Can arts save their way to health? July 1, 2009
Posted by lharry , 5comments“Arts organizations that consistently do good work and are aggressive about their marketing are the ones which succeed, both programmatically and financially.”
So says Michael Kaiser, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a recent item at Huffington Post. Kaiser will be hitting the road, visiting all 50 states, to lead “Arts in Crisis” discussions. Included is an August 11 stop in Indy. Details here.
He states that canceling performances, eliminating educational programming, shortening seasons, or “dumbing down” product in the name of accessibility is wrongheaded.
“These approaches to dealing with the current recession all assume that cost is the underlying problem of the arts; conventional wisdom suggests that an arts organization can ’save its way to health.’ But this is wrong, dangerously wrong.”
Is Kaiser right? If quality stays up and the message gets out, will audiences (and donors) show up? Does what he says apply perhaps to the Kennedy Center’s home in Washington, D.C., but not to Indianapolis?
Your thoughts?
Review: “Public Enemies” June 30, 2009
Posted by lharry , 9commentsJust when you’ve made it through another unfocused prison break sequence or another bank job more about the sound of the machine guns then the strategy or risk of the heist, “Public Enemies” gives a glimmer of hope it’s going to become a better movie.
There are effective but far too-few moments between G-man Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and his boss J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup). Unlike Dillinger, these guys at least have overriding goals, which makes their side of the story more compelling.
Billie Frechette, the coat-check-girl turned moll, also has more of a story to tell. But in the hands of the unfocused script and Michael Mann’s distracting direction, actress Marion Cotillard comes off as Meg Ryan with an accent.
Context might have helped. In “Public Enemies,” the Depression takes a back seat. Everybody seems to be getting by just fine. Which diminishes the folk hero aspect of the story and makes the scenes with Dillinger himself (an uninspired Johnny Depp) the least engaging.
But it’s a hard movie to give up on. Just when you are ready to throw in the popcorn bucket, there’s Peter Gerety, making maximum use of his minimal screen tie as Dillinger’s attorney. Or Stephen Lang, who gets some sharp late-in-the-game moments as a cop, hinting at the major supporting actor he could and should be. Lily Taylor, Giovanni Ribisi, and others keep circling in and disappearing too quickly. They breath life into “Public Enemies” while, at the same time, reminding us of what this rambling 140-minute exercise could have been.
Your thoughts?
You-review-it Monday June 28, 2009
Posted by lharry , 9commentsWere you first in line to see the boy king at the Children’s Museum? Check out more Rickeys at the Indianapolis Art Center? Or take advantage of the no-cover Friday night performance at the now-smoke-free Jazz Kitchen?
I caught up with King Tut, but missed the rest of Indy’s offerings. Instead, after stopping in at PBS Kids in the Park, I took a Southern Indiana road trip to see the new open-air show at Lincoln State Park and to find out whether or not I could survive the new Pilgrims Plunge ride at Holiday World (more on both in an upcoming issue).
Don’t be shy. Let our readers (a rapidly expanding population) know what you saw, heard or did this weekend.
Oh, and check out my latest reviews at www.ibj.com/arts. And if you are in a Twittering mode, sign on to IBJarts.
Your thoughts?
New Indy ballet co. names names June 26, 2009
Posted by lharry , 2commentsThe city’s latest aspiring ballet company, Indianapolis City Ballet, is making good on its promise to bring international stars to town for a gala event at the Murat Theatre, Sept. 12. IBJ’s Kathleen McLaughlin takes over the blog today for this report.
The just-announced lineup for the Indianapolis City Ballet’s September gala includes principal and award-winning dancers from Stuttgart, New York and St. Petersburg. (Check out the lineup below.)
In case you haven’t been following the story, local arts patrons Jane Fortune and Robert Hesse are trying to put together a company to replace the defunct Ballet Internationale. Whether they actually proceed will depend much on how much money they raise through the event.
As we reported back in April, Indianapolis City Ballet hired John Meehan, most recently artistic director at the Hong Kong Ballet, to recruit dancers for the big night. (Just to be clear, the dancers are guest artists, performing for a one-time event.)
What do you think? Are you impressed with the roster? Will you turn out for the performance?
Guest artists for “Evening with the Stars”*:
Alicia Amatraian – principal dancer of the Stuttgart Ballet. According to a City Ballet press release, Amatraian is now considered one of “the most exciting and important dancers in Europe.”
Joaquin De Luz – principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. De Luz, a Spaniard, won the prestigious Prix Benois de la Danse in Moscow in early June.
David Hallberg – principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre. Again according to the press release, Hallberg is “considered to be one of the biggest new American stars in ballet.”
Julie Kent – principal dancer. Kent was one of last of the ballerinas chosen by Mikhail Baryshnikov for American Ballet Theatre and an international star for many years. She has appeared in two films, “Dancers,” and “Center Stage.”
Sarah Lane – a soloist with American Ballet Theatre.
Anastasia Matvienko – principal dancer with the Mikhailovsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Denis Matvienko – Anastasia’s husband, also a principal dancer with the Mikhailovsky Ballet.
Tiler Peck – soloist with New York City Ballet.
Miguel Quinones – performing with the Parsons Dance Company since 2005. Known for “amazing” leaps.
Jason Reilly – principal dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet. Canadian, Reilly will begin dancing with the National Ballet of Canada in the fall.
Gennadi Saveliev – soloist with American Ballet Theatre, previously danced with the Bolshoi Ballet and is the recipient of a silver medal from the New York International Ballet Competition.
*Descriptions are provided by Indianapolis City Ballet.
Meehan says the one-time event will emphasize neo-classical and contemporary ballet. Tickets are going for $65, $45, and $25.
For photos and bios of the dancers, click here.
Your thoughts?
Cultural Trail Peace Walk first look June 25, 2009
Posted by lharry , 2commentsGround will be broken today for another leg of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Also being touted: A $2 million memorial to great humanitarians (including Susan B. Anthony, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Albert Einsten).
Take a look at renderings of the Glick Peace Walk here. (Yes, that one looks like Lincoln trapped in a Lava Lamp to me, too.) IBJ reporter Kathleen McLaughlin provides more details here.
Your thoughts?
Jazz Kitchen goes smoke-free June 25, 2009
Posted by lharry , 8commentsAs of tomorrow, June 26, the city’s top jazz club, The Jazz Kitchen, will adapt an all smoke-free/all the time policy.
You can still puff on the patio, but the club itself–which hosts top national and local musicians–with stress clean air over the traditional jazz club atmosphere.
Butt wait…there’s more.
Friday’s show, featuring Cynthia Layne and her band, will celebrate the change by dropping the usual cover charge. That’s courtesy of sponsor Take Note, an advocacy group pushing smoke-free workplaces. Stick around after the live music for deejayed hits and “old school activities” from Old S.O.U.L. Entertainment’s Sir Doug.
So is the smoke-filled jazz club with the haze hanging in the spotlit air a thing of the past? Is there any downside to this decision?
If you haven’t been there before, will this change encourage you to sample The Jazz Kitchen?
Your thoughts?
Ticketing Tut June 24, 2009
Posted by lharry , 26commentsThe Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is hoping to make a big splash with its about-to-open King Tut exhibition. (For details, click here.)
But are artifacts from the boy king a big enough draw to get you to part with $25 for adult tickets on weekdays, up to $30 on weekends? And, if you go, will the kids, ticketed at $15 each, be left home with a sitter?
Keep in mind, we are talking about some of the great treasures of history. And that $50 dropped for you and a date at Tut would barely cover one of the cheapest seats at a Colts game.
So, is the price right?
Some “bests” better than others? June 23, 2009
Posted by lharry , 13commentsA number of arts organizations are making the push now for your votes in The Indy Channel’s A-List competition. Soon we’ll be seeing Nuvo’s Best of picks and the latest superlatives from Indianapolis Monthly.
Question: What is the value of such awards to you (whether you are exclusively a patron or are directly involved in the arts)?
Do you trust or value the awards more if they are decided by committee rather than anonymous voting?
And, finally, do you think that Indy is ready for (or has any use for) a theater awards program such as the Barrymore Awards in Philadelphia or the Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago? (Yes, I know, we have the Encore Awards, but those don’t include professional theaters.)
You-review-it Monday June 22, 2009
Posted by lharry , 4commentsFor me, the weekend (starting with Thursday, of course), included a belated trip to “Octopus” at the Phoenix Theatre and a mellow opening night for Symphony on the Prairie, featuring the music of the Grateful Dead. In and around those — plus Father’s Day activities — I managed to screen a trio of movies for our upcoming preview of the Indianapolis International Film Festival and, because the family could all agree on it, watched the free On Demand flick “Fever Pitch.” (Curious now about Nick Hornby’s original novel, which had to do with soccer–er, football–rather than baseball. And was autobiographical rather than fictional.)
How about you? Did you get to “Much Ado About Nothing” in Garfield Park? Check out the first-time-ever musical production of “Duck Soup” down in Martinsville? Get to a Verizone Wireless Music Center concert?
Your thoughts on whatever A&E you experienced over the last few days?
The tweet smell of success June 18, 2009
Posted by lharry , 3commentsYes, I waited a while to embrace this particular communication tool, but I’m now official a part of the Twitter world. Want to follow? Just click on the site and add IBJarts to you list.
You can also add IBJdining, which I’ll be sharing with Andrea Davis here at IBJ.
What will I be tweeting about? Well, in addition to pointing you toward interesting links, tipping you off to TV programming of note, making pithy comments about entertainment matters, and informing you of last minute arts opportunities, I’ll also be giving the heads up on arts bargains, announcing ticket giveaway contests, and more.
One more reason to join: The 20th person who signs up for IBJarts on Twitter today will win a copy of my book “In the Can; The Greatest Career Missteps, Sophomore Slumps, What-were-they-thinking Decisions and Fire-your-agent Moves in the History of the Movies.”
Where will you find out who won? I’ll tweet it, of course.
Oh, and a question for Twitter vets: What A&E tweets do you find essential or, at least, fun and/or informative? Let us know here.
Your thoughts?
Comic apologies: a brief history June 17, 2009
Posted by lharry , 1 comment so farAll the dialogue in the previous post about David Letterman’s apology to Sarah Palin sent me searching for previous comedian apologies. Here are some I found:
Al Franken to John Ashcroft.
Michael Richards to the African-American community.
Know any more?
Letterman apologizes to Palin June 16, 2009
Posted by lharry , 29comments(Lou Harry is now twittering the arts at IBJarts. Follow along…)
After a few days of back-and-forthing, David Letterman has offered an on-air apology to Sarah Palin for a joke he made referencing her daughter. In case you missed it, here’s the comment in question.
See the apology here.
So did our boy Dave go over the line? Should a comedian apologize for his jokes? Is this too little/too late or an honorable act?
And, ultimately, how does her concern with such matters influence your thoughts about the Alaskan governor?
Your thoughts?
Film fest titles announced June 16, 2009
Posted by lharry , 3comments(Hey Twitter-ers: Follow Lou Harry’s A&E at IBJARTS)
The Indianapolis International Film Festival has announced its lineup for its shifted-to-summer 11-day July event. You can find the full schedule here.
As previously noted, the festival has not only shifted time, but location as well. The whole deal will be held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, which means easy parking and the possibility of more of a festival atmosphere. The downside, though, is the risk that some potential patrons might assume that the event is a highbrow affair.
That’s nonsense, of course. But perception doesn’t always match reality. Personally, I’m excited about scope of films offered each year by the fest — past favorites of mine range from the very moving Australian drama “Look Both Ways” to the goofy shorts “Nevel is the Devil” and “Kidney Thieves.” (Watch the latter two here and here.)
Here’s a sampling of what’s coming:
–The romantic drama “(500) Days of Summer” starring Zooey Deschanel opens the fest on July 15.
–”Best Worst Movie”–a documentary about the making of what is considered by many to be the worst movie of the past few decades–is followed by a screening of that actual movie, “Troll 2.”
–”The Rock-Afire Explosion” concerns the fans of the animatronic band made semi-famous at Showbiz Pizza joints in the 90s. It screens July 23-24
– Amy Irving and Peter Gallagher are among the high-profile supporting players in “Adam,” a romantic drama about a man with Asperger Syndrome. It plays July 19.
–”America on Wheels: Model T” is a documentary focused on a Richmond/Hagerstown celebration of the 100th anniversary of the famed car. See it on July 16 or 21.
And there are dozens and dozens more. Already, IBJ staffers are screening films to prepare that pre-fest guide. Look for it on July 13.
Your thoughts?
You-review-it Monday June 14, 2009
Posted by lharry , 12commentsThis week, for me, included Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s “India Ever After” and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to Irving Berlin. More on both in the upcoming IBJ print edition.
I also enjoyed strolling through White River State Park for the annual Liver Walk on Saturday morning and stopping in at Pride Fest (which, because of the crowd and the number of vendors, could really use another block of city park next year).
What about you? Did you get to the Phoenix Theatre for “Octopus”? Try out the new balloon adventure at Conner Prairie? Hit the Jazz Kitchen or your favorite comedy club?
Let’s hear it. Share your weekend A&E experiences here.
Your thoughts
Emptying the arts notebook June 11, 2009
Posted by lharry , 2commentsSome quick notes:
-If you had mixed feelings about the Tony Awards coverage on Sunday (and have a bit of a mean streak in you), then check out this hilariously rude recap from the knuckleheads at Broadway Abridged. And if you are baffled by some of the plot holes in “Wicked,” well, then click here for BA’s skewering of that show.
–FYI: My review of “Wicked” will be featured in the upcoming print IBJ–along with thoughts on the new Conner Prairie attraction and the movie “Up.” (Do you see a pattern?)
–Can’t get to New York City to see the Tony-winning revival of “Hair”? Ball State University Theatre has just announced its 09/10 season, which will kick off with the Age of Aquarius musical. My thoughts on the Broadway version can be found here.
–Up for some trivial pursuits tonight (Thursday)? I’ll be serving as emcee for a pub trivia competition at Pat Flynn’s Public House. Proceeds benefit Heartland Actors Repertory Theatre. More info here. (Does your not-for-profit need an event host, panelist, or contest judge? If available, I may be able to help. Drop an e-mail to lharry@ibj.com.)
–Since moving locations, independent bookseller Big 
Hat Books is now calling itself Big Hat Books and Arts. The new digs include a private room that can seat up to 100, theater style.
–A study in San Francisco establishes that giving out free tickets doesn’t just serve to “attract new theatergoers to a free show, but also to convert a significant number into future paying customers.” More details here.
–Ticket giveaways are back on my IBJ Daily A&E e-mail. If you aren’t already a free subscriber, click here and sign up.
Your thoughts on any of the above?
Bottoms Up at TOTS June 10, 2009
Posted by lharry , 1 comment so farHot on the heals of its successful run of “Does This Show Make My Butt Look Big,” Theatre on the Square will soon announce a July opening for a new below-the-belt show, “America’s Next Top Bottom.”
The “inter-active, reality late-nite series,” a staple at LA’s Celebration Theatre, has yet to be performed in the Midwest.
Rather than the traditional casting call, TOTS is on the lookout for contestants–and they don’t need to have any theatrical experience. They must, however, be 18 or older “and not easily offended.”
Yes, there will be prizes. Plus, of course, the chance to earn the title of “America’s Next Top Bottom” If you are interested, call call 685-8687 (the show isn’t yet posted on the TOTS website.
Top 200 artists since 1900 June 9, 2009
Posted by lharry , 3commentsYesterday, the London Times published a list of the top 200 artists since 1900. The rankings were based on over 1.4 million votes.
Before you click over and take a look, let’s have some fun:
1. See how many of the top 10 you can guess. (Hint: Gauguin only makes it to number 11. Rauschenberg to 13.)
2. Try to predict how many names you’ll go through before you hit one you don’t recognize? (I stumbled on 17, although I knew many that followed)
You can get to the list by clicking here. While I fully realize the absurdity of such rankings, I am impressed that 1.4 million votes came in.
So how did you do? Is there anyone you think is missing, underrated, or overrated? What biases pop out at you?
You-review-it Monday June 8, 2009
Posted by lharry , 13commentsSo what did you do this weekend?
From “Janis Rocks” at Birdy’s to the Indianapolis Symphony’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” to “Wicked” at the Murat, there was a lot to do.
I caught “Wicked” on Thursday (review coming up next week in the print IBJ) and spent Friday evening at the glorious Liz Callaway concert at the Connoisseur Room, following that with a trip through “Installation Nation” in an empty lot on College Ave.
On Saturday, I had a blast playing softball with many of the Colts, a couple of Pacers, and some local TV folks at Victory Field in a benefit for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund. (If you don’t think this qualifies as A&E, you should have seen my comical throw to first base after forcing out an opponant at second.)
Sunday afternoon was spent with Dance Kaleidoscope, whose “Rite of Spring” program felt more like an appetizer than an entree, thanks to a first act devoted to what was labeled “Class: A Lecture Demonstration of the Martha Graham Technique.”
I’m all for education, but the material felt targeted at a middle school level (”These are called ‘leaps’”) and would have been better suited to a pre-show bonus rather than taking up half the bill. The intention was good and noble, but I felt cheated out of seeing half a DK program. I may have been a bit more tolerant if the after-intermission “Rite of Spring” was more inspiring and engaging. Watching the warm-ups helped me see the work, but I missed the magic.
So what did you see, hear or do since the end of the last work week?
NYC4: “Toxic Avenger” etc. June 7, 2009
Posted by lharry , 2commentsFourth in a series of blogs from my recent NYC trip.
As mentioned previously, this trek to New York included visits to the Broadway productions of “Hair,” “Reasons to Be Pretty,” and “9 to 5,” all of which are up for numerous Tony Awards tonight. My reviews of these three can be found in this week’s IBJ or by clicking here.
FYI: The awards broadcast airs at 8 on CBS, but many of the prizes will be given beginning an hour earlier. These can be seen live on the Tony Awards website.
I did see a fourth show while in the city: the off-Broadway comedy musical “The Toxic Avenger.”
Ten minutes into the show, I passed a note to my companion. It’s one word: “Sorry.”
Unlike “Little Shop of Horrors” or even “Evil Dead: The Musical,” this horror movie take-off about a sensitive guy turned avenger after a run-in with a vat of toxic waste didn’t seem to have a target. After all, it’s spoofing a film that nobody—not even the filmmakers—took seriously.
It looked to be a long, intermissionless, evening.
But after another ten minutes or so of eye-rolling plot set up, a transformation happed. Thanks in large part to the inspired physical comedy of villainess Nancy Opel (like the director, a key player in Broadway’s great “Urinetown”), the quick-changing silliness of rubber-faced supporting player Demond Green, founding Bon Jovi member David Bryan’s over-the-top score (with such songs as “Evil is Hot,” “Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore” and “Hot Toxic Love”), designer John Dods’ effective prosthetic body parts, and more inappropriate blind jokes than you can shake a cane at, “The Toxic Avenger” became giddy, albeit still aimless, fun.
I smell a sequel…or, at least, a production at Theatre on the Square as soon as the rights are released.
That’ll teach me to pass notes.
Your thoughts?
Vogue ticket knockdown June 5, 2009
Posted by lharry , 4commentsThe Vogue has just announced discounted ticket prices for a batch of upcoming shows. The catch is that tickets must be purchased between June 8 at 10 a.m. and June 10 at 10 p.m.
Here’s the lineup:
June 11 PJ HARVEY $30 ticket will be $15
June 12 BODEANS $25 ticket will be $15
June 21 MATTHEW SWEET $18 ticket will be $12
July 10 AUGUSTANA $15 ticket will be $10
July 23 OLD 97s $18 ticket will be $12
July 24 HERE COME THE MUMMIES $15 ticket will be $12
July 27 PAOLO NUTINI $18 ticket will be $12
July 28 THE WALLFLOWERS $20 ticket will be $14
August 8 EDWIN McCAIN $22 ticket will be $15
Anything here excite you? And is it likely that the discount will encourage you to actually go to any? (Oh, and there’s no service fees tacked on if you buy your tickets at the box office.)
Your thoughts?