Each year the IU Auditorium welcomes acclaimed performers. From academics to comedians and Tony Award-winning Broadway shows — there are always tickets worth snagging when an act comes to Bloomington. Plus, tickets to an auditorium show create the perfect excuse for parents to visit and spend an evening with their students at the heart of the IU art scene.
The IU Auditorium announced its schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 season May 22. With shows beginning in September, single tickets will be available for the general public to purchase starting Aug. 19. Tickets can be purchased on the IU Auditorium website or at the box office, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday at 1211 E. Seventh St.
With a packed and diverse lineup of can’t-miss shows, there is certainly a fall semester performance that will spark your interest.
Sept. 24-29: “Les Misérables"
A stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel, “Les Misérables” will make a six-night and an eight-show return to Bloomington in the upcoming IU Auditorium season. A production of Alain Boublil and Claude Michel Schönberg’s Tony-Award winning concept, "Les Misérables” is one of the longest-running musicals of all time.
Taking place in 19th century France, “Les Misérables” follows the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean who, after his release from a 19-year prison stay, transforms into a “paragon of virtue.” With themes of love, redemption, justice and injustice, the score of “Les Misérables” includes the songs “One Day More” and “Master of the House.”
The cast of “Les Misérables” will take the IU Auditorium stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24-26, 8 p.m. Sept. 27, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sept. 28 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29.
Oct. 17: “Dennis James Hosts Halloween”
For the 56th year, Dennis James will return to Bloomington for his annual Halloween special performance.
Since he was a student himself in 1969, the IU Jacobs School of Music graduate has accompanied silent classic films with scores he plays on the IU Auditorium’s 135-year-old, 4,543 pipe organ and, in recent years, performed live radio reenactment with actors from the IU Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance.
The evening will begin with the short film, “Edgar Allen Poe,” purposefully misspelled, which tells the story behind the acclaimed poet’s most famous poem, “The Raven.” James and his student actors will reenact the episode, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” from the 1940s radio show “Inner Sanctum,” a dramatization of a story also written by Poe. Lastly, James will perform the score of the 1915 silent film, “The Avenging Conscience,” which is also based on Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “Annabel Lee.”
James will host the IU Auditorium Halloween at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17.
Nov. 2: “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas”
In this classic story about the true meaning of the holidays, the Grinch schemes to ruin Christmas for the citizens of Whoville, the snowy, jolly city which he lives just outside of in his mountaintop home. A little Who of Whoville, Cindy Lou Who, isn’t feeling the Christmas spirit like she had before. She decides to embark on a journey to better understand the Grinch and make him, too, fall in love with Christmas, despite his evil plan.
The stage adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book includes songs such as “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Watchamawho.”
The Grinch and the Whos of Whoville will come to the IU Auditorium stage at 2 and 7 p.m. Nov. 2.
Nov. 8: “Micheal Feinstein in Because of You: My Tribute to Tony Bennett”
Michael Feinstein, a Grammy-nominated musician and singer, and the Carnegie Hall Ensemble will pay tribute to the late Tony Bennett, a beloved American jazz artist with a career spanning over 60 years, through a performance of Bennett’s greatest hits.
The “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” artist participated in the Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march in 1965 and performed at the Stars for Freedom rally in the outskirts of Montgomery the night before Martin Luther King Jr.’s “How Long? Not Long” speech. Bennett also performed for Nelson Mandela in 1996. He was known by younger fans for his tours and Grammy Award-winning album “Love for Sale,” which he performed with Lady Gaga. Fans also remember Bennett’s 2014 album “Cheek to Cheek.”
Feinstein was close friends with Bennett. His tribute pays homage to Bennett’s legacy in the music industry and the cultural heritage of each of his songs.
Feinstein and the Carnegie Hall Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 8 in the IU Auditorium.
Nov. 19-20: “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations”
The Tony Award-winning musical, “Ain’t Too Proud” recollects the story of The Temptations, an acclaimed African American male vocal group formed in 1960. The musical follows the band from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as their four Grammy wins and a No. 1 ranking in Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Top R&B/Rap Artists list. “Ain’t Too Proud” and the story of The Temptations is one of brotherhood, family, loyalty, betrayal and civil unrest in America’s mid-twentieth century.
Directed by Des McAnuff and written by Dominique Morisseau, the musical “Ain’t Too Proud” first opened in March 2019, the same year it won the Tony Award for Best Choreography. “Ain’t Too Proud” is set to the beat of some of The Temptations’ most beloved songs, including “My Girl” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
“Ain’t Too Proud” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-20 in the IU Auditorium.
Dec. 7: “Chimes of Christmas”
Formed in 1950, the Singing Hoosiers are known as “Indiana University’s ambassadors of song.” For more than 70 years, the musical group has performed in countries in Asia, Australia, Europe and the Caribbean and is now comprised of more than 90 students, representing over 25 IU major programs. The group is currently directed by Dr. Chris Albanese.
The annual tradition, “Chimes of Christmas,” will feature holiday songs new and old, as well as special guests and ensembles from the Jacobs School of Music.
The Singing Hoosiers will perform the “Chimes of Christmas” at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the IU Auditorium.
These movies will be shown on select Thursdays during the summer.
Dec. 17: “Straight No Chaser”
The nine-man acapella group, “Straight No Chaser” was formed at Indiana University in the mid-1990s and gained new momentum in 2006. For nearly two decades, the all-male group has become known for their adaptations of Christmas classics, collaborating with renowned artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Stevie Wonder.
Each year, Straight No Chaser embarks on its annual fall tour, with performances they claim are “no cookie-cutter shows,” with friendly banter between members Steve Same, Tyler Trepp, Sargon Isho, Walter Chase, Jerome Collins, Jasper Smith, Luke Bob Robinson, Mike Luginbill and Freedom Young.
Straight No Chaser will return to the IU Auditorium stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17.
Spring semester
In the spring semester, IU Auditorium will open with the debut of “Clue” as well as “Hadestown” and “Dear Evan Hansen.” Patrons can also see “Kodo,” a Japanese taiko drum group, and “Dance Theatre of Harlem,” among other performances in 2025, which can be found on the IU Auditorium website.
This article is part of the 2024 Parent Survival Guide, an IDS special publication.
