A few weeks back, in my A&E Season Preview in the print IBJ, I picked as one of the highlighted events David Foster Wallace’s scheduled talk at Butler University.
That won’t be happening. The acclaimed writer, best known for his essays and…
When a major company goes under, it’s not just the employees and shareholders who take hits. It’s also the not-for-profits that the company helps support. A Bloomberg story today reports on Lehman Brothers endowment, which contributes to over 200 causes…
Today’s Start with Art luncheon at the Convention Center unofficially marks the start of the arts season in Indy.
So were you there? If so, what did you think of Col Dean M. Esserman’s talk?
For those who weren’t, Esserman–Chief of Police…
For the first time in its 22 year history, the season-kickoff Start with Art luncheon (being held this Thursday) won’t include a visit from the Indianapolis’ mayor.
Greg Ballard, as has been reported elsewhere, will be at the Republican National Convention.
The…
David Amram (recently seen here in town at the opening of the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Kerouac/Frank exhibition) has been named Composer in Residence for the Democratic National Convention. See full story here.
The story reports that Amram, who has…
And so the Indianapolis arts community exhales. There’s still $1 million in the budget and there’s less chance of our town being seen as culturally regressive.
But what’s the underlying message from Mayor Ballard’s budget speech?
Is it simply that cuts have…
Earlier today, City County Councillor Christine Scales e-mailed me regarding the city arts budget and the rumored threats against it. I’m reprinting the letter here (and posting it with the earlier blog) with her permission. Your thoughts are, of…
The buzz is growing around the arts community about anticipated budget cuts from the Ballard administration to be announced on Monday. See, for example, Justin Ohlemiller’s commentary at the Hetrick Communications site here and Gracie Communications’ Lisa Sirkin’s “Save the Arts” page…
When I attended last night’s sneak preview of the “On the Road Again…” exhibition at the IMA, there was Mayor Ballard.
When I attended Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s “Hooray for Bollywood” performance at Pike Performing Arts Center, there was…
The latest in a serious of reports from the American Theatre Critics Association conference in Washington, D.C.
It’s past intermission, but I chose not to go back into the theater. Stomach issues, I claim. Truth is, I saw a much better directed, better…
Readers of the New York Times received their “Summer Stages” preview in Sunday’s Arts & Leisure section.
The annual piece offers a rundown of what’s happening around the country in Dance, Theater, Pop/Jazz and Classical Music. And while the Cleveland and…
One of Indy’s most notable writers, Dan Barden, earned national acclaim for his book “John Wayne: a novel,” published in 1997 by Random House. He’s also penned essays for such publications as GQ and Details, teaches creative writing at Butler…
I’m jazzed to write about both the Lincoln Center revival of “South Pacific” and the new Broadway musical “Cry-Baby” when I return to Indy. And to catch two more shows Saturday. And to share, perhaps tomorrow’s blog, some thoughts on my…
The line is short at the temporary TKTS half-price ticket booth (although just about everyting is available), every third non-tourist woman seems to want to be Tina Fey, and Central Park looks great. Wish you were all here.
I’m blogging from…
Conner Prairie landed its own four-page section in the current issue of Smithsonian magazine and, of course, the powers that be at the rustic landmark are thrilled.
In a press release, Brenda Myers, executive director of the Hamilton County Convention…
Political candidates are all over the state these days, grabbing photo ops wherever they can … except, it seems, at arts events.
Think about it: When was the last time you saw a candidate – local or national – posing in…
With Pope Benedict XVI on his U.S. tour, attention is being paid to just about every aspect of the Catholic Church…including its music. Not only is the playlist for the Pontiff’s stadium mass in Washington being scrutinized, but thoughts are…
David Mamet has stirred lots of debate with his recent column in The Village Voice. The message can be boiled down to his line “I took the liberal view for many decades, but I believe I have changed my…
Much is being made about the impact of “Saturday Night Live” on the presidential election. For the latest New York Times story, click here
According to the argument, the way “SNL” characterize the candidates is the way the public will…
While this blog has loads of readers (110,000 page visits in January.), I’ve found, anecdotally, that that number includes some who know little about IBJ’s other arts and entertainment coverage.
So I thought I’d take today’s posting and give you a…
