A&E priority list for Feb 28-March 6

There's no shortage of stuff to do this week. Here are some events at the top of my priority list.

“The Whipping Man”

March 5-24

Indiana Repertory Theatre

Think there’s nothing new to say about race in America? Well, consider this play set just after the Civil War during a Passover meal between two former slaves and their former master. My colleagues in other cities who have seen the show say brace yourself for the amputation scene. David Alan Anderson stars. Details here.

Caswell Sisters 

March 1

Jazz Kitchen

Rachel is a vocalist who has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Billy Taylor Trio. Sara is a violinist who has toured with Esperanza Spalding and recorded with Skitch Henderson and Charlie Byrd. Together, they make beautiful music—as typified in a stunning version of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes” on one of Sara’s discs. But the sisters haven’t collaborated on a full album together. That changes with this event, where the Caswell Sisters launch their new recording, “Alive in the Singing Air,” which includes standards “I Get Along Without You Very Well” and “Bye Bye Blackbird,” along with less-familiar material. Details here.

First Friday 

March 1

Various locations

Heard about—but haven’t seen—the art at the new Alexander Hotel? Stop in on First Friday, when tours are offered from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Of course, that shouldn’t be your only stop. While you are out, visit the Harrison Center, where the work of Herron professor Linda Adele Goodine and her studio assistant, Kyle Channing Smith, are featured. Meanwhile, at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, film historian Eric Grayson shares WWII military training films. No matter where you go, consider stopping at the Indiana Landmarks Center for Night Cap, featuring music by Monika Herzig, Heather Ramsey and more. Galleries are free. Night Cap admission is $7. Details here.

Also this week

Fiddler Natalie MacMaster headlines at the Palladium March 3. Details here.

Kryzsztof Urbanski and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra offer a concert featuring music by Karlowicz, Chopin and Tchaikovsky March 1-2. Details here.

Midtown Men—composed of original cast members of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys”—sings songs from the Four Seasons era March 2 at Clowes Hall. I’ll be offering a pre-show discussion. Details here. 

Christopher O’Riley, host of NPR’s “From the Top,” performs at the Tarkington March 1. Details here.  Speaking of NPR, the popular radio game show “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me” gets a “live” broadcast in movie theaters, including the AMC Indianapolis 17, Regal Galaxy 14, and Goodrich Hamilton 16 and Brownsburg 8 on May 2. Details here. 

Roving Cinema, the Indianapolis International Film Festival's series of on-location screenings, show "The Neverending Story" surrounded by the stacks of volumes at Indy Reads Books on Feb. 28. Details here.

Circus Oz, Australia’s national circus, performs at Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music March 3. Details here.

The Asian Art Society Film Series offers the first of three screenings March 1 with 1985’s “My Beautiful Laundrette” starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Upcoming films include “In the Mood for Love” and “Lost in Translation.” Details here.