Priority list includes operatic Vonnegut, Elvis on stage, more

Indy Jazz Fest

This year’s program is dedicated to the memory of Indianapolis jazz legend Wes Montgomery. Events include a Bill Lancton-led tribute to The Indianapolis Sound at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, a Remembering Wes Celebration at IUPUI, a block party outside the Jazz Kitchen, and a Speedway concert at Dallara IndyCar Factory. Headliners at various locations include Norman Brown, the Ravi Coltrane Quartet, the Sullivan Fortner Trio, and Dominican fusion band Yasser Tejeda & Palotre. Sept. 15-24 Various locations Details

Lotus World Music & Arts Fest

No need to pretend you’ve heard of Austrian brass ensemble Federspiel, Ghanaian reggae singer Rocky Dawuni, or the Senegalese/Lithuanian duo Solo & Indre. The beauty of the Lotus Festival is that, trusting in the curatorial skills of the programmers, you can experience a veritable United Nations of music—and slide from one show to another if you happen to hit an act that doesn’t appeal to you.  Sept. 15-18 Various locations, Bloomington  Details

“Million Dollar Quartet”

The quartet of the title consisted of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, and they did, in fact, jam together at Sun Studios in 1956. That said, not all the songs in this tune-packed show were actually played that day, and some of the facts have been fudged for dramatic effect. Nonetheless, this runaway hit show has proven an audience pleaser since it premiered in Chicago and I expect nothing different from this, its first local production.  Sept. 16-Oct. 2 Actors Theatre of Indiana at the Studio Theatre  Details

“Happy Birthday, Wanda June”

Indianapolis Opera offers composer Richard Auldon Clark's world premiere opera based on the play by Kurt Vonnegut. It's about a macho hunter who returns from overseas to a very different world. Sept. 16-18 Schrott Center for the Arts Details

Also this week:

Poet Yusef Komunyakaa reads at the Schrott Center Sept. 13.

YouTuber Miranda Sings performs at the Murat Sept. 18