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Nov. 21-Dec. 27

Indiana Repertory Theatre

“A Christmas Carol”
is often the box-office highlight of just about any theater company’s season, but at the Indiana Repertory Theatre it
also has proved an artistic highlight. With its literate dedication to Dickens, the emotional commitment of its actors and,
of course, its gently falling snow, the IRT’s “Carol” has been a must-see touchstone of the season.

This
year’s production is a shortened one, with the intermission eliminated and scenes and cast-sized trimmed. Also on the
schedule are two high-tea performances (Nov. 29, Dec. 6), with beverages, sandwiches and pastries served on the mezzanine.
Details here.

Nov. 20

Radio Radio and Fountain Square Theatre

One of the most anticipated Indy music traditions is the annual Tonic Ball, benefiting Second Helpings. This year’s setup: A long list of Indy bands (including Bigger Than Elvis and Mandy Marie and the Cool Hand Lukes) perform the music of Led Zeppelin at the adults-only Radio Radio, while another equally impressive lineup (including Otis Gibbs, Tad Armstrong, and The Vulgar Boatmen) takes on Bob Dylan tunes at family-friendly Fountain Square Theatre. Meanwhile, the Tonic Gallery at nearby AV Framing Gallery offers work by more than 50 local artists. Details here.

Nov. 20-22

Murat Theatre

Now highly regarded, “Chicago” didn’t fare all that well in its original 1975 Broadway production. Even with theater legends Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdun in the leads, the Kander and Ebb musical struggled to make it through its first season, losing the Tony Award for Best Musical to the juggernaut “A Chorus Line.” Many credit a brief subbing of Liza Minelli into the Roxie Hart role for saving the show (at least, from a business perspective) and jump-starting it to a respectable-but-undistinguished two-year run.

The show’s fate changed with the minimalist 1996 revival, which has gone on to become not just the longest-running revival in Broadway history but also one of the longest running Broadway productions period. The film version went on to win a Best Picture Oscar in 1992.

All of which means there’s a fair chance you’ve seen it already—which isn’t to say it’s not worth a revisit. My prime reason this time around is to see Tom Wopat as lawyer Billy Flynn. Yes, he’s the guy from “Dukes of Hazzard.” But having seen him anchor a misguided production of “Annie Get Your Gun” and move an audience to tears as the quietly intense father in the recent Broadway production of “A Catered Affair,” it’s clear that the stage is where this talented actor belongs. Details here.

Nov. 20, 22

Clowes Hall

Enough with the comparisons to “Rent.” Puccini’s “La Boheme” got along quite nicely for nearly a century before Jonathan Larson’s Broadway update premiered. And more than 50 different productions are scheduled for opera companies around the world in the upcoming year, which speaks to its ability to stand on its own.

Indianapolis Opera’s features Maureen O’Flynn–not exactly a name you’d expect for an Italian Opera set in France, but a singer with an impressive resume, including the Metropolitan Opera’s “Romeo et Juliette” and “Rigoletto.” Fans of last season’s “Pirates of Penzance” should note that the Pirate King from that production, Sean Anderson, is back with IO as Marcello. The company will be musically supported by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Details here.

Indianapolis Public Schools officials say they wonâ??t change a decision to stop fielding football teams at three high schools.
Protesters on Tuesday night asked the school board to keep the teams at Manual, Marshall and Washington high schools. But
Superintendent Eugene White said the decision isnâ??t about money. Too few students have been turning out to play, he said.

Former Gov. Joe Kernan is going back to Vietnam for the first time since his release as a prisoner of war. Kernan and his
wife will host a February tour that will include stops at the site near Hanoi where his Navy plane was shot down in 1972 and
a portion of the prison where he was held for 11 months.

An Indianapolis mother pleaded guilty to neglect Wednesday morning in the death of her 1-year-old daughter. Rachel Goodman
allowed her boyfriend to beat her 15-month-old to death with a belt and didn’t take the girl to get medical treatment,
according
to prosecutors. Goodman hopes to avoid a 50-year prison sentence with the plea deal. Her boyfriend, Tayuan Chism, faces murder
charges. Fox59 will have more at 4 p.m.