BPP to drop "Bomb/Shell" as season opener

What do Leo Tolstoy and the Bloomington Playwright’s Project  have
in common?

War and peace.

In conjunction with IU’s Themester of “Making War, Making Peace,” sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the BPP is kicking off its 2011 season with “Bomb/Shell,” which begins Sept. 30 and runs until Oct. 15.

Tracy Bee, director of academic initiative at the College of Arts and Sciences, said the college works with several community organizations, including the BPP, to put on events that are related to the theme.

“Bomb/Shell” is a series of eight plays, each under ten minutes in duration, which will draw on the topics of war and peace. The production also features big names, like Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg, as guest playwrights. This will be Eisenberg’s first professionally produced play.

“We hope it ends up to be an incredibly entertaining and thought-provoking evening of theater,” BPP Managing Director Gabe Gloden said.

Gloden said that even though “Bomb/Shell” was chosen because it ties in with IU’s Themester, it defines what the BPP is and how it engages with the students and the University.

The playwrights were allowed an open interpretation of each mini play, which feature “everything from a post-apocalyptic world to post-traumatic stress disorder,” BPP Producing Artistic Director Chad Rabinovitz said. He said the Themester theme was well-suited for theater.

“It was one of the most theatrical themes they could have picked. As soon as that was announced, I was thrilled,” he said.

There will be a pre-show reception opening night featuring appetizers and a performance from local a cappella group Kaia.

The BPP also offers a student rush rate, meaning that if a student arrives five minutes before a show, they can purchase a $5 ticket.

Additionally, the night of Oct. 13, the BPP will join with Theater Communications Group for “Free Night of Theater.” Drinks and appetizers will be provided before the show and admission is free.

The BPP is located at College Ave. and 9th St.

“We’re trying to get people to go to the theater who wouldn’t normally go,” Gloden said.