LOU’S VIEWS: A new book from Butler prof offers fresh take on ‘Huck Finn’
In his smartly written new book, Andrew Levy makes a strong case that most readers of the last few decades miss the big picture when reading Twain’s book.
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LOU’S VIEWS: Great A&E expectations with 15 high-hopes picks for 2015
A wordless “Peter Pan,” pianists in competition, and a musical “Idiot” among potential highlights in coming months.
LOU’S VIEWS: 2014 in A&E
Orangutans, ancient arriors, a fair lady, a great bicycle race, and more offered highlights of the year in Indy-area arts and entertainment.
LOU’S VIEWS: From ‘Boyhood’ to an ape-run world, a year of cinematic bests
Also, see what films and performances made the Indiana Film Journalists Associations list for the best of 2014.
LOU’S VIEWS: From ‘Boyhood’ to an ape-run world, a year of cinematic bests
Also, see what films and performances made the Indiana Film Journalists Associations list for the best of 2014.
LOU’S VIEWS: Music City earns its moniker
About 36 hours in Nashville, TN, revealed a town that truly embraces the music that made it famous. And knows how to show visitors a good time.
LOU’S VIEWS: Theater road trip includes outstanding revival of Bernstein classic
Broadway “On the Town” revival pulls out stops; “Holiday Inn” in Connecticut feels obligatory
Ball State-birthed musical aims for Broadway
If the team behind “The Circus in Winter” has its way (and if enough money can be raised and script kinks worked out), the Ball State University-incubated musical might be the first Tony award winner conceived as a collaborative class project.
LOU’S VIEWS: After winning ‘The Voice,’ Kaufman goes Broadway
Prior to going onstage in the revival of the musical “Pippin,” the singer talks about the strange road from the Monument Circle Potbelly to a dressing room at the Music Box Theatre.
LOU’s Views: ‘Old Jews Telling Jokes’ proves it’s best to shtick to what you know
The well-curated collection, loosely organized from cradle to grave, included very few duds, a few that I hadn’t heard, and lots that felt like old friends.
LOU’S VIEWS: Seeing ‘Red’ at the IRT
Factual and fictional threads weave through John Logan Tony-winning Best Play about artist Mark Rothko. The Indiana Repertory Theatre stages its local premiere
LOU’S VIEWS: IMOCA outpost upgrades CityWay development
Applause for the efforts of the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art and CityWay to carve out gallery space in the well-trafficked building that also houses the Alexander Hotel.
LOU’S VIEWS: Heartland Film Festival offerings include culture clashes, an apocalyptic short
Highlights include a documentary about debunking magician James Randi and a must-see-for-actors profile of Hal Holbrook.
LOU’S VIEWS: Legislating libation at Indiana State Museum
The exhibit features artifacts, including a still, and a mini-church where an actor playing Indiana’s own Billy Sunday, who railed against “Hell’s best friend,” preaches a sermon.
LOU’S VIEWS: Actors Theatre creates a loverly ‘My Fair Lady’
A good production needs to treat these familiar characters as people instead of icons and the songs as spontaneous bursts of emotional truth, not as a greatest-hits package.
LOU’S VIEWS: Eiteljorg show evokes many stories
Annual “Quest for the West” exhibition stresses the familiar over the innovative. And that’s just how collectors like it.
LOU’s VIEWS: Great game hunting at GenCon 2014
GenCon has left behind a trail of games acquired by more than 56,000 attendees…including me. Here are my favorites, with options to please the game aficionado without scaring off the Apples to Apples crowd.
LOU’S VIEWS: At the Cabaret, Karen Irwin’s Janis Joplin tribute transcends
Sans wig, sans period costumes, sans impersonation, Irwin found the beauty in Joplin’s not-pretty styling, filtering it through her own persona and sensibilities. What emerged was a show celebrating two artists
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.
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.