July 11, 2008
Somewhere between the 100th and 200th episode of any self-respecting sitcom, there's usually a moment where
the cast is trapped
...
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July 11, 2008
At the top of my reading pile right now is Doug Crandell's new novel "Hairdos of the Mildly Depressed." Crandell
has Indiana roots, a big heart, and lots of talent and I'm looking forward to gliding into this one.
It will...
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July 10, 2008
Forgive the randomness of today's posting. I'm in a clearing-my-desk frenzy before taking off tomorrow afternoon
for a family trip to the Jersey shore. (Thank goodness I have some LA Theatre Works plays on tape to get
me through...
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July 9, 2008
Noted curmudgeon—and very smart and funny writer—Joe Queenan recently threw down the gauntlet at contemporary
classical music and those who, in his view, claim to like it.
Some notable quotes from his article “Admit It, You’re as Bored as...
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July 8, 2008
Chris Jones at the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago production of "Jersey Boys" (an outstanding show,
by the way--and that's me talking, not Jones) has gone smoke free.
He's not talking about the theater. He's talking about the...
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July 8, 2008
Last night, the Heartland Film Festival (sorry, I mean Heartland Truly Moving Pictures--I'm still getting used
to the new name) added some dessert to a packed advance screening of the new adventure flick "Journey to
the Center of...
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July 6, 2008
It was a long weekend. Surely you found some entertainment beyond the barbecue.
Like me, did you take the opportunity to visit with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Conner Prairie...on
with the Sanders Family in "Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming"...
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July 2, 2008
My just-over-the-cubicle-wall colleagues at Indiana Lawyer reported yesterday that Judge Sarah Evans Barker "threw
out a new Indiana law requiring bookstores and other retailers to register with the state and pay a $250
fee if they want to sell...
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July 1, 2008
"Quality is the best business plan of all."
So Pixar chief John Lasseter told the L.A. Times.
And the combination of reading that statement and seeing Pixar's remarkable "Wall*E" last night gives me hope
for, well, everything.
I'm not going to...
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June 30, 2008
Today's Variety quotes a study stating that the average age of TV network viewers--at least, those viewing
shows live and not on DVR--is now 50. That's the highest it's ever been.
CBS has the oldest average age viewer, at 54. The...
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June 30, 2008
So did you visit the "On the Road" scroll at the IMA? Swing to "Swing" at American Cabaret Theatre? Try
to understand the great Joe Cocker at Verizon Wireless Music Center?
Let us know what A&E you experienced this weekend.
For me, much...
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June 27, 2008
I know the suspense was killing you, so here's some relief.
As of last week, Indiana has a new poet laureate. He's Norbert Krapf, a St. Joseph's College grad with
an M.A. from Notre Dame. His name is on 21...
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June 26, 2008
When I attended last night's sneak preview of the "On the Road Again..." exhibition at the IMA, there was
Mayor Ballard.
When I attended Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre's "Hooray for Bollywood" performance at Pike Performing Arts
Center, there was...
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June 25, 2008
I've got a pretty broad definition of art. And a pretty broad definition of art films.
But "Get Smart"? "You Don't Mess with the Zohan"? "Indiana Jones"? "The Happening"? "Sex in the City"?
Such is the lineup at Landmark's Keystone Art...
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June 24, 2008
"Sometimes I worry that culture is like vegetables and that I'd be better off eating that which is locally
grown," writes novelists Ann Patchett in today's Wall Street Journal.
The piece isn't a celebration of local arts. Rather, it's a tribute to the...
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June 23, 2008
The folks at the Indianapolis Museum of Art have named names (at least some) for programming at its soon-to-be-opening
Tobias Theatre.
The initial schedule for this new "living room" for the arts includes:
--"Virtuosos and Visions," featuring violinist Cho-Liang Lin, pipa artist Min Xiao-Fen,...
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June 23, 2008
More random thoughts from the American Theatre Critics Association conference in Washington.
* If the powers that be in Carmel--or any other place that aspires to be an arts destination--hasn't already
made contact, they should reach out immediately and speak to...
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June 23, 2008
Okay, so what did I miss?
Anyone visit the ISO on the Prairie, shop at the Eiteljorg's Indian Market, participate in the 48 Hour Film
Project or stop in at the Florie Leviton show at the Indianapolis Art Center?
What A&E encounters did you...
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June 21, 2008
It's the fourth day of the American Theatre Critics Association annual conference and my feet or sore, my
eyes a little glazed over, and my excitement about theater and its potential increased.
Here are some notes:
* One of the factors credited...
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June 20, 2008
Reports of the death of the CD aren't exagerated.
Wired magazine reports that Apple's ITunes store has sold over five billion songs.
Meanwhile, Price WaterhouseCoopers LLC released a report that sales downloaded songs will surpass that of CDs
by 2010.
In...
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June 19, 2008
The latest in a serious of reports from the American Theatre Critics Association conference in Washington, D.C.
It's past intermission, but I chose not to go back into the theater. Stomach issues, I claim. Truth is,
I saw a much better directed, better...
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June 18, 2008
We're on the stage of the National Theatre, rich in history but on the verge of irrelevance. With a mere
1675 seats, it's difficult to compete for tours and concerts with the Kennedy Center and other larger houses.
This is...
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June 18, 2008
"Hi, I'm Harry," he says, shaking my hand.
And when he sits down at our table, a woman next to him asks, "Who do you write for?"
That's the standard first question here at the American Theatre Critics Association conference in Washington.
But, in this case,...
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June 17, 2008
Since I'm out of town, I had to miss the Tuesday IBJ Night at the Movies preview of "Get Smart." So if you were there, enlighten
me. What did I miss?
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June 17, 2008
It’s been about a decade since I’ve been to Washington, D.C., but memories rush back.
On a junior high field trip, a kid sticking his hand in front of my Super-8 movie camera as I tried to
film a “Hard Day’s...
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Laura-the festivals and tastings are free. What does is strengthen the sense of community with activities. What are those empty lots doing for the Village? it's sad you can't see the good that this progress can do for the area. No one is requiring anyone to shop there. I guess you'd rather see a Dollar store move in or no, we'd rather see the property stand empty b/c change is out of the question.
Read down to the part about Brizzi. Someone needs to subpoena his "purchases" of Red RockPictures and Cellstar and his corresponding bank records, I mean c'mon, I'd like to see his alcohol usage records, too. http://diana-vice.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html
Wonder if my neighborhood can advertise our "retention" pond and act like it is a beach too?
a new record at the '11 salebration until they realized that it was a futile effort to get their crapwagon moter and crapwagon car up speed. And then they just quietly slunk off into the night and never spoke of it again. Nothing to see here folks.
millions for putting a company's bumper sticker on one of its Lolas. But you gotta take what you can get.