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Jan. 29-30
Indy Fringe Building
One of the most outrageous—and fun—acts of the 2010 Indy Fringe Festival was the Screw You Review, featuring foul-mouthed octogenarian Wayburn Sassy and his cross-dressing pal Miss Didi Panache. The two are returning with a new act, this time paired on a double bill with “A Brighter Shade of Blue,” featuring comedian Paul Strickland. My review of “Screw You Review” can be found here. Details on the new show here.
 

Feb 3-March 27
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
One of the big advantages to the Indy regional premiere of the very fun, very tuneful Broadway musical? It won’t have John Travolta in it.
Travolta’s self-indulgent performance is what kept the movie version of “Hairspray” from being as much fun as the stage musical. I can see the cross-dressing lure of playing Edna Turnblad (the role made famous in the original film by Divine and taken on stage by Harvey Fierstein). But Travolta missed the heart and played the gimmick.
Make no mistake about it: This is a show with a lot of heart. And it should come through not just in the main plot of spunky teen Tracy and her efforts to integrate a TV dance show but also in the loving relationship between her goofball parents. Here, Beef & Boards newcomer Dan Dowling Jr., who recently played the part in Boston, will be playing Edna, with B&B clutch hitter John Vessels as husband Wilbur. Details here.
 

Jan. 30
Palladium
The first official regular-priced concert of the Palladium’s first half-season, this triple-threat event features The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Miro Quartet and cellist Lynn Harrell in an easy-on-the-ears program that includes Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue for Two Pianos,” Brahms’ “Piano Quartet in G Minor,” and Schubert’s “String Quartet in C Major.” Make sure you check out the groovy ticket selection pages here (without Ticketmaster fees). Details here.

Jan. 29
Palladium
While Dionne Warwick, Michael Feinstein, Chris Botti and Neil Sedaka are the big names attached to the gala celebration of the opening of the Palladium concert hall, the performer I’m most interested in hearing is Cheyenne Jackson.
Haven’t heard of him? Broadway followers may know him as the star of “All Shook Up,” “Xanadu” and the recent revival of “Finian’s Rainbow.” Your teen-age kids might recognize him as the new coach of Vocal Adrenaline on TV’s “Glee.” I’m bullish on him after listening to his cuts on “The Power of Two,” his recent CD with Feinstein, and his equally impressive spot on composer Lance Horne’s new disc “Last Things First.” Here’s hoping undercard position on the gala’s lineup leads to a headline spot soon. Details here.
 

A south-side Indianapolis car wash was robbed at gunpoint by two masked men early Wednesday morning.  Employees at Mike's Express Carwash at 3501 S. East St. told police the men entered the business about 6 a.m., showed guns, demanded money, then fled eastbound on foot. Police are reviewing surveillance video.

Terry Dilk, a 20-year resident of Beech Grove, was sworn in as the city’s new mayor Tuesday. Dilk replaces Donald “Joe” Wright, who shocked city council members when he announced his resignation Jan. 3 with a year still left in his term. Dilk was selected to replace Wright by a caucus of precinct committee members. Beech Grove is a city of about 15,000 people in southeast Marion County.

Indianapolis police officer David Moore, who suffered numerous gunshot wounds during a traffic stop Sunday, died this morning at Wishard Hospital after being taken off life support. Moore, a Roncalli High School and Purdue University graduate, was 29. A suspect in the shooting, Thomas Hardy, 60, is being held at Marion County Jail on possible robbery charges, but hasn’t been charged in Moore’s death. Moore, a former department rookie of the year, is the first Indianapolis police officer killed in the line of duty since 2004.