Tuesday, April 8, 2025
TO HAVE CURRENT DELIVERED TO YOUR PHONE
COOL BEANS
New Indianapolis festival celebrates coffee and chocolate / P10
Indianapolis Rotary provides social service opportunities / P2
Carmel Family lends name to Palladium / P6
Circle Center Mall redevelopment moves forward / P9
7
THE HIXON
5 Piece Set: sofa, 2 swivel chairs, coffee table, nesting side table
THE BAINBRIDGE
3 Piece Set: sofa, 2 swivel gliders
LEEWARD SECTIONAL
7 Piece Set: 1 Sectional (4 pcs), 1 Swivel Chair, 1 End Table, 1 Cocktail Table
WATCH A MESSAGE FROM KAREN:
About
us
Founded March 12, 2024, at Indianapolis, IN Vol. I, No. 28
Copyright 2024 Current Publishing, LLC
All Rights Reserved.
525 North End Dr. Ste. 175 Carmel, IN 46032
317.489.4444
Contact the editor
Have a news tip, calendar item or photo to share?
Contact Managing Editor Leila Kheiry at leila@youarecurrent.com or call 317.489.4444. You also may submit information at youarecurrent. com. Our print deadline is eight days prior to publication. Submissions for online accepted daily.
Share your thoughts
Letters to the editor may be sent for consideration to letters@youarecurrent.com. Letters have maximum word count of 300 words. Please include your city of residence and a contact phone number for verification. Current Publishing may refuse letters.
Advertise your business
If you’re interested in reaching the North Indy market (6,000 households), you may obtain more information by emailing ads@ youarecurrent.com (subject: North Indy advertising) or by calling 317.847.5022.
Obituaries obits@youarecurrent.com
Legal advertising legals@youarecurrent.com
Delivery questions
circulation@youarecurrent.com
Join our community instagram.com/youarecurrent
Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in North Indy are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Try our Campfire Pizza!
Local Rotary Club provides social, service opportunities
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Rotary Club of Indianapolis has been around for more than 100 years, providing a way for local residents to serve the community, network with each other and have fun.
PHILANTHROPY
Club President Marie Koenig said her term as the club’s leader ends in June. During her tenure as president, she said she focused on increasing exposure and engagement.
“There are so many people who still don’t know what Rotary Club does, even though it’s been around for well over 100 years,” she said. “Then the engagement is trying to get new members and retain our current members by getting them really involved.”
Koenig said the club is one of the largest Rotary Clubs in the world, with about 150 members, and is one of four in the Indianapolis area. The club has 18 committees that primarily focus on local community service and global projects, including a trip to Guatemala where members helped with construction and food projects.
Some recent local projects she noted
were at Gleaners Food Bank, where Rotary members distributed 60,000 pounds of food, and volunteering at Wheeler Mission, Teachers Treasures and HVAF — Helping Veterans and Families — and clothing drives, among many others. Members also volunteer in schools — hosting spelling bees and speech contests and introducing the Rotary four-way test to students.
The four-way test is an ethical guideline for actions and thoughts that starts with four questions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
“We divide up into tables of six or eight kids, with a Rotarian at each table, and then we present different scenarios, like — if you find a $100 bill on the street, what would you do with it? Or if you found out one of your classmates was pregnant,” she said. “And we just kind of walk them through the right thing to do.”
On March 22, Rotary Club of Indianapolis members completed a project at Flanner House, an urban farm that supplies a food pantry and offers children’s programs.
“I volunteer a lot with Habitat for Humanity, and we bought a mini-barn package from Habitat and then some of the team from Habitat helped us install this
mini-barn,” she said. “That’s what they’re going to use to house all the kids’ toys and bicycles and jump ropes and soccer balls and footballs and all that. But then we also helped them refurbish their raised beds. We replenished them with organic garden soil that’s developed for raised beds and then we stained the sides, because they’re all treated lumber.”
Koenig said she and her husband joined Rotary in 2009.
“My husband and I have always been philanthropists and have volunteered a lot,” she said. “A friend of ours from Goodwill Industries who was a member of Rotary said, ‘Why don’t you come to a meeting with me?’ And I went to a couple of meetings and I thought, ‘Well, this is pretty cool.’”
It’s not all service projects, Koenig added. The club also has a social committee that runs the bowling league, softball team and golf league, providing members with opportunities to get out and have fun together.
“People join for developing friendships and networking and community service,” she said. “Those three are the big ones. I’ve got friends from the day I joined 15 years ago. So, yeah, it’s been a lot of fun.”
For more, visit indyrotary.com.
Members of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis gathered March 22 to build a shed and prep garden beds at Flanner House, an Indianapolis nonprofit.
(Photo courtesy of Marie Koenig)
New gelato shop to open at Fashion Mall
northindy@youarecurrent.com
Amorino Gelato, an international gelato company, plans to open its first Indiana location at the Fashion Mall at Keystone, 8702 Keystone Crossing.
DESSERT
According to an announcement from Shop Simon, the mall’s owner, the new gelato shop will open “soon” but a date has not been set.
“Amorino sets itself apart thanks to its philosophy of only using carefully sourced ingredients all of which are free of preservatives, artificial flavors and flavor enhancers, to make their artisanal gelati,” the announcement stated. “Then, using a spatula, the gelati are shaped like a rose, making them both unique as well as appetizing and easily recognizable.”
In addition to gelato, the shop will offer hot and cold drinks, including custom milkshakes and sorbet drinks, with the flavors of a customer’s choice.
According to the Amorino website, stores use mostly organic ingredients and offer vegan and gluten-free options. Flavors include orange blossom cream, tiramisu, mango and salted butter caramel, among others.
Amorino has stores in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the United States — including Chicago and Kalamazoo, Mich.
The new Indianapolis gelato shop will be on the first level of the mall in the Fashion Cafe.
For more about Amorino Gelato, visit amorino.com/en-us.
Amorino Gelato will open its first Indiana store soon at the Fashion Mall. (Photo courtesy of Amorino Gelato)
Walk-in Orthopedic Care for Sudden Injuries
When sudden injuries happen, OrthoIndy Urgent Care is here to provide fast, specialized care with several advantages over an ER including:
• Shorter wait times
• On-site, highly trained orthopedic providers
• Specialized imaging for a faster diagnosis
• On-site splinting
• Immediate treatment plan
Indiana GOP leaders laud state’s DOGE-like efforts
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Four state officials touted Indiana’s fiscal accomplishments as an example for the federal government to follow as they outlined plans for Indiana to imitate recent federal cost-cutting initiatives at a town hall meeting sponsored by the Hamilton County Republican Party.
POLITICS
The event, held March 25 at Life Church in Noblesville, featured Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Treasurer Daniel Elliott, Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and Kegan Prentice, legislative director in the Office of Secretary of State, who filled in for Secretary of State Diego Morales. Mario Massillamany, Hamilton County Republican Party chair, moderated the discussion.
Beckwith, a pastor at the church, addressed his working relationship with Gov. Mike Braun. Beckwith wasn’t Braun’s top choice for a running mate, so many people believed their partnership would be strained. But that hasn’t been the case, Beckwith said.
“I’ve seen (Braun) model a lot of what he’s doing after what (President) Donald Trump has been doing. A lot of the executive orders he signed look very similar to what President Trump is doing,” Beckwith said. “This is easy to sell because he’s doing such a great job.”
The state officials praised Trump’s efforts to reduce government waste through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, which is being led by billionaire Elon Musk. They said they would support efforts to create a state-level DOGE, an idea Beckwith said he expects to gain traction after the legislative session wraps up in late April.
Elliott said Indiana has “the most conservative team of statewide elected officials in the entire country,” so it makes
sense they would embrace the DOGE concept.
“Ronald Reagan was DOGE,” Elliott said. “This is a conservative principle, so if we’re following conservative principles we’re implementing DOGE in our offices.”
Nieshalla said her office is ready to support any DOGE-like efforts initiated by the Braun administration. But she also said the federal government should look to Indiana as an example of financial health, as the state has a balanced budget, healthy cash reserves and the fourth-lowest debt per capita in the nation. She said the $36 trillion national debt “means trouble for our country.”
“It’s time to make America’s finances great again, and, may I add, make America like Indiana,” said Nieshalla, a Zionsville resident who chairs the National Debt Crisis Task Force.
Other state initiatives discussed include a plan by the Secretary of State’s Office to modernize maintenance of voter lists, an initiative in the Comptroller’s Office to improve the state’s transparency portal and efforts by Elliott to sound the alarm on financial institutions that debank conservative institutions, such as gun manufacturers and some churches.
Beckwith, who had a torn achilles and rolled onto the stage with the help of a scooter, urged attendees to consider becoming more involved in the political process. He credited Life Church and Living Stones church in Crown Point with providing education on the delegate process during the 2024 election cycle (delegates select the lieutenant governor candidate). He said the two churches sent 63 delegates to the state convention, which matched his margin of victory in the lieutenant governor’s race.
“Two churches made the difference,” he said. “Your sphere of influence is never small.”
From left, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Treasurer Daniel Elliott, Hamilton County Republican Party Chair Mario Massillamany, Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and Kegan Prentice, legislative director in the Office of the Secretary of State, March 25 at a GOP-sponsored town hall at Life Church. (Photo by Ann Marie Shambaugh)
NORDIC CAPITALS
Palladium gets new name
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Leah Payne understands how important the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts is to Carmel.
DONATION
“Over the past 15 years, the Palladium and the Center have provided us with art and cultural experiences for our children and incredible performances we have enjoyed with our family and friends,” she said. “With this contribution, our goal is to give back to the community and help ensure that other families, residents and visitors to Carmel can continue to enjoy these same opportunities well into the future.”
Payne and her husband, Eric Payne, and Suzanne and husband, Ron Mencias, both from Carmel, have reached a 10-year philanthropic agreement with the Center that will rename its flagship concert hall and support its arts and educational mission. Effective July 1, the 1,500-seat hall will be known as the Payne & Mencias Palladium. The new agreement was announced March 20 at an event at the Palladium. Financial details were not disclosed.
“Ron and I know firsthand what an important role the arts can play in people’s lives and particularly the development of young people,” Suzanne said.
Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam said having the support will be a great benefit.
“This is a great support from these two families in our community to make sure this facility is sustainable moving forward,” Finkam said. “I think this is what (former) Mayor (Jim) Brainard always envisioned. We’ve got a lot of entertainment venues in the county, mostly sports related, and to see that our families and our businesses and our community are essentially voting with their checkbooks to make sure that this is successful is incredibly inspiring. I hope this inspires and provides an opportunity for others to help make sure that this remains relevant and amazing.”
Group at Merrill Lynch.
Opened in 2011, the Palladium is the largest of the campus’s three venues and the primary home of the annual Center Presents concert season, as well as performances by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Indiana Wind Symphony and other arts groups.
“We’re a nonprofit organization, so this money goes right to the heart of our mission,” Center President and CEO Jeffrey C. McDermott said. “The resources that come in through naming opportunities like this, and this is a substantial one for us, you know, helps us elevate our education program.”
The building also hosts educational programs, public meetings, political debates, school commencements, weddings, business conventions and U.S. naturalization ceremonies.
“When we have opportunities like this to have really generous supporters, like the Payne family and the Mencias family make this kind of commitment, it just gives us a sort of financial security and stability to know that we can continue making those types of inroads going,” McDermott said.
McDermott said the Payne and Mencias families have been supporters since the Center opened in 2011.
Finkam said the City of Carmel still has a contract in place that supports the Center for many years to come, but this adds to that support for programming.
Ron Mencias serves on Allied Solutions Center’s board of directors. Eric Payne was a founding member and former chair of the board, serving for 10 years, and also served on the board of the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation. The two men are wealth management advisors and managing directors of the Payne & Mencias
“After the Allied Solutions Center naming, we started to believe we could and should find a naming partner for the Palladium itself and we had some discussions with them,” McDermott said. “It was just very natural. I don’t really remember there even being an ask.”
McDermott said there are possibilities for naming rights of The Tarkington and Studio Theater, as well as rooms in the buildings and the stage.
“I think what the Payne and Mencias families showed is it doesn’t have to be a corporation, it can be individuals,” McDermott said.
From left, Allied Solutions Center President Jeffrey C. McDermott, Eric Payne, Leah Payne, Suzanne Mencias, Ron Mencias and Carmel Mayor Sun Finkam on the Palladium stage. (Photo courtesy of Allied Solutions Center)
Fishers fitness center works the mind as well as muscles
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A unique fitness concept that exercises the mind and the muscles opened its doors in Fishers last fall, the only Indiana location for Activate Brain and Body Fitness.
FITNESS
The company started in Cincinnati in 2022, said Adam Ortman, chief exercise science officer, and the Fishers location is its second site. Ortman said the founders wanted to expand but also wanted to open in locations that are close enough that they can visit each site regularly.
Ortman said the space at 10995 Allisonville Rd. In Fishers, just north of 108th Street, is not typical for a fitness center, because it shares a building. But, he said it works because its neighbor is OrthoIndy, an orthopedic health care provider.
“It’s a great referral source — the post-(physical therapy) demographic are some of our ideal clients, as far as going or coming out of an injury, looking at how to rehab properly,” he said.
Activate promotes the link between exercise and brain health, Ortman said.
“Everything is science based — programming with the brain first,” he said. “That means throughout the sessions, the one-hour sessions, you are focusing on the brain, whether it’s memory, visual, spatial processing, reaction time, processing speed, with the hopes of improving things
like focus, attention, memory, brain fog and essentially … the cognitive decline that happens as we age.”
Each client gets a detailed assessment when they start, with follow-up assessments every 12 weeks for both physical and cognitive data points.
“We look at things like your reaction time, your focus, your decision making or memory,” he said. “Sort of like when you go to a doctor and you get bloodwork, and then they look at the panel and essentially say, here’s what’s good, here’s what’s bad, here’s the action plan.”
There is plenty of physical exercise, too.
“It’s exercises that you would normally see — the pushups, the squats, the curls, the burpees, or whatever is appropriate to the individual,” Ortman said. “Based on the assessment, we tailor it to that individual. Everything is customized to the individual. I think there’s a lot of misconceptions. Sometimes when they hear Activate Brain and Body, they think it’s only brain games, but we’re going to sweat, we’re going to work the heart, we’re going to work the muscles and we’re going to work the brain.”
Ortman said the average age of clients is 55, but people of all ages come into Activate for help with their wellness journey. After a successful launch in Fishers, he said the company plans to eventually open a third site in Columbus, Ohio.
For more, visit activatebrainandbody. com.
Activate Brain and Body Fitness opened in October 2024 in Fishers.
(Photo courtesy of Adam Ortman)
COMMUNITY
Circle Centre Mall will transform into an openair mixed-use property, with the first phase set for completion in 2030. (Rendering courtesy of Hendricks Commercial Properties)
Circle Centre Mall
redevelopment
moves forward
northindy@youarecurrent.com
A $600 million redevelopment project at the downtown Indianapolis Circle Centre Mall is underway, transforming the property into a mixed-use, open-air destination, according to an announcement from Hendricks Commercial Properties.
CONSTRUCTION
New conceptual renderings show the changes in store for the 2.5-block section of downtown. The project will introduce 400,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and entertainment space, along with 100,000 square feet of office space and 300 residential units.
Plans also include 100,000 square feet of outdoor public space, transforming the enclosed mall into a pedestrian-friendly environment. The project will be completed in two phases, with the first phase set for completion in 2030.
Starting April 1, the south block of Circle Centre Mall — bordered by Illinois and Meridian streets and Maryland and Georgia streets — will close to prepare for construction. This includes the skywalk from the Omni Severin Hotel.
The mall’s main concourse, food court, and access to the World of Wonders parking garage will remain open.
Hendricks Commercial Properties is working on the project with the City of Indianapolis and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
“Our goal is to create the true heart of the city — a place that brings energy to downtown Indianapolis every day, not just during major events,” stated Rob Gerbitz, CEO of Hendricks Commercial Properties. For more, visit circlecentre.com/faq.
COOL BEANS
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
J’adore Pastry’s Youssef Boudarine and Ariel Hendrickson are building on the success of last year’s Epicurean Indy festival to bring a new celebration of chocolate and coffee to downtown Indianapolis.
MOkAO is a three-day festival, set for April 11 through 13 at The Stutz, 1060 N Capitol Ave. It will highlight the history of African coffee and cacao — chocolate beans— along with art, music and interactive experiences for families and discerning foodies alike.
Boudarine, a pastry chef, said he and Hendrickson like to focus not only on delicious treats, but on building community and celebrating diversity. That inspired the food festival Epicurean Indy, he said, which was a successful event last fall.
“Because of the success of that, we see that there’s more need of fun, creative ideas that highlight people and small businesses, especially,” he said. “So, we came up with the idea of chocolate and coffee together, because that’s one of my favorite festivals I used to go (to) in France yearly. And I say, ‘I’m going to bring it to Indiana, somehow.’”
Originally from the North African nation of Morocco, Boudarine worked in France before coming to Indiana and eventually opening J’adore with Hendrickson. He said they both enjoy the small, locally owned coffee shops in Indy and want to support those businesses.
“Through the coffee shops, we connect with a lot of people, we meet a lot of people,” he said. “I say, ‘We need to highlight the small coffee shops in Indiana,’ because I believe it’s a center of community — they bring people together.”
And, because he’s a pastry chef, chocolate had to be included, as well.
Hendrickson said coffee culture in the United States is evolving, and the festival will help educate people in a fun way about the origins of their favorite beverage and sweet treats.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm and a larger audience for really well-handled coffee drinks,” she said. “But even at some of the really nice pastry places (Boudarine has)
New Indianapolis festival celebrates coffee and chocolate
worked, people don’t know what coffee starts as, what cacao starts as, and we kind of want to bring a little bit more educational and interactive opportunities for the public to engage with the raw material and see — kind of understand the whole… process.”
The event will include chocolate tastings, “bean to bar” and “bean to brew” demonstrations, panel discussions about
sustainable and fair labor coffee and chocolate growing methods, and other ways of simply appreciating the beans and where they come from. This year, it’s Africa, but future festivals will highlight other parts of the globe, such as Latin America, Boudarine said.
They chose The Stutz — a redeveloped former factory space — for its ambiance and location, but also because of the peo-
IF YOU GO
MOkAO is April 11 through 13 at The Stutz, 1060 N Capitol Ave., with most events available free of charge for participants.
The event schedule is:
April 11 — The festival starts with a sold-out private dinner featuring a sixchef lineup: Nick Detrich of Magdalena, Alan Sternberg of Bluebeard, Erin Kem of Corridor, Pete Schmutte of Leviathan, Tyler Shortt of Tinker Street and Collin Hilton of CRG.
April 12 — Attendees can explore the vendor and artist markets, with live
music from African musicians, and visit coffee shop booths for specialty coffees and exclusive merchandise.
April 13 — A kid-friendly day with hands-on activities and educational experiences. Local coffee shop owners will host a panel discussion on coffee’s journey from farm to cup, emphasizing African coffee. The event will feature 10 coffee shops and five pastry shops.
The festival also will include a chocolate art exhibit at the Car Museum in The Stutz. For more, visit jadorepastry. com/events.
ple there. Hendrickson said they worked with Macy Lethco of Pattern Magazine, who helped find funding for the festival and gave general support as they planned the event.
Boudarine said that initially his transition to Indiana was challenging, partly because of a language barrier but also because some of the people he met didn’t make him feel welcome. Now that he has established his own business, he said he and Hendrickson want to hold the door open for others.
Hendrickson agreed, adding that their goal is to foster a sense of community.
“At the end of the day, the whole mission is just to bring people together, get them kind of thinking a little bit more romantically, or just thinking bigger — realizing that we all have different experiences, different backgrounds and we can celebrate together and appreciate each other.”
ON THE COVER: J’adore Pastry’s Youssef Boudarine and Ariel Hendrickson at The Stutz in downtown Indianapolis, where the upcoming MOkAO festival will take place.
(Photo by Leila Kheiry)
Youssef Boudarine with one of his chocolate and coffee-inspired art pieces on display at Amelia’s coffee shop at The Stutz. (Photos by Leila Kheiry)
Customers get their coffee fix at Amelia’s at The Stutz in downtown Indianapolis.
Blueprint for Improvement: Zionsville dining room transformation
Commentary by Larry Greene
Nestled in the charming Eagle Village neighborhood of Zionsville, this dining room underwent a stunning transformation. What was once an unstructured space is now a refined and intentional area designed for both everyday meals and elegant gatherings. A bold navy accent wall with custom paneling adds depth and character while sleek lighting, rich leather chairs and thoughtful decor bring warmth and style.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The focal point of the room is the custom navy panel wall, providing hidden storage while elevating the aesthetic.
• Designed with a push-pop mechanism, the storage doors open effortlessly with a light touch, eliminating the need for handles and maintaining a sleek, modern look.
• Rich leather dining chairs, a sleek black table and a modern chandelier create a refined yet inviting atmosphere.
• Light drapery and neutral walls keep the space bright, balancing the bold contrast.
• Thoughtful details like the navy bench with nailhead trim and warm wood flooring complete the transformation, making this dining room both stylish and highly functional.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
After
Before
“You can’t just put it off.”
Annual mammograms are a convenient way to prioritize your health. And these screenings only take about 15 minutes. At Community Health Network, you can schedule ahead of time or visit a walk-in clinic near you. So no matter what your schedule looks like, you’re ensured reliable, accessible and exceptional care.
Schedule your screening mammogram today or find a walk-in location near you at eCommunity.com/mammogram
Heather, Breast Cancer Survivor
currentnightandday.com
Dolenz to share songs, stories of The Monkees
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Micky Dolenz makes certain the legacy of The Monkees lives on.
Dolenz, the last surviving member of the group formed for a 1966 TV series, will perform his show “Micky Dolenz of the Monkees: An Evening of Songs and Stories” at 8 p.m. April 25 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
“Some things always remain constant. I always sing the great big Monkees hits in their entirety,” Dolenz said. “You kind of have an unspoken contract with the audience when you are in my position. They want to hear those hits. Once they know they are going to get those hits, you can go on and do all kinds of things. Over the years, I’ve done deep album cuts. I’ve done other artists’ material. That changes up a lot.”
Dolenz, 80, said he has learned that people love to hear stories of his experiences.
“I tell stories of Stephen Stills, Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles,” said Dolenz, who was The Monkees’ drummer and colead singer. “I find if I tell these stories and then follow it with a song that’s appropriate, a punchline if you will, that ties into the story.”
But the stories are only a part of the show.
“It’s a flat-out rock ‘n’ roll concert,” he said. “I have a five-piece band plus my sister who sings with me.”
Some of The Monkees’ biggest hits include “I’m a Believer,” “Daydream Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.”
Dolenz pays tributes to his late bandmate with photos. Co-lead singer Davy Jones died in 2012, followed by bass guitarist and keyboardist Peter Tork in 2019 and guitarist Michael Nesmith in 2021.
“It was like one blow after another, but in a way it’s like they are still there because of all the songs I sing and all the photographs,” Dolenz said.
TV reruns of “The Monkees” have
sparked interest in different age groups of fans.
“It’s quite common to have two or three generations because of the resurgence in 1986 and then again in 2006,” Dolenz said.
Dolenz said he gives credit to all the great songwriters each show. The band had songs written by Neil Diamond, Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Neil Sedaka, Carole Bayer Sager and Tommy Boyce/ Bobby Hart.
“It was an enormous stable of writers,” Dolenz said. “But there was also the television show and the writers of that and the producers and directors. It was not a band created for a TV show. It was a television show about a band that was an imaginary band that didn’t exist except on the television show.”
But Dolenz said the producers knew the actors would perform because they cast the show like it was a musical.
“You had to be able to sing, dance, act and play an instrument,” he said.
Dolenz said all the pieces fit together.
“At a certain point, the whole became greater than the sum of its parts,” Dolenz said.
Dolenz said sometimes he performs 100
or more shows a year.
“When I lived in England in the 1970s and ‘80s, I didn’t do any touring,” Dolenz said. “I was just directing and producing television shows.”
He resumed performing in 1986 with a Monkees’ 20th anniversary tour.
Dolenz, who was a child star in the TV show “Circus Boy” in the 1950s, said the break from performing probably kept him from burning out.
“During the second season of ‘The Monkees,’ I was already thinking about moving on and getting into production and directing,” he said. “I went to England and got lucky directing for the BBC and some films. It came at a very opportune time.”
Dolenz joked that what keeps him going is that a moving target is tougher to hit.
“It’s what I do,” he said. “It’s my day job. It is my business, show business.”
Dolenz said he will keep performing as long as it’s profitable and rewarding.
“It’s like someone throwing you a birthday party every night because the songs engender so much affection from so many people,” he said. “The songs are so great, it’s hard to go wrong.”
For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘JERSEY BOYS’
“Jersey Boys” runs through April 13 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
‘SPIDER’S WEB’
Main Street Productions presents Agatha Christie’s “Spider’s Web” through April 13 at Basile Westfield Playhouse. For more, visit westfieldplayhouse.org.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Comedy Night is set for April 10, followed by Dueling Pianos April 11 and Divas of the Songbook April 12 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. All three performances are set for 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
WORLD VOICE DAY
World Voice Day is 8 p.m. April 10 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Singers will sign up on arrival and must bring sheet music. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
‘RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL’
Carmel Community Players presents “Ruthless! The Musical” through April 13 at The Switch Theatre at Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers. For more, visit carmelplayers.org.
UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will perform at 8 p.m. April 12 at the Palladium at Allied Solutions Center. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
DISPATCH
Heartland Film fundraiser set — Cinemania, Heartland Film’s signature fundraiser, returns with the theme “A Tribute to Dance Films of the 80s.” Presented by F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., it is set for April 11 at The Crane Bay Event Center in Indianapolis. The celebration is inspired by classic films like “Flashdance,” “Purple Rain,” “Fame,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Footloose” and “Xanadu.” Sponsor and party-pack tickets are good from 6 to 11 p.m. and premiere tickets are good from 7 to 11 p.m. For more, visit heartlandfilm.org.
CONCERT
Micky Dolenz is the last surviving member of The Monkees. (Photo courtesy of Micky Dolenz)
Symphony on the Prairie set
editorial@youarecurrent.com
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Kroger Symphony on the Prairie schedule opens with Fleetwood Mac and ABBA tribute acts in the final weekend of June.
CONCERTS
The schedule runs through August at Conner Prairie in Fishers. Gates open at 6 p.m. and concerts begin at 8 p.m. For more, visit indianapolissymphony.org.
June 27 — Tusk: The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Featuring the ISO
June 28 — Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA. Featuring the ISO
July 3 - 5 — Kroger Symphony on the Prairie presents the Star-Spangled Symphony with the ISO with conductor Alfred Savia and guest jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling.
July 11 - 12 — Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly
July 18-19 — Celebrate the music of iconic composers John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Alan Silvestri, and more as Everly and the ISO bring to life music from legendary film scores
July 25 — Greatest Love of All: A Tribute
to Whitney Houston. Singer Belinda Davids will perform “The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston,” with Lopez-Yañez and the ISO.
July 26 — EagleMania — The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band. Get ready for EagleMania — The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band, featuring Lopez-Yañez and the ISO.
August 1-2 — Let’s Sing Taylor: An Unofficial Live Tribute Band.
August 8 — Dark Star Orchestra. Recreating a Deer Creek Grateful Dead concert experience.
August 9 — Face2Face. A Tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel
August 15 — One Night of Queen. Featuring Gary Mullen & The Works
August 16 — Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute
August 22 — Neil Forever. The music of Neil Diamond
August 23 — A1A. The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show
August 29 — In-Vincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson.
August 30 — Voyage. Celebrating the Music of Journey.
LIFESTYLE
ty place
19. Lo-cal 20. Half of hex21. Tom Wood inventory
22. Takes the bait
23. Guitar kin, briefly
15. Well-ventilated 16. “Doggone it!”
17. Colorful Kosciusko Coun-
MANAGING EDITOR
24. Indiana Senate staffer
25. Fixate
28. Elegant and stylish
30. Less diluted
31. ___ and Caicos Islands
33. Sock part
35. Polo rival
36. Old Testament book
37. Go sightseeing
38. Immediately
39. Purse handle
40. Westfield HS prom
Are you a passionate, experienced storyteller with a profound editorial eye, as well as a bottomless appreciation for community-driven journalism? Do you thrive in a united environment where ideas flow, voices are heard and stories make an impact? The managing editor candidate Current Publishing selects will be charged with ensuring its content is fair, accurate and genuinely connected to the community we serve. This is an immediate opening at a media company that has largest print-media footprint in Indiana and a burgeoning online and social media presence. If you are:
• A leader with proven veteran experience in journalism
• Have strong writing and editing skills with a sharp eye for detail
• Carry a passion for hyper-local news and can cultivate a deep understanding of community issues
• and possess excellent organizational and project-management abilities …
… then we want to hear from you.
If that’s not you, but you still would like to align with Current as a freelance reporter/writer, let us know!
NEXT STEP: Send a resume and PDFs of three of your best news-story clips, along with three professional references to jobs@youarecurrent.com. (You will receive immediate consideration, as we are moving quickly to fill the opening.) Compensation is commensurate with experience. Benefits package and some amount of schedule flexibility are available for full-time employees. EOE. No phone calls, please.
41. Hoity-toity
43. Quite a crowd
45. Fastener
46. Tin Man’s need
47. Fencing sword
49. Mooring site
52. Slugger’s stat
55. Tater
56. Colorful Hancock County place
58. Infamous fiddler
59. In the vicinity
60. Current edition 61. USMC rank
62. “Do ___ others...”
63. Short letters Down
1. Top-rated 2. Hibernation spot
3. Citrus hybrid
4. Gun an IndyCar engine
5. Word after heart or circuit
6. Pretzel topping 7. “Arrivederci!” 8. Torah chests 9. Shapiro’s loaf
Side in eight-ball
Colorful Boone County place 12. Poker stake
Attends
Regrets
View with a skew
26. Colorful Hendricks County place
27. I-Team 8 news feature
28. Moved cautiously
29. Indiana’s senior US Senator
30. Noblesville HS wrestler’s win
32. Patriotic chant 34. IU Health trauma centers
36. Web address starter
Level or bevel
Mythical beast that’s
Prefix with dynamic or space
Butler school color
Midmonth day
Serengeti grazer
Hilbert Circle Theatre org.
Answers on Page 14
The Envision collection is available as a sectional, sofa, chair, or ottoman. Choose fabric, arm style, seat depth, back height, silhouette, back pillow and seam detail, base and wood finishes. Custom order yours today!
KAREN KING, OWNER
