From 'Our Town' To Our Town
Paul Daily graduated from Indiana University in 1998, after starring as George Gibbs in the Department of Theater and Drama's production of Our Town. Like Thornton Wilder's George, Daily had dreams of further education and a career out in the world. Unlike George, he realized them. Since graduating he's become an award-wining actor. He has directed plays and founded of a successful theater group. "I even tried my hand at writing and adapting," he adds.
Daily has returned to Bloomington to take the position of the Artistic Director of the newly reorganized John Waldron Arts Center in conjunction with Ivy Tech Community College.
It's Bigger, And There's More Of It
"It's great to be back in Bloomington. I'm pretty amazed at the changes," Daily says. "The whole town is bigger and more varied. When I left, Ivy Tech was a small institution with just a few classrooms. There were fewer ethnic restaurants. IU itself was smaller. Just the other day, I went back to the Theater Department and was amazed at the new theatres and the plans to turn my old theater into a cinema."
Daily has had plenty to do in the first weeks on his new job. "Thus far, I've been pretty busy just getting out and meeting the organizations that use the Center. I've talked with theater groups and arts and crafts groups as well. However, Julie Roberts, our gallery director, is the primary person in that area."
Administration, Education And Some Theatre Too
"Ivy Tech's Chancellor John Whikehart does have in mind that, for credit, art and art-related classes could fit in very nicely here. I have to say, I'm hoping to get back to being directly involved with theatre when I meet with Ivy Tech's drama club to see about forming a performing group that might perform in the Center."