Students get advice on breaking into the business

Spider-Man can sing, or at least Glen Berger hopes he can. \nBerger, who spoke at IU Wednesday night with long-time friend and director Randy White and actor Robert Johansen, has written the new Spider-Man musical slated to appear on Broadway in late 2008. The panel discussion, titled “The Actor, Director, and Writer: The Performance Experience,” was held in the Whittenberger Auditorium and focused mainly on advice to young actors looking for a career in the theater industry. \n“You should always be available to opportunities,” Johansen said, “You never end up doing what you planned on.”\nThe three speakers are all involved in an upcoming play at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, titled “O Lovely Glowworm.” Berger wrote the play, Johansen is appearing in it and White is the artistic director. \n“It was informative, entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the three different perspectives on the industry,” said sophomore Stacy Brewer.\n“O Lovely Glowworm” will run Feb. 22 to March 1 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\nThe show is the story of a recently-stuffed goat who distracts himself from the pain of death by imagining “scenes of great beauty” involving mermaids, soldiers and bicycles.\nThis philosophical comedy is being presented by the Cardinal Stage Company and is an example of one of White’s goals with the Bloomington production: to combine local acting talent and a creative team from all around the country.\nIn addition to talking about his experiences with the “Glowworm” production, Berger discussed his work on the Spider-Man musical. He talked about meeting Julie Taymor and Bono, who will direct and write the music, respectively, for the show. \n“Julie and Bono are fantastic collaborators ... they are interested in making the art really good.” \nHe went on to say that while “Spider-Man: the Musical” sounds “ridiculous,” they have worked hard to ground the show and make it work within the confines of the stage. In creating the show, they have drawn on several classic themes of the theater, including the hero’s journey, the epic poem, rites of passage and growing up.\nThe discussion was hosted by the Union Board and Cardinal Stage Company. Alexa Lopez, Union Board performing arts director, said “Cardinal came to us and expressed their interest in doing more programs together ... they do a lot of events, and we thought it would be good to have connections to a local business like theirs.” \nEnding the lecture, White praised American regional theater. \n“It’s more interesting than anything happening in New York,” he said. “They are able to take risks the New York theaters can no longer take.”