’re All Buying Into a Dream.“ Marlene has continued her music career from her residence in Nashville, Tennessee, and is excited about returning to perform in her hometown during Illinois State’s Homecoming.
Tickets are $30 and $20 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or at the Braden Box Office, located in the Bone Student Center, 200 N. University St. in Normal.
This event is sponsored by Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality and is open to the public. For more information, please contact EMDH@IllinoisState.edu.
©
2024 Illinois State University, Normal, IL USA