My IU adventure

It's sad when this was the least exciting part of my weekend.

(the main entrance by downtown)

After a great meeting at URTA and an interesting phone interview, I was invited to visit the Indiana program in person. This is so key in trying to decide about programs, because physical space can have such a subliminal, but important impact. Like the bad vibe I got from visiting an apartment in Charlottesville. I was given a pretty open schedule, meeting individually with some of the directing professors, touring the new facilities, and just prowling in general. It was the exact opposite of my experience at South Carolina last year, where I was booked solid for 11 hours between classes, meetings, tours, plays, and directing a scene. And the infamous dinner. So by comparison, this was positively leisurely.

It was interesting to meet such a diverse group of personalities, and also realise there is a limited number of personalities in the theatre. GP is the musical theatre guy. MM is an artiste who works in the American system, but doesn't like it. DM and I talked mostly about the Chicago scene, and he nailed me for not doing more. FS is about as fabulous as I had suspected (confirmed by the other grads). Got to talk to the 2nd years, which was very useful. Almost as informative as the Production Manager who very much reminded me of Cully. And I got to show off my Mother Courage again.

(the theatre building, and one of many red clocks)

The vibe I got was positive, but not amazing. It sounds like a really solid program driven largely by personal initiative. With so many people to work with, I am sure I could find a strong mentor. The cubes are as great as they sound. The campus has pretty parts and ugly ones. And unlike most of Indiana, Bloomington has hills, a state forest, a lake and a Tibetan cultural center.

(the theatre lobby)

I wish I was more excited, but I think I was so burned-out from all the mishaps that I was just rolling through. The yucky weather didn't help. Now I just have to write a couple thank you notes, and wait for an offer.

on Pandora: "The Moment" - Vargo