Review: Cirque du Soleil’s “Varekai”
This seemingly Cirque-grown species of superhumans contort while flying, connect while swinging, tumble while balancing, hurl one another with their feat, and defy gravity.
Lou Harry
Articles
LOU’S VIEWS: Discovering a new festival—and new musicals—at Ball State
Thanks to the Discovery New Musical Theatre Festival, an uphill climb for new tuners has gotten just a little bit easier. Not easy, mind you, just easier.
DINING: Cultural Trail lands quirky hops stop
A strip of restaurants has turned a previously anonymous stretch of real estate into a culinary destination. The latest neighbor: Chilly Water Brewing Co.
A new dance company, a theater in crisis, and a WNAP raft race redo
Emptying the arts notebook…and bracing for the return of the greatest spectacle in drunken river riding.
REVIEW: ‘Miles & Ellie’ at the Phoenix Theatre
Who’d have thought that the place to go for a Teflon summer romantic comedy would be the Phoenix Theatre?
DINING: Newcomer Union 50’s creativity marries cuisines
Mass Ave around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and East Street has been bursting lately with new dining options. Here’s the latest.
Q&A: Ron Spencer
After more than 250 productions, Theatre on the Square’s executive artistic director exits with a look back.
CHICAGO REVIEWS: ‘Brigadoon’ at the Goodman; ‘This is Our Youth’ at Steppenwolf
A trip to Chicago yields a pair of well-worth-the-drive pleasures from two of the country’s leading regional theaters.
Josh Kaufman among Indy Jazz Fest headliners
The multi-venue fest also will feature funk/soul saxophonist Maceo Parker and SNL trombonist Steve Turre.
Review: Acting Up’s ‘The Tragedy of Hamlet’
Acting Up Productions isn’t the first theater company to cast a woman as the great Dane. But what could have been a gimmick instead proved to be a casting coup.
REVIEW: “Hair” at the Athenaeum
There are worse problems to have in theater than an audience so enthusiastic about what they are seeing and hearing that their hooting and hollering dampens the emotional impact of the end of your show.
LOU’S VIEWS: Indy International Film Fest 2014 flick picks
Favorites this year include harrowing drama, amoral comedy, intense historical doc, and much more. Festival begins July 17.
DINING: Pint Room taps into Carmel’s burgeoning burger market
Is it better than Bub’s? Livelier than Scotty’s? I dodge both questions.
Emmy nomination thoughts
Praise for “The Normal Heart, categories in flux, and Matt LeBlanc nominated for playing Matt LeBlanc. Plus the best awards-show number ever.
‘Swarm Street’ sculpture not worth the wait
Had it been ready along with the rest of the commissioned artwork, the latest addition to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail might be seen in a more positive light.
Notes on nudity: Splitting hairs on ‘Hair’
Yes, “Hair” is set in a world where “free love” was one of the mantras. But that’s not what the infamous scene is about.
LOU’S VIEWS: A bang and a whimper end two trilogies
Reviews of the final volumes of Ben H. Winters’ end-of-the-world detective series “The Last Policeman” and Walter Wangerin Jr.’s “Dun Cow” books.
DINING: Pub brings Irish fare to Mass Ave
Nine Irish Brothers brings bangers and mash to Mass Ave. New pub also features live music.
Lichtenstein installation to be part of the IMA landscape
“Five Brushstrokes” to be unveiled at event in August. Five elements range from 19-40 ft. tall.