Laura Kennedy / WGLT
A venerable member of the Bloomington-Normal theater community is branching out with a new role that, on its surface, seems like something brand new. But at its heart, it’s a job with core values he knows very well.
Rhys Lovell is crossing cultural streams as he steps into a new role as curator at the McLean County Arts Center in downtown Bloomington. Lovell is a mainstay of the Twin City theater scene, having worked at Heartland Theater, where he is currently artistic director, since 1989. Lovell plans to remain in that position as he takes on his new job at the MCAC.
Heartland Theater
Every theater has had to find its way to reach audiences during the pandemic. For Heartland Theater Company, that includes reaching into its own past.
Taking full advantage of its YouTube page, Heartland has been uploading videos culled from past 10-Minute Play Festivals. The festival is a yearly competition that draws short plays from playwrights all over the world.
Dubbed “10-Minute Plays from Better Days,” the YouTube series each week highlights a different play from the festival that was established in 2002. Fortunately, the plays have always been recorded, so the theater had plenty of material from which to choose.
NORMALÂ â At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has people going back to basics like gardening and baking bread, another blast from the past is returning: radio theater.
The latest example of that will air on WGLT radio, 89.1 FM, at 8 p.m. Friday when the Normal-based Heartland Theatre Company presents, âThe Gift of the Magi.â
This will be Heartlandâs second radio drama to air on WGLT this fall. In October, the group presented, âThe War of the Worlds.â
âOngoing COVID-19 restrictions will require everyone to create new holiday traditions this year,â said R.C. McBride, general manager, WGLT and WCBU. ââThe Gift of the Magiâ will be one safe and fun way to bring people together while the pandemic requires we remain physically apart.