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Apr. 25--The Indiana University Auditorium 2010-2011 season features a number of first-time visiting performers to Bloomington, including the much-sought-after Blue Man Group. "People have asked for them for a long time," IU Auditorium director Doug Booher said of the blue men.

Apr. 25--The Indiana University Auditorium 2010-2011 season features a number of first-time visiting performers to Bloomington, including the much-sought-after Blue Man Group.

"People have asked for them for a long time," IU Auditorium director Doug Booher said of the blue men. As always, when putting the coming season together, Auditorium staff listened to the wishes of local audiences.

The year-long planning process begins with a survey of all possible shows and events on tour the coming year, Booher said. Staff cull through the list for shows that make sense for Bloomington, considering the size of the Auditorium and desires of locals. They narrow it down to about 100 acts, he said.

"Some things we work on for a few seasons," like Yo-Yo Ma, whose schedule finally matched up with a date at the Auditorium during the 2009-2010 season.

Blue Man Group will take the local stage for the first time March 29-31. Also first-timers this season: Chicago's Joffrey Ballet and Broadway favorites "Spamalot" and "Legally Blonde."

Booher also is excited by another inaugural show, "Spring Awakening," a contemporary Broadway musical with a score composed by alt-rocker Duncan Sheik, with choreography by the great Bill T. Jones.

Jones spent time on the IU campus in February, when his Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company performed "Fondly Do We Hope . Fervently Do We Pray," co-commissioned by the Auditorium. The dance work was an ode to Abraham Lincoln.

"Spring Awakening" is a testament to Jones' capabilities, Booher said.

"He can build a work around Abraham Lincoln, and he also works well on Broadway."

These first-timers are interspersed with classics. "I think the thing that's nice is those pair with some time-tested shows," Booher said. Kodo, with its traditional taiko Japanese drumming, returns to town.

"It's such a unique opportunity to look at this culture," he said. "There are so many beautiful depictions of the culture and their meditative drumming."

Another Bloomington favorite, long-standing Irish band The Chieftains, return March 1. Everyone is an honorary Irishman that day, Booher said.

Classic offerings "A Chorus Line," "Fiddler on the Roof" and two holiday shows round out the season.

In response to parents' wishes, this year's traditional Halloween program has been moved to a non-trick-or-treating night.

Booher is thrilled about the Cleveland Orchestra's Jan. 25 performance.

The renowned orchestra's original performance date, Jan. 20, 2010, was canceled because of a musicians' strike. The strike lasted just two days but it was enough for the orchestra to cancel its IU show.

Administrators and musicians have invested hundreds of hours in paving the way for this rescheduled event, Booher said.

"We are all both relieved and thrilled that that work will have an opportunity to come to fruition."