The University of Evansville Department of Theatre proudly presents The Cripple of Inishmaan, written by Tony Award and Academy Award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh. The play opens on Friday, February 17, at 7:30 p.m. in UE’s Shanklin Theatre, with additional performances on February 18, 23, 24, and 25 at 7:30 p.m., and on February 19 and 26 at 2:00 p.m.

The melding of sentimentality and savagery makes this wickedly funny Irish tale so utterly compelling. Based on actual events and set in 1934 off the coast of Ireland, the story begins as a Hollywood movie crew arrives on a neighboring island to film the documentary Man of Aran. This tidbit of exciting news sends several oddball villagers into a frenetic desire to escape the tedium of their impoverished daily lives by getting cast in the film. Critics agree McDonagh’s true talent lies in the haunting way he imbues his stories with quirky characters, both satirizing and glorifying the Irish penchant for self-mythologizing and tall tales.

The Cripple of Inishmaan is directed by R. Scott Lank, professor of theatre. Guest artist and 2005 graduate Kristin Ellert serves as the scenic designer. The production team is rounded out by costume designer Chelsea Allen, a junior from Portland, Tennessee; lighting designer Stephen Boulmetis, assistant professor of theatre; sound designer Chuck Meacham, associate professor of theatre; and dramaturg Finn Lefevre, a senior from Carbondale, Illinois.

The nine-member cast features Lockne O’Brien, a junior from Indianapolis, as Billy the crippled orphan. Playing Kate and Eileen, his adoptive aunts, are Anne Joy, a senior from Denver, and Jennifer Finch, a junior from Friendswood, Texas. The cast also includes Aaron Johnson, a freshman from Salem, Indiana, as Johnnypateenmike; Ben Anderson, a freshman from Hollywood, as Bartley; Julia Strange, a sophomore from Louisville, as Helen; Jacob Buras, a junior from Spring, Texas, as Babbybobby; Brian Schwartz, a sophomore from Austin, Texas, as Doctor; and Emily Daly, a junior from Milwaukee, as Mammy.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and UE faculty. UE students may obtain one free student rush ticket beginning at noon on the day of the performance they wish to attend. Also on sale are tickets for the last Shanklin Theatre production of the semester, Once In A Lifetime, by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, running April 13 through 22. Tickets may be purchased by calling 812-488-2031, Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.

Source: Evansville.edu

EPD Activity Report February 7, 2012

Greetings from Boomer, a 2-year-old neutered Shepherd Mix. Boomer is an exceptional dog, very well behaved. He is looking for an owner to spend lots of one on one time with him. He would do best in a home with older children as he does tend to get a bit nervous when things get too crazy. Boomer would prefer a home where he is an only pet. He is working on fine tuning his housebreaking skills and in a home with a regular routine, he’ll have that down in no time. He loves belly rubs and to play fetch. For more information on Boomer and how to make him a member of your family, visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563.

Dr. Michael Omolewa, a pioneer of adult education and leading education historian in his native Africa, will discuss social justice and education initiatives at 5 p.m. Thursday, February 9, at the University of Southern Indiana.

Omolewa is former Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, France; served as president of the 32nd session of the General Conference, UNESCO; and was deputy chair of the Governing Board of the Commonwealth of Learning in Vancouver, Canada.

As a distinguished scholar, civil servant, and diplomat, his contributions impact local and national educational activities in Africa and throughout the world. He has dedicated his life to adult education and the promotion of literacy for underserved populations.

Omolewa is professor of history of education at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and served as its first director of external studies, opening the opportunity to pursue a degree to more than one thousand adult learners.

He has authored numerous books, including Adult Education Practice in Nigeria, and many articles in leading adult education journals. The History of Education Society of Nigeria named him a Life Patron of the Society.

He is a member of the Babcock University (Nigeria) board of trustees; deputy chairman of Christ Redeemer’s Bible College in London, United Kingdom; and an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria.

Omolewa’s visit to USI is sponsored by the Center for Social Justice Education, housed within the College of Liberal Arts, Department of Social Work. His lecture will be held in Room 1101 in the Education Center.

Source: USI.edu

cMoe will be open until 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and the Alliance of the First District Dental Society will be at the Children’s Museum of Evansville (cMoe) from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday with activities and demonstrations to educate and encourage kids to practice proper dental care. Children will match the sugar content to certain foods, practicing flossing on the “Giant Flossing Demonstrator”, and learn why teeth are important to overall health.

Get WILD with evening hours at cMoe.

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Excerpts from and link to WSJ article.

“Caterpillar’s decision, ending a standoff with locked-out workers huddled around barrels of burning scrap wood outside the London factory gates, may benefit another downtrodden manufacturing city: Muncie, Ind., where Caterpillar last year opened a locomotive plant and where it is trying to fill jobs at about half the pay workers in Ontario received. At a job fair in Muncie Saturday, Caterpillar will be offering jobs at that plant at wages ranging from $12 to $18.50 per hour.”

“Muncie lost thousands of jobs over the past decade as the U.S. auto industry shuttered plants making vehicle parts. In 2009, BorgWarner Inc. closed a local auto-transmission plant after the United Auto Workers local refused to renegotiate a contract two years ahead of its expiration. That plant remains idle.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203889904577200953014575964.html?KEYWORDS=caterpillar+muncie

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1436899604001/

February 7, 2012 Contact: Ella Johnson-Watson
For Immediate Release 812-436-4965

Mayor Winnecke Seeks Supporting Documentation on Convention Hotel

EVANSVILLE, IN – Citing the need for more data to make sound investments for the City of Evansville, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke will ask the Evansville Redevelopment Commission to conduct a market analysis to determine how large of a hotel needs to be built Downtown to support the Convention Center and Ford Center and the fiscal impact. The mayor will make the request at Evansville Redevelopment Commission’s board meeting Tuesday, February 7th, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 307 at the Civic Center.
Mayor Winnecke said discussions began almost three years ago about the prospect of building a new convention hotel. The previous city administration negotiated an agreement with the Kunkel Group to construct a 220 room hotel. Negotiating a specific agreement with the city was left to the Winnecke administration.
“I do not believe we have all of the necessary data to begin discussion on a development agreement,” Winnecke said. “For instance, there is no supporting documentation that we have discovered in our first five weeks in office that suggests 220 rooms are sufficient to support the 280,000-plus square foot Centre and the Ford Center. Conversations with the Convention and Visitors Bureau have led us to believe a larger hotel would be a better match for the size of our convention center.”
More specifically, the mayor wants:
• A market analysis to determine how large of a hotel is needed
• A financial impact analysis to determine the level of public investment
• A planning recommendation to provide prospective developers with criteria for an overall plan on how to integrate major public and private projects in the immediate area of the hotel site.

“I believe once we have this information we’ll have all of the data we need to move forward,” Winnecke added. “The project has seen delay after delay. Slowing it down two or three more months to ensure we have all of the necessary information to act will only benefit the city.”