Happy New Year!

2010.

A New Year.

A new day dawning.

Ring out the old, ring in the new!

Turning of the page.

A fresh start.

The first day of the rest of your life!

We annually embrace these seasonal metaphors, chocked full of optimism and resolution, because we are, for the most part, believers – believers in the power of hope and creativity to nurture the human spirit, inspire change, and extoll beauty over ugliness and oppression. The celebration of this new year is an invitation to reinvent, to rethink, to adapt and to support those performing arts institutions that nurture us and sustain the best of humanity.

Best wishes to all our readers for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

JIGU! Thunder Drums of China: review

Wow, what a fun performance. Two friends and I decided that this would be an interesting show to attend, especially after seeing the wonderful drumming on the opening of the Olympics. We got to the box office 1 hour before the show started at the Brown Theatre and were pleasantly surprised by being able to buy "rush tickets" which were only $10. We were way in the back but with an intimate theatre as is the Brown, there are no bad seats. Over half the crowd was children who were all very excited to be going to this show. The performers would change the number and types of drums for each composition; these ranging in size from small drums you could hang around your neck to a giant drum which was wheeled in by 2 men and was at least 6' across as it was suspended on its side. As would be expected, the drum sounds filled the hall but were not overpowering. I really liked the tonal aspect of the different drums and how the composer used them to create visuals with their sounds. The costumes added to the drama as did the choreography of each of the drummers as they played their instruments. The children (and adults) really enjoyed the horn-type instruments played during the “Duck” song (about fighting ducks) and the dancing that went with it. It was a great show and we had a lot of fun!

HOTTEST TICKETS!

Up for a little razzle-dazzle? PNC Broadway Across America – Louisville brings the hit musical Chicago to the Kentucky Center this week, October 29-November 1. Chicago is the winner of six Tony Awards®, two Olivier Awards, and a Grammy®. This sensational tale of sin, corruption and all that jazz, set in prohibition era Chicago, is full of great dancing and great songs. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and choreography by Bobb Fosse (my favorite choreographer!). Chicago is currently the eighth longest-running Broadway show ever.

To get in on the glitz and glam of Chicago, call 502.584.7777 or go to www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Don’t forget to come back to The Audience Blog to let me know how you liked the performance.

A Measure of Worth

How much is a thought-provoking play, an evening of electrifying music or the delight on your child’s face at her first Nutcracker performance really worth?

I guess the answer lies in how much fulfillment the arts bring to our lives. Arts and culture-related industries provide direct economic benefits to our state and community by creating jobs, attracting new investments, generating tax revenues and stimulating tourism and consumer purchases. These jobs, taxes and consumer spending are concrete economic benefits. Harder to measure though is the intangible contribution the arts make to the human spirit. How transformative have the arts been to your heart and mind? Join in the conversation here at The Audience Blog - tell us about how the arts contribute to your spirit.

Audience will be giving away two tickets to Louisville Ballet’s new Brown-Forman Nutcracker this month so register online at theaudiencegroup.com. For more information on The Nutcracker and all the other great holiday performances coming up in November and December, check out the Audience Calendar at the web site. From there, you can link directly to group venues and buy tickets.

Don’t forget to come back to The Audience Blog to let me know how you liked the performances.

HOTTEST TICKETS!

This week I have a couple of hot tickets to tell you about: First of all, A Midsummer Night’s Dream opens on Thursday night, October 1, at Actors Theatre. I have been really jazzed by the Shakespeare productions that Marc Masterson has directed in the last few years. I absolutely LOVED The Tempest, so I am looking forward to what his imagination has cooked up for this comedy full of great characters, tricks and, of course, magic. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be in the Pamela Brown Auditorium through October 24. For more information and tickets, go to actorstheatre.org.

Second hot tip: Our own Lee Luvisi joins the Louisville Orchestra on Saturday, October 3, in the Brown Theatre (8pm). One of the most highly respected pianists in America, Mr. Luvisi will be performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Jorge Mester conducts. Also on the program that night: Weber’s Euryanthe: Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. For more information and tickets, go to louisvilleorchestra.org.

Don’t forget to come back to The Audience Blog to let me know how you liked the performances.

Enjoy the show!

HOTTEST TICKETS!

This week I have a really hot recommendation: Don’t miss the Idea Festival! Go to www.kentuckycenter.org and get the full line-up of speakers and events. This is an amazing festival and so cool that Louisville is hosting it. I saw the Ahn Trio a couple of years ago and they are great – very innovational! It will definitely be a musically exciting night (Thursday, September 24, 8 pm). The other two highlights at the Kentucky Center will be distinguished psychiatrist and virtuoso concert pianist Dr. Richard Kogan (Saturday, September 26, 8 pm) and Chef and author Anthony Bourdain (Friday, September 25, 8 pm).

Don’t forget to come back to The Audience Blog to let me know how you liked the performances.

Enjoy the show!

October Travel Calendar

New York

Lincoln Center
New York Philharmonic
9/30-10/3: Alan Gilbert, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
(The New York Philharmonic is on tour in Asia for the remainder of October)

October 2
Bachiana Filharmônica
João Carlos Martins, conductor
Dave Brubeck, jazz legend
Chris Brubeck, trombone

October 14
American Symphony Orchestra
Leon Botstein, conductor

October 16
Laura Pausini

October 17
Bill Cosby

October 21, 23 & 25
London Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, conductor

October 28
Escher String Quartet

Jazz at Lincoln Center
10/2-3: Monty Alexander: Harlem-Kingston Express
10/7-11: Bobby Hutcherson & Joey DeFrancesco
10/7-10: Colleen McNabb Quartet
10/7-9: 2009 New York Cabaret
10/12-13: Italian Jazz
10/13-17: Luca Santaniello Trio
10/14-18: Tom Harrell, Jeb Patton, Ray Drummond & Willie Jones III
10/15-17: The Ladies of Duke Ellington
10/19: Roni Ben-Hur Quintet
10/20-24: E.J. Strickland Quintet
10/20-21: Ali Jackson Band
10/22-24: Soul Jazz of the ‘60s
10/22-24: Stefon Harris & Blackout
10/26: Berklee Jazz Ensemble
10/27-31: Dmitri Baevsky Quartet
10/27-11/1: Igor Butman, Julius Tolentino, Brian Lynch,
Peter Bernstein, James Burton, Richie Goods & E.J. Strickland
10/29-31: Wynton Marsalis
10/30-31: Dianne Reeves

Carnegie Hall

October 7
Michael Feinstein

October 9
The New York Pops
Steven Reineke, conductor
Wayne Brady, Guest Artist

October 9
Sandrine Piau, Soprano

October 10
Ravi Shankar, sitar
Anoushka Shankar, sitar

October 13
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Charles Dutoit, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano

October 14
Mitsuko Uchida, piano

October 14
Christine Brewer, soprano
Craig Rutenberg, piano

October 15 & 17
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor

October 16
Punch Brothers

October 16
Andreas Staier, fortepiano

October 20
Dame Emma Kirkby, soprano
Jakob Lindberg, lute

October 21
Quanzhou Marionette Theater

October 23
Murray Perahia, piano

October 27
Lang Lang and Friends

October 30
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Yan Huichang, conductor
Trey Lee, cello

The Joyce Theatre
10/6-11: Lucinda Childs’ Dance
10/13-18: Balletto Teatro di Torino
10/20-25: Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet
10/27-11/1: Garth Fagan Dance

The New Victory Theatre
10/2-11: Puppet State Theatre Co. - The Man Who Planted Trees
10/15-11/1: Hansel and Gretel


Chicago

Goodman Theatre
Thru 10/25: Animal Crackers
Thru 10/11: Stoop Stories

Auditorium Theater
10/14: The Joffrey Ballet - Othello
10/29: David Gray

Steppenwolf Theater
Thru 11/8: Fake

Bank of America Theater
Thru 11/22: Jersey Boys

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Arts Association
10/16: B. B. King
10/17: Al Jarreau
10/23: The Capitol Steps
10/23-24: Magic of the Night
10/28-11/1: Rent

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
October 2 & 3
Kristjan Järvi, conductor
Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneón

October 9 & 10
William Eddins, conductor/piano

October 11
Pops: Motown 50
Steven Reineke, conductor
featuring Spectrum

October 15-17
Paavo Järvi, conductor
Sayaka Shoji, violin

New York: On Broadway

A Steady Rain
Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig star as two Chicago cops – and longtime friends – whose honor and loyalty are put to the test when a domestic disturbance case leaves them with opposing recollections.
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St., 800.432.7250.

After Miss Julie
An updated version of August Strindberg’s classic play (Miss Julie) about sex and class in 20th
century England, starring Sienna and Jonny Lee Miller.
American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., 212.719.1300.

Bye Bye Birdie
A revival of the satirical 1960 musical, inspired by the real-life drafting of Elvis Presley into the Army, that pokes fun at ’50s pop culture.
Henry Miller Theatre, 235 W. 44th St., 800.432.7250.

Fela!
A new musical about the life of African composer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
Eugene O’Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., 212.239.6200.

Finian’s Rainbow
A musical classic about an Irishman and his daughter who hope to strike it rich in America returns to Broadway.
St. James Theatre, 246 W. 44th St., 800.432.7250.

Hamlet
Jude Law stars as the Prince of Denmark who must avenge the death of his father in a drama that is considered Shakespeare’s greatest play.
Broadhurst Theatre, 302 W. 45th St., 800.432.7250.

In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)
Sarah Ruhl’s new play about marriage and intimacy at the dawn of the electric age.
Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St., 800.432.7250.

Memphis
Inspired by legendary Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips, this new musical explores the 1950s’ introduction of African-American music to predominantly white listeners.
Sam S. Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St., 800.432.7250.

Ragtime
A revival of the 1998 musical, based on the E. L. Doctorow novel, that meshes the stories of white, African-American and Jewish families at the dawn of the 20th century.
Neil Simon Theatre, 250 W. 52nd St., 800.755.4000.

Superior Donuts
Direct from Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre, Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts’ new comedy is an affectionate paean to Chicago and the redemptive power of friendship.
Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 45th St., 212.239.6200.

The Neil Simon Plays
Two of Neil Simon’s most beloved comedies, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound, play in repertory.
Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St., 800.755.4000.

The Royal Family
A new comedy about a flamboyant theatrical family’s reaction when one of them decides to defect from show business. Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., 212.239.6200.

HOTTEST TICKETS! Louisville Ballet

This week's best bet is the opening of Louisville Ballet's season - Don Quixote. This is a beautiful ballet, full of romance, athleticism, exquisite classical dance and colorful period costumes. Based on Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, written as a burlesque of the chivalric romances popular at the time, the work has become a philosophical study of the human condition. Don Quixote is a perfect ballet for dance lovers of all ages.

For more information on this ballet and Louisville Ballet's entire season, go to louisvilleballet.org

Don’t forget to come back to The Audience Blog to let me know how you liked the performance.

Enjoy the show!

HOTTEST TICKETS! Actors Theatre

As usual, Actors Theatre likes to kick off the season with something really special. This year they are bringing in Chicago’s inventive Lookingglass Theatre Company – a theatre troupe that combines dance, circus, choreography, clowning, storytelling, intense physicality and magnificent feats – to bring Alice in Wonderland to life. This Louis Carroll literary classic will be transformed on stage with mesmerizing circus arts, curious creatures, innovative props, dramatic lighting and dazzling special effects as Alice makes her journey through the looking glass.

This will be my pick for tickets to get. Once it opens and word gets around, tickets may be harder to find. Young and old alike are going to love this production!

To learn more about Lookingglass Theatre Company, check out their web site at lookingglasstheatre.org.

For more on Lookingglass Alice and to buy tickets, go to ActorsTheatre.org. You’ll also find information there on Actors Theatre’s full season as well as special events planned around this production of Lookingglass Alice, including meeting the performers.

Don’t forget to come back to The Audience Blog to let me know how you liked the performance.

Enjoy the show!

HOTTEST TICKETS! Mark your calendar for September 5, 2009.

There is big excitement this fall with the Louisville Orchestra’s opening night gala, Fanfara, which will feature virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell. Although Bell has performed in Louisville before, this will be his debut with the Louisville Orchestra. Earning the equivalent of rock star fame in the classical music world is pretty rare, but Joshua Bell has accomplished just that. He has attained his phenomenal success by playing the most beautiful music in the world on one of the most beautiful instruments in the world with the most beautiful tone, intensity and passion possible. Plus, he has tons of personal charisma. It is no wonder this Grammy® Award-winning violinist has groupies - People Magazine even selected him as One of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World! 

Getting a ticket to this concert may be nearly impossible as the date nears – he is certainly one of those not-to-be-missed performers. Bell is in constant demand both nationally and internationally. While he is a frequent guest at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, the place that welcomes him with the most enthusiasm is Bloomington, Indiana, his hometown and home of his alma mater, Indiana University. With Louisville being so close, we can expect many fans from southern Indiana and IU alumnae at the concert.

To learn more about Joshua Bell, check out his web site at www.joshuabell.com. There you can read his bio, see photos, check out his tour schedule and the awards he has collected, download videos and buy his music. Also while there, read the amazing history of Joshua’s beloved violin, the 1713 Gibson Stradivarius, and how he came to possess it. It’s a great story!

For more on Fanfara and to buy tickets, go to www.louisvilleorchestra.org. You’ll find conductor Jorge Mester’s program for the evening, excerpts from the music that will be played and information about the black-tie Gala dinner atop the Humana Building prior to the concert. You’ll also find a video of Joshua Bell playing Ave Maria. For a collection of great Joshua Bell videos, go to www.YouTube.com and key in Joshua Bell.

Enjoy the concert!

Joshua Bell

I spoke with Joshua Bell by telephone on Friday at his hotel in Switerland. He is absolutely unassuming and a very generous person. I'm looking forward to writing up the interview for you to read in September while he is here, but it appears there may be a change in the program. He is currently planning to play Bruch's Scottish Fantasy--but that might change so stay tuned. What will not change (I hope) is Jorge Mester's scheduling of the Ibert "Ports of Call;" this little-performed work will be worth the price of admission by itself. But combined with the voracious talent of Joshua Bell and Respighi's Pines of Rome being brought to life in front of your ears this will be a magnificient opening for Louisville's virtuoso orchestra.

Joshua Bell

I can't believe you cannot buy 2 seats together for the upcoming Joshua Bell concert with the Louisville Orchestra. This is going to be a wonderful evening so don't miss this performance.

MTL’s Singin’ in the Rain

A friend and I went to see the MTL production of Singin’ in the Rain last Friday. As a big fan of the movie (and Gene Kelly), I was interested to see how the movie translated to an onstage musical. We arrived at The Kentucky Center just in time to get an adult beverage and a hot dog before the show started. There was a large crowd in the lobby with a lot of folks enjoying the ice cream for sale; the food offering being a throwback to the foodstuffs available at Iroquois Amphitheater. An early start time of 7:30 was nice since we didn’t need to wait for the sun to go down before the show could begin.

In a nutshell, the show really surprised me; the skill of the dancing and singing was wonderful as were the costumes and the sets. There were short movie clips (since the plot of the show is about the transition of silent movies to the "talkies") that were hilarious...especially the cameos of Peter Holloway, the Artistic Director of MTL (since I've met him before and most folks wouldn't have known him in costume). All three of the leads had great voices as did the ensemble cast. I was impressed with the tap dancing and the group choreography numbers. It didn't hurt that the lead in the show is a member of the Louisville Ballet.

It was nice to see such a professional production in the intimacy of the Bomhard Theater - like watching a touring Broadway show close-up. Louisville should be pleased that MTL can draw such talented regional performers and present a top-notch musical. I would not be surprised to see some of these young folks return to the big stage someday at the KCA with a national show.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new Audience Blog and welcome to the new 2009-2010 Louisville performing arts season! This is a going to be a fun way to create a conversation about and with our performing arts community. All the groups have planned spectacular shows and star-studded performances all year long. Get on stage with us, pick up the digital microphone and tell us your thoughts about upcoming shows and what you thought about past performances. We will also let you know what we thought as well as link you to important performing arts news and articles.

And while you are at here, register to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming performance from one of the Audience groups:  PNC Broadway Across America - Louisville, Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Center Presents, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville Ballet or Music Theatre Louisville. Audience will give away two tickets each month throughout the season, so you have twelve chances to win!

To start us off on a dialogue, I was musing about my favorite performance last year. Quickly, I realized that I couldn’t narrow it down to just one. So I tried to categorize into the best of the groups. Here’s my list:

While I loved most of Actors Theatre’s regular season, especially Glengarry Glen Ross, A Raisin in the Sun and Pride & Prejudice, my overall favorite was the Humana Festival production of Ameriville by Universes. The energy was frenetic – I have never seen actors work so hard on stage – and it was totally relevant. I would travel to see them again!

While I missed Wicked here because of the weather, I did see it in Chicago a couple of years ago, so I know it was wonderful and a real fan favorite. But choosing from the ones I did see, Spring Awakening was the best – great music, great dance and a real message. As a Cirque de Soleil lover, I have to say that Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy did not meet up to my expectations. 

In terms of dance, everyone says I missed one of the best dance experiences ever with Louisville Ballet’s Rite of Spring with Wendy Whelan. I was out of town that weekend, but those I know who attended praised the production. If you saw it, what did you think?

But I did mange to take in both nights of Kentucky Center Presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and I was totally blown away! I had seen the company perform over 25 years ago, and they are as fresh and exciting now as they were then. Those were two magical nights of dance creativity and innovation. 

Louisville Orchestra offers a wide range of musical options, and it would be near impossible to take in every performance unless you were one of the violinists, so I can’t choose favorites here. I adore Jorge Mester and love his presence on stage in the music he chose for last season, especially Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Holst’s The Planets.    

Please chime in and let me know what your favorites were and what you are looking forward to in this next season. Click on the calendar and browse through the months to see what a great year this is going to be!

Kay Tull

Welcome to the 2009-2010 arts season! We’re excited to bring you the guides that give you all the program and insider information for our arts groups: Actors Theatre, Kentucky Center Presents, Louisville Ballet, Louisville Orchestra, Music Theatre Louisville and PNC Broadway Across America - Louisville. Throughout the season, we’ll be sharing our thoughts about their performances and hope you will, too.

See you at the show!