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Nov. 20
Athenaeum Theatre

Julliard-trained electric violinist Drew Tretick, who will be joining the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra for this month’s concert, has taken the stage at such impressive classical venues as the London Palladium. On the other hand, he’s also played for the tourists on the faux streets of Downtown Disney in Orlando.

That’s not the only way Tretick shows range. His recent CD devoted to cinematic compositions covers the familiar (“Over the Rainbow,” “The Way We Were”) and the more esoteric (from the scores for “Cinema Paradiso” and “Quartiere,” for instance). Details on the concert can be found here. And, for your listening pleasure, here’s Tretick stopping Disney foot traffic with “Flight of the Bumblebee.”
 

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. 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.