Review: ‘Spotlight 2010’

Once again, the volunteers behind "Spotlight 2010" created a memorable evening in service to the Indiana AIDS Fund.The
May 10th evening featured few surprises (and too little time to search for silent auction treasures) but many highlights.

Act one's included members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, under the guidance of Sean Newhouse, setting the professionalism
bar very high for the evening with a lovely read on Mascagni's Intermezzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana." It was
followed by Claire Wilcher leading a reprise of the shake-the-rafters "Holier Than Thou" number from Actors Theatre
of Indiana's "Nunsense." Remember her name, folks. This is a singing actress who should stay very, very busy.

Also in the first act, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre offered an energetic and colorful excerpt from its "Under the Big
Top" show. And bassist David Murray, violinist Davis Brooks and pianist Catherine Bringerud (representing the Indianapolis
Chamber Orchestra) expertly held ears–and hearts–with Gershwin's "Bess, You is My Woman Now."

For me, the stand-outs in the second act included the powerful, lovely work of poet Tasha Jones (in a dress I'm sure
many of the drag performers in attendance coveted), the grace and power of Kenyetta Dance Company in "Dounia," a
world premire work from choreographer Nicole Clarke-Springer, and the Indiana Repertory Theatre's Milicent Wright in a
wonderful excerpt from "Pretty Fire" (which I'm now kicking myself even harder about missing when it played
as part of the IRT's Going Solo fest).

Again, these were just, for me, the highlights. And you could have seen it all for $15. Next year, don't miss it (and
buy your tickets early, since this time was a near sell-out).

Your thoughts? If you were there, what were some of your favorite acts?