Help Cardinal Stage raise the curtain on their 15th Anniversary Season! You can help by bidding on silent auction items, purchasing raffle tickets, or making a direct tax-deductible donation. All proceeds will directly support their artists, technicians, and improvements to Cardinal’s new production and rehearsal facility (TBA) as they prepare for a triumphant return to the stage later this year! Online now – May 21 at cardinal.cbo.io. 

Here are three ways you can help:

Purchase a raffle ticket for the chance to win a French Lick weekend getaway! Purchase a raffle ticket for just $10!

Bid on silent auction items! We have everything from vacations to gym memberships to in-home catered dinners – plus gift cards and packages from some of your favorite Bloomington business.

Make a direct, tax-deductible donation. Every donation counts, no matter the size.

Thank you! Get started at cardinal.cbo.io.

Who is Bloomington’s Best Band? The Buskirk-Chumley Theater is determined to find out! We’ve recruited a panel of local music and performance experts to judge bands representing various genres.

Eight local bands will be performing completely original music for the judges over three rounds, each round getting progressively harder. Round 1 will have one prerecorded 10-minute set per band. Round 2 will have one pre-recorded 20-minute set per band. The Final Round will have three bands perform 30-minute sets to a limited in-person audience, including judges. None of the competing bands are currently signed with a record label (yet!). The winner of the contest will be announced live at the end of the concert and be awarded the $1,000 cash prize and title of “Bloomington’s Best Band!” The runner-up will receive a $500 cash prize and all bands will receive virtual exposure and a chance at being discovered!

Criteria for Judgment
Judges will rate bands on a scale from 1-5 in 4 categories.
Musicianship: Technical skill & dynamics between players
Performance Quality: Stage presence, production value & general presentation
Genre: Authentic genre representation
Originality: Song writing & overall concept
While each judge can award up to 20 points per band, there will also be an audience choice. The popular vote will award an additional 20 points. Thanks to Mandolin’s livestreaming software, you will be able to vote from home during each performance!

The estimated length of each program is 90 minutes. Each show will start at 7pm and will be broadcast virtually on Mandolin. Virtual ticket holders will receive a link via email the week of the show from [email protected]. You will have to create a free Mandolin account if you don’t have one yet! Access to the broadcast will be available on Mandolin for 48 hours after each premiere. For technical support contact [email protected]. Doors open at 6:30pm for in-person patrons of the final show on June 3rd. Masks are required.