Indianapolis Monthly The Ticket Fall Arts Guide 2024 by Indianapolis Monthly

ARTS GUIDE

PLAN AHEAD CONCERTS, MOVIES, FESTIVALS, EXHIBITS, AND MORE!

BACKSTAGE PASS GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT RUOFF MUSIC CENTER

SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

MacAllister Amphitheater at Garﬁeld Park

SPONSOR

NOVEMBER 15, 16 & 17, 2024

The Tarkington at the Center for the Perfoming Arts

MARCH 22, 2025

Legacy Gala Dinner & Valet | Columbia Club

CALENDARS

THEATER & DANCE

The best of stage performances this fall.

6 PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Hitting the half-century mark, the Indianapolis Opera focuses on honing its productions to connect with audiences. BY

LOU HARRY

LINER NOTES

Meet Dance Kaleidoscope’s artistic director, support literary freedom during Banned Books Week, and price out admission for Swift seating at Lucas Oil Stadium.

POP, ROCK & MORE

Musicians from a wide range of genres hit the Circle City.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Opera and orchestral performances are music to our ears.

VISUAL ARTS

Museum exhibits, fairs, and seasonal events.

SCREEN & CINEMA

Film screenings and festivals.

LECTURES, COMEDY & SPOKEN WORD

A selection of comedians, celebs, and public speakers.

PUBLISHER Ivy Bayer

SALES DIRECTOR

Holly Whitney

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Amy Cecil, Nancy Oliphant, Eileen Worcester

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PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Vu Luong

BUSINESS

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Missy Beiting

BUSINESS COORDINATOR Erica Birkle

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Tour Ruoff Music Center

Pianist Sasha Kasman Laude

JEROME COLLINS: REWIND A JOURNEY TO MOTOWN & BEYOND FRI, SEPT 13 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

VERONICA SWIFT SAT, SEPT 14 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

CENTER CELEBRATION 2024

FEATURING CHRIS BOTTI

SAT, SEPT 21 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

NICK CARTER: WHO I AM TOUR

THURS, SEPT 26 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

LEONID & FRIENDS:

THE MUSIC OF CHICAGO AND MORE FRI, SEPT 27 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DAMIEN ESCOBAR: VICTORY LAP TOUR

SAT, SEPT 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BEN FOLDS: PAPER AIRPLANE REQUEST TOUR

THURS, OCT 10 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

#IMOMSOHARD: LADIES’ NIGHT! FRI, OCT 11 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

SAT, OCT 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

SUN, OCT 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD

SAT, OCT 19 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

SPACE ODDITY: THE QUINTESSENTIAL

DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE EXPERIENCE SAT, OCT 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DANA & GREG NEWKIRK’S HAUNTED OBJECTS LIVE

SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON

VITAMIN STRING QUARTET: THE MUSIC OF TAYLOR SWIFT, BRIDGERTON AND BEYOND SUN, OCT 27 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

ZAKIR HUSSAIN & RAHUL SHARMA

FRI, NOV 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BONEY JAMES

SAT, NOV 2 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE MAGIC OF MICHAEL GRANDINETTI EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC

SAT, NOV 2 AT 2PM & 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

GRUPO NICHE

FRI, NOV 8 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE PIANO GUYS

SAT, NOV 9 AT 4PM & 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BUCKETS N BOARDS

SUN, NOV 17 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

AN EVENING WITH LESLIE ODOM JR. FRI, NOV 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

CANADIAN BRASS SAT, NOV 23 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DIONNE WARWICK

SUN, NOV 24 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES: WWII TIKI XMAS CANTEEN

THURS, DEC 5 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE FOUR PHANTOMS: HOLIDAY SHOW FRI, DEC 6 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JANE LYNCH’S A SWINGIN’ LITTLE CHRISTMAS SAT, DEC 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

MATTEO BOCELLI: A NIGHT WITH MATTEO THU DEC 12 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS

CHRISTMAS TOUR 2024 FRI, DEC 13 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

JON MCLAUGHLIN & FRIENDS

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SAT, DEC 14 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

MAC MCANALLY FRI, JAN 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

YESTERDAY AND TODAY:

THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE SAT, JAN 18 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE EVOLUTION OF JONI MITCHELL

STARRING LAUREN FOX FRI, JAN 24 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

HEART OF AFGHANISTAN FEATURING THE FANOOS ENSEMBLE SAT, JAN 25 AT 8PM || THE TARKINGTON

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS SUN, JAN 26 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE KINGS OF QUEEN SAT, FEB 1 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

PETER SAGAL: HOST OF NPR’S WAIT WAIT...DON’T TELL ME! FRI, FEB 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

FOLSOM PRISON EXPERIENCE: LEGENDARY 1968 JOHNNY CASH CONCERT SAT, FEB 15 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH STEVE WARINER FRI, FEB 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

KALANI PE’A: GRAMMYWINNING SINGER, SONGWRITER SAT, FEB 22 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DON WAS & THE PAN DETROIT ENSEMBLE FRI, FEB 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE STEPCREW FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BROOKLYN CHARMERS: A STEELY DAN TRIBUTE FRI, MAR 7 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON

WELCOME BACK: THE RETURN OF EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

DUSTBOWL REVIVAL: A LAUREL CANYON RETROSPECTIVE FRI, MAR 21 AT 8PM | THE TARKINGTON THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS SUN, MAR 23 AT 7PM | THE TARKINGTON

GRIMMZ FAIRY TALES SUN, MAR 23 AT 5PM | THE PALLADIUM

LANG LANG FRI, MAR 28 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE SAT, APR 5 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

UNITED STATES ARMY FIELD BAND & SOLDIERS’ CHORUS WEDS, APR 9 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN SAT, APR 12 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BACHELORS OF BROADWAY: GENTLEMEN OF THE THEATRE SUN, APR 13 AT 7PM | THE PALLADIUM

ITZHAK PERLMAN IN RECITAL THURS, APR 17 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

MICKY DOLENZ OF THE MONKEES: AN EVENING OF SONGS & STORIES FRI, APR 25 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

BLACK VIOLIN SAT, APR 26 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

OUR PLANET LIVE: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES WITH DAN TAPSTER TUES, APR 29 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES THURS, MAY 1 AT 7:30PM | THE PALLADIUM

CELEBRATE THE SONGBOOK: MICHAEL FEINSTEIN WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SAT, MAY 10 AT 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

iLUMINATE SUN, MAY 11 AT 4PM | THE PALLADIUM

RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY

BEN FOLDS

LESLIE ODOM JR.

LANG LANG

MICKY DOLENZ

GRUPO NICHE

INSIDE INDY

Performance Measures

Hitting the half-century mark, the Indianapolis Opera focuses on honing its productions and delivery to create intimate experiences and connect with audiences.

BY LOU HARRY

OPERA ISN’T KNOWN for its plot twists. But in its 50-year history, the Indianapolis Opera has made up for that with plenty of dramatic shifts in direction, goals, and management—all the while attempting to bring top quality performances to local audiences.

2023 production of Carmen

It launched modestly in 1975 as the Indianapolis Opera Company with a one-night performance of two one-act pieces produced by a dedicated group of enthusiasts led by teacher/singer Miriam Ramaker. From there, it grew to a point where full-scale productions of warhorses such as La Bohème, Aida, and Carmen made regular appearances on the city’s cultural calendar. Even lesser-known pieces such as Douglas Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe were given massive productions on the Clowes Memorial Hall stage.

But opera, as traditionally presented, is one of the most expensive performing arts. And financial shortfalls, shifting audiences, management and artistic changes, and other challenges led to the need for some rethinking along the way.

Full-scale productions in large capacity venues were replaced by operatic concerts, more modestly scaled productions, and a hiatus during the 2014–15 season. For a while, it looked like the Indianapolis Opera would go the way of Butterfly, Violetta, Mimi, and other dying divas who don’t survive their dramas.

But IO’s supporters weren’t ready to let their beloved company drift into history, even if what emerged from their efforts was dramatically different from what had come before.

When the company returned to producing, contemporary (by opera standards) material and community-focused events became more prominent, including an English-sung adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Happy Birthday, Wanda June at the Schrott Center for the Arts and outdoor concerts at Garfield Park. Concert versions of Broadway hits also peppered the schedule, including Carousel and last season’s A Little Night Music.

“Production values have varied over the years, sometimes topnotch and occasionally showing the compromises dictated by insufficient funding,” notes Jay Harvey, longtime Indianapolis Star arts critic who now posts his commentary at jayharveyupstage .blogspot.com. “The stability of the company has been a long time coming.”

“There were some bumps in the road in getting to where we are,” acknowledges IO patron and donor Frank Basile. “Then along came a new general director, David Starkey, who, with the strong support of the board and staff, led the organization to embrace a new opera business model, which successfully turned around its finances while continuing to provide first-class operas, though on a smaller scale.”

Starkey, once a member of Indiana University’s Singing Hoosiers, came back to Indy after founding and leading Asheville Lyric Opera.

His approach here—as in North Carolina—has been quite the opposite of presenting the “park and bark” tradition of oldschool opera, where acting was far lower on the scale of priorities than pure vocal power.

Starkey believes opera “shot itself in the foot” by prioritizing vocal performance over story. Not that voice doesn’t matter. “These shows demand that you have to come back to the storytelling through the voice,” he clarifies. “That’s how you invigorate Tosca or Carmen. You combine that with an intimate experience where you connect with the patrons.”

single Indianapolis Opera event is in a different location. “We’re going to be everywhere,” says Starkey, “artistically and collaboratively.

By “everywhere,” he means the south side for Opera in the Park, the Tarkington in Carmel for The Barber of Seville, Hilbert Circle Theatre for IO’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Concert, and, in a surprise twist, the Indianapolis Zoo for West Side Story. Indianapolis Opera will also host the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center.

IO’s home base at 4011 N. Pennsylvania Street is also a key asset. Since 2019, the Frank and Katrina Basile Opera Center has served not only as an office and rehearsal space, but also as an arts organization anchor, used by groups including the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, Indiana Writers Center, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Youth Orchestra, and Indianapolis Movement Arts Collective (formerly Motus Dance).

“We are the community arts center of Midtown,” notes Starkey, adding, “and it’s debt-free.”

Educational and outreach efforts have demonstrated a commitment to both future and past audiences and artists, including “Sing Me a Story” performances for grades K-5, free dress rehearsal performances for school groups, and master classes for choral students.

The future, Starkey believes, involves “exploring the traditional repertory influenced

For him, it’s also about getting away from large venues where audience members may be a few tiers away from the action. This season, by design, every

by contemporary approaches and letting the two sides talk to each other. The critical thing is to understand the power and the success of an intimate presentation.”

To that end, he’d also like to see the region—and funders—take the need for a 900- to 1,100-seat theater that feels intimate seriously. “Audiences are growing … and evolving. I hope to champion the continued conversation.”

Frank and Katrina Basile Opera Center

Puccini’s Girl of the Golden West

1987 production of Rigoletto

Next Steps

DANCE KALEIDOSCOPE’S NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PREPARES FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON. BY NATALIE FITZGIBBONS

JOSHUA BLAKE CARTER started dancing at age 14, embarking on a 14-year career with Giordano Dance Chicago before landing in Indy as Dance Kaleidoscope’s Christel DeHaan artistic director. When he joined the organization last year, succeeding David Hochoy in the role, the 2023–24 season was already planned, but there was room for Carter to insert his own choreographed pieces. This challenged Carter to select works complementing the existing classics while introducing his point of view to the audience.

“This isn’t one year. I have to think about my choreography in the scope of, ‘I’m going to be here for a long time,’’’ Carter says.

Carter’s hopes for how he would be received in his first year were exceeded—the number of new ticket buyers increased throughout the season. He wasted no time in looking ahead to the upcoming season, which includes six world premiere works, three choreographed by guest choreographers and three by Carter. “There’s going to be something for everybody in every show,” he says. Though this is the first set of shows Carter fully arranged on his own, Hochoy’s piece Rhapsody in Blue, celebrating the centennial of George Gershwin’s original composition, will make a return. Carter’s popular 2024 piece Stories from the Corner Bar, set to music by Brandi Carlile, will also return as the closer next spring.

Dance Kaleidoscope’s national profile has evolved over its 53-year history, and Carter thinks it’s time to put the company on the radar again. “We’re a local treasure,” he says, “but I don’t want to be a local secret.”

Literary Merit

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library supports literary freedom during Banned Books Week.

CHALLENGES to freedom of expression are a current hot button issue, but Kurt Vonnegut established himself as a staunch opponent of censorship more than 50 years ago. In honor of his efforts, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library is hosting a week of exhibitions, discussions, performances, and even a pub quiz during Banned Book Week, September 22–28.

Guests include Vonnegut’s daughter Edith, whose art will be on display during the opening reception, and activistin-residence Charlotte Yeung, who is set to give a lecture on the intersection of censorship and nuclear war on September 25.

The organization upholds their pursuit because, “with an unprecedented increase in attacks on free speech in our schools and libraries, our mission against censorship is more important now than ever.” 543 Indiana Ave., vonnegutlibrary.org

—EDIE SCHWARB

SWIFT TICKETS

According to prices listed on SeatGeek, StubHub, and VividSeats, fans are willing to pay a minimum of $2,500 to see Taylor Swift live on The Eras Tour November 1–3 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Between the three sites, the steepest ticket fee is a staggering $46,387, with the next in line at roughly $21,000. On average, most fans are shelling out between $3,000 and $6,000 to snag a lower level seat. —JAVON MANNING

MAGIC AT DUSK & DAWN

STEP INSIDE GOOD NIGHT FOREST

A NEW NATURE-INSPIRED EXPERIENCE CREATED ESPECIALLY FOR LITTLE ONES OPEN THROUGH

FF

Take a tour behind the scenes of the iconic venue.

• BY TIM BUSH •

PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS SHAW

We

all

do it,

whether it’s singing in the shower or in the privacy of our cars. Some of us still play air guitar to powerful rock ballads. Stardom resides in us all, but making it to the big time is reserved for a select few. For an avid music fan like me, the fantasy of performing live came closer to real life when I was given a chance to take a backstage tour of Ruoff Music Center.

Lying dormant for most of the year, this 24,000-seat amphitheater erupts with the excitement of live music each summer. Andrew Newport, an Indiana native and regional vice president of operations for Live Nation Entertainment, knows the power of music—it’s his job. He agreed to give me a backstage pass.

Had I met Newport earlier in his career, I would have found him parking cars for concert fans at the very venue he now leads. “I worked my way up,” he explains.

“If something needed to be done, I raised my hand. I learned venue operations and hospitality from the inside out. To this day, I still raise my hand. I’m always looking for and working on new ways to please guests.”

Since the first opening act took the stage supporting Sandi Patty in 1989, the music center—whose name has evolved from Deer Creek, to Verizon, to Klipsch, to

Ruoff—has hosted a diverse array of artists such as Josh Groban, Janet Jackson, KISS, Wu-Tang Clan, Willie Nelson, and Green Day.

Just one of an estimated 150 outdoor venues across the U.S. managed by the behemoth Live Nation Entertainment, Ruoff, with its 40-show summer seasons, continues to break attendance records. According

to a year-end summary from Pollstar Magazine, no concert amphitheater in the world sold more tickets in 2023—618,457 in one performance season.

Yet Ruoff seems oblivious to its standing in the world. Staff members welcome fans with the same Hoosier hospitality as a county fair or family-owned business. Many employees, like Andrew, have worked at the venue for years and display a folksy sense of ownership.

I meet Andrew to walk through the expansive concession area, which takes up a space the length of three football fields and includes beverage stations, food trucks, and vendor stands offering generous upscale fare with headliner names: Dog Haus, Trejo’s Tacos, Art Bird, Volt Burger.

Beyond the food court, we enter the restricted dining area for artists and crew. A buffet of comfort foods, specialty dishes, and desserts is advertised on place cards, and the tables are attended by waitstaff. “We feed them three meals a day,” says Andrew. “The artists and crews decide when to eat since

Trejo’s Tacos was launched by Danny Trejo.

everyone is on a different schedule.”

“What about special requests?” I ask. It’s no secret that some performers can be a little more discriminating than others, like Van Halen demanding no brown M&M’s in their tour rider (a test to see if the technical instructions for their staging and equipment were likely to have been followed). “We have people for that,” Andrew says, smiling.

“Do artists still do sound checks?” I ask.

Not necessarily, says Andrew. “Some do; some don’t. For many artists, especially those returning artists, it’s pretty much plug and play.

Performers and crews can access a restricted dining area.

We work closely with the artists and their sound technicians to assure the best sound possible.”

He points to the acoustic fabric panels recently installed high overhead as an indication of Live Nation’s commitment to good vibrations. Industry insiders say that in the early days, when it was still called Deer Creek Music Center, a few acts like INXS, Gloria Estefan, ZZ Top, and Billy Joel were reluctant to play outdoor amphitheaters because they couldn’t control sound and lights as well as they could at indoor venues.

you’re probably in the way.

Setting up a concert is a self-defeating proposition. Crews know all too well that everything they’ve constructed during the day will be disassembled, packed, and transported that same night.

As we enter backstage, I quickly notice that despite the cavernous appearance and incessant hum of monster amplifiers, audiovisual equipment, and lights, there’s something intimate about this space. Crews dressed in black move silently like shadows through the corridors amid coils, cables, and crates. Everyone knows their job, each task is choreographed with precision, and very few words are spoken. Here, if you’re not moving,

Just outside sit the posh and polished tour buses and semis that remain central to transporting artists and gear from show to show. It’s interesting to see that little has changed since Willie Nelson’s 1980 classic song “On the Road Again.” The number of vehicles necessary to keep artists rambling on varies greatly, with some shows requiring only four to six transport vehicles. In contrast, Taylor Swift is reported to have a fleet of 90 semis for her Eras tour. For the fans, it’s easy to get lost in the fantasy of entertainment. But here, in the belly of the beast, you quickly realize that putting on a show is demanding work, and the technical prowess and human exertion it takes to deliver a performance is mind-boggling. Andrew

reminds me that artists are essentially businesses, and they know exactly how to put on a show. “Our job at Ruoff is to make sure that our facility has everything needed so they can do their jobs,” he says.

Always mindful of artist confidentiality and security, Andrew stops us abruptly at the end of a long, narrow hallway. “This is as far as we go,” he says. Beyond our gaze are the artist hospitality rooms, or green rooms. Access to these small spaces, five in all, is strictly prohibited.

For the past 35 years, artists and legends of the music business have used these areas as dressing rooms, offices, and safe places to hide from the glare of celebrity.

Snoop Dogg, David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Englebert Humperdinck. Humperdinck? Yep! Something for everyone.

Looking up, I notice a basketball goal. “And we have a go-kart track for artists and crew,” says Andrew, as he brings me back to Earth.

“Seriously, a racetrack

VIPs get a bird’s-eye view of the grounds.

with go-karts?” I ask.

“Yes,” laughs Andrew. “Let’s not forget, we are the Racing Capital of the World.”

The next thing I know, Andrew and I have on helmets, and we are racing around a paved oval at crazy speeds. Actually, Andrew is speeding. My times are much less impressive.

Our next stop is the

An Indy 500–inspired go-kart track entertains artists.

VIP club for a bite to eat. Reserved for season ticket holders, we sit in this exclusive, raised, open-air bistro that overlooks the crowd of concertgoers finding their seats. In contrast, the “lawnies” are spreading blankets and opening folding chairs, creating a tapestry of comfort in the grassy meadow.

I’m struck with a sense of history as I think of those who have walked down this hall before me: Elton John, Prince, Cher, Jerry Garcia,

“Tell me about the lawnies,” I say.

“We spend as much time thinking about their comfort as we do anyone else in the venue,” says Andrew. “For us, it’s all about getting people into the venue smoothly, showing them a good time, and sending them home without difficulty, regardless of where they sit.”

Fed and fitted with creden-

Excitement builds

as fans gather on the lawn.

Three generations have now shared concert experiences at this place, and they return each summer as a rite of passage.

tials, I’m escorted through the crush of fans to my seat center stage. Here, the darkness and exclusivity of backstage are replaced by a colorful sea of people in vintage concert T-shirts, rockabilly bangles, and sequined glam. Partying like old friends at a neighborhood block party, these fans—some already dancing like Jagger—have clearly arrived early.

For these music lovers, this is more than a concert venue.

It’s a time machine that magically transports them to the point in their lives when they discovered the music that would define them. Three generations have now shared concert experiences at this place, and they return each summer as a rite of passage. Some remember the early days of Deer Creek. Others

are here for the first time. With all the eyes around me looking forward, I turn my back to the stage and face the crowd. Soon, a collective cheer overtakes the audience as the band takes the stage. High-fives, hugs, and an occasional tear of joy wash over the masses in a tsunami of sound. This is happiness on a grand scale, and no one is holding back.

THEATER & DANCE

Tituss Burgess

Stage and screen actor and singer Tituss Burgess brings his tenor vocals and his humor to The Cabaret in October. don’t miss

OCTOBER

THE TICKET

young spellers gathers onstage at Indiana Repertory Theatre to compete for honors as the next county champion. irtlive.com

Toni Stone

THEATER & DANCE CALENDAR

CLASSIC TALES AND NEW NARRATIVES COMBINE WITH SONG-AND-DANCE NUMBERS AND FEATS OF PHYSICAL AGILITY IN THIS ARRAY OF STAGE PERFORMANCES.

ONGOING

Million Dollar Quartet

ENDS 10/6 Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presents the true story of an extraordinary twist of fate that brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions ever. beefandboards.com

SEPTEMBER

What the Constitution Means to Me

9/5–22 In this American Lives Theatre production at the Phoenix Theatre, Indy favorite Claire Wilcher stars as a woman who paid her college tuition by debating the Constitution and now reflects on the divisive document as an adult. phoenix theatre.org

4 Old Broads on the High Seas

9/6–15 When four gal pals take a Sassy Seniors cruise to the Bahamas, hilarity ensues. The show sets sail at The Cat thecat.biz

Reeve Carney: A Night at the Opera—A Tribute to Queen

9/13 The Cabaret hosts Broadway star and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Reeve Carney for a night of music honoring the legendary supergroup Queen. thecabaret.org

Ring of Fire

9/13–29 Walk the line through the life and times of Johnny Cash with this musical tribute at Studio Theater in the Center for the Performing Arts. thecenter presents.org

An Evening with Reeve Carney

9/14 During night two at The Cabaret, Reeve Carney shares his

unique twist on songs from the Broadway canon and the Great American Songbook. thecabaret.org

All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

9/14 The life story of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes center stage at Clowes Memorial Hall, highlighting her long career as a champion of human rights. butlerartscenter.org

Drag Me to Brunch

9/15 Join host Pat Yo’ Weave and her fellow queens as they strut their stuff in the cabaret environs of Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael. Also presented 10/20, 11/17, and 12/15. feinsteinshc.com

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 9/18–10/13 A motley crew of wonderfully unique and impassioned

9/19–10/6 The Indianapolis Black Theater Company performs this original play by Lydia R. Diamond about the first female professional baseball player on the District Theatre Mainstage indydistrict theatre.org

Square Dance

9/20–22 The Indianapolis Ballet kicks off its first residency program of the season with George Balanchine’s Square Dance and Marius Petipa’s Raymonda Act III at the Tobias Theater at Newfields. indyballet.org

Cabaret

9/20–10/6 Travel back nearly 100 years to a Berlin nightclub, where American writer Clifford Bradshaw meets English singer Sally Bowles in this Footlite Musicals production at Hedback Theatre. footlite.org

Dear Evan Hansen

9/25 This bittersweet coming-of-age story about a high school student trying to fit in with his peers comes to Purdue University’s Elliott Hall of Music convocations.purdue.edu

Into the Woods

9/26–29 A baker and his wife chase their deepest desires into the woods in this Stephen Sondheim production at DePauw University’s Moore Theatre depauw.edu

Eric McCormack & Laura Bell Bundy: A Blonde, Brunette, and Some Duets— from Primetime to Sondheim

9/28–29 These stars of the stage and screen bring their magnetic chemistry from their performance in Broadway’s The Cottage to The Cabaret thecabaret.org

Steel Magnolias

10/4–13 Truvy’s beauty salon brings together an ensemble of women who share the joys, sorrows, and hilarious moments of life in this performance at The Cat thecat.biz

Kinky Boots

10/4–19 After inheriting his father’s shoe factory, Charlie Price forms an unlikely partnership with a cabaret performer to revive the business in this production at The Tarkington thecenter presents.org

Witch Perfect

10/10 This live parody of Disney film Hocus Pocus at Schrott Center for the Arts stars Tina Burner, Scarlet Envy, and Alexis Michelle from RuPaul’s Drag Race. butlerarts center.org

Fiddler on the Roof

10/10–11/24 In this Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presentation, a milkman from the little Ukrainian village of Anatevka tries to protect his five daughters and encourage traditional values in a changing world. beefandboards.com

Mobsters, Molls, and Murder

10/11–27 Immerse yourself in this interactive 1920s murder mystery that guests are invited to solve in groups at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site bhpsite.org

Boo-La-La! 3 An Indianapolis Spooktacular

10/11–27 Take a spooky journey around the world with scary stories, monsters, and superstitions from different cultures at Fonseca Theatre Company fonsecatheatre.org

The Carole King & James Taylor Story

10/17 Revisit the careers of Grammy-winning singers Carole King and James Taylor through songs like “Fire and

THEATER & DANCE Rain,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and more at Schrott Center for the Arts. butlerartscenter.org

Judy’s Life’s Work

10/17–11/3 In this NAATC production at Phoenix Theatre, budding business owner Xavier has big dreams, a complicated past, and a sister who is both his heart and his headache. phoenixtheatre.org

You Are Here:

An Evening With Solea Pfeiffer

10/18–19 Versatile stage and screen performer Solea Pfeiffer uses her powerhouse vocals and gift of storytelling to create a deeply personal musical narrative at The Cabaret thecabaret.org

Late Night Tales

10/18–20 Dance Kaleidoscope opens its 2024–25 season with this collection of short works representing the stages of dreaming at the Indiana Repertory Theatre dancekal.org

The Beat Goes On

10/20 If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, this one-woman stage show at Schrott Center for the Arts pays high praise to Cher and her career-spanning hits, including the title song. butlerartscenter.org

Tituss Burgess

10/25–26 Broadway funnyman and breakout star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Schmigadoon!, Tituss Burgess brings his solo show to The Cabaret thecabaret.org

Autumn Nights

10/25–26 Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre opens its 27th season with a performance featuring some darker tales from the company’s eclectic repertoire at The

Tarkington gregoryhan cockdancetheatre.org

Gender Play

10/25–11/17 Inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, this new comedy offers a fresh take on an old tale in this production at Phoenix Theatre. phoenixtheatre.org

NOVEMBER

She Loves Me

11/1–17 This holidaythemed romantic comedy at the Studio Theater centers around two coworkers who unwittingly become passionate pen pals. thecenterpresents.org

New Works

11/7–10 The Indianapolis Ballet showcases the talents of its artistic staff and performers with this edgy, innovative repertoire featured at The District Theatre. indyballet.org

Adrienne Warren

11/15–16 Tony Award–winner Adrienne Warren, perhaps best known for her role as Tina Turner in Broadway’s Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, brings an electrifying solo show to The Cabaret. thecabaret.org

The Barber of Seville 11/15–17 One of the greatest comedic operas of all time, The Barber of Seville revolves around the character Figaro in this Indianapolis Opera production at The Tarkington indyopera.org

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

11/16–12/24 Banish your bah humbugs at Indiana Repertory Theatre with this uplifting tale of one man’s journey to redemption. irtlive.com

Beauty and the Beast

11/22–12/15 Footlite Musicals presents this tale of love and transformation based on the classic Disney animated film at Hedback Theatre. footlite.org

Bely y Beto

11/24 This rescheduled show at Clowes Memorial Hall entertains families with YouTube title characters Bely and Beto singing and dancing alongside their pals. butlerarts center.org

Cirque Dreams

Holidaze

11/29–30 Cirque artists take the stage at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre to dazzle audiences with a combo of mesmerizing circus artistry and holiday storytelling. livenation.com

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

11/29–12/24 Two World War II veterans meet their matches en route to a holiday show in Vermont during this production at The Tarkington thecenter presents.org

A Christmas Story: The Musical 11/29–1/4/25 Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre shares the story of young Ralphie Parker on his quest to obtain his most desired of Christmas gifts—a Red Ryder BB gun. beefandboards.com

A Very Phoenix Xmas 16: It’s a Wonderful Die Hard Life Story Actually 11/30–12/22 A Very Phoenix Xmas returns to Phoenix Theatre this year with a moviethemed sketch comedy show. phoenixtheatre.org

The Nutcracker

11/30–12/1 The Indiana Ballet Conservatory and

Carmel Symphony Orchestra team up to bring this century-old tale to the Palladium thecenterpresents.org

DECEMBER

Snow Fever: A Karaoke Christmas

12/5–22 This new play by Robert Caisley at Phoenix Theatre focuses on a small band of malcontents determined to make Christmas special. phoenixtheatre.org

Winter Fest

12/6–15 The Florence Theatre hosts Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s celebration of the season. gregoryhan cockdancetheatre.org

Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas

12/7 Glee star Jane Lynch delivers the gift of holiday cheer with the help of The Office actress Kate Flannery and singer-arranger Tim Davis to the Palladium thecenterpresents.org

Ana Gasteyer: Sugar & Booze

12/7–8 Salute the season with holiday classics, original tunes, and the inimitable comedy of Ana Gasteyer at The Cabaret thecabaret.org

The Big Broadway Sing-Along— Holiday Edition

12/11–12 Local performers Scott Semester and Sean Baker the Music Maker team up for a communal evening of pageantry and Broadway show tunes at The Cabaret thecabaret.org

Nutcracker!

Magical Christmas Ballet

12/12 The Murat Theatre at Old National Centre welcomes Talmi Entertainment’s

international cast, along with supporting talent from Avon’s Premier Academy of the Performing Arts. livenation.com

Peanut Butter & Jam: Melchior Marionettes

Holiday Cabaret on Strings

12/14 Designed for children ages 1–7, this show at the Studio Theater features handcrafted marionettes guided by skilled puppeteers. thecenter presents.org

The Sweet Experience, Performances by Dance Refinery

12/14 Drop in to the Indiana History Center for The Dance Refinery’s performance of The Nutcracker, as well as a special spread of hot chocolate and pastries, holiday activities, the Festival of Trees, and photo ops with Clara and the Nutcracker. indianahistory.org

Elf the Musical

12/17–22 Based on the 2003 Will Ferrell film, the stage version of Elf at Clowes Memorial Hall features songs by Tony nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin. butlerartscenter.org

The Nutcracker 12/19–22 Ring in the holidays with the Indianapolis Ballet as they bring visions of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Mouse King, Snow Queen, and more to the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre. indyballet.org

Family Series: Nutcracker Sweets

12/27–30 The Indianapolis Ballet Family Series brings a condensed, one-hour matinee rendition of The Nutcracker to the Tobias Theater at Newfields. indyballet.org

International Violin Competition of Indianapolis

2024-2025 Laureate Series

Saturday, September 7 | 2:30 PM | Madam Walker Theatre

FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTFEATURING 6-WIRE

All are welcome to this FREE community concert at the Madam Walker Theatre with crossover group 6-WIRE, which melds Western and Eastern music featuring the Chinese Erhu, a 2-stringed violin, combined with violin and piano. Tickets are free but required.

Tuesday, October 22 | 7:30 PM | Indiana Landmarks Center

ESPRESSIVO! PIANO QUARTET

In this co-production with Ensemble Music Society, the ESPRESSIVO! Piano Quartet, consisting of IVCI Artistic Director Jaime Laredo, performs quartets by Mozart and Brahms, as well as the premiere of its ﬁrst-ever commission. This performance will be livestreamed.

Friday, November 22 | 7:30 PM | Indiana Landmarks Center

2006 GOLD MEDALIST AUGUSTIN HADELICH & PIANIST CHIH-YI CHEN

In collaboration with the Violin Society of America as they celebrate their 50th anniversary, 2006 IVCI Gold Medalist Augustin Hadelich performs works by Poulenc, Lang, Ysaÿe, Beach, Perkinson and Ravel with pianist Chih-Yi Chen. This performance will be livestreamed.

Saturday, February 1 | 7:30 PM | Schrott Center for the Arts

2022 GOLD MEDALIST SIRENA HUANGPERFORMS BEETHOVEN

Presented in collaboration with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, 2022 IVCI Gold Medalist Sirena Huang performs the breathtaking violin concerto by Beethoven with the ICO, led by Music Director Matthew Kraemer.

Tuesday, April 8 | 7:30 PM | The Cabaret (Indianapolis)

Wednesday, April 9 | 7:30 PM | Hendricks Live! (Plainﬁeld)

TAKE3 - WHERE ROCK MEETS BACH - TWO PERFORMANCES!

Born out of practice rooms of the country’s top conservatories, Take3 lives at the intersection where pop, rock and classical fusion collide. Their unmistakable style and infectious joy in music making can be witnessed in two performances in Central Indiana.

Tuesday, May 6 | 7:30 PM | Indiana History Center

2022 SILVER MEDALIST JULIAN RHEEWITHPIANIST CHELSEA WANG

2022 IVCI Silver Medalist Julian Rhee returns to close out the season in a recital featuring guest pianist Chelsea Wang at the Indiana History Center. www.violin.org

don’t miss

POP, ROCK & MORE

Meghan Trainor

The pop singer, who hits Ruoff Music Center in October, reps her new album featuring singles “Been Like This” with T-Pain, “Whoops,” and “To the

Moon.”

the sounds of her latest, self-titled album to the stage at The Tarkington thecenterpresents.org

Stone Temple Pilots and Live: The Jubilee Tour

9/15 Relive the ’90s alternative and grunge years with a triple bill including STP, Live, and Soul Asylum at Ruoff Music Center ruoffmusiccenter.net

Indy Jazz Fest

POP, ROCK & MORE CALENDAR

FROM ARTISTS PROMOTING THEIR FIRST ALBUMS TO SUPERGROUPS SAYING THEIR FINAL FAREWELLS, MUSICIANS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF ERAS AND GENRES HIT THE CIRCLE CITY.

SEPTEMBER

Pitbull: Party After Dark Tour

9/1 The “Time of Our Lives” singer makes a stop at Ruoff Music Center with special guest T-Pain on a 26-city U.S. tour. ruoffmusic center.net

Squeeze

9/3 Founding band members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford tempt the audience with songs like “Black Coffee in Bed” and “Cool for Cats” at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre. livenation.com

Yung Gravy

Presents: The Grits & Gravy Tour

9/6 Minnesota-born rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor Yung Gravy hits the stage at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park with special guest Carter Vail. whiteriver statepark.org

Edén Muñoz: Tour Como En Los Viejos Tiempos

9/7 The Murat Theatre at Old National Centre hosts Edén Muñoz for an evening of regional Mexican music in support of his new self-titled album Edén. livenation.com

Luke Bryan: Mind of a Country Boy Tour 2024

9/7 Country singer and American Idol celebrity judge Luke Bryan brings guests George Birge, Ella Langley, Dylan Schneider, and DJ Rock along for the ride at Ruoff Music Center. ruoffmusiccenter.net

Jeff Lynne’s ELO: The Over and Out Tour

9/7 Embarking on its final 27-date tour, English rock band Electric Light Orchestra makes a stop at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with special guest Rooney. gainbridgefield house.com

Jazz Brunch

9/8 Enjoy an afternoon bite of jazz featuring vocalist and electric violinist Cathy Morris, alongside host Blair Clark, at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael. Also presented 10/13 (feat. Jennie DeVoe), 11/10 (feat. Katherine Nagy), and 12/8 (holiday edition). feinsteinshc.com

The Avett Brothers

9/12 It’s “No Hard Feelings” when WTTS and MOKB present American roots band The Avett Brothers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with special guest Houndmouth. gain bridgefieldhouse.com

Esperanza Spalding

9/14 Bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer Esperanza Spalding fills the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre with effervescent jazz tunes. livenation.com

Veronica Swift

9/14 With a wide range of influences, jazz singer Veronica Swift brings

Marc E. Bassy and Skizzy Mars team up for a 29-city joint tour that stops at the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre. livenation.com

Nick Carter: Who I Am Tour

9/17–28 Indy Jazz Fest celebrates the genre with 12 days of performances by musicians Chaka Khan, Marcus Miller, Michael Franks, Steve Allee, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lakecia Benjamin, Aymée Nuviola, and more at local venues

The Jazz Kitchen, The Cabaret, and Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park. indyjazzfest.net

Manchester Orchestra: Cope 10th Anniversary Tour

9/20 In the final Rock the Ruins concert of the season at Holliday Park, Atlanta indie rock band Manchester Orchestra takes the stage with special guest Militarie Gun. rocktheruins.com

Frank Sinatra, The Tribute

9/20 Don Farrell and the Terry Woods Orchestra swing into Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael for a tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Also presented 11/15. feinsteinshc.com

Porter Robinson

SMILE! :D World Tour

9/23 You’ll want to smile when Porter Robinson turns up the volume on his electro house synth-pop indie sound at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park. whiteriverstate park.org

Marc E. Bassy & Skizzy Mars

Present: Folk Heroes North America 2024 9/24 Hip-hop musicians

9/26 The former member of the Backstreet Boys, star of VH1’s I Heart Nick Carter, and guest on The Masked Singer and Dancing With the Stars stops at the Palladium on his current solo tour. thecenterpresents.org

Jane’s Addiction & Love and Rockets

9/26 Double up on nostalgia when Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell takes the stage at Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park with Jane’s Addiction and opener Love and Rockets. whiteriver statepark.org

Freddy Jones Band

9/29 Hailing from Chicago, the roots rock band known for their hit “In a Daydream” plays Butler’s Schrott Center for the Arts with special guest Brett Wiscons. butlerartscenter.org