Search Results

Indianapolis Public Schools may close two elementary schools on the west side next year in order to save about $10 million, officials said at a public meeting Tuesday night. The two schools that could close are School 107 at 3307 Ashway Drive and School 109 at 6150 Gateway Drive. Under the proposal, students from the two schools would attend Gambold Middle School at 3725 Kiel Ave. after Gambold is converted into an elementary school. Gambold students would attend Northwest High School at 5525 W. 34th St., after Northwest is converted into a middle school as well as a high school.

Authorities were still searching a Jackson County landfill Wednesday morning where they believe the body of 18-year-old Sullivan University student Andrew Compton may be located. Compton, a 2010 Carmel High School graduate, has been missing since Oct. 28. Police on Tuesday arrested Gregory O’Bryan of Louisville, 40, who confessed to dumping Compton’s body in a dumpster. O’Bryan faces charges of murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

A Marion County judge has delayed the trial of a mother who locked her children in a closet, resulting in their deaths. Ebyan Farah was ordered to seek mental health treatment after two doctors determined she is not stable enough to help her lawyers with her defense. The trial was to have started Nov. 29. The Somali immigrant is charged in the Sept. 19 deaths of her daughter Zakariya, 3, and son Zuhur, 5, who were locked in a bedroom closet for more than 10 hours with three other siblings.

In “The Chicken Show,” part of the Spirit & Place Festival, author Michael Perry reads and local artists and students display work based on, yes, chickens. Nov. 11 at Wheeler Arts Community Center. Details here.

The painted guys return when Blue Man Group plays Clowes Hall Nov. 12-14. Details here.

At the Eiteljorg Museum, "Art en la Charreria," Nov. 12-Jan. 16, celebrates the equestrian sport popular in Mexico. Opening weekend events include performances by Anderson Ballet Folklorico, Trio ConPaz, and more. Details here.

The 10th anniversary lineup for the Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival Nov. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and IUPUI Campus Center includes “Violet Tendencies” (starring Mindy Cohn of “The Facts of Life), “Talbott Street: 1980-1986” (a documentary about the ground-breaking Talbott Theatre), “Bloomington” (a fiction film about a student/teacher relationship at IU), and a sneak preview of the “New Ash Christian Film” (featuring Jennifer Coolidge). Details here.

The ambitiously titled Wet Your Pants Comedy Film Festival, Nov. 12-14 at the Indianapolis Art Center, includes “Run, Granny, Run!” (featuring a seniors version of the “Ben Hur” chariot race), “Cool Beans,” (about two guys looking for the originator of the title term), and “Post-Apocalyptic Shotgun Madness,” which pretty much says it all. Proceeds benefit the National Kidney Foundation. Details here.

Comedian Chelsea Handler headlines at the Murat Theatre Nov. 13. Details here.

New Yorker contributor Jonathan Lethem, author of such novels as “Fortress of Solitude” and “Chronic City,” is the latest author to come to town for the Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series at Butler University’s Atherton Union. He’ll be reading on Nov. 15. Details here.
 

Nov. 11
Indianapolis Museum of Art

One of the perks of being an ambassador to the United Nations is that you have access to artisans from around the world. In the case of Madeleine Albright, that meant amassing a collection of more than 200 brooches, which are on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art through Jan. 30. Indianapolis Museum of Art Director Maxwell Anderson will be leading a discussion with Albright herself on Nov. 11, followed by a book signing. For details, click here.

Nov. 11
JCC

There won’t be a band to strike up, so it may be a tough call for you (but not for me) when Mickey Maurer interviews cabaret star and Center for the Performing Arts artistic director Michael Feinstein for a fascinating chat about rhythm and other matters. And if you are expecting nothing but talk, well, it ain’t necessarily so. Feinstein will likely sing as well.

Who cares? Anyone interested in the great American songs Feinstein has helped rediscover, re-popularize, and preserve. How long has this been going on? Maurer (an IBJ owner and columnist) has been hosting discussions with interesting Hoosiers since 2008. You can get more information here.

(And now, Great American Songbook buffs, count how many George Gershwin song references you can find in this item.)
 

Nov. 10-13
Lucas Oil Stadium

Seventy-six trombones? That “Music Man” number hardly holds a candle to the sheer number of talented musicians competing this week in Music for All’s Bands of America Grand National Championships. More than 90 bands—including groups from Lawrence Central, Carmel, Center Grove, Danville and Ben Davis high schools—will show their stuff, with the winner scoring a guaranteed spot in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Details here.
 

Nov. 12-14
Hilbert Circle Theatre

Call me a musical purist, but I’m not sure if the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra should cheapen itself by mixing minor music with the classics. In this case, it’s taking the musical masterpieces inspired by the genius of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck and mixing in work created to back up such lesser lights as The Flintstones and Tom and Jerry. I’m sorry, but Hanna Barbera just doesn’t hold a candle to Warner Bros. (unless, of course,  Ann-Margrock and Bobby Darrock are vocalizing).

Ah, well, I suppose I have to move with the times. If it takes music for Scooby Doo to get people in the door to hear the more esoteric excellence of Bugs Bunny’s “Long-Haired Hare,” then so be it. For details, click here.