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April 28-May 28

Phoenix Theatre

When the Phoenix Theatre offered the world premiere of this musical back in 2009, here’s what I wrote:

“Inspired by Gilbert & Sullivan, "Zoomerville" is imprinted with influences from Steven Sondheim to Andy Prieboy (whose club musical, "White Trash Wins Lotto," is the closest thing I've seen to it in style and spirit). But I don't want to give too much credit to its antecedents at the expense of praise for the relentless creativity of playwright/co-lyricist Jack O'Hara, aided and abetted by composer Tim Brickley. The densely (and hilariously) packed lyrics and jaunty score are both stronger than any reasonable theatergoer would expect. And Phebe Taylor and Scot Greenwell stand out in the plum parts of pageant queen Happenstance Throttlehopper and rookie racer John Hoosier Lordyboy Jr. ‘Zoomerville’ offers two hours of joyful silliness—OK, maybe an hour and a half, with some easily trimmable filler—that, I believe, could break out of this market and reach a wider audience. Do I smell a future ‘Urinetown’?”

Well, Taylor and Greenwell are back. The show has been trimmed. And the engines start this week. I’ll race you there. Details here. 

April 29-May 22

Center for the Performing Arts

Dwarfed by the juggernaut that was “A Chorus Line,” the original Broadway production of “Chicago” had a respectable run but seemed a musical afterthought. That changed when the show was revived in 1996 (it’s still running) and spawned an Oscar-winning movie.

The national tour has been through Indy a few times already, but this is the first chance we’ve had in years to see a local professional production. It seems an ideal choice for Actors Theatre of Indiana, the professional company in residence at the new Center for the Performing Arts, combining minimal set requirements with maximum show biz pizzazz. And anyone interested in actual talent rather than celebrity status should be much more interested in seeing ATI’s Cynthia Collins as Roxie Hart than in gawking at Broadway’s current Roxie, Christie Brinkley. Details here.  

April 29-30

Stutz Building

            The increased popularity of First Friday gallery hopping doesn’t seem to have diminished the public appetite for browsing the art under one giant roof at this signature spring event. This time, more than 80 artists—the highest number in the event’s 18 years—will participate. What does that mean? At minimum, it means opening the doors of their galleries/workspaces to those wandering the labyrinth Stutz Building. It can also mean hands-on arts opportunities, and samplings of wine, cheese and other treats. Details here.