Don't Miss It!

Everything bold is blue again as Blue Man Group returns to Purdue on Thursday (Feb. 20) with its stunning North American tour, filled with new, original performance and custom-built instruments — and most of all, with imagination and reach presented with energy and discipline. That all sounds like Purdue, but probably a change of school colors isn’t necessary to embrace the fun. Don’t Miss It!

FEBRUARY 19

The Black Voices of Inspiration singers team with Heart & Soul to celebrate Black History Month in music. BVOI is a Black Cultural Center performing arts ensemble; Heart & Soul is a group in Purdue Musical Organizations. 6 p.m. History Center, 522 Columbia St., Lafayette. BCC | PMO

A “Religion, Polarization and the Public Space” panel will be one of the major events under the semester theme of “Democracy, Civility, and Freedom of Expression” from the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Panel moderator Amy Goodman will guide discussion by four figures from the intersecting worlds of government and communication; Goodman is host and executive producer of “Democracy Now!” 6-8 p.m. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. Admission: Free but general admission ticket needed; available at STEW and Pao Hall box offices. Webpage | News release on semester theme events

FEBRUARY 20

Books and Coffee moves on to its third Thursday of four in February. Each session offers informal time, refreshments and a 25-minute talk about a book of current interest. 4-5 p.m. STEW, Rooms 302-306. Week 3 will feature Marlo David, associate professor of English and interdisciplinary studies, on Toni Morrison’s “Sula.” Series with links to weekly details

Blue Man Group, seven years after its most recent Purdue stop, is still amazing, fresh, delightful, creative — and blue. 7:30-9 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets $29-$62. Event
     • Optional dinner at 5-6:30 p.m. in PMU’s Sagamore Room. Prix fixe dinner; cost is $24.95. General information

FEBRUARY 21-22

The Black Cultural Center Coffee House, as always, will feature the creative and energetic BCC performing art ensembles. 7 p.m. each night. At BCC, Performing Arts Studio. BCC

FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 1

Purdue Theatre will present the earthshaking "Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches" by Tony Kushner. The production is by Richard Stockton Rand, professor of theatre and coordinator of undergraduate theatre studies. This powerful drama touched political, social and spiritual nerves when introduced with its intertwining of lives involving gay identities and AIDS. 7:30 p.m. Pao Hall, Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. Performances also at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, 27-29; also at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23, March 1. Tickets: public, $19.50; student, $12.50; senior (62+), $15.50. Theatre season (See also related listing at February 23.)

FEBRUARY 22

TEDxPurdue aims be a big “light bulb” day as its eight or more talks explore “Ikigai,” a Japanese term translated as “a reason for being.” Noon. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. Tickets $17-$23. Visit TEDxPurdueU-2020 for description and tickets. Event

FEBRUARY 23

A staged reading of “Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika” will complement Purdue Theatre’s stage production of Page One. The reading is directed by Ann M. Shanahan, associate professor and chair in the Department of Theatre. 7 p.m. Pao Hall, Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre. Tickets free but available to reserve a seat. Also Feb. 26. Website

A PEEK AHEAD

FEBRUARY 24

The annual Art and Design Undergraduate Exhibition opens in the Robert L. Ringel Gallery in Stewart Center. It’s a stimulating adventure worth taking. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday (except holidays). Reception and awards 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28.

FEBRUARY 26

The stage reading of “Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika” is repeated at 7 p.m. (See listing above at February 23.)

FEBRUARY 27

Books and Coffee moves on to its final Thursday of four in February. Each session offers informal time, refreshments and a 25-minute talk about a book of current interest. 4-5 p.m. STEW, Rooms 302-306. Week 4 will feature Brian Leung, professor of English, on Rebecca Makkai's “The Great Believers.” Series with links to weekly details

FEBRUARY 27-28

The Brother Brothers will be Purdue’s outreach artists-in-residence for two days at various time and places on campus. Event

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 1

The Purdue Theatre production of "Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches" presents its second and final week of shows. (See listing above at Feb. 21.)

MARCH 1

“Walk On: The Story of Rosa Parks,” using music and drama in a family event, will evoke the meaning of Parks’ bus protest and much more she did to promote civil rights. 3 p.m. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. Tickets $12-$17. Pre-show activities with Black Cultural Center and the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana at 2 p.m. in Stewart Center west lobby. Event

SPORTS IN SEASON

Intercollegiate Athletics home
Women's swimming and diving | Free admission | Information for attending
Men's swimming and diving | Free admission | Information for attending
Wrestling | Free admission | Information for attending
Men’s basketball | Tickets
Women’s basketball | Tickets
Track and field | Free admission | Information for attending
Women’s tennis | Free admission | Information for attending
Men’s tennis | Free admission | Information for attending
Baseball | Tickets
Softball | Tickets

These and other events including varsity sports events, plus other timely information, are listed in the Purdue Today calendars under "Events" under the Campus News pulldown at www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday.