A behind-the-scenes look into Louisville’s performing arts and entertainment during this unprecedented time of reflection and artistic creation.
magazine
OCTOBER 2021
Special thanks to our premium sponsors whose support lets us provide this publication at no charge to you.
PNC BROADWAY IN LOUISVILLE WAITRESS Serves Up Friendship, Motherhood, and Pie. Page 6 | LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA Jazz Favorites From the Time of Prohibition. Page 10 | LOUISVILLE BALLET Swan Lake: Futuristic and Culturally Diverse. Page 16 | KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE A Victorian Ghost Story in Old Louisville. Page 20 | FUND FOR THE ARTS Local Artists Prepare for the Imagine Mural Festival. Page 24
YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE
4OPTIONS TO RENEW CAR TAGS Online ReNew | JeffersonCountyClerk.org Telephone ReNew | (502) 569-3300 Drop-Box ReNew | At every Motor Vehicle location Mail-In ReNew | P.O. Box 33033
Louisville, KY 40232-3033
EXCITING SEASONS AHEAD Some things are worth the wait. A little suspense heightens the pleasure. − Jocelyn Murray
The leaves are starting to turn, and pumpkin spice is back on the menu. That can only mean one thing — fall performances are officially underway at theaters and concert venues around town. With so many outstanding choices, it’s a great time to be a performing arts patron! Some groups have been back on stage since the summer (Kentucky Shakespeare, Kentucky Performing Arts), while others won’t take their first bows until early November (Broadway). But in just a few weeks, we’re hopeful that the performing arts scene in Louisville will be as close to normal as it can possibly be. That’s a huge relief to not only the organizations we love, but to performers, audiences and the community a whole. Louisville is just not Louisville without its vibrant arts organizations — that’s a fact. It’s been a slow buildup, but we’re beyond excited to finally see some our favorite shows live and in person again.
Amy Higgs Managing Editor
In this issue of Audience Magazine, you’ll be pleased to learn that Broadway is back, baby! The highly anticipated return of WAITRESS launches PNC Broadway in Louisville’s 2021-22 season on November 9. If you can’t wait that long, check out our story on two of the Louisville Orchestra’s upcoming performances this month, including “Music of Prohibition” on October 23, or the next installment of Music Director Teddy Abrams’ “Teddy Talks” series on October 30. You’ll read about the first-ever production in Kentucky Shakespeare’s new space on Myrtle Street in Old Louisville, a spine-tingling version of The Turn of the Screw. Find out how Louisville Ballet is reimaging the classic, Swan Lake, for the inaugural production of its 70th anniversary season. You can also learn how to access Fund for the Arts’ public art project, the 2021 Imagine Mural Festival. From classic to contemporary, there’s something for everyone on stages around town this fall. Thank you to the corporations and individual donors who are helping to make that possible. And thanks to our loyal and generous advertisers, who allow us to bring you Audience Magazine free of charge. The suspense is over, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! As the curtain rises,
G. Douglas Dreisbach Publisher
– The Audience Group
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TABLE of CONTENTS OCTOBER 2021
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A SLICE OF HEAVEN
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10
PROHIBITION WORLD TOUR
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A STUDY IN SUSPENSE
S U B S C R I B E
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WE ARE THE HOME OF THE GREATEST
A U D I E N C E
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SWAN LAKE REIMAGINED
TICKET
GIVEAWAYS
SPECIAL INVITES
SHOW PREVIEWS Stay Connected with Sign up for our e-news and be the first to hear about ticket giveaways, special invites, email news alerts, show previews, reviews and the latest happenings in the performing arts scene in Louisville.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE FREE!
A behind-the-scenes look into Louisville’s performing arts and entertainment during this unprecedented time of reflection and artistic creation.
PUBLISHER
The Audience Group, Inc. G. Douglas Dreisbach MANAGING EDITOR
Amy Higgs CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rhonda Mefford SALES & MARKETING
G. Douglas Dreisbach CONTRIBUTORS
PNC Broadway in Louisville Louisville Orchestra Louisville Ballet Kentucky Shakespeare Fund for the Arts
To read current and previous Audience playbills and performance guides, go to issuu.com/audience502. On the Cover: Former Louisville Ballet Company Dancer Christy Corbitt Krieger with Company Dancer Brandon Ragland in Robert Curran's Swan Lake. Photo by Sam English. Read more on page 16.
GOT AN ARTICLE IDEA? Audience Magazine is a platform for the arts in Louisville. If you have an article idea or something you think we should cover, email ahiggs@theaudiencegroup.com © Copyright 2021. The Audience Group, Inc. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
Audience® Magazine is published by The Audience Group, Inc. 136 St. Matthews Avenue #300 Louisville, KY 40207 502.212.5177 | Audience502.com S E P T E M B E R
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A SLICE OF
HEAVEN Jisel Soleil Ayon in Waitress. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
HIT MUSICAL WAITRESS MAKES ITS LONG-AWAITED RETURN TO LOUISVILLE by PNC Broadway in Louisville
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he wait is over! The magic and wonder of Broadway returns to Louisville with the hit musical WAITRESS, which runs Nov. 9-14. The production was initially scheduled to make its Louisville debut in 2018, but had to be canceled due to a fire at The Kentucky Center. Its highly anticipated return launches PNC Broadway in Louisville’s exciting 2021-22 season. The musical is based on the 2007 film, which follows Jenna Hunterson, a waitress and expert pie maker, who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and feels trapped. Looking for a way out, she hears about a pie contest and believes the grand prize could be her way out of a small town and rocky marriage.
However, she must find the courage to seize the opportunity and make it happen. She pours her heart into her pies, crafting desserts that mirror her topsy-turvy life, such as “The Key (Lime) to Happiness Pie” and “Betrayed By My Eggs Pie.” Change is on the menu, as long as Jenna can write her own perfectly personal recipe for happiness. Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this hilarious hit Broadway musical features original music and lyrics by Grammy® Award winner Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam), original choreography by Lorin Latarro (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Waiting For Godot), recreated by tour choreographer Abbey O’Brien and original direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Hair, Pippin), recreated by tour director Susanna Wolk. “WAITRESS is a little slice of heaven!” says Entertainment Weekly, and is “sweet, sassy and passionate,” according to New York Magazine. “It’s an empowering musical of the highest order!” raves the Chicago Tribune. Don't miss this uplifting and hilarious musical celebrating friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie! For ticket and show information, visit louisville.broadway.com.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES Tickets and info at: louisville.broadway.com
Waitress Nov. 9-14, 2021
Cats Jan. 18-23, 2022
Come From Away Feb. 15-20, 2022
P N C
B R O A D WA Y
Mean Girls Mar. 22-27, 2022
I N
L O U I S V I L L E
Hamilton June 7-19, 2022
Anastasia Aug. 2-7, 2022
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SPECIAL FEATURE
FOXHOLLOW FARM:
THIS IS THE WHY It’s barely 6 a.m. as the first tendrils of pink-tinged light break across dewy fields, illuminating spiderwebs suspended in the grass. The cattle wake, shaking out their legs to start their simple day of grazing the pastures. Birds have just responded to warmth as the sun begins to peek into the stagnant garden, patiently waiting for the warmth of spring. The calico barn cat stretches. The trees are heavy with overnight precipitation and slow, joyful anticipation of the dawn. Our team at Foxhollow has been working on perfecting what we do for years — raising 100% grassfed beef. However, recently we’ve been reflecting on the why. Why this farm? Why here? Why grassfed beef? While brainstorming, we noticed a common theme: to heal. Our real work here at the farm is to heal the land, our bodies, and our relationship to food. Our real work is to heal and repair our connection to nature so that our community can thrive. Our herdsmen, partner growers, and the team at Foxhollow get up every morning because we believe we are putting 8
We believe that gathering around food with your friends is part of the beautiful and intimate human experience. We believe that we are connecting the community to our land by opening our farm to you throughout the spring, summer, and fall. We believe that our small Kentucky farm is bringing all of us to nature in ways often unheard of these days. We believe you are part of this process, and we all are part of this healing. something sustainable, something real, back into the land. We believe that our small farm and herd of cattle are fixing the broken food system and combatting large-scale factory farms. We believe that we are treating our animals with dignity and respect throughout their lives at the farm. We believe that we are feeding our animals what they were designed to eat — grass — and not corn, grain, antibiotics, or added hormones. We believe that our recipes, showcasing 100% grassfed beef, lamb, and pastured chickens bring your family to the table.
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Natural rhythms of our farm go on uninterrupted each morning as the sun breaks forth into the quiet morning. Healing is all around us. The buzzing insects, the lowing cattle, the pecking chickens, the singing birds, the gentle butterfly landing on wildflowers. We are rebuilding a system. We are breathing in fresher air. We are walking along a long dirt road with the sun rising behind us. We are feeling soft, dark dirt heavy in our hands. Will you join us?
F R E E !
Visit foxhollow.com to learn more and become part of our herd.
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PROHIBITION
WORLD TOUR
ENJOY THE MUSICAL LIFE FROM SPEAKEASIES IN NEW YORK, PARIS, AND BERLIN by Julie Engelhardt
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n October 23 at 8 p.m., the Louisville Orchestra will present their season debut program in their POPS series titled “Music of Prohibition.”
“This concert is a tribute to an industry that developed as an end-around to a constitutional amendment that was passed in 1920,” POPS conductor Bob Bernhardt says. “Prohibition was the constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages.” Bernhardt explains that amendment created a lot of room for illegal behaviors, but it also spawned an incredibly rich musical life in the speakeasies of New York, at the Moulin Rouge of Paris, and in clubs and cabarets of Berlin.
[Prohibition] created a lot of room for illegal behaviors, but it also spawned an incredibly rich musical life in the speakeasies of New York, at the Moulin Rouge of Paris, and in clubs and cabarets of Berlin.
“We start in New York, then go to Paris, then take the train to Berlin, and finally we head back to the states,” he says. The orchestra welcomes the addition of three vocalists to this concert: Myra Maud, Bronson Norris Murphy and Madison Clair Parks. “This is like a semi-staged musical review,” Bernhardt reveals. Throughout the program, there are times the orchestra will perform without the vocalists’ accompaniment. This is referred to as “traveling” music, which helps transition the concert from one city to the next. In most cases the traveling pieces are those written by Raymond Scott. Audience members might recognize the first piece by Scott titled Powerhouse, as it was often used in cartoons produced by Warner Bros. Studios. Our first stop in New York City features pieces such as Put a Tax on Love, made famous by singer and entertainer
Madison Clair Parks will perform with the Louisville Orchestra in "Music of Prohibition" on October 23.
Oliver Creole Jazz Band, Chicago, 1923. Photo courtesy of Louisville Orchestra. L O U I S V I L L E
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Don't miss Teddy Talks Shubert on October 30 at 8 p.m. at the Kentucky Center. The show will explore the composer's life and showcase symphonic examples to enhance your listening experience.
Franz Schubert
with a talk by Abrams offering insight and discussion about the composer and the symphony. He provides background information about Schubert and what motivated him to compose his music, and where the piece lies on an emotional level. “All of these composers have rich, interesting lives to talk about,” he says.
Eddie Cantor, and What’ll I Do, written by the prolific Irving Berlin. Next, we cross the Atlantic Ocean and head to Paris, France. In this segment you’ll enjoy selections including La Vien en Rose, made popular by Edith Piaf, De Temps en Temps, and La Conga Blicoti. After Paris, we head towards Berlin. Selections dedicated to this segment include Jonny, and Alabama Song from the Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Our next destination is Atlantic City, where the audience will be treated to tunes such as Sweet Georgia Brown written in 1925, but recognizable today as the song used by the Harlem Globetrotters. Our travels return us to New York City, where we conclude the evening with pieces such as On the Sunny Side of the Street, and We’re in the Money. “Music of Prohibition” is one of many shows conceived by Grammy Award winning arranger Jeff Tyzik. “Jeff’s productions are, in my opinion, always top notch,” Bernhardt says. “The arrangements are great for the orchestra, the soloists are always superb, and they provide wonderful entertainment.”
TEDDY TALKS On October 30 at 8 p.m., Louisville Orchestra Music Director Teddy Abrams will present his fourth installment of “Teddy Talks” featuring Franz Schubert and his Symphony in C Major ("The Great"). The program is divided into two sections, starting 12
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He adds, “It’s actually a fun exploration. My goal is that I always want to give people a lot of ‘a-ha’ moments when they say, ‘oh my goodness, I would have never listened to it that way.’” The first half also showcases samples of the symphony played by the orchestra. “The orchestra is on stage the entire time during the first half so they can demo little bits and pieces of the work we’re talking about,” Abrams continues. “We’re basically giving people a map, so when they listen to the symphony during the second half, played straight through, they’ll recognize elements of the piece that will give them a much richer listening experience,” he says. Abrams explains that Schubert’s Symphony in C Major is music that is not overly complicated to listen to, yet it has infinite layers of complexity. “That’s one of the things that has always drawn me to it. He uses the straightforward simplicity of beautiful, melodic writing — he writes truly beautiful melodies that anybody can walk out of the hall humming. On the other hand, his pieces are so deep and have such profound emotional depth and power that you could spend a lifetime still discovering things about those very melodies.” For more about Louisville Orchestra's upcoming performances and to buy tickets, visit louisvilleorchestra.org.
A U D I E N C E
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Kosair Charities Pie Auction presented by Mister “P” Express
Sunday, November 21 12–2 p.m.
bidpal.net/pie
Supporting Kosair Charities is easy as pie! Bid on an array of one-of-a-kind pies and desserts made by local chefs and well-known bakeries. Tickets include bottomless mimosas, brunch, and access to incredible chef-made pies only available in the live auction. Tickets to the in-person event and exclusive live auction are limited, don’t wait!
Proceeds benefit the Kosair Kids Financial Assistance Program. This program provides direct financial aid for children’s medical care, therapy, and equipment whose families cannot otherwise afford to pay. More information: bidpal.net/pie
Presenting Sponsor Media Partner
L O U I S V I L L E
kosair.org
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Eats The restaurants below are certified and recommended by Audience as premium places for pre-show dinner, drinks or mingling. Let them know we sent you! Area of Town
Restaurant Name
Reservations
Phone
Address
Notes
Downtown
Repeal Oak-Fired Steakhouse
Yes
(502) 716-7372
101 West Main St.
Upscale steakhouse on historic Whiskey Row
Downtown
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
Yes
(502) 584-0102
325 West Main St. (Galt House Hotel)
Premium steaks & seafood
Downtown
Mayan Cafe
Yes
(502) 566-0651
813 E. Market St.
Farm-to-table Mexican & Pan-Latin cuisine
Downtown
Walker’s Exchange
Yes
(502) 272-1834
140 N. 4th St. (Galt House Hotel)
Casual Southern Contemporary
Crescent Hill
Pat’s Steakhouse
Yes
(502) 893-2062
2437 Brownsboro Rd.
Premium steaks since 1958
Crescent Hill
Porcini Restaurant
Yes
(502) 894-8686
2730 Frankfort Ave.
Fine Northern Italian cuisine
Highlands
Jack Fry’s
Yes
(502) 452-9244
1007 Bardstown Rd.
High-end Southern fare & cocktails
Downtown
Proof on Main
Yes
(502) 217-6360
702 W. Main St.
Modern fare with local flavor
Highlands
Seviche
Yes
(502) 473-8560
1538 Bardstown Rd.
Upscale Latin American cuisine
Crescent Hill
Volare Italian Ristorante
Yes
(502) 894-4446
2300 Frankfort Ave.
Upscale Italian
Check out our full list of preferred restaurants at Audience502.com!
Want your restaurant featured in an upcoming issue of Audience Magazine? Email info@theaudiencegroup.com or call 502.212.5177.
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THE KENTUCKY ARTISAN CENTER AT BEREA FROM 9 AM - 6 PM CAFE IS OPEN FROM 9 AM - 4 PM
kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov 200 Artisan Way, Berea, KY 40403 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1
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SWAN LAKE
REIMAGINED
A FUTURISTIC TAKE ON A CLASSIC BALLET by Eliza Metts
L
ouisville Ballet returns to the historic Brown Theatre for an exhilarating update to the timeless classic, Swan Lake. The inaugural production of the 70th Anniversary season, Swan Lake has been reimagined again from Artistic and Executive Director Robert Curran’s original premiere in 2016. Curran collaborates with Louisville-based media artists, Ryan Daly and Garrett Crabtree, laser scenic designers, and Tiffany Woodard, costume designer, to create a unique interpretation of this classic tale of love and betrayal. Curran describes his exciting vision for the performance: “I love the traditional Swan Lake, but one of the problematic aspects of the original is that it is expected to be physically homogeneous. We need to be telling historical stories with new constructs so that we are speaking to and representing the communities we serve. Setting Swan Lake in the future is about creating a world where life is still not perfect, but where love is our savior and is what makes life bearable.” Designers Daly and Crabtree invite audiences into a futuristic world of play-on-light-and-dark with scenes created by laser motion, setting a stage unlike anything traditionally seen in ballet theatre. Curran notes, “Since the ’60s, laser technology has been a symbol of the future, of science fiction. The way the movement of the lasers is an extension of the movement of the dancers is astounding to me. They represent the story by allowing us to create a whole new character.”
Designers Daly and Crabtree invite audiences into a futuristic world of play-on-light-and-dark with scenes created by laser motion, setting a stage unlike anything traditionally seen in ballet theatre. While the laser technology is not new to this season’s production, audiences will be introduced by costume designer Woodard to updated pieces that challenge traditional tropes of light, dark, and uniformity. Rather than in black and white, dancers cast as swans will wear stylized tutus that match their range of skin tones. In doing so, the ballet will push back against Swan Lake’s history of requiring dancers of color to whiten themselves, or even not get cast because their skin color would detract from the "required" understanding of whiteness.
Louisville Ballet Company Dancer Brandon Ragland (Prince Siegfried) with former Company Dancer Christy Corbitt Krieger (Queen Mother) in Robert Curran's Swan Lake. Photo by Sam English 2016. L O U I S V I L L E
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Louisville Ballet Company Dancers Mark Krieger (Prince Siegfried) and Erica De La O in Robert Curran's Swan Lake. Photo by Sam English, 2016.
Curran describes the choice behind these new costumes: “We at Louisville Ballet embrace diversity in skin color and ethnicity. The traditional construct of, ‘white is good and black is evil,’ is incredibly problematic with how binary it is. It’s a hard line that doesn’t fit with Louisville Ballet’s exploration of Swan Lake.” “In this enlivened production, my hope is that we’ve created something that will surprise and transport our audiences,” he adds. “We have intentionally preserved the heart of this exquisite story’s exploration of profoundly human struggles — family relationships, love, betrayal, and redemption.” Curran concludes, “The hierarchical world of the original Swan Lake is very limited in its interpretation. I hope that isn’t the world we will live in in the future. Art is the way to set the past towards the future we want: love triumphing over oppression.” SWAN LAKE November 11-13 at The Brown Theatre Choreography by Robert Curran Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Information and tickets available at LouisvilleBallet.org.
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Louisville Ballet Company Dancer Ashley Thursby in Robert Curran's Swan Lake. Photo by Sam English 2016.
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A STUDY IN
SUSPENSE KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE’S THE TURN OF THE SCREW HAUNTS OLD LOUISVILLE IN OCTOBER by Kyle Ware
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his October, that bump in the night you hear is coming from inside Kentucky Shakespeare’s new headquarters in Old Louisville and its fall production of Jeffrey Hatcher’s The Turn of the Screw.
Old Louisville is home to the largest section of Victorian-era homes in the world. It is also said to be one of the most haunted neighborhoods in the country. Some say at a certain time of night, one might catch a glimpse of an ethereal woman frantically racing up and down the stairs through the window of an old brick building on South Fourth Street and Park Avenue. Others have walked through St. James Court and were convinced they saw the shadows dance where there should be none, and heard the wind giggle. Many more have unknowingly passed the Witch’s Tree on Sixth Street. “It’s the perfect backdrop for a Victorian ghost story of our own,” says Kentucky Shakespeare’s Producing Artistic Director, Matt Wallace, who also directs the production. “We’re thrilled to continue our site-specific live fall productions and even more excited to be able to invite people to safely experience that in our new home in Old Louisville.” That new home is at 616 Myrtle St., mere steps from Central Park, where Kentucky Shakespeare presents its annual summer Shakespeare festival. With generous support from its patrons, the organization was able to complete phase one of a complete overhaul of the new building and set up shop in May of this year.
AN INTIMATE PRODUCTION The Turn of the Screw will be the first production mounted in the new space. The play is adapted from the 1898 horror novella of the same name, known for its psychological horror and suspense. The story follows a young governess brought to a large sprawling English manor to care for a pair of orphans, recently adopted by their uncle. He has no desire to raise the children himself and leaves their sole care to the governess. Soon after her arrival, she begins to see a pair of strange figures lurking about the grounds. Are these the specters of former residents plaguing the children of the manor or the byproducts of her own fracturing imagination?
The Turn of the Screw is the first production to be performed in Kentucky Shakespeare's new space on Myrtle Street.
For this intimate two-person production, Wallace is joined by a pair of company regulars: Zachary Burrell and Mollie Murk, both of whom were most recently seen as part of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park this summer. He’s also assembled a team of Kentucky Shakespeare mainstays behind the scenes: scenic design from Karl Anderson, costume design from Donna Lawrence Downs, sound design by Laura Ellis, and lighting design by Jesse AlFord and Lindsay Krupski, whose innovative work was featured in last year’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot: Macbeth. The Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the story by Henry James, runs through October 31 at the new Kentucky Shakespeare Headquarters, 616 Myrtle St. Because the production is indoors, COVID-19 protocols are in place with masks required during the performance and proof of vaccination or negative test result prior to admission.
The Turn of the Screw runs October 6-31. For tickets and information, please visit: kyshakespeare.com. View the show trailer here.
Mollie Murke and Zach Burrell star in The Turn of the Screw. Photo courtesy of Kentucky Shakespeare. K E N T U C K Y
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Dr. Ralph de Chabert, EdD
Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity and Global Community Relations Officer for Brown-Forman
“Spalding had a program that spoke to me. During the early stages of the program, we were introduced to members of the community to see if any of their needs matched our doctoral pursuits. That was very attractive because I am always trying to apply what I have learned. It wasn’t a completely esoteric academic experience. There is more to it. There is a balance which incorporates the potential for an applied aspect to the doctoral work, and I liked that.”
Spalding University Class of 2019
Brown-Forman Senior Vice President Ralph de Chabert
De Chabert had many options, but he chose Spalding
was already a highly accomplished business leader, guiding
University’s EdD: Leadership program as the next step
the global diversity and inclusion strategy for a major
in his educational journey and as an avenue to conduct
international company. Still, he wanted to keep learning
high-level research on how racial and gender categorizations
more in his continual effort to better serve colleagues,
affect leadership and development opportunities for
customers and his company. “Growth is an absolute
Black and White women. He said his dissertation findings
essential to life,” he said. “It’s very important to grow,
are useful to him in his work every day.
so that I can be that much more of a resource to others.”
Learn more about our Doctor of Education in Leadership at spalding.edu/edd.
ON CAMPUS I ONLINE I SPALDING.EDU 22
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SPECIAL FEATURE
LEADING ETHICAL AND EQUITABLE CHANGE Spalding University’s EdD: Leadership program provides innovative leadership education with a global mindset. The low-residency leadership program is open to a diverse cohort of professionals who work in a variety of fields, including education, business, healthcare, social services, and the arts. The classes in the leadership program at Spalding University are in a hybrid format. Students attend four annual weekends of in-person instruction, punctuated by a themed panel discussion with provocative leaders. During these residencies, students work collaboratively with instructors, classmates and community practitioners. These on-campus learning experiences are complemented by personalized online instruction that completes each class. The Doctorate of Education in Leadership is a broad-based degree that offers practical application. Doctoral students perform research and help resolve a real-world leadership issue as part of a capstone project. Graduates of Spalding’s leadership program stand out as drivers of change and innovation. They graduate with enhanced leadership skills, advanced academic abilities and enriched lives. O C T O B E R
VIDEO: Spalding University student, Laura Harbolt reflects on her experience is Spalding University's Ed.D program.
For more information on the EdD: Leadership program, click here.
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WE ARE THE HOME of the
GREATEST
NEW MURALS CELEBRATE LOUISVILLE’S LIVED AND PRESENT HISTORY By Daniel Chioco
T
he show must go on — or at least a modified version of it. When Fund for the Arts (FFTA) announced the cancellation of events associated with the 2021 Imagine Mural Festival due to public health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was some initial disappointment.
Fortunately, that disappointment was short-lived. While festival events are no longer taking place, the murals themselves are still underway. The theme of the festival is, “We Are the Home of the Greatest,” which is focused on celebrating Muhammad Ali’s legacy and the legacy of his hometown of Louisville. One of the murals is being produced by the Creatives of Color Collective, a community arts organization created by artists, for artists. Audience Magazine recently sat down with a few members of the collective to hear more about their organization, and what the mural project means to them.
MEET THE COLLECTIVE’S ARTISTS Morgan Younge, Ashley Cathey, Rheonna Nicole Thornton, and Alonzo Ramont represent a diverse array of art forms, experiences, and perspectives. Ramont’s primary art form is the performing arts. “I’ve been doing that for, I don’t know, 25 years, and mostly in vocal music and musical theater,” he says. “Now, I’m focused on directing, producing shows, and events.”
Creatives of Color Collective mural in progress at the Riverfront Garage.
Younge’s background is in theater. “I’m a performing artist and a teaching artist,” she says. “Most recently, I started to get into children’s theater.” She has also delved into writing plays and directing. Thornton is a spoken word artist and poet. “I’ve been writing since I was 8 years old,” she says. “I’ve done a lot of arts, but I really found my passion for poetry.” Cathey, a visual and performing artist, says her background “is in murals and contemporary art, as well as activism.”
Healing Walls Project mural in progress at the Repurposed Lot. Photo courtesy of Fund for the Arts.
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Mural by artist team Moth Hands in progress at the Repurposed Lot in downtown Louisville. The mural depicts Muhammad Ali.
But it’s not just about celebrating Muhammad Ali and Louisville. Rather, it’s also about empowering the local community to live up to that legacy.
COLLABORATION AND INTERACTIVITY So, who are the Creatives of Color Collective, and why did they decide to collaborate for the 2021 Imagine Mural Festival? “We are a collective of four, Black-owned arts organizations that support Black and BIPOC artists in Louisville, Ky., as well as other cities,” Cathey explains. “Our goal is to amplify the voices of marginalized artists as well as provide them with the tools and resources so that they can feel confident in what they’re doing in their communities.” “We wanted to be part of this project because we felt like it was completely in line with what we’re already doing,” she adds. “Alonzo is with Redline Performing Arts, Rheonna is with Lipstick Wars Poetry, and I’m with Healing Walls Projects. I basically felt that doing a collaboration, doing a mural, would help to amplify performing artists as well as multidisciplinary artists.” Their mural includes a very large QR code as its main feature, which takes users to the Creatives of Color Collective website. Once there, users can watch a compilation video of Black and brown artists performing poetry and visual arts that highlight Louisville’s “greatness” as a reflection of Muhammad Ali.
INSPIRATION FROM THE GREATEST “Everything that’s going to be in the final product will be inspired by the thought, ‘I am the greatest,’ as well as the legacy of Muhammad Ali,” Ramont says. “We’re also allowing for each artist to bring their own authenticity and creativity to the project, so there are some things we won’t see until it’s all fully submitted, which is really exciting.” 26
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Younge says the phrase “I am the greatest,” is something we should all say to ourselves. “I think it’s important that we highlight the artists that are doing the work and are the greatest and are the best in their field,” she says. “Muhammad Ali was the greatest not because he could fight, but because he believed he was the greatest. Saying that and believing it really helps push you forward, even when you fail — even when things don’t work out, as long as you keep pushing forward. That’s a great message to share with our community and in our community.”
BRINGING ART TO THE FOREFRONT Greatness never occurs in a vacuum. It often takes a village to accomplish the impossible. A key part of the Mural Festival is its collaborative nature. “We’re very big on sharing opportunities with other artists of color,” says Thornton. “We’ve seen all around Louisville, especially in the last year, the rise of awareness that there are artists of color that are missing out on these opportunities. We’re trying to bring those artists who are hiding in the crevices in the urban communities to the forefront, so that everyone can see what great talent they have. Bringing creatives of color together, that was our main goal.” For Ramont, uplifting other artists is one of his passions. “I’ve been in the theater community here since I was a kid. It would be easy for me to hog all the roles,” he says. Instead, he chooses to live by the mentality that, “When I succeed, we all succeed. There have been times when people A U D I E N C E
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GET AWAY FROM IT ALL TO DISCOVER ALL WE HAVE
KENTUCKY STATE PARKS
parks.ky.gov F U N D
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75 SEASONS OF STORY AND IMPACT
St D In- ory ram Sc te h m oo ll uc l A h, r
, s, s se nce and s a a n l C rm tio s k rfo gra ! r o e te re aW rs P s In mo e t ch u m
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Everything that’s going to be in the final product will be inspired by the thought, ‘I am the greatest,’ as well as the legacy of Muhammad Ali. have called me and asked if I could do a show, I’d say, ‘No, but hey, call these five people.’ I don’t have to do everything. It’s being intentional about making room at the table for other people. That’s really what collaboration is, because it also gives people that opportunity to sit at the table. People did that for me. They created opportunities for me that I didn't necessarily see myself.” Ramont also believes the collaborative experience transcends age. “We’re all in our 30s, and it’s amazing to think that there are teenagers and people in their early 20s who know things that we don’t know,” he says. Likewise, “There are people in their 50s and 60s who also know things that we don’t know. Having that generational collaboration is really important.”
ACCESSIBILITY AND THE ARTS One of the top priorities of the Fund for the Arts is to increase accessibility to the arts. Public art installations like the works in the Imagine Mural Festival are accessible to anyone and not limited by cost. Cathey acknowledges that this is one of the reasons that she’s so passionate about the project. “It’s one of the reasons I do what I do, and why we all do this together. It’s because public art is the art for the people — and is the art of the community,” she says. “Oftentimes, art — and visual art in particular — is reserved for a certain class group, and that stops a lot of voices from being heard.”
Healing Walls Project mural in progress at the Repurposed Lot
“Public art is the voice of the surroundings, and it also is a voice of history,” Cathey adds. “Oftentimes, our public art is not being created by people of color, so therefore that voice of the community is being erased.” “Public art is pivotal for us to move forward in so many things — to bridge gaps in communities, to amplify the voices of marginalized individuals, as well as connecting artists to their communities so they can amplify the voice of their community as a whole,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to be a part of living history,”
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY Though events have been cancelled, Younge encourages people of all ages and background to visit the murals being created for this year’s festival at any time. Two of the multimedia murals are being installed on walls at the Repurposed Lot at 621 W. Main St., and the third mural will be located on the Riverfront Garage at 141 N. Sixth St. by the Muhammad Ali Center. “It’s a great opportunity to see local artists, their work and how they are a reflection of our community,” Younge says. “Come and celebrate what is good and beautiful about our community, and what makes us different. It should be a lot of fun!” For more information about the 2021 Imagine Mural Festival, click here. Connect with Creatives of Color Collective on Facebook @C3lou. F U N D
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SHOW SPOTLIGHT
THE MAGIC and THE WONDER Saturday, October 16 • The Kentucky Center − Whitney Hall
In this month’s Show Spotlight, we are excited to present an event that will entertain and mesmerize the audience with ‘can’t believe your eye’ antics.
Lance Burton
The Magic & The Wonder is a Vegasstyle magic show featuring world-famous (and Louisville-native) Lance Burton, and renowned performers Stewart MacDonald, Dinky Gowan, The Great Kaplan, and local magicians Patrick and Janice Miller and will be emceed by Bob Brizendine. While all of the performers will astonish the audience with their jaw dropping acts, master magician Lance Burton is certain to steal the show. Burton has been one of the top selling performers in Las Vegas for years working his magic in the Lance Burton Theatre that was located in the former Monte Carlo Resort & Casino. He makes his return to Louisville for this highly anticipated performance that you won’t want to miss. This event benefits Kosair Charities and Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies and is sponsored by Tom Drexler. Get more information and tickets at KentuckyPerformingArts.org
VIDEO: Click to watch the
Best of Magic, Lance Burton.
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EVENTS CALENDAR Audience is your connection to the performing arts and entertainment of Louisville. Below are some of the events we are looking forward to in the coming months and we hope you enjoy them all! For more of our preferred arts and entertainment recommendations, visit Audience502.com/audience-events
OCTOBER
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16 The Magic & The Wonder 7PM, Whitney Hall Tickets & Info
16 Ron White 8PM, The Louisville Palace Tickets & Info
Music of Prohibition: Louisville Orchestra Pops Series Bob Bernhardt, conductor 8PM, Whitney Hall Tickets & Info
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Teddy Talks Schubert Louisville Orchestra Classics Series Teddy Abrams, conductor 8PM, Whitney Hall Tickets & Info
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NOVEMBER
Nurse Blake The PTO Tour 7PM, Bomhard Theatre Tickets & Info
9 – 14
Waitress Broadway in Louisville Whitney Hall louisville.broadway.com
PROUDLY INVOLVED IN
Swan Lake Louisville Ballet RObert Curran, choreographer Whitney Hall louisvilleballet.org Holiday Pops: Louisville Orchestra Bob Bernhardt, conductor Whitney Hall louisvilleorchestra.org
10,000 CONCERTS & EVENTS. OVER
A local company helping to make events effortless for clients and performers since 1989. @mediaeventsusa | MediaEventsUSA.com
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Members see it all for free!
Advanced ticket purchase strongly encouraged.
Visit speedmuseum.org for details
October 7, 2021 – January 2, 2022 This exhibition examines the artwork that has shaped our collective imagination of the supernatural and paranormal and asks why America is haunted.
This exhibition is organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art and has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Support for this exhibition provided by: The Ford Foundation Alan and Shelly Ann Kamei David A. Jones, Jr. and Mary Gwen Wheeler Northern Trust Robert Lehman Foundation Lopa and Rishabh Mehrotra
Media sponsorship from:
Support for contemporary exhibitions comes from: Augusta and Gill Holland
Exhibition season sponsored by: Cary Brown and Steven E. Epstein Paul and Deborah Chellgren Debra and Ronald Murphy
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Image: Macena Barton American, 1901–1986 Untitled (Portrait of Mother), 1933 Oil on canvas, 311/4 × 261/2 in. Private collection, courtesy of Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery © Estate of Macena Barton Photo: Tom Van Eynde
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Horse-Drawn Trolley Tours
®
Our gates are open and our horses are waiting! Plan your visit at kyhorsepark.com.
Kentucky Derby Winner, Go For Gin
International Museum of the Horse
The Rare Marwari
Horseback Trial Riding
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