Quotas in theater schedules?

The Denver Post offers a thought-provoking piece about “slot plays.” That is, an annual “African-American play” or “Hispanic play” that fills a regular slot in a theater’s schedule. Right now, to some eyes, the IRT is doing that with “Crowns” and the Phoenix with…

Read More

You-review-it Monday

It’s that time again.

Time to chime in with your A&E experiences from the weekend. I had a three-day run of catching “References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot” at the Phoenix Theatre, the launch of “Treasure Island” at…

Read More

09/10 ISO schedule announced

I previously gave a sneak peek at some of the Pops concerts on the way from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (including appearances by Maureen McGovern and Marvin Hamlisch as well as a Florence Henderson/Shirley Jones TV mamas double bill).

Today, though,…

Read More

D.C. botch: Art at the ballpark

The unveiling of the fairly hideous new artwork at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (see article and photos here) got me wondering if anyone has done this sort of fusion of sports arena and visual art any better.

A quick…

Read More

Monumental arts mobilization

I’m guessing that many of you have already seen the e-mail that is being circulated prodding you to join a rally on Monument Circle April 20 designed to “increase awareness of the importance of the arts to the local economy…

Read More

New downtown art arrives April 21

IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin chimes in with an update on the latest downtown public art showcase: 
Installation of “George Rickey: An Evolution” begins April 21 at 10 locations downtown. Printed guides will be…

Read More

You-review-it Monday

So was it a visit to the American Pianists Association Fellowship Awards finals with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra? A gallery hopping First Friday? A trip to the multiplex for a movie?

For me, the weekend was a low-key one–but I was…

Read More

Critic axed by Cleveland Orch?

The fascinating story of the battle between The Cleveland Plain Dealer, its high-profile music critic, and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra has been a long-standing buzz topic in the arts world.

In short, critic consistantly writes negatively about maestro. Symphony pressures newspaper….

Read More

Review: ‘Drowsy Chaperone’ at IU

The major colleges that ring Central Indiana often host touring shows that aren’t part of the Broadway in Indianapolis series (the Reuben Studdard/Frenchie Davis tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’ is next at Purdue).

For me, the appearance of a yet-unseen show…

Read More

‘Adventureland’: Your thoughts

If you attended the screening Tuesday night, please post your comments.

Sorry I missed it. Well, not sorry. I was at the American Cabaret Theatre relaunch concert. Should I go out of my way to see “Adventureland” when it hits theaters?

Your…

Read More

ISO Scoop: Partridge and Brady

While the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s ’09/’10 Pops Series won’t be formally announced until April 10, maestro Jack Everly enthusiastically told sold-out crowds at the Hilbert Circle Theatre this weekend that the upcoming progam will include three world premiere programs:

–Mama Brady…

Read More

You-review-it Monday

So let’s hear it.

Did you get to DK at the IRT? (My thoughts here.) HART at the Indy Fringe building? (My thoughts here.) Did you Cirque with the Symphony (I’ll review in an upcoming IBJ) or go modren…

Read More

Scoop: John Green leaving Butler

Students were notified this week that John Green, the visionary head of Butler University’s theater program has accepted the position of Chair of Theatre at Columbia College in Chicago.

Green has been a frequent guest director at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, most recently working on…

Read More

Get thee to Dance Kaleidoscope

Normally, I would wait until the next print edition of IBJ to review an A&E offering. But sometimes, that’s too late and I’m thankful for this forum to share what I’ve seen.

Having experienced Dance Kaleidoscope’s “America, the Modern” last night,…

Read More

Scoop: IRT’s 2009/2010 season

“We are very intentionally reaching out to family audiences,” says Indiana Repertory Theatre Managing Director Steven Stolen, in discussing with me the about-to-be-announced 2009/2010 schedule for our state’s largest regional theater.

He’s not doing that just through programming—which includes a full…

Read More

Review: “In a Dark Dark House”

Neil LaBute is know outside theater circles for writing and directing the lightning-rod film “In the Company of Men,” which he produced while teaching in Fort Wayne. A long string of writing and directing gigs followed, leading to, this month,…

Read More

Mellencamp on today’s music biz

Over at the Huffington Post, John Mellencamp has gone on at length about the state of the music business today.

Some excerpts:

–“Sadly, these days, it’s really a matter of ‘every man for himself.’ In terms of possibilities, we are but…

Read More

You-review-it Monday

For me, the weekend included Heartland Actors Reperory Theatre’s production of Neil LaBute’s “In a Dark Dark House,” a sneak look at the very disappointing Dreamworks 3-D animated film “Monsters vs. Aliens” (Who decided that the core emotional conflict in…

Read More