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PLUS ... IMA’S NEW DESIGN GALLERY, HURRAH TAYLOR SWIFT’S ORANJE’S LAST HURRAH, TO-DO LIST, BOY BANDS FACE OFF, THE INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMP’S PRIZES, FRANKENSTEIN’S BIRTHDAY & THE CCIC!
2018
Editor’s Note
theTICKET PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER
Keith Phillips ---------
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
Laura Kruty
SPECIAL PROJECTS ART DIRECTOR
Allison Edwards PHOTOGRAPHER
Tony Valainis CONSULTING EDITOR
Michael Rubino CONSULTING DESIGN DIRECTOR
Todd Urban CONTRIBUTORS
Marc D. Allan, Natalie Atwell, Grace Bahler, Rebecca Berfanger, Katie Grieze, Taylor Meyers, Jeff Vrabel PRODUCTION MANAGER
Mike Botkin
ADVERTISING ART COORDINATOR
Megan Maguire ---------
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Making Moves
On a chilly gray day this past January, two coworkers and I donned hard hats for a tour of the Phoenix Theatre—or, what was the Phoenix up to that point. Rising from an empty lot on Illinois Street, the building’s exterior and interior walls were up, but it was still very much a construction site. As we made our way through, side-stepping workers perched on ladders and pallets stacked with materials, we simply had to use our imaginations as the Phoenix staff explained where we were and what each space would eventually look like. Fast forward to an afternoon in July when I took in Silent Sky, a play by Summit Performance Indianapolis. I was greeted by lobby that was sleek and modern, with polished-concrete floors, a bright-red, curved bench for relaxing before shows, and local artwork embellishing the walls. Through a bank of windows on the south side, I watched people cruising the Cultural Trail with the Scottish Rite Cathedral and, beyond that, the city skyline, creating a lovely backdrop. And unlike the parking situation surrounding the theater’s former Chatham Arch digs, finding a space was an absolute breeze. It was a big improvement all around. The Phoenix isn’t the only group in Indy moving on up. For “Stages of Evolution” (p. 10), writer Marc D. Allan talked to four other organizations who have expanded their missions and made the leap to brand-new or bigger and better homes. These changes signal progress in the local arts scene, and I’m hopeful that that momentum will continue. More good news: This issue includes info on hundreds of events happening this fall. Hear up-and-coming violinists at the 10th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (p. 42) or big-time pop and rock stars (p. 28). Garfield Park hosts a two-day music festival making its debut (p. 30), Lego art takes over the Indiana State Museum (p. 54), and various Frankenstein-related events (p. 64) pay tribute to that still-relevant novel, turning 200 this year. In other words, plenty of ways to upgrade your social calendar.
Tom Gibson, Nancy Oliphant, Holly South, Rhonda Turner, Maribeth Wood DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS
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Indianapolis Monthly One Emmis Plaza, 40 Monument Circle, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-237-9288 Subscriptions: 888-403-9005 IndianapolisMonthly.com/subscribe Indianapolis Monthly (ISSN 0899-0328) is published monthly, for a total of 12 issues annually. The subscription cost is $20 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis and additional mailing offices. • Postmaster: Send address changes to Indianapolis Monthly, P.O. Box 7782, Red Oak, IA 51591. SUBSCRIBERS: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within two years. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content, without permission, is prohibited. Opinions in the magazine are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent management views. MEMBER: CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL • CITY & REGIONAL MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION • INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS OF AMERICA
Laura Kruty Editor
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Member, American Society of Magazine Editors. ASME works to preserve editorial independence and speaks out on public policy issues, particularly those pertaining to the First Amendment.
2018
Inside Indy
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SAVE THE DATE
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CREATIVE AVENUES
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JUICE FEST!
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GO WEST!
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STAR WATCH
Locals in the arts-andculture field share which events they’re checking out this season.
PRESENTED BY
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The Red Line rapid-transit route provides a canvas for these artists’ projects. Art experience Oranje is back for the final time. Saddle up for the reopening of the Eiteljorg’s renovated galleries. What have these Indybased actors and musicians been up to?
Feature 10 STAGES OF
EVOLUTION
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These five theater companies are at the forefront of major changes in the city’s arts scene.
Calendars 17 THEATER & DANCE Plays, musicals, ballets— the best of what’s taking the stage this fall.
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27 POP, ROCK & MORE Cabaret, a cappella, country, and more. 41 CLASSICAL MUSIC Beethoven and Brahms, opera, recitals, and galas. 49 VISUAL ARTS Museum exhibits, fairs, and new shows opening at local galleries. 61 MOVIES, BOOKS, ETC. Films, author chats, and one-of-a-kind events. 75 VENUES & MENUS Details on restaurants and late-night spots in the city’s artsiest areas. 4
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ON THE COVER From left: Taylor Swift by Tony Valainis, Jim Gaffigan courtesy Live Nation, Angela Brown courtesy ISO, Nick Lachey courtesy Live Nation, Emily Saliers courtesy Center for the Performing Arts, Royal Wood courtesy Center for the Performing Arts, Jordan Donica by Jati Lindsay, Betsy Wolfe by J. Patterson/courtesy The Cabaret, Parker Sawyers by Pat Scola/courtesy Sundance Institute, Stephanie J. Block courtesy The Cabaret.
ART ON THE RED LINE 8
ORANJE’S LAST HURRAH 8
See new work in the Eiteljorg’s redesigned galleries, p. 9.
NEW AT THE EITELJORG 9
WHERE THE STARS ARE 9
INSIDE INDY
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GRAND CANYON BY THOMAS MORAN, COURTESY EITELJORG; FRAME FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; ECKHART COURTESY ELAINE ECKHART; MORGAN COURTESY NEWFIELDS; OTHERS BY TONY VALAINIS
Members of the local arts community reveal gems of the upcoming season. ELAINE ECKHART EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA I will definitely be attending the classical finals of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis on September 12–13. The classical finals will showcase six laureates. I have a double interest, in that I love the orchestral repertoire from the Classical period, and it is exciting to see young “rising star” artists. Three of the six laureates will in all likelihood perform with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra in the future.
CHRIS LAFAVE CURATOR OF THE KURT VONNEGUT MUSEUM AND LIBRARY I enjoy GermanFest, at the Athenaeum on October 13. I volunteered last year, and it was very inspiring to see so many people taking part in a fundraiser for a big part of Indianapolis history. The organization just does so much for the city and offers a lot to the community.
MAX WEINTRAUB GALLERY DIRECTOR AT THE HERRON SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN I’m really looking forward to seeing the Milton Glaser exhibition at Christopher West Presents this fall. Glaser is a legendary graphic designer who created the iconic I Love NY logo and the classic 1966 Bob Dylan poster, whose colorful and energetic design became the quintessential symbol of the emerging counterculture of the 1960s.
DAVID CRAIG STARKEY GENERAL DIRECTOR OF INDIANAPOLIS OPERA This event—We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Schrott Center for the Arts—features really the next big classical music superstar, Damien Sneed. He plays piano for the best gospel artists and conducts all forms of music.
DR. KELLI MORGAN ASSOCIATE CURATOR OF AMERICAN ART AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART AT NEWFIELDS I am excitedly awaiting the October 6 Kevin Powell lecture and book signing at Central Library’s Center for Black Literature & Culture. I was so thrilled when I happened upon the center during a casual day when I decided to check out the library. I think the center is by far a jewel of the city, and stands testament to all the literary and cultural production African-Americans have created in and for this country.
Inside Indy
Creative Avenues Driving Red Line awareness through creative placemaking.
BIG CAR COLLABORATIVE
To highlight southside amenities, Big Car hosted pop-up events near future stations this summer and will install info kiosks featuring wayfinding signs. WHERE: Raymond and Shelby, Southern
From left: Jamie Pawlus’s Coming Soon...Seriously; one of Studio 57 Photography’s doors; the Sapphire Theatre Company filming its video along the route.
JAMIE PAWLUS
Pawlus’s Coming Soon…Seriously resembles a typical street sign, but it has a sassy double meaning—“Coming
After a break, Oranje, an interactive arts experience, is back for one last run. IM | THE TICKET 2018
CARLOS SOSA
Sosa invited the public to share busriding experiences and perspectives on the Red Line for a crowdsourced 10-stanza poem titled “Still I Ride,” modeled after Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise.” Poet-led workshops helped kick-start creativity. WHERE: On posters and signs along College Avenue.
JUICE FEST!
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and Shelby, Troy and Shelby, UIndy at Hanna Avenue.
The number of empty warehouses that provide the ideal setting for Oranje is dwindling throughout the city. So when the opportunity came up to stage the edgy art, music, film, fashion, food, and just-about-everythingelse extravaganza at the former CocaCola bottling plant, Oranje co-founder and director Ryan Hickey couldn’t say no to resurrecting the popular cultural hodgepodge—for the last time—in what he describes as his “dream property.”
Last Chance
Soon” refers to the bus’s 10-minute arrival intervals, while “Seriously” acknowledges how long it took for the Red Line to break ground. WHERE: Virginia and Woodlawn. THE SAPPHIRE THEATRE COMPANY
Sapphire conveyed the Red Line as an experience that “transcends the daily grind” via a video that gives residents a bus-eyed view along the route. WHERE: Sapphire’s YouTube channel. STUDIO 57 PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographer Andrea Smith’s brightly colored doors for Red Line platforms either welcome or bid farewell to riders. Each one features photos from nearby neighborhoods. WHERE: 9th and Capitol, 32nd and Meridian, 1700 Shelby St.
“Bringing it back for one final event, not just in the type of building we were meant to do it in, but the building to do it in, just felt right,” Hickey says. You can bet he and his crew will squeeze everything they can out of the September 22 affair to make it the grandest of grand finales. Among the roughly 50 acts are local bands and DJs who will provide the soundtrack to checking out body painters, modern pottery, graffiti artists, contemporary and performance art, and more. oranjeindy.com
RED LINE IMAGES COURTESY JAMIE PAWLUS, ANDREA SMITH, SAPPHIRE THEATRE COMPANY; ORANJE BY PHIERCE PHOTOGRAPHY
TO ENGAGE community members in the Red Line rapid-transit route, now under construction, several local artists were given the green light to launch placemaking projects along its path. Here, the creators and their work that they hope inspires Indy to get on the bus.
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Go West!
THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN, ARRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO BY MIAN SITU, COURTESY EITELJORG; FRAME FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; KAUFMAN COURTESY ISO; LILY & MADELEINE BY STACY NEWGENT; SAWYERS BY PAT SCOLA/COURTESY SUNDANCE INSTITUTE; DONICA BY JATI LINDSAY; BROWN BY RONI ELY
Steer your wagon to the Eiteljorg’s newly revamped galleries. After being closed for most of the summer for renovations, the Eiteljorg Museum’s Art of the American West and Gund galleries will be back in the saddle November 10 when they reopen with the exhibit Attitudes: The West in American Art. About 140 works will be on display, including several pieces that have undergone conservation and reframing, and recent acquisitions, among them paintings by Grafton Tyler Brown and Mian Situ. New interactive touchscreens will help deepen guests’ understanding of the artwork, while younger buckaroos can create their own masterpieces with art activities.
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Star Watch
Keeping tabs on singers and actors with ties to Indy. LOCALS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: JOSH KAUFMAN (1) The 2014 victor of The Voice
last released an EP in 2016, and performed with the ISO earlier this year. He’s releasing videos on Patreon, a crowdfunding site for artists and creators, and will rejoin the ISO as co-host of Yuletide Celebration. JORDAN DONICA (2) This Roncalli grad is playing
the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill in Broadway’s My Fair Lady and joins the ISO as a vocalist for its Cirque Goes to the Movies shows in September. PARKER SAWYERS (3) A North Central graduate,
Sawyers garnered attention for his portrayal of Barack Obama in 2016’s Southside With You. Earlier in 2018, he
headed Down Under to film Pine Gap, a Netflix mini-series set at the U.S./Australian joint intelligence base of the same name. It’s slated for release yet this year.
role of Portland Summerfest’s version of Tosca. She’ll co-host Yuletide Celebration along with Kaufman.
LILY & MADELEINE (4) These folk-rockin’ sisters
A motivational speaker turned hip-hop artist from Fort Wayne, Sanderson saw her 2017 EP, Spaces, recorded in her bedroom closet, hit No. 1 on the iTunes R&B chart. Now signed to Epic Records, her full-length debut is in the works.
AND TWO TO KEEP AN EYE ON: LAUREN SANDERSON
decamped to—where else?— Brooklyn within the past year, and in March teased that they were finally recording a new album after a year of writing. They have a September 30 show on the books in Brooklyn, but (so far) nothing set for Indy. ANGELA BROWN (5) This summer, Indy’s opera
diva appeared in Empower, a production from Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Urban League, featuring music by Damien Sneed, and in the title
THE WLDLFE
This Indy-based indie-pop band was included in a Spotify New Music Friday playlist earlier this year, and, with three EPs under their belt, is set to release a full-length album later this year. They’ll play the Old National Centre September 7. THE TICKET 2018 | IM
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BY MARC D. ALLAN PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS 10
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THEATER GROUPS, BOTH BRAND-NEW AND LONG-ESTABLISHED, HAVE SPEARHEADED RECENT MAJOR CHANGES IN INDY’S ARTS SCENE, WITH EXPANDED MISSIONS, FOCUSES ON UNDERREPRESENTED
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA MARTIN; HEADLINE LETTERS FROM THINKSTOCK.COM
VOICES, AND BIGGER AND BETTER LOCATIONS.
Shannon Forsell on stage at The Cabaret’s new location.
WITH THE INDY THEATER WORLD IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR PROGRESSION, WE SENT MARC D. ALLAN TO CHECK IT OUT. What he found were five examples of theaters battling the status quo with the shows they’re presenting, their location in the city, and their mission—and sometimes all three at once. He talked to stalwarts who built the scene and are now working hard to propel it further, as well as newcomers who are carving out their own space. Each theater faces the same challenge: getting the public to pay attention and participate. “It’ll be a struggle,” says Bryan Fonseca, founder of the Phoenix Theatre and now the new River West Theater Company. “But it beats sitting on the couch watching TV.”
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FROM A MEETING PLACE TO AN ART AND EDUCATION SPACE
Water is dripping from the ceiling and decrepit furniture lies piled in the corner of the old CT Peppers location in Broad Ripple. But Ronan Marra sees the future. One of the longtime forces behind Chicago’s Signal Ensemble Theatre, Marra intends to retrofit this dank basement into Storefront Theatre of Indianapolis. He envisions 12
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ABOVE Bill Simmons in
the Phoenix’s Basile Theatre. RIGHT Ronan Marra at
Storefront Theatre’s new space, pre-renovation.
“The future of theater has to involve civic engagement, Not just sell tickets. Artists need to move into communities, embed themselves so there’s an authenticity to the voices.” a 50-seat permanent performance space for the company to present edgy, story-oriented new plays by female and minority playwrights, with other sections devoted to a classroom area and an art gallery. And he expects to have raised at least $172,000 by December to pay for the renovations, at which point Storefront is hoping to open. Marra, his wife, Meg, and son, Leo,
left Chicago to be closer to Marra’s father and stepmother in Fishers. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do here, but he looked at the landscape and “didn’t see why Indianapolis couldn’t use another theater, especially another professional theater.” Meg, a PR executive, gave him the go-ahead to take what he’d learned in Chicago and start that company.
» FROM SAGE GUIDANCE TO REALITY
Attorney Paul Mullin, a longtime local arts supporter, helped him assemble a board, and Storefront staged two well-received shows at IndyFringe last season—Infinity by Canadian Hannah Moscovitch and Prowess by decorated African-American playwright Ike Holter. When talk turned to finding a permanent location, the board unanimously chose the Broad Ripple spot below the Fortitude Fitness gym owned by Storefront board president Julia Pritchard. One big advantage of the space is that it will have its main entrance on Broad Ripple Avenue, leaving plenty of opportunity for foot traffic. Marra, 43, an Ohio native, says he’s trying to replicate what happens in
Chicago with theater companies setting up shop in neighborhood storefronts. That was what drew him to that city in the first place. “There’s something entrepreneurial about Chicago—small businesses, people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, hard work, blue collar, and all that,” he says. “A lot of people are attracted to that. It’s hard work, but you have complete ownership over it.” Success, he says, will be measured by whether Storefront can create an active location teeming with arts. “I want our mission to matter to Indianapolis, [to] Indiana, and broader,” Marra says. “We’re going to do good work in here.”
In June, after Bryan Fonseca parted ways with the Phoenix Theatre—the company he’d founded and nurtured for 35 years—he spent five days at a spiritual retreat, figuring out what he was going to do next. He quickly realized the answer: start a theater that gives voice only to minority communities. River West Theater Company, his new venture, will be the only group in town with a person of color as its leader; with a majority of people of color on the board; and a diverse audience, he says. The first season opens this month at Indy Convergence, 2611 W. Michigan St., and after that River West will move into its new home at 2508 W. Michigan St., just west of the White River. Fonseca’s next act grew out of the advice he’d been giving other theater groups for years: Don’t compete. Instead, find a voice that’s not being heard. Find a mission that needs to be fulfilled because it’s not yet in existence. “The future of theater has to involve civic engagement,” he says. “Not just sell tickets. Artists need to move into communities, embed themselves in the community so there’s an authenticity to the voices when you’re working on the projects. It’s part of a national trend that’s just getting started.” River West’s home will feature an intimate 70-seat house. It won’t be anything fancy, but neither was the (old) Phoenix. “And yet,” Fonseca says, “we were able to accomplish a lot and produce some pretty damn fine theater.” He expects the same from River West, which will present provocative work with a strong message and political bent to it—shows like Pulitzer Prize– winner Robert Schenkkan’s latest play, Building the Wall, about a death row inmate who committed Final Solution– style crimes on behalf of his employer, running September 14–30. Fonseca predicts that River West is going to develop in ways similar to Broad Ripple, Mass Ave, and Fountain Square. You’ll have a cluster of art galleries, arts groups, restaurants, and storefronts that reflect the culture of the people in the neighborhood. “If you work hard and you’re genuinely part of a community and try to reach out and reach the right people and get them engaged early on, I think we’ll be pleasantly surprised at how large the audience can be.” THE TICKET 2018 | IM
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As for Fonseca himself, he says that he doesn’t have anything to prove. “I have created my own work all my life. This is just a continuation of that.”
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FROM A THEATER TO A CULTURAL CENTER
Bill Simmons, who succeeds Fonseca as the Phoenix Theatre’s artistic director, inherited a supersized Phoenix— a new $11 million building at 705 N. Illinois St., lots more money to raise (about $3 million by the end of 2019 for the capital campaign and, he hopes, a $5 million endowment by 2023), and a broader mission (support as many local artists as possible). “We’re calling it a cultural center,” he says, “because there’s going to be a lot more in it than just producing plays.” Simmons says the Phoenix will remain true to its objective to produce new plays that deal with issues in our culture that need to be addressed. As examples, he points to this season’s shows such as Apples in Winter, featuring a woman baking a pie in the theater for her son who’s on death row in part because of his opioid addiction, and The Children, a post-nuclear-disaster drama. But beyond that, the expanded mission includes fostering four companies in “The Collective”—the women-focused Summit Performance Indianapolis; Eclipse, a group of alumni from Emily Ristine Holloway’s Summer Stock Stage company at Park Tudor; Phoenix Rising, a young dance company that has scheduled three performances in the building; and Q Artistry, which presents original work by Indiana artists, including Cabaret Poe October 5–November 4. “[Q Artistry is] a young and exciting company that brings its following into the building,” Simmons says. The new building has a 144-seat mainstage theater, an up-to-90-seat studio theater, and 3,000 square feet of classroom/special events/rehearsal space. There are plans for a full education program for students, as well as a town hall series to discuss issues contained in the theater’s plays. Simmons will continue to teach classes for adults who want to learn the Sanford-Meisner acting technique, and the lobby walls double as a gallery for local artists. “It’s going to take a year or two to settle in and know what we’re really all about,” Simmons says. “But I believe in 14
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ABOVE Pauline Moffatt at the District Theatre. RIGHT Bryan
Fonseca near River West Theatre Company’s new home along West Michigan Street.
this organization, I believe in the mission, and I believe in the future of it.”
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FROM A HOME FOR ONE TO A HOME FOR ALL
Pauline Moffatt, the force of nature who’s grown IndyFringe into a multitentacled presence along Mass Ave over the past 14 years, needed 627 Massachusetts Ave. to remain a theater. With the Phoenix Theatre moving to its new home on Illinois Street, IndyFringe had already lost two prospective stages for its annual festival contained close to Mass Ave. It couldn’t afford to lose two more. “You can’t have a cultural district without culture,” she says.
So Moffatt and IndyFringe stepped forward when the Central Indiana Community Foundation bought the longtime home of Theatre on the Square and asked for proposals from potential managers of the space. In April, she took on a two-and-a-halfyear agreement to oversee what’s now called the District Theatre, which includes a 120-seat mainstage theater and a 60-seat cabaret room. “It’s a huge challenge to try to bring something back after a 10-month hiatus,” she says, “but I think there’s enough faith in the theater community and among our audiences that we should all pitch in and make sure it works.” IndyFringe’s mandate is that every-
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“It’s a huge challenge to try to bring something back after a 10-month hiatus, but I think there’s enough faith in the theater community and our audiences that we (can) make sure it works.” one is welcome in the District Theatre, and Moffatt hopes to rent the building to at least 10 diverse performing groups in the first year. Among those the District will host this year, Moffatt says, are “a kaleidoscope of performers,” including Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective, NoExit Performance, Sisters Rep, and shows from IndyFringe and its mini-festivals, such as Bard Fest. CICF spent $250,000 to shore up
the building, including better sound and lights and updated bathrooms and dressing rooms. Moffatt has seen the demographics in the cultural district change dramatically over the past decade and a half. “We need to appeal to the people who live, work, play, eat, and drink on Mass Ave,” she says. “But I think the future is great. I’m excited.”
FROM ‘BROTHER, CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?’ TO ‘PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ’ To fully appreciate what The Cabaret is—and it is stunning—it helps to know what cabaret in Indianapolis once was. Claude McNeal’s American Cabaret Theatre started in 1988, presenting musical revues at the Athenaeum that featured popular songs under a thematic umbrella, performed by local talent and put on with a smile-and-a-shoeshine budget. Fast-forward 30 years, and cabaret is a lineup of Broadway talents and major names strutting their stuff in a 186-seat room that looks like a New York nightclub from the 1930s. “Jennifer Holliday said it reminded her of the Savoy,” says Shannon Forsell, CEO and artistic director of The Cabaret, 924 N. Pennsylvania St., which hosted the Dreamgirls star earlier this year. “She said they just don’t make these rooms anymore. But we do.” Forsell has been a major player in Indianapolis cabaret dating back to the 1980s. She performed in this same building, when what’s now the Arts Council of Indianapolis’s offices was Jimmy’s, a gay bar, and she went on to be a leading lady in many of McNeal’s cabaret shows. When McNeal left the organization in 2006, Forsell led the restructuring of American Cabaret Theatre into The Cabaret. For years, it was a nomadic venture. In April, aided by a long list of who’s-who-in-Indianapolis sponsors, The Cabaret opened its permanent home in what had once been the Rollerland roller rink. It has been redesigned by Ratio Architects to be “old-school Hollywood meets industrial.” Forsell expects The Cabaret to present 34 performances in its first year on Penn, most of them sophisticated and swanky—Broadway is the staple—“but some with sass and a wink, and sometimes there will be political commentary and elements that fit this unique genre.” Next season, she’s hoping to increase that figure to 40. The Cabaret left a little room for local performers through an incubator series, but the core of what it does now focuses on national and international artists, served up with dinner catered by The Jazz Kitchen. “It’s been a long road to get to here,” Forsell says. “Sometimes I have to step back and say, ‘Holy cow, what did we do? How did we do this?’” THE TICKET 2018 | IM
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SEE ART LIVE 2018–2019 BUTLER ARTS PRESENTS SEASON HIGHJOHN OATES WITH THE GOOD ROAD BAND
AN EVENING WITH DAILEY & VINCENT
THE SINGING CONTRACTORS
AN EVENING WITH JEANNE ROBERTSON
JOHN O’HURLEY: A MAN WITH STANDARDS
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: SPINOSAURUS: LOST GIANT OF
September 17 | Schrott Center for the Arts
January 10 | Schrott Center for the Arts
September 21 | Schrott Center for the Arts
January 20 | Clowes Memorial Hall
THE CRETACEOUS WITH PALEONTOLOGIST NIZAR IBRAHIM
October 5 | Schrott Center for the Arts
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE:
January 24 | Clowes Memorial Hall
OCEAN SOUL WITH UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN SKERRY
WE SHALL OVERCOME—A CELEBRATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
SNAP JUDGMENT LIVE!
BLACK VIOLIN
November 2 | Clowes Memorial Hall
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY:
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR
March 7 | Schrott Center for the Arts
October 25 | Clowes Memorial Hall
PRESENTED BY THE BUTLER UNIVERSITY MFA CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM
November 7 | Clowes Memorial Hall
DON FELDER, FORMERLY OF THE EAGLES November 9 | Clowes Memorial Hall
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL December 9 | Clowes Memorial Hall
February 24 | Schrott Center for the Arts
March 1 | Clowes Memorial Hall
VISIONS FROM CAPE BRETON & BEYOND
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: ON THE TRAIL OF BIG CATS WITH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER STEVE WINTER April 4 | Clowes Memorial Hall
AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS April 12 | Clowes Memorial Hall
TICKETS AND MORE AT
BUTLERARTSCENTER.ORG
MUST-SEE PERFORMANCES 18
CARMEL’S CAT THEATRE 18
GOOD POINTE 22
THE NUTCRACKER 23–24
THEATER and DANCE
Intriguing plays, including Holmes and Watson Watson, at the IRT, pgs. 19, 20 & 23.
Source of Pride
LION KING PHOTO ©DISNEY, BY DEEN VAN MEER; HOLMES COURTESY IRT, DESIGNED BY KYLE RAGSDALE
Awe-inspiring costumes and choreography, a thrilling score you know and love, and a powerful story of redemption— The Lion King rules the Old National Centre (p. 18).
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Quick Q&A
The Ticket
THEATER & DANCE CALENDAR Broadway, Shakespeare, Poe-inspired productions, seven (!) Nutcrackers, and more shows appearing on stages this season.
ends 10/7
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
9/6–8
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind Fresh off an appearance at the IndyFringe Festival, UIndy’s Department of Theatre presents this off-offBroadway show that provides audience members an escape from reality by immersing them in what’s happening on stage. See it—and be a part of it—at UIndy’s Studio Theatre. events.uindy.edu 18
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WHY DID YOU START THE CAT THEATRE?
We have an incredible theater complex in town where people just can’t afford to be. I wanted to put on a show, and I wasn’t able to afford the terms of the place, and all the lesser places were filled. I decided to do something even less affordable and rent this space for three years. WHY DO YOU CALL THE CAT “OFF-OFF-BROADWAY”?
I have a fella here who is our technical director. He said, “You know, Willie, The CAT isn’t a community theater. It is the community’s theater.” I thought, Wow, that’s pretty cool.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Horrified by her new husband’s six unkempt, ill-mannered brothers, bride Milly attempts to set them straight so they, too, can find love. Beef & Boards stages this rollicking show. beefandboards.com
SEPTEMBER
The theater vet talks about transforming an empty venue into Carmel’s newest performing-arts hub.
SO HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE WAY YOU RUN THE THEATER?
9/6–9 & 14
Destination: Everywhere Broken Box Mime Theatre weaves together nine short works into this hour-long program, after which families can meet the cast and learn how to mime. Discover your talents for that medium at the District Theatre. indydistricttheatre.org
9/7–30
A Comedy of Tenors The Studio Theater at the Center for the Performing Arts hosts
this Actors Theatre of Indiana farce featuring one hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, three girlfriends, a stadium full of fans, mistaken identities, and other hijinks. atistage.org
9/12–29
The Lion King The adventures of Simba, Nala, evil Scar, and the rest of the Pride Lands gang fill the stage at the Old National Centre in this critically acclaimed, visually stunning show. indianapolis .broadway.com
We recruit and adopt theater companies who don’t have a home or who are between homes. We have 18 different companies. I was describing how theater companies come to us, and the person I described it to cocked her head. She said, “You kinda sound like the Island of Misfit Toys.” MOST REWARDING MOMENT SO FAR?
It was with Carmel Apprentice Theatre and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. A woman came to us. She’s 54 years old, but has the mental capacity of someone who’s not even 10. She wanted to be on stage. We cast her in the role of Woodstock. She was on stage for most of the show, having the best time of her life. Here, we have someone who has never been given the chance, and now she’s part of the group. —Taylor Meyers
PHOTOS COURTESY WILLIAM WOOD, BEEF & BOARDS
ONGOING
Will Wood
9/21–22
The Casket Girls Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre begins its 21st season with this modern ballet that centers on the “casket girls,” who left France for New Orleans in 1728 and sparked suspicion following their arrival at the Ursuline Convent. Vampires, voodoo, and other mysterious forces fill the Tarkington. gregoryhancock dancetheatre.org
Bard Fest The area’s only Shakespeare festival welcomes Agape Performing Arts Company for its youth rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other productions include Romeo & Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing, put on by Catalyst Repertory, First Folio Productions, and Carmel Theatre Company at the IndyFringe Theatre and the District Theatre. indybard fest.com
9/28–30
Balancing Acts: An Evening of George Balanchine Indianapolis Ballet
INDIANAPOLIS BALLET BY MOONBUG PHOTOGRAPHY; CASKET GIRLS COURTESY GREGORY HANCOCK DANCE THEATRE; BANJO FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; HOLMES COURTESY IRT, DESIGNED BY KYLE RAGSDALE
9/21–10/7
Bright Star Co-written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, this sentimental love story set in 1920s and 1940s North Carolina opens the Phoenix Theatre’s season. phoenixtheatre.org
unexpectedly arrives in Brigadoon, an enchanting village in the Scottish Highlands that appears only one day every 100 years. Will he stay behind forever to be with his love, Fiona, or return to his old life? Footlite Musicals stages this classic. footlite.org
9/27–30 & 10/4–7
OCTOBER Balancing Acts: An Evening of George Balanchine
opens its first full season by celebrating an iconic figure in American ballet, George Balanchine, with three of his works: “Serenade,” “The Four Temperaments,” and “Raymonda Variation,” all at the Toby Theater
10/2–3
at the IMA. indyballet .org
9/28–30, 10/4–7 & 11–14
Brigadoon Tommy, a New Yorker,
Don’t Miss!
10/3
Pulse: Dancing to the Beat of Our Own Drummer Pulse follows a young boy, a percussionist, and a young girl, a ballerina, as they dream of becoming famous artists. Contemporary ballet and music of today and yesterday are intertwined at the Athenaeum. indianaballet conservatory.org
9/21–23, 28–30 & 10/5–7
Forever Plaid After a foursome of young singers is killed in a car accident, they return from the afterlife to perform the songs made famous by their 1950s guy-group idols. Expect plenty of nostalgia when Carmel Community Players stages this show at the CAT Theatre. carmelplayers.org
Frankenstein Aquila Theatre presents Mary Shelley’s famous novel about Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation of a piecedtogether human and the consequences that such a being brings upon the monster, society, and the doctor himself. It comes alive at Purdue’s Loeb Playhouse. convocations.org
10/5–11/4
Holmes and Watson SEPTEMBER 25–OCTOBER 21
Don your detective hat for this Indiana Repertory Theatre work, which features Dr. Watson investigating three asylum inmates who each claim to be Sherlock Holmes. irtlive.com
Cabaret Poe Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Cabaret Poe is Q Artistry’s macabre take on the chilling tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Quoth the raven, head to the Phoenix Theatre. phoenixtheatre.org
10/11–11/18
Man of La Mancha Accused of a crime against the church, THE TICKET 2018 | IM
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Theater & Dance for the twists and turns of this Candlelight Theatre production, whose scenes take place throughout the mansion. bhpsite.org
10/16–11/11
Pipeline The Indiana Repertory Theatre presents the story of Nya, whose son Omari gets in trouble at school. Together, they fight for Omari’s future in a world divided by race, class, and money. irtlive.com
10/12–27
Anything Goes All aboard the S.S. American, where a love triangle, gangsters, disguises, confessions, and marriage proposals make waves in Civic Theatre’s rendition of this 1934 classic at the Tarkington. civic theatre.org
10/12–13, 19–20 & 27–28
The (White) House of Horrors The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site provides a fitting backdrop
Monty Python’s Spamalot
womanhood using music, dance, and poetry, especially that of Maya Angelou. indydistricttheatre.org
10/19–28
10/19–28
Phenomenal Woman Featuring a cast with ages 9 to 96 and everywhere in between, this show by Sisters Rep at the District Theatre takes audiences on a journey through African-American
The Addams Family They’re creepy and they’re kooky, and this wacky family’s adventures come to the CAT Theatre stage courtesy Carmel Apprentice Theatre. thecat theatre.com
10/20–11/17
Rapunzel In this hour-long Beef & Boards show for kids, Rapunzel and prince Brian must face the wrath of the heroine’s wretched mother and a few other obstacles
before she can escape to the outside world. beefandboards.com
10/25–28
Music of the Night Performers with Dance Kaleidoscope share the Indiana Repertory Theatre stage with pianist Eric Zuber in act one. In act two, see new pieces by guest choreographer Nicholas Owens and artistic director David Hochoy. dancekal.org
10/28
Jubilee in the Rear View Mirror This Arthur M. Glick JCC hosts this play that shows what happens when a black man shares a jail cell with
The Rocky Horror Show OCTOBER 26–27 & NOVEMBER 1–3
Local producer Zach Rosing and director Zack Neiditch are ready to do the time warp again with their production of The Rocky Horror Show at the Athenaeum. rockyhorrorindy.com IM | THE TICKET 2018
10/30–31
Monty Python’s Spamalot A Tony Award–winner for Best Musical, Spamalot tells the story of King Arthur traveling through England to recruit Knights of the Round Table. Together, the motley crew launches a search for the Holy Grail—and encounters strange and hilarious characters along the way. It’s on stage at the IU Auditorium. iuauditorium.com
NOVEMBER
11/2–3
Don’t Miss!
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a white racist in Mississippi in the summer of 1964. The event is part of the Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts. jccindy.org
Macabre: A Night of Edgar Allan Poe Ballet Ballet Theatre of Indiana brings back its popular performance based on the author’s work, including “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Masque of the Red Death,” at the Tarkington. btindiana .org
11/2–4
Indiana High School Theatre Festival In this inaugural event,
LIFE PRESERVER FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; PIPELINE COURTESY IRT, DESIGNED BY KYLE RAGSDALE; SPAMALOT COURTESY IU AUDITORIUM; ROCKY HORROR 2016 PRODUCTION COURTESY ZACH ROSING
Miguel de Cervantes and his manservant act out Cervantes’s prized manuscript as a way to allay tensions among their fellow prisoners. Beef & Boards stages this musical version of Don Quixote. beefand boards.com
One school. Countless opportunities. At Park Tudor, students will find an inspiring learning environment tailored to their needs. Here, small classes and experienced educators help each student reach their full potential. Additionally, our comprehensive liberal arts-based curriculum ensures that students gain the knowledge and critical thinking skills they’ll need to flourish in college and to put them on the path to a lifetime of success. To learn more about the extraordinary opportunities a Park Tudor education can provide, visit parktudor.org or call 317-415-2777.
Open House for Grades 9-12 Tuesday, October 23, 2018, 6:00 p.m. Early Decision Application Deadline for Grades 9-12 November 1, 2018 Regular Decision Application Deadline for Grades 9-12 December 15, 2018 Application Deadline for JK-Grade 8 Friday, January 18, 2019
Theater & Dance local high school theater departments stage shows at IndyFringe Theatre lasting no more than 45 minutes. The top three, as determined by a panel of judges, win cash prizes. indyfringe.org
11/2–11
The Comedy of Errors Improbable Fiction produces Shakespeare’s humorous play about two sets of identical twins, both named Antipholus and Dromio; lost family members; and mistaken identities at the CAT Theatre. thecattheatre.com
11/8
Pappy Wilson Harvest Frolic The New Mercury Theatre Players present this live, radiostyle show featuring fall tales at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historicartcraft theatre.com
11/8–11
New Works Showcase Witness the athleticism of Indianapolis Ballet dancers up close at the District Theatre when they put on four performances with genrebending choreography. indyballet.org
11/9–11, 16– 18 & 23–25
Souvenir Wealthy socialite Florence Foster Jenkins only ever wanted to sing. The problem? Her voice was terrible. But that didn’t prevent her from performing at Carnegie Hall in her mid-70s. This comedy with a heart hits the high notes at IndyFringe Theatre. indyfringe.org
11/11
The Ugly Duckling You’ve never seen this kids’ classic quite like this before. Lightwire
es, the latter of which will be held at the District Theatre. indy movementarts.org Theater uses repurposed materials and electroluminescent wire to create lightup costumes that make Hans Christian Andersen’s characters shine at the Tarkington. thecenterpresents.org
11/16–17
Gerry Trentham The artistic director of lbs/sq” (read as “pounds per square inch”), Trentham visits Indy for a series of workshops and performanc-
11/16–18
Urinetown: The Musical Can you imagine a government-enforced ban on private toilets? In this comical Marian University Theatre presentation, a water shortage has prompted such a thing, leading citizens to pay to use public facilities. marian.edu/theatre
11/16–12/14
It’s a Wonderful Life Actors Theatre of
One of the most iconic techniques in ballet, dancing en pointe, or on one’s toes, takes plenty of practice— and the right shoes. Indianapolis Ballet founding company member Kristin Toner sets the stage for a dancer’s essential footwear.
SOME DANCERS MAY START EN POINTE AROUND 10 OR 11, Toner says, while
POINTE SHOES MAY LOOK UNCOMFORTABLE, AND THEY ARE. To help wear
others might let their feet and ankles “mature” more. “Once you are dancing in your pointe shoes, you never fully master it,” she says. “We are always learning new ways to work with our feet.”
them in, Toner removes excess nails in the sole, bends the shoe, and breaks in the glue in the sides of the toe box. Even after all that, it still takes a few days of wearing them in rehearsals before they’re ready for a performance.
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RIBBONS offer ankle support.
The PLATFORM is made of a papiermâché–type material, sturdy enough to support a dancer’s weight.
RIBBONS MUST BE LONG ENOUGH TO WRAP AROUND THE ANKLE TWICE. After a
dancer determines the ribbons’ best position for supporting her ankles, she sews them on herself. If students don’t know how to sew, artistic director Victoria Lyras LEATHER SOLE teaches them.
THE COMPANY’S FEMALE DANCERS START THE 30-WEEK SEASON with
about 25 pairs, each costing $80 to $120. Shoes can’t be refurbished. Once they wear out, they must be replaced completely.
TOE BOX
DUCK AND SECOND, THIRD, FIFTH BALLET PHOTOS FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; OTHERS BY TONY VALAINIS
Good Pointe
Indiana brings this holiday classic to the Studio Theater stage in Carmel as a 1940s radio broadcast. atistage.org
Don’t Miss!
institution and sets out to prove she belongs. footlite.org
DECEMBER
11/17–12/26
A Christmas Carol The Indiana Repertory Theatre’s rendition of the Dickens classic is back, featuring Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the ghosts who help Scrooge come around to the spirit of the season. irtlive.com
11/23–12/23
GRINCH BY ANDY MARTIN JR.; ELF COURTESY BEEF & BOARDS; DANCE KALEIDOSCOPE BY DREW ENDICOTT
A Very Phoenix Xmas: Merry Superstitious There’s no telling what the Phoenix Theatre’s goofy holiday variety show has in store for audiences, but if it’s anything like previous versions, it’s somewhat R-rated, quite sarcastic, and very funny. phoenixtheatre.org
12/1–21
A Christmas Carol Watch as past, present, and future spirits change Scrooge’s grumpy ways for the better in this hour-long musical adaptation at Beef & Boards. beef andboards.com
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 2
Broadway in Indianapolis presents the tale of the Grinch and his plan to steal Christmas from the villagers of Whoville. Your heart will grow three sizes the day you see this musical at the Old National Centre. indianapolis.broadway.com
Theatre, the school’s Department of Theatre stages this seasonal classic as a live radio play. events.uindy.edu
11/29–12/2 & 12/6–9 11/23–12/31
Elf the Musical Follow Buddy the elf as he departs the North Pole and sets out to find his true identity in this Beef & Boards musical based on the Will Ferrell flick. beefand boards.com
11/29–30, 12/1–2 & 6–9
It’s a Wonderful Life At the UIndy Studio
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever This laugh-filled holiday show features the Herdman offspring, widely known as the worst kids ever, who take over a church Christmas pageant and transform it in ways no one saw coming. See this Carmel Community Players project at the Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers. carmelplayers.org
11/30–12/1
The Nutcracker Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre brings to life the story of
Klara, an orphan who discovers the meaning of the season through the spirit of a homeless man. This modern version of the holiday standard comes to the Pike Performing Arts Center. gregory hancockdancetheatre .org
11/30–12/2, 7–9 & 14–16
BroZone: Christmas Don’t Be Late BroZone, a washedup boy band from the Midwest, books a dream holiday gig in California, only to be stranded at the airport by a snowstorm. Will another shot at fame pass them by? Find out when Defiance Comedy presents the show at the IndyFringe Theatre. indyfringe.org
11/30, 12/1–2, 6–9 & 13–16
Legally Blonde, the Musical Footlite Musicals invites you to bend and snap with Elle Woods, who, after being dumped by her boyfriend so he can attend Harvard Law School, charms her way into the same
12/6–16
Home for the Holidays Dance Kaleidoscope celebrates Hanukkah and Christmas traditions in its annual holiday show at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. dancekal.org
12/7
The Hip Hop Nutcracker Head to the Old National Centre, where dancers, an on-stage DJ, and an electric violinist give this classic story, now set in New York City, a modern makeover. oldnationalcentre.com
12/7–29
Mary Poppins It would be something quite atrocious to miss Civic Theatre’s version
Home for the Holidays
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Theater & Dance
12/9
Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer: The Musical The cherished TV special comes to the Clowes Memorial Hall stage, featuring Yukon Cornelius, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and, of course, Rudolph, who teaches us that what makes us different can be what makes us special. butlerartscenter.org
holiday finery, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site hosts this Candlelight Theatre interactive experience that features characters from holidays past and present. bhpsite.org
12/14–16
The Nutcracker Follow Clara’s journey to the Land of the Sweets when Central Indiana Dance Ensemble brings this popular ballet to the Zionsville Performing Arts Center. The Sugar Plum Fairy dessert party takes place before each matinee performance. cidedance.org
12/13–16
The Nutcracker In six shows at the Toby Theater inside the IMA, the Indiana Ballet Conservatory presents a faithful rendition of this Russian ballet. indianaballet conservatory.org
12/13–16
’Twas the Night Before Decked out in its
12/15
All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 This poignant work tells the real-life story of Allied and German troops in World War I,
Don’t Miss!
The Nutcracker DECEMBER 14–16
A 45-piece live orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s score as Indianapolis Ballet and dancers from the Indianapolis School of Ballet bring this classic Christmas tale to life during four showings at the Old National Centre. indyballet.org 24
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The Book of Mormon
who laid down their arms and met in No Man’s Land to exchange gifts, play soccer, and sing. Based on actual letters and wartime documents, the show comes to the Palladium. thecenter presents.org
12/18–23
The Book of Mormon A nine-time Tony Award–winner for Best Musical, The Book of Mormon follows a pair of missionaries
spreading the Good Word halfway across the globe. The congregation gathers at Clowes Memorial Hall. indianapolis .broadway.com
12/20–22
Christmas Through the Ages IndyFringe Theatre hosts this fast-paced cabaret that uses humorous vignettes to trace the history of Christmas through music and stories. Go all the way back
to pre-Christian Rome in this family-friendly show. indyfringe.org
12/20–23
The Nutcracker In this presentation at the Athenaeum, Ballet Theatre of Indiana gives audiences the holiday spectacle they love with an authentic telling of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story. btindiana.org
12/24
Great Russian Nutcracker The glitz and glamour of this popular production take over the Old National Centre stage, courtesy of Moscow Ballet. oldnationalcentre.com
BOOK OF MORMON BY JULIETA CERVANTES; THE NUTCRACKER BY MOONBUG PHOTOGRAPHY; HELMET, NUTCRACKER FROM THINKSTOCK.COM
of this lovable tale at the Tarkington, featuring the Banks family and the magical nanny who transforms them. civictheatre.org
MUST-SEE PERFORMANCES 28
TONIC BALL 28
BOY BAND FACE-OFF! 32
TAYLOR SWIFT’S ITINERARY 35
POP, ROCK and MORE
“Man of the Woods” Justin Timberlake plays Bankers Life Fieldhouse, p. 38.
PENTATONIX COURTESY LIVE NATION
Pitch Perfect Since harmonizing their way to stardom in 2011, a cappella group Pentatonix has been busy winning Grammies, selling millions of albums, and touring— which this year includes a stop in Indy (p. 28).
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How To
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Mega stars in concert, intimate cabaret offerings, Broadway hits, festive holiday shows, and more.
SEPTEMBER
and features concerts, workshops, classes, and more. indyjazzfest.net
9/5–6
The Reunion Beatles – Fantasy Tribute “Imagine” what it would be like to hear John, Paul, George, and Ringo together one more time. This show, featuring your favorite Fab Four songs, brings that gathering to life at the District Theatre. indydistricttheatre.org
9/6
Counting Crows and Live The Crows come “Round Here”— Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center, to be exact— and are joined by Live on the 25 Years and Counting tour. live nation.com
9/8
Pentatonix Winners of NBC’s The Sing-Off, a cappella quintet Pentatonix brings their harmoniz28
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9/14
ing and beat-boxing to Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center. live nation.com
Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker Co-headliners of the Summer Plays On tour, Lady A and the former Hootie frontman swing into Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center. livenation.com
9/8
9/14–15
Brandi Carlile As part of 92.3 WTTS’s Rock to Read benefit concert, this folk-rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and banjo player visits the Old National Centre. oldnationalcentre.com
9/13–22
Indy Jazz Fest The 10-day preeminent event of the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation takes place at various venues throughout the city,
Stephanie J. Block The woman who played Elphaba in the first national tour of Wicked, Block has asserted herself as one of the most
Tonic Ball Featuring more than 70 local bands playing covers of Pearl Jam, Johnny Cash, Beyoncé, ABBA, and Sir Elton John, the annual musical extravaganza takes over Fountain Square on November 16. ›› Buy tickets, $50 a pop, ASAP. They’re already on sale. Last year, they sold out online in about five weeks, but Luna Music should still have some available, cash-only. ›› Remember that the event is for a good cause. Tonic Ball raised just under $150,000 for Second Helpings last year. ›› Parking will be difficult with streets shut down, so consider Uber or Lyft. ›› It’s important to stay “Alive” the entire evening, so fuel up at a Fountain Square eatery beforehand. ›› You’ll want to be able to say “I’m Still Standing” at the end of the night, so wear shoes that are comfy enough for dancing and venue-hopping. ›› The lineup? Johnny Cash at Fountain Square Theatre, Pearl Jam at Radio Radio, ABBA at White Rabbit Cabaret, Beyoncé at Pioneer, and Sir Elton John at The Hi-Fi. ›› Don’t expect the songs to be perfect covers. And if you’re not loving what you hear, just be patient. Bands are on stage only for 15 minutes. ›› If you don’t stay at one venue, be prepared to wait in lines outside. ›› Looking for a favorite band? Approximate stage times are announced a couple of weeks out. ›› With the exception of Fountain Square Theatre, all locations are 21+. ›› If you have a “Tiny Dancer,” take him or her to Tiny Tonic, November 10 at Second Helpings, for a kid-friendly concert. —Rebecca Berfanger
TONIC BALL BY MICHAEL CROOK; CARLILE, LADY ANTEBELLUM COURTESY LIVE NATION
POP, ROCK & MORE CALENDAR
Pop, Rock, & More
The Ticket
versatile voices in contemporary musical theater. She returns to The Cabaret for two shows. thecabaret.org
400 Unit, along with John Moreland, play the Lawn at White River State Park. livenation.com
9/15
9/17
Songbook Celebration The Center for the Performing Arts honors Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Van Heusen, and Marilyn Maye at this year’s Songbook Celebration gala benefiting the center’s arts and education programming. A special performance by “Wicked Game” crooner Chris Isaak highlights this Palladium event, which also includes cocktails, dinner, and an after-party. thecenterpresents.org
9/15
Alison Krauss Acclaimed bluegrass singer and musician Krauss adds a touch of twang to Clowes Memorial Hall. butler artscenter.org
John Oates with The Good Road Band Yes, that Oates, one half of music’s bestselling duo of all time. He visits the Schrott Center for the Arts in support of his solo album, Arkansas. butlerartscenter.org
9/20
Maroon 5 Excited shrieks emanating from downtown mean one thing: Adam Levine and Maroon 5 are visiting Bankers Life Fieldhouse as part of their Red Pill Blues tour. ticketmaster.com
9/20
Queen Extravaganza The official tribute
9/21
The Singing Contractors You may have seen this Indiana duo’s YouTube videos of “How Great Thou Art” and “Mary Did You Know,” which have racked up millions of views. Now hear their worship songs live at the Schrott Center for the Arts. butlerartscenter.org
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
band created by original members Roger Taylor and Brian May will rock you at the Palladium, performing hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and many more. the centerpresents.org
9/21
Kid Rock and Brantley Gilbert This duo’s aptly named Red Blooded Rock ’n’ Roll Redneck Extrav-
aganza Tour invades Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center. livenation.com
9/21
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band These country-rock pioneers, formed in 1966 and still including founding members Jeff Hanna and Jimmie Fadden, go “Fishin’ in the Dark” at the Palladium. thecenter presents.org
Don’t Miss!
9/21–22
Cirque Goes to the Movies Troupe Vertigo’s aerialists, strongmen, contortionists, and dancers awe at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, performing feats of power and strength set to music from classic flicks. indianapolis symphony.org
9/22
Buddy Guy This influential seventime Grammy winner visits the Palladium to perform selections from his latest album, The Blues is Alive and Well, as well as others from his nearly 60year career. thecenter presents.org
9/15
Taylor Swift Pop’s reigning princess takes over Lucas Oil Stadium for her Reputation tour. We’re guessing the fervor surrounding this show will be anything but “Delicate.” ticket master.com
9/15
Jason Isbell To round out a busy day of shows in Indy, Jason Isbell and the 30
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Carmel PorchFest SEPTEMBER 16
You’ve heard of a progressive dinner. Now take part in a progressive concert, when soloists and ensembles representing a wide range of genres perform on front stoops throughout Carmel’s Arts & Design District. carmelporchfest.org
Holler on the Hill St. Paul & The Broken Bones headline this inaugural two-day event in Garfield Park, billed as a neighborhood picnic, family reunion, and music festival rolled into one. More than 30 acts will perform. holleronthe hill.com
9/23
Ozzy Osbourne The Prince of Darkness celebrates five decades of rock at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center while on his No More
ISBELL COURTESY LIVE NATION; PORCHFEST BY BRIAN MCGUCKIN
9/22–23
Melissa Etheridge Twenty-five years after releasing her multiplatinum smash album Yes I Am, spawning hits like “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” Etheridge brings her soulful sound to the Palladium. thecenterpresents.org
NUMBER OF MEMBERS STRAIGHT NO CHASER 98°
9/28–29
Shoshana Bean A veteran of Hairspray and Wicked, and a performer alongside artists like Ariana Grande, Brian McKnight, and Michael Jackson, Bean brings her powerhouse vocals to The Cabaret. thecabaret.org
THE PIANO GUYS
COMING TO INDY! Straight No Chaser: December 21–23, Old National Centre / 98°: November 25, Old National Centre / The Piano Guys: December 6, Old National Centre
MOST RECENT ALBUM
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TPG: St. George, Utah, 2010
YOUTUBE VIEWS SPOTIFY STREAMS
TWITTER FOLLOWERS @SNCMusic 43,373 @ThePiano Guys 132,879
Six Pack, Volume 3, 2017
@98Official 52,388
10/5
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98°: Los Angeles, 1997
TOP SONGS ON YOUTUBE, SPOTIFY
OCTOBER Chris Stapleton Pre-concert beverage of choice for when this bluesy country crooner visits Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center on his All American Road Show tour? “Tennessee Whiskey,” of course. livenation.com
SNC: IU Bloomington, 1996
Let It Snow, 2017
FUN FACT! SNC: They’re writing a song to celebrate IU’s bicentennial in 2020. / 98°: Before joining, Drew Lachey was an EMT in Brooklyn. / TPG: Pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson have played on the Great Wall of China.
Christmas Together, 2017
Straight No Chaser
98°
31.9 Million “A Thousand Years”
Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers visit the Palladium to play folksyrock hits from their 30-plus-year career. thecenterpresents.org
ESTABLISHED
131.3 Million Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”
9/28
THE PIANO GUYS Mash-ups of classical and pop, accompanied by music videos.
98° Your quintessential late-’90s/ early-’00s harmonizing quartet.
The Piano Guys
BOY BAND PHOTOS COURTESY LIVE NATION; ETHERIDGE COURTESY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
STRAIGHT NO CHASER An a capella group complete with matching stage outfits.
24.7 Million “I Do (Cherish You)”
Melissa Etheridge
THE BANDS
28.9 Million “I Do (Cherish You)”
9/25
A trio of all-male artists—a YouTube sensation, a group that owes its rebirth to YouTube, and a relic from the most recent boy band era— all play Indy this season. Here’s how they stack up.
6.4 Million “I’m Yours/Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
Tours 2 tour. livenation .com
The Music Men
21.9 Million “The 12 Days of Christmas”
Pop, Rock, & More
Pop, Rock, & More
10/26
Sweet Melodies Combining poetry, music, and sights from around the globe, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir takes audiences to unseen places during its Sweet Melodies: Untraveled Worlds show at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel. icchoir.org
John O’Hurley: A Man with Standards Actor and TV personality O’Hurley entertains at the Schrott Center for the Arts with songs from The Great American Songbook and stories from his life and career, which included a stint as clothing entrepreneur J. Peterman on Seinfeld. butlerartscenter.org
10/6
Goo Goo Dolls This group’s smash album Dizzy Up the Girl turns 20 this year, and it will be performed in its entirety at the Old National Centre. Expect to hear other hits, too. oldnational centre.com
10/7
Postmodern Jukebox OCTOBER 18
Pianist Scott Bradlee and his viral sensation Postmodern Jukebox return to the Palladium, reimagining popular songs in completely different musical styles. thecenterpresents.org
Pat Metheny and his band will draw on Metheny’s 40-year career for this night at the Palladium. thecenterpresents.org
10/11
Isaac Mizrahi The fashion designer brings his Does This Song Make Me Look Fat? tour to The Cabaret, and with it a fusion of performance
10/12–13
Isaac Mizrahi
10/13
4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince A band, an orchestra, and vocalists perform the catalog of Prince, including both his greatest hits and hidden gems, at the Old National Centre. old nationalcentre.com
An Evening With Fleetwood Mac You could “Go Your Own Way,” but then you’d miss this iconic band—minus Lindsey Buckingham, plus Neil Finn and Mike Campbell—playing its hits at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. ticketmaster.com IM | THE TICKET 2018
United States Marine Band Debuted in 1801 and once led by John Philip Sousa, this ensemble marches into the Palladium for patriotic tunes and selections by well-known composers. thecenterpresents.org
art, music, and standup comedy. Mizrahi will also regift tokens he’s acquired from fans and dinner-gala swag bags, so you might even leave with a special souvenir. thecabaret.org
10/16
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Betsy Wolfe This Waitress and Falsettos alum shares stories and songs related to the magical and mystical world of show business in her production, All Bets are Off. See it at The Cabaret. thecabaret .org
10/27
Fall Out Boy Bankers Life Fieldhouse welcomes punky pop rockers Fall Out Boy, touring in support of their latest album, M A N I A. ticket master.com
An Evening with Pat Metheny Widely considered to be one of the best jazz guitarists of all time,
10/26–27
10/19–20
An Evening With Sutton Foster Although she has appeared on TV and in film, Foster is perhaps best known for her work on Broadway. The triple threat visits the Hilbert Circle Theatre for two nights of song. indianapolissymphony .org
10/26
Engelbert Humperdinck The British crooner famous for No. 1 hit “Release Me” will grab a hold of the audience at the Palladium. thecenterpresents.org
10/27
Music of the Night The Indianapolis Children’s Choir hosts a family-friendly concert of Halloweenthemed music in a haunted setting, aka Castleton United Methodist Church. icchoir.org
NOVEMBER
11/3
Kellie Pickler Don your “Red High Heels” for this former American Idol con-
POSTMODERN JUKEBOX COURTESY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS; MIZRAHI COURTESY THE CABARET; FOSTER COURTESY ISO; TRUMPET FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; OTHERS BY TONY VALAINIS
10/5
Don’t Miss!
Taylor Made
Hi Taylor. We’re excited for your visit on September 15. We couldn’t help but notice that your next stop after Indy isn’t until September 18 in St. Louis, leaving you plenty of time to stick around here another day for some sightseeing. We made it easy by compiling a list of what to see and do. Ready for it? —JEFF VRABEL
ONE FOR MY BABY
Basically the entire first verse of “Delicate” takes place in a “dive bar on the east side.” We have several of those! Try the Dorman Street Saloon (and drink local; we’re pretty proud of our beer).
LOVE STORY
In a Vanity Fair piece, you said, “As far as I’m concerned, love is absolutely everything.” We couldn’t agree more! We even made a sculpture for it, one that we’ve conveniently moved inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields so you don’t have to muddy up your good shoes.
WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT
Your two cats bear the names of Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson, and are famous enough to make a cameo in Deadpool 2. That’s why we think you’ll be right at home at the Nine Lives Cat Cafe, Indy’s most exclusive club for felines.
AXE PHOTO COURTESY BAD AXE THROWING; SPEEDWAY BY CHRIS JONES/IMS PHOTO; LOVE PHOTO COURTESY IMA AT NEWFIELDS, JAMES E. ROBERTS FUND 67.8 © MORGAN ART FOUNDATION
OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS
We read in Vanity Fair that you collect old bottles, antique books, and precious knickknacks, all of which are plentifully available at Midland Arts & Antiques. Also, if you’ve ever thought about starting a collection of vintage Indy 500 Hot Wheels cars, it’s the perfect place. Just saying. TURN BACK TIME
You’re on record as being “so obsessed with the history of JFK and RFK.” That history isn’t complete without a visit to the Landmark for Peace Memorial at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, where, in 1968, Robert F. Kennedy delivered news of Dr. King’s assassination to a shocked crowd.
SHAKE IT OFF
There are two ways to work out aggression against ex-boyfriends, petulant awards-show mic-stealing rappers, and Katy Perry (allegedly). One is to write songs about them, and the other is to hurl a bunch of hatchets against a wall at Bad Axe Throwing.
BRICK BY BRICK
In “New Romantics” you sing, “I could build a castle / Out of all the bricks they threw at me.” We sort of have a thing for bricks here, especially the Yard of Bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And we’d be honored if you’d give them a kiss.
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Pop, Rock, & More
11/7
Soweto Gospel Choir Formed in 2002 to celebrate the power of African gospel music, Soweto Gospel Choir visits Clowes Memorial Hall for an inspiring evening of gospel, spirituals, and pop music. butler artscenter.org
11/9
Joe Bonamassa At the age of 12, Bonamassa opened for B.B. King and has since racked up more than a dozen Billboard No. 1 blues albums. He’ll play the Old National Centre. oldnational centre.com
11/9
Don Felder Former lead guitarist of The Eagles and co-writer of “Hotel California,” Felder comes to Clowes Memorial Hall for a night of song. butler artscenter.org
11/9
John Hiatt Indianapolis native Hiatt returns home— well, the Palladium— to play the rock and roots songs, such as “Have a Little Faith in Me,” that have made him a premier singer-songwriter. thecenterpresents.org
11/10
Kansas In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Point of Know Return, Kansas performs the album in its entirety— in addition to other hits—at the Old National Centre. oldnational centre.com
11/11
Walk Off The Earth Best known for their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” in which all five members play the same guitar simultaneously, Walk Off The Earth brings its sound to the
Kansas
Old National Centre. oldnationalcentre.com
11/16
Royal Wood This Canadian singersongwriter has been compared to Randy Newman and Tom Waits. Head to the Tarkington to hear his SoCal folk-rock sound. thecenterpresents.org
11/16
Melissa Schott Magic Thread Cabaret welcomes Melissa Schott, a New York City–based singer, dancer, actress, and choreographer to the CAT Theatre. thecat theatre.com
11/16
Brian Wilson Looking for “Good Vibrations”? Wilson, who wrote that song and many others, in addition to founding The Beach Boys, brings his signature sound to the Palladium. the centerpresents.org
Boney James A mainstay at the top of Billboard’s contemporary jazz album charts, saxophonist and composer James comes to the Palladium. thecenterpresents.org
The Cabaret’s Annual Gala NOVEMBER 10
She sings, tap dances, juggles, and often plays three trumpets at the same time. Swedish jazz musician— and occasional performer with Postmodern Jukebox—Gunhild Carling is the star of the show at The Cabaret’s yearly bash that benefits its educational and artistic programs. thecabaret.org IM | THE TICKET 2018
11/17
11/17–18
Don’t Miss!
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11/16–18
Tonic Ball Nearly 80 local artists perform the repertoires of Johnny Cash, Pearl Jam, ABBA, Beyoncé, and Sir Elton John during this cover-band bash in Fountain Square that benefits Second Helpings. tonicindy.com
Indianapolis Women’s Chorus Fall Concert In the first show of the choir’s 25th season, hear works by current and past female composers and sounds from around the world at Northminster Presbyterian Church. indianapoliswomens chorus.org
11/25
98° at Christmas The guys of 98° are back on the road this season, touring in support of their newest Christmas album,
MICROPHONE FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; CARLING COURTESY THE CABARET; WOOD COURTESY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS; KANSAS COURTESY LIVE NATION
testant’s show at the Palladium. thecenter presents.org
Pop, Rock, & More Don’t Miss!
the season when saxophonist Koz and his supporting cast stop by the Palladium for a lively show spotlighting their take on holiday classics and other selections. thecenter presents.org
11/29
Sara Evans Expect to hear holiday songs, her many Top 20 singles, and other selections when country and pop vocalist Evans pays a visit to the Palladium. the centerpresents.org
12/14
11/30
Dennis DeYoung A founding vocalist, keyboard player, and songwriter of Styx, DeYoung sails into the Palladium to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Grand Illusion album. thecenter presents.org
A Swingin’ Little Christmas DECEMBER 1
Glee’s Jane Lynch, The Office’s Kate Flannery, and Glee vocal arranger Tim Davis bring their tribute to classic Christmas albums of the ’50s and ’60s to the Palladium stage. thecenterpresents.org
11/30–12/1
Kate Baldwin This two-time Tony nominee performs a mix of Broadway, indie pop, folk, country, and standards—and will chat and sing about her roles as Broadway star, mom, and New Jersey suburbanite—at The Cabaret. thecabaret.org
11/30–12/23 Yuletide Celebration Yuletide welcomes
Angela Brown and Josh Kaufman as hosts of this variety show. Principal Pops conductor Jack Everly leads the ISO in a mix of holiday songs accompanied by actors, singers, and those lovable tapdancing Santas. Direct your sleigh to the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolis symphony.o symphony.org
DECEMBER
12/1
Chimes of Christmas The Si Singing Hoosiers and ensembles from the Jacobs School of Music fill the IU Auditorium with choral, carol, and contemporary favorites. iuauditorium .com
12/6
The Piano Guys: Christmas Together With a video backdrop of natural landscapes, a pianist and cellist perform classical music, as well as songs that mash up different genres and artists, such as Bach with Bruno Mars. They’ll present their unique sound at the Old National Centre. oldnationalcentre.com
12/8
Daughtry Eleven years after releasing the best-selling album of 2007,
American Idol alum Daughtry and his band visit the Old National Centre in support of their most recent offering, Cage to Rattle. oldnationalcentre.com
12/9
Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Get into the spirit of
Dave Koz
Justin Timberlake Timberlake, who ditched the “Suit and Tie” to become a “Man of the Woods,” returns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to perform his myriad hits. live nation.com
12/14–16
Norm Lewis Lewis, seen on TV in Scandal and on stage in Les Miserables, Porgy and Bess, and as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, returns to The Cabaret for his acclaimed holiday performance. Hear his version of “This Christmas,” “Santa Baby,” and more. thecabaret.org
12/21–23
Straight No Chaser Stemming from IU, this group brings its a cappella spin on current pop songs, hits of yesteryear, and holiday standards to the Old National Centre for five shows. oldnationalcentre .com
SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS, KOZ COURTESY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS; YULETIDE COURTESY ISO; GIFT FROM THINKSTOCK.COM
Let It Snow. Get into the spirit at the Old National Centre. old nationalcentre.com
MUST-SEE PERFORMANCES 42
HAPPY HOUR AT THE SYMPHONY 42
NEW VIOLINS FOR THE IVCI 44
CLASSICAL MUSIC Hear finalists in the 2019 American Pianists Awards at various venues, pgs. 42 & 46.
Top Brass
WESTERLIES BY SASHA ARUTYUNOVA; PIANO FROM THINKSTOCK.COM
You don't have to travel to the ends of the earth to hear The Westerlies— the quartet's two trumpeters and two trombonists visit Purdue University (p. 46).
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Don’t Miss!
The Ticket
CLASSICAL MUSIC CALENDAR
Happy Hour at the Symphony
Beethoven and Brahms, Itzhak Perlman, birthday tributes to Leonard Bernstein, and favorite holiday shows.
ends 9/16
10th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis The world’s most talented violinists come to Indy for this elite event. The preliminaries happen September 2–5 at the Basile Theater inside the Indiana History Center, followed by the semifinals September 7–10. Those who advance will join two different orchestras for shows September 12– 15 at the Schrott Center for the Arts and the Hilbert Circle Theatre. The gala awards ceremony and reception takes place September 16 at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. violin.org
SEPTEMBER
9/14–16
La Bohème Indianapolis Opera 42
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begins its season with Giacomo Puccini’s tragic love story between young artists in Paris, featuring renowned Metropolitan Opera tenor Gregory Turay as Rodolfo. Watch it unfold at the Tarkington. indyopera.org
9/17
UIndy Opening Gala Concert Along with conducting pieces by Bach and Mozart, Maestro Raymond Leppard premieres his song trilogy Love’s Moonlight during this show at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. The UIndy Festival Orchestra and University Choral Ensembles join him. events.uindy.edu
After sampling food and drink from local vendors, settle in as Time for Three holds genre-bending shows of both original music and symphonic mash-ups at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolissymphony.org
9/23
Jazz Pizzazz The 2019 American Pianists Awards begin with a concert at the Indiana Landmarks Center featuring performances from all five jazz pianist finalists. americanpianists.org
up with the ISO for his Hilbert Circle Theatre debut. indianapolis symphony.org
riguez brings his global sound to Purdue’s Loeb Playhouse. convocations.org
9/26
9/28
9/29
Andrew Bird with the ISO Bird, a classically trained violinist, singersongwriter, and accomplished whistler, teams
Alfredo Rodriguez Trio Backed by a drummer and guitarist, Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rod-
Alfredo Rodriguez
ISO Opening Night Gala Esteemed violinist Itzhak Perlman performs selections from his Cinema Serenade album, a 1992 collaboration with moviescore master John Williams, to kick off the ISO’s season at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolis symphony.org
9/29
Kenny Banks Jr. Banks Jr., a 2019 American Pianists Awards finalist, shows off his skills at The Jazz Kitchen. american pianists.org
HAPPY HOUR COURTESY ISO; FRENCH HORN FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; RODRIGUEZ BY ANNA WEBBER
ONGOING
SEPTEMBER 19 & OCTOBER 17
Classical Music the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s 43rd season opener with a concert of Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Faure, and Enescu. carmel symphony.org
10/1
The Indianapolis Quartet This UIndy artist-inresidence is joined by a guest violist and cellist for a trio of works at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. events .uindy.edu
10/5–6
Jazzy Shostakovich Krzysztof Urbanski leads the ISO, a pianist, and a trumpeter in a pair of compositions by Shostakovich and one by Brahms at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolissymphony .org
10/7
Haydn’s The Creation The Indianapolis
10/13–14
Carmel Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic Choir opens its 82nd season with this oratorio that depicts the world’s creation. Hear it at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indychoir.org
10/12
Joshua Bell Bloomington native and IU grad Bell, an acclaimed violinist, and pianist Sam Haywood play the Palladium. thecenterpresents.org
10/12–13
Percussion & Prokofiev Percussionist Colin Currie guest-stars in Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolis symphony.org
10/13
Orchestral Showcase The Palladium hosts
Sound Matters Measuring up violins of yesteryear and today. THE INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION
of Indianapolis loans its 1683 “exGingold” Stradivari to the event’s gold medalist. This year, the IVCI plans to purchase up to two instruments from its 21st Century Violin Search to also give the silver and bronze medalists quality violins with which to launch their careers. It’s not as if they’ll be receiving subpar instruments—craftsmanship of modern versions has increased dramatically in recent years, says Glen Kwok, IVCI’s executive director. Here’s how the Strad compares to a contemporary violin.
Inside Look
COATING.
Varnish ingredients—resin, turpentine, and linseed oil—essentially remain the same from Antonio Stradivari's time. The best result comes from cooking each thing together with finesse. 44
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Leonard Bernstein at 100 The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and German guitarist Lucian Plessner—who hails from Cologne, Indy’s sister city—tackle a trio of Bernstein pieces in honor of the famous composer’s 100th birthday. The festive occasion takes place at the Schrott Center for the Arts. icomusic .org
10/14
Bernstein’s Birthday Party The ISO celebrates Leonard Bernstein with a selection of his notable works, including West Side Story, as well as pieces from his peers, such as Aaron Copland and Gustav Mahler. The soiree happens at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolis symphony.org
10/29
Drew Peterson Pianist Peterson, now in his second year as a UIndy artist-in-residence, fills the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center with the sounds of Mozart, Beethoven, and Liszt. events .uindy.edu
STRINGS
Strings were historically made from animal intestines, and while some still are, it’s more common that they’re made of metal-wrapped nylon or composite materials. MATERIAL
Traditionally, a violin’s top was made from spruce, and its back and neck were maple. That hasn’t changed. “We often choose wood that came from the very same forests,” says Chris Ulbricht, a luthier with Indianapolis Violins. COST
The ex-Gingold is valued at $3 million, while a new concert-quality instrument from Indianapolis Violins can set you back as much as $20,000. UPKEEP
Maintenance is essential for any violin. The Strad recently underwent a major restoration in which a luthier took it apart entirely, sealing cracks and replacing the bass bar.
PHOTOS COURTESY CARMEL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION OF INDIANAPOLIS
OCTOBER
Classical Music Don’t Miss!
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
12/1
11/2
Keelan Dimick The Jazz Kitchen welcomes this 2019 American Pianists Awards finalist. americanpianists .org
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Five musicians from this constituent of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts visit the Palladium to play Beethoven, Schubert, and others. thecenter presents.org
12/8
11/2–3
Andre Watts Returns OCTOBER 26–27
Classical pianist Watts, a professor at IU’s Jacobs School of Music, visits the Hilbert Circle Theatre for an evening of Mozart and Wagner. indianapolissymphony.org
11/3
Billy Test A 2019 American Pianists Awards finalist, Test tickles the ivories at The Jazz Kitchen. american pianists.org
11/3
Revellion Indianapolis Opera invites you to its annual ball featuring dinner, a silent auction, live music, dancing, and gaming. The IMA’s Deer Zink Pavilion hosts the lively affair. indyopera.org
11/5
The Great American Songbook Guest vocalists perform solos, duets, and ensemble arrange-
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ments by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and others at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. events.uindy .edu
11/7
Michelangelo String Quartet This foursome visits the Indiana History Center to show off their skills with pieces by Haydn, Smetana, and Bartok. ensemble music.org
11/9
The Westerlies A self-described “accidental brass quartet,”
this group brings its mix of jazz, roots, rock, and chamber music to Purdue’s Loeb Playhouse. convocations.org
11/9–10
ny Orchestra welcomes pianist Jon Nakamatsu to the Palladium for an evening of Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius. carmel symphony.org
Handel’s Messiah Tabernacle Presbyterian Church provides a grand setting for the ICO’s rendition of this holiday classic. icomusic.org
Danish String Quartet
11/14
Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony Violinist Augustin Hadelich tackles Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. Works by Shostakovich and Stravinsky will also be performed. indiana polissymphony.org
Danish String Quartet This talented, energetic chamber group performs a trio of compositions at the Indiana History Center. ensemble music.org
11/10
11/17
Jon Nakamatsu The Carmel Sympho-
12/9
Mendelssohn and Mozart The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra’s principal clarinetist Eli Eban takes the spotlight at the Schrott Center for the Arts for Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. ico music.org
12/9 & 21–23
Festival of Carols The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir and the ICO perform seasonal standards at the Warren Performing Arts Center and the Palladium. indychoir .org
12/13–14
Handel’s Messiah The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir joins the ISO at the Palladium for Handel’s Messiah. indychoir.org
PHOTOS COURTESY ISO, CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS; DANISH STRING QUARTET BY CAROLINE BITTENCOURT
Grieg Piano Concerto Jan Lisiecki performs selections from Grieg, Brahms, and Penderecki at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolis symphony.org
IU Health Holiday Pops Guest vocalists team up with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra for two concerts of holiday tunes at the Palladium. carmel symphony.org
MUST-SEE EXHIBITS 50
ART IN ODD PLACES 50
ISIS Bullet Hole Paintings by Piers Secunda at Long-Sharp Gallery, p. 52.
IMA’S NEW DESIGN GALLERY 53
CCIC FIRST FRIDAYS 56
VISUAL ARTS
Building Blocks
ART OF THE BRICK BY NATHAN SAWAYA; ASSYRIAN HEAD BY PIERS SECUNDA
No, this isn’t a horribly pixelated photo of Girl with a Pearl Earring. It’s a sculpture made out of LEGOs, and it’s on display as part of The Art of the Brick at the Indiana State Museum (p. 54).
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On Our Radar
The Ticket Saks Fifth Avenue
VISUAL ARTS CALENDAR
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
ONGOING
On the third Thursday of each month, the store’s third-floor gallery spotlights a local artist in its Infusion of Art event. Wander through anytime, though, to enjoy the artwork. On November 15, watch April Willy’s Impressionist oil paintings come to life alongside dancers from Indianapolis Ballet. saks.com
launched a new grant in 2017 for artists to pursue a project that allows for greater risk and exploration. Come see what they created at Gallery 924 in the first exhibition of these award recipients. indyarts.org/gallery -924
ends 10/14
Hoosier Salon The state’s longestrunning art exhibition turns 94 this year with the 120+ best Hoosier artists represented at the Indiana State Museum. hoosiersalon.org
ends 10/20
Mesa Hive: Indianapolis Bee Sanctuary Everyone is buzzing around the Tube Factory Artspace and a new living installation from Juan William Chávez with live hives outside that you can walk through and a multimedia exhibition inside. bigcar.org/tube
ends 10/27
Kenneth Webb Founder of the Irish School of Landscape Painting, Kenneth Webb’s vibrant work comes to Indiana for the first time to hang in 50
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the lobby of the Conrad Indianapolis. longsharp gallery.com
ends 12/31
Infusing the Scene Get wrapped up in Rachel Hayes’s latest textile installation. CityWay Gallery is draped in her bright fabric panels flaunting quilting, color theory, and modern design. indymoca.org
SEPTEMBER
9/6–27
DeHaan Artist of Distinction Group Exhibition The Arts Council
9/7–28
Configurations William Denton Ray’s whimsical, funky art fills the Harrison Gallery for this quarter’s open studio night at the Harrison Center, with pop portraiture by Ronlewhorn Industries in the Speck Gallery. harrisoncenter.org
9/7–29
A Time to Re-Member Heave a sigh for yesteryear in Nickel Plate Arts’s group show musing on that bittersweet theme of nostalgia. nickel platearts.org
Art is everywhere—including these unexpected and offthe-beaten-path galleries.
ART BANK Inside this 1920s-era former bank on the eastern end of Mass Ave, there’s an art supply store, a vault filled not with money but local books, and a gallery showcasing over 30 artists’ paintings, glasswork, ceramics, mixed-media pieces, and more. sites.google .com/site/artbankartgallery
ARTSPACE Kill time before a show at the Athenaeum Theatre by checking out ArtSpace, located in the theater’s lobby. ArtSpace dresses up the historic landmark with exhibits of paintings, photography, and the occasional sculptures. athenaeumfoundation.org
RAPP FAMILY GALLERY On the lower level of the Indiana Landmarks Center, this gallery hosts a show the first Friday of each month except for January and July. See paintings, fiber art, ceramics, and sculptures by Indiana artists. indiana landmarks.org
FUTURE FRIENDS HOLOGRAPHIC MAGIC CLUB Make your way to the second floor of the Murphy Arts Center to find this contemporary gallery highlighting lesser-heard voices in the local scene through poetry readings, painting sessions, dance classes, and visual art exhibits. facebook.com/ futurefriendshmc —Grace Bahler
ART BY WILLIAM DENTON RAY; SAKS BY TONY VALAINIS
Fairs and festivals, holiday happenings, and solo and group exhibits featuring paintings, textiles, sculptures, and more.
Hidden Talent
Visual Arts
Piers Secunda: ISIS Bullet Hole Paintings British artist Secunda took molds of actual ISIS bullet holes that he pressed into re-creations of classic artwork to take shots at the cultural violence that comes with terrorism. Witness the wreckage at LongSharp Gallery. long sharpgallery.com
9/7–2/3/19
Making Faces: The Remarkable Masks of Master Bidou Yamaguchi East and West have a faceoff in the hands of carver Bidou Yamaguchi. Using traditional Japanese mask-carving skills, he re-creates famous faces from Renaissance paintings in three dimensions. Look forward to peering into the eyes of Mona Lisa and others at the IMA at Newfields. discovernewfields.org
explores the life of Wilbur D. Peat through his art and artifact at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center Gallery. An artist and 36-year director of the John Herron Art Museum, Peat has been defining the Indy art scene since 1929. uindy.edu/arts/art
9/12
Kenneth Tyler and Joan Mitchell in Tyler’s studio
Art Dish Excite your senses with an exclusive meal by Chris Ely of Smoking Goose paired with the art of William Denton Ray. Served on the Harrison Center’s descending table in the gallery, dinner comes with a side of conversation with the chef and artist. harrisoncenter.org
Join writers, artists, and musicians making the attempt at Fountain Square’s annual art festival. When your opus is done, take part in the art parade. discoverfountain square.com
just one night at Carmel’s Christ Community Church. The children’s book illustrator and abstract painter will be on site, too, to answer questions about his work. christ communitycarmel.org
9/15
9/15
9/19–11/10
Art Squared Rome wasn’t built in a day, but your next masterpiece may be.
Love in a Small Town Don’t miss David Michael Slonim’s only Indiana show this year,
Kenneth Tyler: The Art of Collaboration This one’s for team-
Don’t Miss!
9/19–12/12
9/9–10/14
Quest for the West The quest is over because the West comes to you at the Eiteljorg in this huge show and sale. Don’t miss opening weekend for first access and a chance to meet artists. eiteljorg.org
9/10–30
Wilbur D. Peat: An Indianapolis Icon This rare exhibition 52
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work. Master printmaker and Herron alum Kenneth Tyler will hang work in Herron’s Eskenazi Hall that results from conspiring with other greats like Joseph Albers, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Motherwell, and Helen Frankenthaler. herron .iupui.edu/galleries
Penrod Arts Fair SEPTEMBER 8
You will probably be a little overwhelmed at this huge art fair at Newfields. There will be more than 300 artists and six entertainment stages with a craft beer garden hiding in there somewhere. Go with a friend. penrod.org
The Minotaur Trilogy Playing with the ancient Greek myth, Mary Reid-Kelley and Patrick Kelley have created a highly stylized video trilogy that uses characters like the minotaur and Pasiphae to explore the roles of women, sexuality, and art history. The full series screens at Eskenazi Hall. herron .iupui.edu/galleries
9/19–12/12
Stuff (ed) Contemporary artists
TYLER PHOTO BY MARABETH COHEN-TYLER; BIDOU COURTESY NEWFIELDS; PENROD BY TONY VALAINIS; MINOTAUR VIDEO STILL BY MARY REID KELLEY & PATRICK KELLEY
9/7–10/27
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Uncovered!
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Sneak Peek
Objets of Desire
AFTER A REFRESH, THE DESIGN GALLERY inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields has reopened with nearly 150 items on display. As seen here, it’s not always obvious what some of those pieces actually are. After the IM staff formed some opinions, we consulted the expert—Shelley Selim, associate curator of design and decorative arts.
IMAGES COURTESY NEWFIELDS
1
WHAT WE THOUGHT: A
snake’s head wearing a wig or a really aggressive neti pot. WHAT IT REALLY IS: The High Tea Pot with cover by Wieki Somers is one of Selim’s favorite pieces. The pot, modeled after a boar’s skull, is bone china, and the cosy is made of muskrat, a pest in Somers’s native Netherlands. EXPERT OPINION: “It’s very clever and tongue-in-cheek.”
2
WHAT WE THOUGHT: A
letter opener or a stylized Dachs-
hund. WHAT IT REALLY IS: This 257-pound behemoth is a side table by Carmelbased Christopher Stuart. Its shape arose from a CAD program code malfunction that created distorted lines. EXPERT OPINION: “It’s embracing happenstance. It’s something he could easily correct, but he’s chosen not to,” Selim says.
3
WHAT WE THOUGHT: A
surfboard chair. WHAT IT REAL-
LY IS: This 1947 Herbert von Thaden design is indeed a chair. Von Thaden worked on aeronautical design during World War II, and was inspired by the shape of a bent airplane wing for this plywood piece. EXPERT OPINION: “It’s an iconic chair in a lot of museum collections. It’s also obscure at the same time.”
4
WHAT WE THOUGHT: A
Chia Pet or something growing in the office fridge. WHAT IT REALLY IS: Dutch designer Frank Tjepkema wanted to devise an artificial plant that actually looked fake. Hence, this rubber and plastic piece. EXPERT OPINION: “It’s creating something true to its material,” Selim says. “It does look a little grotesque, like a little monster.”
5
WHAT WE THOUGHT: The
Pixar lamp. WHAT IT RE-
ALLY IS: Architect Greta Magnusson Grossman’s Grasshopper floor lamp is clearly a light fixture, but its shape and the fact that it was designed by a woman make it special. EXPERT OPINION: “It has this sinuous, minimalist silhouette that almost looks like a line drawing. It maybe reminds you of an insect.”
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Visual Arts Don’t Miss!
at the CCIC honors Banned Books Week with a new body of work centered around the steamy and controversial Lady Chatterley’s Lover. satch-artist.com
10/6
Monument Circle Art Fair Regional artists pop up their tents around Monument Circle for this free art event. monumentcircleart.com
9/22
Oranje It’s the end of an era. Oranje will throw its last art and music party at the former Coca-Cola bottling plant after 14 years of raising the roof on downtown’s underground art scene. oranjeindy.com
Navajo Rug Auction SEPTEMBER 29
Don’t let the rug get pulled out from under you. Come bid at the Eiteljorg on beautiful, traditionally handcrafted pieces from the R.B. Burnham & Co. Trading Post. eiteljorg.org
9/29–1/6/19
The Art of the Brick A favorite childhood toy is elevated to an artform at the Indiana State Museum, where you can check out more than 80 sculptures made entirely of Legos, then make your own. indianamuseum.org
artist talk at Eskenazi Hall. herron.iupui .edu/galleries
10/4–25
OCTOBER Sensual/Sexual/ Social: The Photography of George Platt Lynes On loan from the Kinsey Institute, the portfolio of George Platt Lynes is known for deft work with lighting and darkroom manipulation and, most scan54
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Broad Ripple Art Walk Pace yourself to take in all the art at various galleries and shops of Broad Ripple on this self-led walking tour. broadrippleartwalk.org
10/12–11/3
dalously, for the 1930s and ’40s, photography of the male nude. See it all at the IMA at Newfields. discover newfields.org
9/30–2/24/19
10/12
10/3
Celeste Neuhaus An artist, educator, and ecofeminist, Celeste Neuhaus works with assemblages, performances, sculptures, and videos to explore the forces at play in the ecosystem of the cosmos. Hear her explain the connections in an
Parallels in Life & Art Couple Anne McKenzie Nickolson and Richard Emery Nickolson will hang a show of their artwork at Gallery 924. indyarts .org/gallery-924
10/5
Nancy Lee Designs Celebrates 10 Years at CCIC Ten years ago, metalsmith and jewelry maker Lee set her sights on an empty warehouse with a vision to make an artists’ oasis. Now that building is the Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC) with over 60 artists in residence. Celebrate and watch some hands-on demos in her studio. circlecityind.com
10/5–26
Historicity A quirky collector of antiques and some junk, Kipp Normand reassembles his finds into collage homages to the past. Get a peek at the latest creations at the Harrison Center. harrisoncenter.org
10/5–11/2
REDACT: the words you wanted The Satch Art Space
Kipp Normand
Installation Nation Look closely around the ArtsPark behind the Indianapolis Art Center: Several new temporary installations will be blended into the landscape. primary colours.org
10/12–11/25
Faculty Show The teaching artists of the Indianapolis Art Center get the chance to show off their own original creations. indplsartcenter.org
IMAGES COURTESY EITELJORG, NEWFIELDS, HARRISON CENTER; NEUHAUS IMAGE COURTESY CELESTE NEUHAUS
are going soft inside Eskenazi Hall and using fabric to make sculptures that examine consumer culture and social conventions. See pieces from Jessica Dance, David Gabbard, and Natalie Baxter. herron.iupui.edu/ galleries
Visual Arts
10/19
Bad Art Night Zero artistic skills? You’re in luck! Head to the Garfield Park Arts Center to create a Halloween-themed, intentionally terrible project. gpacarts.org
Carrie Mae Weems Weems is the recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” grant and other honors thanks to her powerful work focusing on the issues of race, gender, and class. Hear her speak at Herron’s Eskenazi Hall. herron.iupui .edu/galleries
10/27
Day of the Dead Pay tribute those who have passed at the Eiteljorg with a Catrina parade, artist-created ofrendas (altars), crafts, and music. eiteljorg.org
NOVEMBER
11/1–20
Ritual Series Gregory Huebner attempts to visualize the mental and spiritual melding that comes in daily rituals in this series at Gallery 924. indyarts.org/gallery-924
11/2–18
Women of Indianapolis Arts Local female artists and members of the WOIA bring their work together in the Schwitzer Gallery at 56
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3 1
9 7
4
How To
CCIC’S FIRST FRIDAY ALTHOUGH SOME busi-
2
7 1
nesses at the Circle City Industrial Complex (1125 Brookside Ave., circlecityind .com) are open throughout the week, the best time to acquire a new painting, sculpture, or even a locally made toy while getting a chance to chat with the artists is by checking out First Fridays at the former automobile factory. Here’s a sampling:
styles and textures, including bold paintings and affordable prints.
she involves patrons in her own pieces or provides opportunities to design custom pottery.
PLAY Bebito Toys (1) Meet Delores the Librarian, the Square Dudes, and their plush friends created by Rachel Hedges using recycled and upcycled materials.
SPARKLE Nancy Lee Designs (4) In her setup that’s more like a jewelry store than a studio, Nancy Lee is happy to show off her one-of-a-kind jewelry that doubles as wearable art.
AWW Amanda Noftsier (7) Amanda Noftsier’s studio work includes custom pet portraits. Her art has also been displayed at City Dogs and Metazoa Brewing, and is for sale at Indy Artsy.
LEARN Genna Pianki Fine Art (2) Urban landscapes by Genna Pianki feature abstract yet familiar scenes, such as the Central Canal. The artist can even share some of waterway’s history.
REFLECT Darkroom Revelations (5) In addition to showing digital images, photographers Tom Potter, Gayle Moore, and Nancy Frass produce layered silver gelatin prints using a darkroom to get just the right feel and tone.
SAVOR Lick Ice Cream (8) Tucked away among studios and galleries, this spot scoops flavors such as gorgonzola pecan and Earl Gray peppermint.
BROWSE Full Circle Nine Gallery (3) More than a dozen contemporary local artists exhibit their latest works in this space on First Fridays, plus some weekends. Check out the varying
Massachusetts Ave.
second floor
8 5 9 10t hS t.
11t hS t.
3
TOUCH Indy Artsy (6) Julie Edwards sells her own clay creations, as well as work by other local artists, at this studio and store. On First Fridays,
4 6
first floor
10
Brookside Ave.
SIP Centerpoint Brewing Company (9) and 8th Day Distillery (10) Whether you prefer beer or spirits, both options are available on First Fridays—a fine way to unwind after a night of galleryhopping. —Rebecca Berfanger
RING PHOTO BY NANCY LEE; OTHERS BY TONY VALAINIS; DAY OF THE DEAD IMAGE FROM THINKSTOCK.COM
10/24
8
32 E. Washington Street, Suite 950 Indianapolis, IN 46204 317-912-0547 | NWYSO.org
TICKETED PERFORMANCES PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Featuring Sage Hamm, Piano, Winner of the 2018 Young Artist Competition Sr. Division Sunday, November 4, 2018 | 5:00 pm | Hilbert Circle Theatre
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sunday, February 17, 2019 | 5:00 pm | Hilbert Circle Theatre
CONCERT, PHILHARMONIC, AND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS Sunday, May 12, 2019 | 5:00 pm | Hilbert Circle Theatre Tickets can be purchased through the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Box Office 317.639.4300 | 45 Monument Circle Indianapolis, IN 46204 | www.indianapolissymphony.org
FREE PERFORMANCES CONCERT ORCHESTRA & SELECT SOLOS BY ORCHESTRA MEMBERS Sunday, October 28, 2018 | 6:00 pm | Indiana Historical Society Sunday, February 10, 2019 | 6:00 pm | Indianapolis Artsgarden
OUR MISSION The New World Youth Orchestras' mission is to develop and nurture the musical talent of young people in Indianapolis and central Indiana through quality music education and the rehearsal and performance of orchestral masterworks, both traditional and contemporary. New World Youth Orchestras is central Indiana's premier youth orchestra, comprised of three orchestras made up of young musicians age 8-18. For more information, visit www.nwyso.org.
Visual Arts
11/10
Kyle Ragsdale Prolific local painter Kyle Ragsdale hosts his annual solo show at the Harrison Center. harrisoncenter.org
Western Galleries Reopen After weeks of renovation, the Eiteljorg’s Western Galleries reopen their doors with the new permanent exhibit Attitudes: The West in American Art. eiteljorg.org
11/2–1/12/19
11/17–18
11/2–30
Shiny and Bright You can look forward to some sparkle at the Long-Sharp Gallery in this group show featuring modern artists Russell Young, Metis Atash, and Tarik Currimbhoy. longsharpgallery.com
Autumn Art Fair Start your holiday shopping at the Garfield Park Arts Center, where more than 40 area artists will be selling their handcrafted wares. gpacarts.org
11/17–1/14/19
Jingle Rails Hop aboard! Or, at least you’ll wish you could ride on the tiny trains chugging through miniature skylines and iconic landscapes made entirely from natural materials at the Eiteljorg. eiteljorg.org
11/2–1/19/19
Laura Ortiz Vega Get strung along to the Tube Factory Artspace for a newly commissioned show from Mexican artist Laura Ortiz Vega. She uses an ancient art of the Huichol people, taking colorful wool threads and beeswax to recreate graffiti in her hometown of Mexico City. bigcar.org/tube
11/2–3/29/19
Pablo Picasso A selection of works by Picasso, a father of Cubism and one of the most influential painters of the 20th century, will grace the lobby of the Conrad Indianapolis. long sharpgallery.com 58
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11/19–12/14
Curiouser and Curiouser The quirky 3-D illustrations and stopmotion animations of
Center. Well, to be precise, onyx, the hue of this year’s colorthemed group show. harrisoncenter.org
12/7–1/4/19
Frederick Remington’s Buck Jumper
Chris Sickels will be available for your investigation at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center Gallery. uindy.edu/arts/art
11/23–12/29
Gifted Nickel Plate Arts’s annual holiday exhibitturned-gift-market gives you a chance to admire art and shop for art-lovers all at once. Look for cards, ornaments, and other gifts. nickelplatearts.org
DECEMBER
12/1
Winter Fest Take a pop-up art class
at the Indianapolis Art Center and enjoy this all-ages celebration with games, refreshments, music, and the Winter Fest Art Sale. indplsartcenter.org
12/7
Stutz Artists Holiday Open House The halls of the old Stutz Building will be decked with holly, and over 40 studios will be open with plenty of original artwork. stutzartists.com
12/7–28
Onyx + East They want it painted black at the Harrison
TINY VII It was an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny piece of art at Gallery 924. Nothing in this show measures more than 6 inches in any direction, and there will be around 400 pieces from about 100 Central Indiana artists. indyarts.org/ gallery-924
12/14– 1/30/19
Student Show Keep an eye out for the next Rembrandt. The Indianapolis Art Center presents the best work from its students, ages 2 and up, in this juried exhibition. indplsart center.org
12/28
Bad Art Night Garfield Park Arts Center hosts 2018’s last Bad Art Night, this one with a New Year’s theme. gpacarts.org
Don’t Miss!
Winterlights NOVEMBER 18– JANUARY 6, 2019
Wander through a twinkling wonderland at Newfields with 1.2 million multicolored lights strung along the campus. You can stop for hot chocolate and a s’more on your way to see the Lilly House decorated for the season. discovernewfields.org
IMAGES COURTESY EITELJORG, NEWFIELDS; SHINY AND BRIGHT BY TARIK CURRIMBHOY
the CCIC for a First Friday opening. womenofindyarts.com
MUST-ATTEND FILMS, LECTURES & MORE 62
PREENACT INDY 62
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANKENSTEIN! 64
MOVIES, BOOKS, etc.
The ISO provides the soundtrack for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, p. 72.
PSYCHO COURTESY IU CINEMA
Coming Clean Don’t know much about this iconic sequence from Psycho? Get your feet wet with a screening of 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene and a chat with the director at IU Cinema (p. 72).
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Quick Q&A
The Ticket
Film screenings galore, comedians, author chats, a full slate of Frankenstein, and more.
SEPTEMBER
9/9
9/6
Brando Skyhorse An associate professor at IU, author Skyhorse earned the 2011 PEN/ Hemingway Award for his debut novel, The Madonnas of Echo Park. He kicks off Butler’s Visiting Writers Series with a visit to the Atherton Union. butler.edu/vws
9/7
Paper Moon (1973) Public House Cinema and IndyFringe invite you to the IndyFringe pocket park to see con man Moses Pray (Ryan O’Neal) enlist 9-yearold Addie (O’Neal’s real-life daughter, Tatum) as a partner in his schemes. public housecinema.com
9/7–8
Gone With the Wind (1939) Frankly, my dear, it’d 62
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be a shame to miss this tale of Scarlett O’Hara and her love affairs during the Civil War and Reconstruction in the South. The epic Oscar winner plays at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historicartcrafttheatre .org
Loving Vincent
Loving Vincent (2017) IU Cinema shows this animated biopic that was created over the course of seven years, during which more than 100 artists painted 62,000-plus frames in the iconic style of Vincent van Gogh. cinema.indiana.edu
9/17
Jane (2017) Don’t monkey around— get to IU Cinema to see this documentary featuring National Geographic footage that shows the evolution of anthropologist Jane
Joanna J na Ta Taf Taft ft ft The Harrison Center’s executive director shares successes of last year’s PreEnact Indy and what we can expect from this year’s event on October 6. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE PREENACT INDY?
At a re-enactment, you see people acting out the way things used to be, and you try on an old-fashioned way of living. PreEnact is the exact opposite. We’re acting out the way things ought to be. WHAT MADE LAST YEAR SUCCESSFUL?
Everything was grounded in the story of the neighborhood. Having that as our script made neighbors feel proud and visitors feel inspired. WHY ARE YOU BRINGING IT BACK THIS YEAR, AND WHAT’S NEW OR DIFFERENT?
We received feedback saying we’d been very successful in sharing the story of the neighborhood and starting that idea of an inclusive and revitalized place. We decided to continue pre-enacting the community and working toward justice and equality. This year’s script will be different from last year’s, with a new performance based on the stories of people who used to live in the neighborhood. PreEnact Indy will also be expanding to a fourth block, anchored by a gospel fest. HOW DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE RESPOND TO PREENACT?
I want people to feel like they know the story of the neighborhood. I don’t want them to see it as a blank slate, but as a place with a story that they can be a part of. I also want people to think personally about how they can pre-enact. —Katie Grieze
IMAGES COURTESY HISTORIC ARTCRAFT THEATRE, IU CINEMA; TAFT BY POLINA OSHEROV
MOVIES, BOOKS, ETC. CALENDAR
Movies, Books, Etc.
9/21
9/24–29
Kicks (2016) All 15-year-old Brandon wants is a new pair of Air Jordans. But when he finally gets them, they’re stolen, setting Brandon and his friends on a dangerous journey to rescue the prized shoes. Public House Cinema screens the film at the IndyFringe pocket park. publichouse cinema.com
Banned Books Week The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library continues its focus on mental health by welcoming Vonnegut’s daughter, Nanette, who will discuss her maternal grandmother’s mental illness treatment at Central State. Events also include a reading from and a screening of William S. Burroughs’s Lunch, and Ball Naked Lunch State’s Rai Peterson spending a week in the library behind a wall of banned books. vonnegutlibrary.org
9/25
9/22
Steve Martin and Martin Short Musical sketches and anecdotes about these comedy legends’ storied careers make up this show dubbed An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life. Bluegrass band The Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko, a Jimmy Kimmel Live band member and jazz pianist, join the pair at the IU Auditorium. iuauditorium.com
9/23
The Maltese Falcon (1941) Humphrey Bogart and Jerome Cowan are Sam Spade and Miles Archer, two detectives tasked with protecting femme fatale Ruth Wonderly (Mary Astor). After Archer is killed, Spade unwittingly becomes involved in a 64
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Theaster Gates Gates, founder and leader of the Chicagobased Rebuild Foundation, visits the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center to discuss his work that spurs urban redevelopment through culture-based, artist-led initiatives. events.uindy.edu
9/27
Lynda Barry Butler’s Visiting Writers Series welcomes this graphic novelist, NPR commentator, and creator of the Ernie Pook’s Comeek comic strip. Barry muses about her multifaceted career in the Atherton Union. butler.edu/vws
9/28–29
Ghostbusters (1984) Who you gonna call? It might be these guys, who form the Ghostbusters, a paranormal investigative service, after losing their jobs.
MONSTER BASH Happy 200th birthday, Frankenstein! We pieced together ways to celebrate.
ARY SHELLEY WAS JUST A
teenager when she started writing Frankenstein, published in 1818 and widely recognized as one of the first sci-fi novels ever penned. The book may be 200 years old, but its themes of artificial intelligence and the consequences of scientific tinkering are still relevant today. Here, seven ideas for commemorating Dr. Frankenstein’s creature, who doesn’t look a day over 150. WATCH A MOVIE ADAPTATION—the 1931 version, Young Frankenstein,
a 1910 silent rendition, and 1942’s Ghost of Frankenstein are all screening this October. Find info starting on p. 68. SEE A RARE FIRST-EDITION COPY of Frankenstein at IU Bloomington’s
Lilly Library, hosting an exhibit on the book’s vast influences and Shelley herself through December 14. THE INDIANA SCI-FI & HORROR WRITERS FESTIVAL (p. 68) is for teens
only, but you can still read some of the guest authors’ works. Check out Bone Welder by Greg Kishbaugh and XVI by Julia Karr. WITHIN THE COMPILATION Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons, find Kurt Vonnegut’s short play Fortitude, which centers on a patient of Frankenstein, Sylvia Lovejoy—merely a head on a machine-controlled tripod. AUTHOR VICTOR LAVALLE, who drew upon Frankenstein for his Destroyer comic books, speaks at Central Library (p. 66). In the series, Frankenstein descendant Jo Baker and her son clash with the monster. EXPERIENCE A THEATRICAL FORM of Frankenstein at Purdue University
(p. 19) when the classicists of New York–based Aquila Theatre reimagine Shelley’s work for the stage. READ THE BOOK! And then match these quotes to their speaker: 1
“I never saw a man in so wretched a condition.”
A. The monster
2
“Alas! I had turned loose into the world a depraved wretch, whose delight was in carnage and misery.”
B. Capt. Robert Walton
3
“I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?”
C. Dr. Victor Frankenstein
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN COURTESY HISTORIC ARTCRAFT THEATRE; THEATER POSTER COURTESY PURDUE UNIVERSITY
deadly plot to capture the Maltese Falcon statue. Feel the suspense at IU Cinema. cinema.indiana.edu
ANSWERS: 1. B, 2. C, 3. A
Goodall, who changed the way we think about human/animal relationships. cinema .indiana.edu
Movies, Books, Etc. Don’t Miss!
neighborhood could and should be—just and equitable—and not how the area was in the past. preenactment.org
9/30
10/6
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing Tour Brothers Hank and John Green visit Clowes Memorial Hall in support of Hank’s debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. They’ll answer audience questions, chat about the book, and more. butler artscenter.org
Heartland International Film Festival
OCTOBER
OCTOBER 11–21
This 27th annual event is back with hundreds of inspiring and uplifting films from around the globe, screened at various theaters in the city. Other events include the GLOW awards party October 20 at Newfields and the Filmmakers’ Brunch October 21 at the Montage. heartlandfilm.org
10/3
John Jodzio Jodzio, the author of the highly praised short-story collections If You Lived Here You’d Already Be Home and Knockout, kicks off UIndy’s Kellogg Writers Series with a reading in the Schwitzer Student Center. events.uindy.edu
10/4
Columbus (2017) This film, shot in the city famous for its architecture, screens at a fitting location: the plaza of Cummins Indianapolis Distribution Headquarters. publichousecinema.com
10/4
Donika Kelly Kelly’s collection Bestiary won the 2015 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and the 2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Poetry, as well as praise from The New York Times. She pays a visit to the Schrott Center for the Arts as part of Butler’s
Columbus
Visiting Writers Series. butler.edu/vws
10/5
Lewis Black What is comedian Black ranting about now? Find out when his yelling and fingerpointing come to the Old National Centre. oldnationalcentre.com
10/5–6
Psycho (1960) At the Historic Artcraft Theatre, watch what happens in this Hitchcock thriller after secretary Marion Crane, on the run after stealing money, checks into the Bates Motel. historicartcrafttheatre .org
10/6
Comic Book in a Day Let’s hope no villains 66
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The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) Peter Cushing stars as Sherlock Holmes in this feature that sees Holmes and Watson investigating the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville. This first Holmes film ever to be made in color comes to IU Cinema. cinema .indiana.edu
10/11
INConversation with Victor LaValle In the Destroyer comic book series, the last living heir of Victor Frankenstein tries to resurrect her son, shot dead by police. The series’ creator, LaValle, visits Central Library. indianahumanities.org
interfere while artists try to create an entire comic book in just a few hours at Nickel Plate Arts in Noblesville. Guests can check out work by nationally recognized comic book artists, try their hand at comic-inspired crafts, and more. nickelplatearts.org
10/6
PreEnact Indy: Monon 16 The Harrison Center’s community festival/ theater production at 16th Street and the Monon Trail returns this year with a new performance based on stories of those who used to live in the area, a gospel music festival, a farmers-style market, and other activities based around residents’ hopes for what the
10/12–13
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Freddy Krueger exacts revenge by killing people in their dreams. After seeing this flick at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, you may never fall asleep again. his toricartcrafttheatre.org
10/13
Meet an Author, Be an Author Central Library hosts
PHOTOS COURTESY HEARTLAND FILM, HISTORIC ARTCRAFT THEATRE; COLUMBUS STILL BY ELISHA CHRISTIAN, COURTESY SUPERLATIVE FILMS
The Historic Artcraft Theatre shows this favorite. historic artcrafttheatre.org
LET THE
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Movies, Books, Etc. this day of book-related activities and author meet-and-greets. indi anaauthorsaward.org
10/13
The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) Part of Garfield Park Arts Center’s Vintage Movie Night, this flick sees Dr. Frankenstein’s colleague, Dr. Bohmer, attempt to transplant a human brain into the monster’s body. gpacarts.org
visits Congregation Beth-El Zedeck just one day after releasing The Next Person You Meet in Heaven. jccindy.org
10/18–20 & 25–27
Music of the Night Within Crown Hill Cemetery’s Gothic Chapel, organist Charles Manning and vocalists John Shuffle and Leah Crane perform a medley from The Phantom of the Opera and other TV and movie themes. crownhillhf.org
10/19
Crown Hill Cemetery
10/13
Ghost Stories What better setting for listening to hairraising accounts than Crown Hill Cemetery? Pack a picnic dinner and sit back as Storytelling Arts of Indiana shares unnerving tales. crownhillhf.org
The Lost World (1925) Follow Professor Challenger and a group of explorers as they seek a prehistoric plateau in South America and come across a slew of Jurassic-era creatures. This version at IU Cinema features newly discovered scenes and special effects. cinema .indiana.edu
The Lost World
10/19–20
Hocus Pocus (1993) After 300 years, a trio of witches returns to Salem on Halloween night. Can a group of teens put an end to their terror? Find out at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historic artcrafttheatre.org
10/20
Indiana Sci-Fi & Horror Writers Festival This inaugural event for teens at the Indiana State Library includes readings and book signings by Hoosier authors, movie screenings, a makerspace,
a pop-up bookshop, writer workshops, and more. indiana humanities.org
10/23
An Evening with Rebecca Skloot Skloot, author of the best-selling The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, visits Northwood Middle School to discuss Lacks’s story and the questions it raises about medical ethics. indiana humanities.org
10/25
National Geographic Live: Ocean Soul National Geographic
Don’t Miss!
underwater photographer Brian Skerry shares stories and photos of his work, which has taken him beneath the Arctic and to predator-infested waters. Dive in at Clowes Memorial Hall. butlerartscenter.org
10/26
Dennis James Hosts Halloween Joined on stage by a full student orchestra, IU alum and cinematic organist Dennis James plays the soundtrack to 1925 film The Phantom of the Opera at the IU Auditorium. The event celebrates the 50th anniversary of James’s silent-film performing debut. iuauditorium .com
Sharon Olds Contemporary poet Olds won the Pulitzer Prize for Stag’s Leap and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Strike Sparks. The New York University prof takes the stage at the Schrott Center for the Arts for Butler’s Visiting Writers Series. butler.edu/vws
10/17
Taste of Ann Katz As part of the Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts, best-selling author Mitch Albom 68
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10/26
Robert Siegel OCTOBER 23
Siegel, the recently retired host of NPR’s All Things Considered for 30 years, visits the Arthur M. Glick JCC as part of the Ann Katz Festival of Books & Arts. jccindy.org
Silent Halloween It’s a double dose of Frankenstein at the Indiana Landmarks Center. Before watching Frankenstein, The Man Who Made a Monster (1931), you’ll see the 1910 silent film Frankenstein, with musicians from UIndy performing the score. indianalandmarks.org
LOST WORLD COURTESY IU CINEMA; CROWN HILL BY TONY VALAINIS; SIEGEL BY STEPHEN VOSS; JAMES COURTESY IU AUDITORIUM
10/15
Movies, Books, Etc.
10/26–27
Jim Gaffigan Native Hoosier Gaffigan, an author, producer, actor, and comedian, brings his Fixer Upper tour to the Old National Centre. oldnational centre.com
Young Frankenstein (1974) Chaos ensues when Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, played by Gene Wilder, tries to continue his grandfather’s experiments in reanimating the dead. It all comes alive at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historic artcrafttheatre.org
10/30
Izzy Ezagui If you lost your arm in combat, would you return to the battlefield? Ezagui did. He’ll visit the Arthur M. Glick JCC to talk about his book, Disarmed: Unconventional Lessons from the World’s Only One-Armed Special Forces Sharpshooter. jccindy.org
Jim Gaffigan
NOVEMBER
11/2
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) With the help of a healthy dose of fate, 8-year-old Jonah, widower Sam’s son, brings together Sam and Annie Reed, an unhappily engaged journalist. This popular rom-com shows at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historicart crafttheatre.org
11/2
Snap Judgment Live Clowes Memorial Hall welcomes this NPR phenomenon, which combines storytelling, real-life tales, and
dramatic beats. butlerartscenter.org
11/2
Spirit & Place Opening Night Kick off Spirit & Place, which is themed “intersection” this year, at the Harrison Center, where families can meet various artists and learn how styles, mediums, colors, and shapes collide and combine to create Indy’s arts scene. spiritandplace.org
11/3
Cartoons for Cans Admission to the Historic Artcraft Theatre is just one canned good, which
hosts a screening of the film Hummus! (2015), which explores how different people connect to food, followed by a hummus tasting. spiritandplace .org
11/3
11/5
Brew and View If cartoons aren’t your thing, perhaps a viewing of Die Hard (1988) is. Your ticket to this Historic Artcraft Theatre event includes a beer or popcorn/soda voucher, as well as the chance to see NYPD officer John McClane save the day after a Christmas party turns into a hostage situation. historicartcraft theatre.org
Hummus and Happiness As part of the Spirit & Place Festival, Indiana Interchurch Center
Angela Palm Palm, a 2017 finalist for the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Emerging Authors Award, visits UIndy’s Schwitzer Student Center as part of the Kellogg Writers Series. events.uindy.edu
Michael Schultz
11/8–10
The Sting (1973) NOVEMBER 4
Paul Newman and Robert Redford star as 1930s Chicago con men who, after a friend is killed by the mob, attempt to get even by pulling off the ultimate caper. IU Cinema screens this seven-time Academy Award winner. cinema.indiana.edu IM | THE TICKET 2018
11/7
11/5
Don’t Miss!
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The Score Awakens Learn sci-fi swordplay and see how Star Wars music inspires the movie’s battle scenes at this Spirit & Place event at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. spirit andplace.org
Young, Gifted, and Black IU Cinema welcomes filmmaker Michael Schultz for screenings of three of his films made in the dawning years of the age of hip-hop: Cooley High (1975), Krush Groove (1985), and Car Wash (1976). cinema.indiana .edu
11/9
Afrofuturism in Action Hear from sci-fi author Tobias Buckell on afro-
THE STING, SCHULTZ COURTESY IU CINEMA; HUMMUS FROM THINKSTOCK.COM; GAFFIGAN COURTESY LIVE NATION
10/26–27
is donated to a local food pantry. You can pretend you’re back in elementary school while watching classic Warner Bros. cartoons. historicartcraft theatre.org
Movies, Books, Etc. futurism, a 20th-century cultural movement that views arts, culture, science, and technology through a black lens, during this Spirit & Place Festival event at the Kheprw Institute. spiritandplace.org
Don’t Miss!
of a treat. historic artcrafttheatre.org
DECEMBER
12/1
Holiday Author Fair More than 50 authors will be on hand at the Indiana History Center, where you can browse and buy their fiction and nonfiction titles. indianahistory.org
11/9–11
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival Lunatic From the Gracious Days, about Indy entertainer Ruth Dix, is just one film screening at the IMA at Newfields. indy lgbtfilmfest.com
12/6
VonnegutFest NOVEMBER 7–10
A discussion on how the arts and humanities can help vets cope with PTSD kicks off this year’s VonnegutFest, which also includes the Breakfast of Champions event, the launch of the 2018 So It Goes literary journal, a Vonnegut Session with author John Green, and a night of trivia that features the presentation of the organization’s annual humor award. Various venues host. vonnegutlibrary.org
78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene (2017) In this film screening at IU Cinema, director Alexander O. Philippe pulls back the curtain on Alfred Hitchcock’s famous Psycho shower scene, breaking down the moment that used 78 camera setups and 52 edits over the course of three minutes. cinema.indiana.edu
11/12
Suited (2016) Bindle & Keep, a tailoring company, creates custom suits for gender-nonconforming and transgender clients. Watch a documentary about the company and hear from founder Daniel Friedman at IUPUI’s Student Center. jccindy.org
11/13
Teju Cole A writer, photographer, and art historian, Cole was born in the U.S. but grew up in Nigeria. His work has earned praise from The New Yorker and NPR, and you can hear him at the Schrott Center for the Arts for Butler’s Visiting Writers Series. butler.edu/vws 72
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11/15, 17–18 & 20
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope in Concert Watch Luke Skywalker and Han Solo battle the Imperial Forces in the first Star Wars film, which plays overhead while the ISO performs its John Williams– penned score at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolissymphony .org
11/23–25
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) Kevin McCallister takes on the bumbling Harry and Marv once again, this time in the Big Apple. See the ways the boy outsmarts them at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historic artcrafttheatre.org
11/29
Quantum Leap Poetry Tour Indiana Poet Laureate Adrian Matejka joins U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith at Central Library for an evening of readings, conversation, and audience Q&As. indiana humanities.org
11/30 & 12/1–2
A Christmas Story (1983) No word on whether there will be a “major award” for attendees at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, but maybe seeing Ralphie on his earnest quest for a Red Ryder BB gun will be enough
The Sound of Music
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) This seasonal favorite comes to the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historicartcraft theatre.org
12/8
The Sound of Music Quote-Along The hills are alive at IU Cinema! Guests of this annual interactive screening are encouraged to recite dialogue and sing along. cinema .indiana.edu
12/14–16
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) Get in the spirit of a fun old-fashioned family Christmas with four showings of this must-see film at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. historic artcrafttheatre.org
STUDIO 54 COURTESY LGBT FILM FEST; VONNEGUT BY TONY VALAINIS; THE SOUND OF MUSIC COURTESY IU CINEMA
12/7–9
RESTAURANT LISTINGS 76
Creative fare at the lauded Bluebeard Bluebeard, p. 78.
ART + FOOD EVENTS 76
VENUE GUIDE 80
VENUES and MENUS
Setting the Stage What better spot for a preconcert drink than Fountain Square’s Southern-inspired Thunderbird, with a pickedapart piano taking up one wall and photos of local bands from the 1950s? The menu of classic and original cocktails hits the right notes.
Photographs by TONY VALAINIS
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Food for Thought
The Ticket
Restaurants and late-night cocktail spots in some of the city’s artsiest areas, pulled from Indianapolis Monthly’s dining directory.
DOWNTOWN The Eagle’s Nest CONTEMPORARY This rotating restaurant 22 stories up has been a favorite of specialoccasion diners since it opened in the late 1970s. Skyline eye candy is complemented by the likes of herbcrusted prime rib and tea-smoked duck. 1 S. Capitol Ave., 317-6166170, indianapolis.hyatt .com $$$$ Harry & Izzy’s STEAKHOUSE This casual little brother to St. Elmo holds its own
KEY TO THE SYMBOLS $$$$ $$$ $$ $
$30 and up $20–$30 $10–$20 Under $10 Reservations accepted Open until 11 p.m. or later on Fridays and Saturdays (kitchen may close earlier)
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the dining room fills with patrons sipping fruity cocktails and diving into Koreaninspired fried chicken. 11 W. Maryland St., 317-638-6232, eatdrink $$ nada.com
as a hangout worthy of destination-steakhouse status itself. The marbled bone-in ribeye sizzles in its juices, a smart umamirich pick among the high-quality Midwestsourced prime cuts. 153 S. Illinois St., 317635-9594, harryand izzys.com $$$ Nada
MEXICAN FUSION At this bustling spot, soft flour tortillas are stuffed with nontraditional fillings, such as fried avocado and pot roast. Though it’s popular at lunch, Nada gets even livelier at night, when
The Oceanaire Seafood Room SEAFOOD Luxury dining takes the form of stuffed trout in tomatochive butter and whole fried fish rising off of the white plate at this high-end chain. The Baked Alaska dessert makes for a spectacular finish. 30 S. Meridian St., 317-955-2277, theoceanaire.com $$$$
Ruth’s Chris Steak House STEAKHOUSE Most everything skews toward over-the-top extravagance at this luxury steakhouse, from the 40-ounce porterhouse to the iPad-style cocktail menu. A la carte sides excel in the starchy, au gratin food
In Good Taste
Fill your belly and your brain at these events that mix food and drink with art and culture. ART + BEER TOURS Second Thursday of each month Sip on Sun King and learn about libations depicted in the collections at Newfields before boarding the Indy Brew Bus and heading to two downtown craft breweries. indybrewbus.com
CHEW ON THIS: WILL MACHINES REPLACE US? September 12 Indiana Humanities invites you to ponder that question, as well as how automation and technology impact our lives, at Ambrosia, Tavern on South, and Rooster’s Kitchen. indianahumanities.org
ART DISH September 12 In this new series designed to forge relationships between artists and potential buyers, an artist from the Harrison Center shares stories about their work before guests sit down at a dinner table that descends from the ceiling. The meal’s many courses, handled by a local chef, are inspired by the artwork. harrisoncenter.org
PRAIRIE PLATES September 23 and November 3 Spoke & Steele spotlights top growers and food producers September 23 with a multicourse feast served on Conner Prairie’s covered bridge. On November 3 in the Overlook Room, Ivy Tech students dish up brunch featuring Indiana brands and homegrown ingredients. connerprairie.org
BOOKS, BOOZE & BRAINS September 25, October 30, and November 27 Take part in a different type of book club at Centerpoint Brewing Company, which hosts monthly chats related to a popular science title. An area scientist, whose expertise is relevant to the topic, guides the discussion. indianahumanities.org
ART DISH PHOTO COURTESY HARRISON CENTER; DRINK BY TONY VALAINIS
MENU GUIDE LISTINGS
Art Dish
Menu Guide 410 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-4278, bruburgerbar.com
$$$$
Spoke & Steele CONTEMPORARY Inside Le Méridien, Spoke & Steele features sleek flourishes and a creatively ambitious menu with sweet chili– glazed meatloaf nugs, the sophisticated Baller burger, and playful Mormon funeral potatoes. 123 S. Illinois St., 317-737-1616, spokeandsteele.com $$$
St. Elmo Steak House STEAKHOUSE This century-old spot serves as the unofficial ambassador of downtown. The drill: a generous martini, a shrimp cocktail, the bean soup or tomato juice, the wedge, and one of the large steaks. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-6350636, stelmos .com $$$$
MASS AVE/ OLD NORTHSIDE Black Market CONTEMPORARY In a long, spartan dining room, servers present handcrafted dishes like cornmeal-crusted catfish and an alwaysjuicy pork chop. 922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-6757, black marketindy.net $$$ Bru Burger Bar GOURMET BURGERS The gilded-burger trend is revived to great effect in this stylish spot, evidenced by the Bru Burger with sweet tomato jam and porter-braised onions. The Peach White Chocolate Bread Pudding is worth saving room for. 78
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$$
Salt on Mass SEAFOOD Fresh fish arrives daily at this gleaming restaurant that boasts of not even owning a freezer. That means the menu is written around the latest catch. 505 Massachusetts Ave., 317-638-6565, salton $$$ mass.com Tinker Street CONTEMPORARY This snug eatery puts equal focus on experimentation and execution of precisely flavored creations, from rich braised-lamb cottage pie to a full selection of vegan options. 402 E. 16th St., 317-9255000, tinkerstreetindy .com $$ Union 50 GASTROPUB This subtly retro addition just off Mass Ave’s restaurant row showcases sesamesoy sticky chicken wings, kimchi meatloaf with apple-yuzu jam, and steamed mussels in a broth chunky with chorizo and fingerling potatoes. 620 N. East St., 317610-0234, union-50 $$$ .com
FLETCHER PLACE/ FOUNTAIN SQUARE Bluebeard MODERN COMFORT
Adventurous diners nibble on grilled octopus, gourmet pork cracklings, and strip loin plated with root vegetable hash, carried out just about flawlessly. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, bluebeardindy.com $$
Charcuterie at Union 50
Repeal
SPEAKEASY This Fletcher
Place locale is serious about its cocktails, shaken and stirred with fresh juices and other trendy back-bar mixes. 630 Virginia Ave., 317-672-7514, repealrestaurant.com $$ Rook
ASIAN FUSION Chef
Carlos Salazar gives us a refresher course on Asian cuisine with colorful plates of pig-face hash and shrimp-topped curry ramen. 501 Virginia Ave., 317-737-2293, rookindy.com $$$
Thunderbird NEW SOUTHERN The concoctions here are solid, generally brown, and unapologetically boozy. Food includes cheddar-grit fries with maple-bourbon aioli. 1127 Shelby St., 317974-9580, thunder birdindy.com $$
BROAD RIPPLE & SOBRO Delicia
NEW LATIN Don’t expect
the typical tacos and nachos. The moreupscale fare here melds all the styles of Latin culture. We love the juicy scallops wrapped with Serrano ham, as well as the tres leches sponge cake. 5215 N. College Ave., 317-925-0677, delicia $$ indy.com Mama Carolla’s Old Italian Restaurant ITALIAN Come here for charm galore, most notably the 1920s villa that houses this longtime favorite. The accessible menu includes medallions of veal smothered in Gorgonzola sauce and pesto-covered ravioli. 1031 E. 54th St., 317259-9412, mama carollas.com $$ Meridian Restaurant & Bar RUSTIC GOURMET This luxe lodge is known for dishes as hearty as they are elaborate, from duck-leg confit and vegetable roulade to boar Bolognese. 5694 N. Meridian St., 317466-1111, meridian onmeridian.com $$$
The Northside Social CONTEMPORARY This swanky neighborhood spot offers cocktails and comfort cuisine with equal panache. Sip a colorful martini while perched at the bar, or sink into an upholstered bench to nosh on beef brisket slow-roasted in a Guinness stout sauce or Japanese blackened shrimp with coconut grits. 6525 N. College Ave., 317-253-0111, northsidesocial.com $$ Petite Chou
FRENCH-INSPIRED Start
with the chilled asparagus soup before tackling the steak frites, bouillabaisse, or chicken crepe. Toast the evening with a champagne cocktail. 823 Westfield Blvd., 317259-0765, petitechou bistro.com $$
CARMEL Divvy
SMALL PLATES With at
least 80 sharable dishes, this lively City Center favorite is no place for the indecisive.
PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS
groups. 45 S. Illinois St., 317-633-1313, ruthschrisindy.com
Menu Guide But do try the sweet corn crème brûlée and bacon-wrapped dried apricots. 71 W. City Center Dr., Carmel, 317-706-0000, divvy $$ carmel.com The Local Eatery & Pub
GOURMET COMFORT An
ever-evolving menu at this spot features playful takes on the classics. Past favorites have included a chicken roulade dunked in waffle batter and covered in rich maple gravy, and ravioli stuffed with pork heart and topped with a thick mushroom ragout. 14655 N. Gray Rd., Westfield, 317218-3786, localeatery $$ andpub.com
The Pint Room FAMILY PUB This Ohiobased eatery validates its name with 124 craft-beer titles scribbled on mini chalkboards affixed to the wall. The straightforward menu of playful sandwiches and burgers is just as diverse and includes a saltysweet PB&J with strawberry preserves and candied bacon. 110 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-571-8400, pintroomcarmel.com $$
Woodys Library Restaurant CONTEMPORARY Oldtown Carmel has grown up around Kevin Rider’s restaurant housed in a Carnegie library (circa 1913). Though pork chops and steaks headline the entrees, the menu continues to evolve in delicious ways. Most intriguing is the chapter on comfort food. 40 E. Main St., Carmel, 317-573-4444, woodys carmel.com $$$ 80
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VENUE GUIDE
How to reach the theaters and galleries listed in this issue. Arthur M. Glick JCC 6701 Hoover Rd., jccindy.org The Athenaeum 401 E. Michigan St., athenaeum foundation.org Bankers Life Fieldhouse 125 S. Pennsylvania St., bankerslife fieldhouse.com Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre 9301 Michigan Rd., beefandboards.com Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site 1230 N. Delaware St., bhpsite.org Butler University (includes the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall) 4600 Sunset Ave., butler.edu The Cabaret 924 N. Pennsylvania St., thecabaret.org The CAT Theatre 254 Veterans Way, Carmel, thecat theatre.com The Center for the Performing Arts (includes the Palladium, the Studio Theater, and the Tarkington) 355 City Center Dr., Carmel, thecenter presents.org Central Library 40 E. St. Clair St., indypl.org Circle City Industrial Complex 1125 Brookside Ave., circlecityind.com Clowes Memorial Hall 4602 Sunset Ave., butlerartscenter .org Conner Prairie 13400 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, conner prairie.org
Crown Hill Cemetery 3400 Boulevard Pl., crownhillhf.org The District Theatre 627 Massachusetts Ave., indydistricttheatre.org The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art 500 W. Washington St., eiteljorg.org Footlite Musicals 1847 N. Alabama St., footlite.org
Indianapolis Art Center 820 E. 67th St., indplsartcenter.org
Nickel Plate Arts 107 S. Eighth St., Noblesville, nickel platearts.org
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields 4000 Michigan Rd., discovernewfields.org
Old National Centre 502 N. New Jersey St., oldnational centre.com
Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art CityWay, 216 E. South St., indymoca.org
Gallery 924 924 N. Pennsylvania St., indyarts.org/gallery-924
IndyFringe Theatre 719 E. St. Clair St., indyfringe.org
Garfield Park Arts Center 2432 Conservatory Dr., gpacarts.org
IU Auditorium 1211 E. Seventh St., Bloomington, iuauditorium.com
Harrison Center 1505 N. Delaware St., harrisoncenter.org
IU Cinema 1213 E. Seventh St., Bloomington, cinema .indiana.edu
Herron School of Art and Design 735 W. New York St., herron.iupui.edu Hilbert Circle Theatre 45 Monument Circle, indianapolis symphony.org The Historic Artcraft Theatre 57 N. Main St., Franklin, historicartcraft theatre.org
The Jazz Kitchen 5377 N. College Ave., thejazzkitchen.com Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy 10029 E. 126th St., Fishers, fishers music.com Kheprw Institute 3549 Boulevard Pl., kheprw.org
Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St., indianahistory.org
Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library 340 N. Senate Ave., vonnegutlibrary.org
Indiana Interchurch Center 1100 W. 42nd St., indianainterchurch.org
The Lawn at White River State Park 801 W. Washington St., livenation.com
Indiana Landmarks Center 1201 Central Ave., indianalandmarks.org
Loeb Playhouse 128 Memorial Mall, West Lafayette, purdue .edu/convocations
Indiana Repertory Theatre 140 W. Washington St., irtlive.com
Long-Sharp Gallery 50 W. Washington St., longsharpgallery.com
Indiana State Library 315 W. Ohio St., in.gov/library Indiana State Museum 650 W. Washington St., indianamuseum.org
Lucas Oil Stadium 500 S. Capitol Ave., icclos.com Marian University Theatre 3200 Cold Spring Rd., marian.edu
The Phoenix Theatre 705 N. Illinois St., phoenixtheatre.org Pike Performing Arts Center 6701 Zionsville Rd., pike.k12.in.us/ performingarts center/home Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville, livenation.com Schrott Center for the Arts 610 W. 46th St., butler artscenter.org Schwitzer Student Center at UIndy 1400 Campus Dr., events.uindy.edu Scottish Rite Cathedral 650 N. Meridian St., aasr-indy.org Stutz Building 212 W. 10th St., stutzartists.com Tube Factory Artspace 1125 Cruft St., bigcar.org/tube University of Indianapolis (includes the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center and the Studio Theatre) 1400 E. Hanna Ave., events.uindy.edu Warren Performing Arts Center 9500 E. 16th St., warrenpac.org Zionsville Performing Arts Center 1000 Mulberry St., Zionsville, zville performingarts.org
2018/19 Season September 28-30 | The Toby at Newfields
Balancing Acts: An Evening of Balanchine
November 8-11 | The District Theatre
New Works showcase series
December 14-16 | Old National Centre
The Nutcracker presented by Methodist Sports Medicine
February 15-17 | The Toby at Newfields
Love is in the Air: Paquita & Carmen
April 18-20 | The Toby at Newfields
Swan Lake
indyballet.org | 317.955.7525 Moonbug Photography