Good morning, Bloomington.

Local theater thrives this summer as 13 groups offer plays, musicals, and songfests at venues around town.

BloomingArts hosts a crash course in musical auditions at Buskirk-Chumley Theater — other groups schedule teen editions, readings, live concerts and are accepting director submissions for 2027 seasons.

Bloomington's (C)olumn, a public art piece designed by Jon Racek and Jiangmei Wu in 2015, displays nearly 300 community-sourced words capturing the city's spirit near Seminary Park.

Its weathered finish and ongoing local interaction frame the sculpture as a time capsule, with Racek suggesting a plaque for added historical context.

Four shows of 'Chicago: Teen Edition' will run at IU’s Wells-Metz Theater starting July 23, with additional performances on July 24 and 25.

The three-week camp partners Stages Bloomington with IU Midsummer Theatre Camp to train 14 teens; tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for youth.

Mandolin players gathered for Jim Richter's four-day camp on July 9 at the Grant Street Inn and a music festival on July 10 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

The events featured group classes, jam sessions and live performances by expert instructors — including Grammy-winning Mike Compton and young Ren Fulcher.

Dora will build a $75M 200-room hotel next to the Convention Center.

The new 5-story building (offering 7,500 sqft of meeting space) is expected to support local business events.

Team USA defeated Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf 98-64 on July 15 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.

Junior forward Aiden Sherrell led with 22 points as the game served as a warmup for international competition.

Joe Smith, known as Smitty, passed away July 13 and was celebrated as the beloved voice of Monroe County sports — his family now honors him with a memorial endowment for Sports Hall of Fame scholarships.

Matt Britton, a Bloomfield grad who led the Cardinals to the state title game, is expected to take over as Bloomington North’s boys basketball coach after Jason Speer's resignation — his past coaching success at Linton and elsewhere promises to provide strong leadership to the program.

Top-ranked recruit Monshun Sales committed verbally to Indiana football on Friday, July 17 during his interview on The Pat McAfee Show; he thanked his coaches (Coach Mal, Coach Ray, Coach Wilson) and his hometown community as he prepares to join Indiana for the next three to four years.

65 North Pickers Performance

8-11 p.m. — The Bishop Bar — 18+ entry — Experience a fusion of bluegrass and jam band vibes with lightning-fast picking and unforgettable originals.

Turkish Mosaic Lamp Workshop

10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Graduate by Hilton Bloomington — Book Now on Eventbrite! — Unleash your creativity making a traditional Turkish lamp while enjoying delightful snacks.

Couples Communication Cure: An Evening with Michele O'Mara

6-7 p.m. — Morgenstern Books & Café — Free entry — Explore effective communication in relationships with expert Michele O'Mara as she shares insights from her latest book.

James Eichman Live Concert

9-11 p.m. — The Bishop Bar — 18+ entry — Experience evocative alt-Americana and indie rock sounds from Nashville’s own James Eichman.