Ball State University's sixth president, John R. Emens (1945-1968), had a dream. He envisioned a "campus of the future" complete with an auditorium "large enough to house most college functions as well as major symphonies, Broadway productions, ballets, and other forms of entertainment for Muncie and east central Indiana audiences."
For over 50 years, John R. Emens College-Community Auditorium has fostered a greater appreciation for the performing arts in East Central Indiana, inspiring lifelong learning, multicultural literacy, and creativity. With a diverse array of artists, productions, and celebrities, Emens continues to present entertainment from the traditional to the innovative. Help us continue this legacy by donating to the performing arts to enhance and enrich the lives of our campus and community.
“I will always consider Emens the beginning of my choice of a music career and of BSU as my university! I attended Mid America Music Camp in the summerof 1965- took a voice lesson with Don Neuen and immediately decided to become a music educator! We did our concerts in Emens that summer and then I received both my BS and MS in Music Education from Ball State. I was in University Singers for 3 years and will always remember our performances there- Spectacular and with few with visiting celebrities. Those were wonderful memories both onstage and in the audience!“
– Julia Ann Church/Scherer
“As a child growing up in Muncie, my parents worked for BSU. We went to a lotof shows. My HS Graduation was held there. Now I share shows with my grandchildren. Blue man, Stomp, Jeff Irwin. Looking forward to Sound of Music.” – Terre Varner
“My favorite memory in Emens was winning Air Jam with my Pi Beta Phi sisters and the brothers of Theta Chi in 2016! It was especially exciting to win because it was a "three-peat" win for Pi Phi! I have always loved dancing and performing, so it was a blast to have an experience like that on the Emens stage!” – Chloe Babusiak
