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Yes, you've found Lou Harry's A&E, IBJ's home for opinion, debate and discussion on arts and entertainment matters in Indy and beyond. Thanks for stopping by.
On stage Blog Posts
“Assassins” shot down
February 22, 2008
Comments(5)"All of us have a healthy respect for the freedom of artistic expression that college theater represents,
and all of us agree that out of respect for the families of those victims of the tragedies at Northern
Illinois University and...
MoreTV alert: Sondheim tonight
February 20, 2008
Comments(4)Today I am PBS’ biggest fan.
That’s because tonight, the long-running series “Great Performances” is premiering “Company,” a taped-from-the-stage
production of the George Firth/Stephen Sondheim musical.
In case you are unfamiliar, “Company” is a landmark musical from 1970 that bypassed traditional story...
MoreTheater 2008-2009?
February 18, 2008
Comments(8)We’re getting closer to the point where Indianapolis-area theater companies and presenters announce their 2008-2009
seasons.
Already, Footlite Musicals has staked out territory that includes “Crazy for You,” “Miss Saigon” and—the one
I’m most looking forward to—the local community theater premiere...
MoreAn all-black “Cat” on Broadway
February 12, 2008
Comments(5)Tonight, a new production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” begins performances on Broadway with a high-profile
cast, including Terrence Howard, Phylicia Rashad and James Earl Jones.
Obviously this isn’t the cast that Tennessee Williams had in mind when the...
MoreJazz riffs
February 8, 2008
Comments(11)Yesterday, the announcement was made that Aretha Franklin would be headlining this year’s Indy Jazz Fest.
More acts, of course, to follow.
Three questions :
1. Who else would you like to see on the lineup this year?
2. More provocatively, who wouldn’t...
MoreSymphonic crisis in Columbus
February 7, 2008
Comments(7)Our big-ish city neighbor to the east, Columbus, Ohio, is facing problems with its orchestra.
Wrestling with $1.5 million deficit this season, management has proposed downsizing from 52 to 31 full-time
players. A truncated season (cutting out 12 of the usual...
MoreEastern Star (and 'Superstar')
February 5, 2008
Comments(6)The balcony was shaking.
Literally. You could see the flag bouncing in the windless Artsgarden and I half-jokingly asked Alpha Blackburn,
of Blackburn Architects, about the structural stability of the place.
What was causing this seismic disturbance?
The Eastern Star Church Gospel Choir,...
More'Bang' bounced at TOTS
January 31, 2008
Comments(0)A last-minute switch in the lineup at Theatre on the Square was mysteriously announced yesterday. In the
just-around-the-corner late February slot, out went the relatively unknown survivalist comedy “Bang.” In comes
the Pulitzer-Prize winning “Proof.” Why? According to the news...
MoreThe Kindle, bootleg movies, etc.
January 31, 2008
Comment(1)A few technology and the arts stories for you forward-thinking readers:
According to yesterday’s Publishers Weekly, Amazon.com has experienced better-than-expected sales of the temporarily-out-of-stock
Kindle, the $399 electronic book gizmo it launched last November.![]()
More
First impressions/free tickets
January 29, 2008
Comments(3)What was the first production that woke you up to the potential pleasures of the stage? Were you tuned
in as a kid? As a teen? Did interest in theater, dance, opera or live music wait until you were grown?
Or...
More“Three Girls and Their Buddy”
January 24, 2008
Comments(4)Anyone else catch the “Three Girls and Their Buddy” concert at Clowes Memorial Hall—featuring Emmylou Harris,
Shawn Colvin, and Patty Griffin— last weekend?
Putting aside the enthusiasm of the fan base for each of the performers for a second, the one-nighter...
MoreLive … from the Toby
January 23, 2008
Comments(10)The Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Tobias Theater will be renovated and reopened thanks to a $1 million gift
from the Randall and Marianne Tobias.
Announcements of specific programs for “The Toby” are still forthcoming, but IMA reps say it will be...
MoreOscars, ‘trotters and “Menopause”
January 22, 2008
Comments(3)Some unrelated thoughts on a catch-up Tuesday:
The Academy Award nominations are out and it’s interesting to note that “Transformers” (3) received more
nominations than “Norbit” (1).
Seriously, though, for those of us who watch the Oscars the way others...
MoreYou-review-it Monday, 1-21-08
January 21, 2008
Comments(4)I had a busy A&E weekend, with the "Three Girls and Their Buddy" concert at Clowes Hall on Friday night
(more on that later), the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s hot ticket "Rite of Spring" performance on Saturday
(see previous blog entry...
MoreTicket scalping...for the symphony?
January 19, 2008
Comments(0)This evening's performance of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra featured something extraordinary ... and I'm
not talking about the performances of Beethoven's "Pastoral" and Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" (although
those were outstanding).
I'm talking about ticket scalping....
MoreGreat shakes at Butler
January 16, 2008
Comments(2)“I just pass on the enthusiasm and make it about them.”
That’s what Roger Rees, one of the world’s most acclaimed Shakespearian actors (and perhaps familiar to you
for his stints on “Cheers” and “The West Wing”) modestly told me when...
MoreHamlisch and show music matters
January 11, 2008
Comments(0)Appreciative applause met Marvin Hamlisch when, just a few hours ago, he announced from the podium at the
Hilbert Circle Theatre that he’d be conducting a medley of songs from “My Fair Lady” as part of his pops
program with...
MoreTell it to the Marines
January 10, 2008
Comments(3)Today’s New York Times features an enlightening story about Mishawaka-native Adam Driver, a former University
of Indianapolis student who organized an evening theater performance for the Marines at Camp Pendleton.
Driver, an honorably discharged Marine himself, had the notion that Marines...
MoreStand-Ups on Screen
December 27, 2007
Comments(2)With “Mad TV” star Aries Spears performing this week at Morty’s Comedy Joint and Chris Rock coming to the
Murat, I’m thinking about stand-up comics transitioning into movies.
Although he seems to have the talent to do so, Spears hasn’t broken...
MoreWhen should the curtain rise?
December 21, 2007
Comments(3)Right now, I’m a bit bleary from a night dominated not by sleep but instead by dropping my daughters, nieces
and assorted friends off at a midnight screening of “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and picking them
up again at...
MoreA&E dining: before and after
December 20, 2007
Comments(17)Last Friday, after catching the musical “Assassins” at Hedback Theatre, I barely made it to the new Meridian
Bar and Restaurant in time for a late dinner.
What I want to talk about now, though, isn’t the show (that review will...
MoreLive … from the big screen
December 19, 2007
Comments(5)A few weeks back in my IBJ Daily A&E e-mail blast (you can subscribe for free here: http://www.ibj.com/2k6_2/forms/regform_nh.asp),
I wrote about a recent presentation of a LaScala opera on screen at the Rave movie theater at Metropolis.
Last night, at...
MoreA new ISO marketing move
December 18, 2007
Comments(6)Just yesterday, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced a new addition to its schedule--a Tuesday night
preview concert of music excerpts from upcoming shows. The Jan. 8 coming-attractions evening ticket price is
$5, which also includes a 2-for-1 offer for a future show.
Getting...
MorePrice points
December 17, 2007
Comments(7)One of the productions I’ll be reviewing in the next IBJ is “Assassins,” the Stephen Sondheim musical staged
by the new Indy-based company Lowbrow Productions (information at www.lowbrowproductions.org).
Something I probably won’t be mentioning in the article: The fact that...
MoreEnd Times/Good Times
December 14, 2007
Comments(7)Today, “I am Legend” opens in theaters and “The Mist” is still lingering. I’m hoping to see both this weekend.
Next month, “End Days” opens at the Phoenix Theatre, and Spotlight Theatre will stage the apocalyptic “Early
One Evening at the...
More
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Irvington is up and coming much like Fountain Square. We would love to have something like this in our neighborhood!
Why do we care who has submitted proposals if we can't review the proposals? It's publicly owned land, but the public has zero say in what gets chosen to be built there. Yep, that sounds about right.
Perhaps May 21 is "Evangelical Day" over at the IBJ?
I don't know what's more depressing: that this passes for a defensible elective in a publicly funded SCIENCE class, or that more than half of the posters here are defending this charlatan. Intelligent design is creationism. Creationism is religion. Yes, we have freedom of religion, which deserves to be protected. Now someone kindly show Professor Hedin his freedom by escorting him over to the Religion department at BSU. Carry on.
I hope people realize that the 'vocal' opposition at the meeting represent the minority of people against this project. As with any controversial project - those who don't want it are the loudest, while those who like it or really don't care one way or the other don't come to such meetings. Unfortunately the same may be true of the survey now being offered by the BRVA. I live less than a 5 minute walk from BR Avenue and can tell you that I and most of my neighbors are support this exciting project, or are ambivalent. And how great that it includes quality apartments - something that BR sorely lacks. This is a first class opportunity that we should embrace (and no, I'm not with the BRVA or the developer.) As for the fellow who owns the Good Earth store, if he doesn't want competition then let him pull together his own investors and out bid Whole Foods to operate the proposed grocery component! Come on folks - let's move ahead.