Actors Theatre of Louisville Bids Farewell to Executive Artistic Director Robert Barry Fleming
Actors Theatre of Louisville (ATL) announced the departure of Executive Artistic Director Robert Barry Fleming, who has led the organization with vision, passion, and innovation since June, 2019. Fleming will be moving on to pursue other creative and artistic opportunities. During his tenure, Fleming has solidified ATL’s reputation as a hub for bold, inclusive, and groundbreaking theatre.
“It has been the privilege, honor, and daily joy of my lifetime to work and learn with and from this extraordinary Actors team. Though the challenges of stewarding a regional theater through a global pandemic and the detrimental comprehensive impact it has had on our industry has been formidable for everyone in our field who care about and are dedicated to the American theatre, I’m nothing less than ‘beyond-my-wildest dreams’ grateful for the wonderful partnerships that have emerged and the sense of community and connecting across difference that has manifested from our collective efforts,” offered Fleming.
Performance Preview: Broadway in Louisville “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” – Feb. 18-March 2
Broadway in Louisville performances continue to shine as they welcome back Moulin Rouge! The Musical, a dazzling theatrical adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, capturing the essence of the bohemian spirit and the allure of the famed Parisian nightclub. Set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris during the Belle Époque at the turn of the 20th century, the narrative follows Christian, a young American composer who falls deeply in love with Satine, the star courtesan of the Moulin Rouge. Their romance faces challenges from the club’s financial troubles and the machinations of the wealthy Duke of Monroth, who seeks Satine’s affection in exchange for his investment in the club. The story intertwines themes of love, art, and sacrifice, all set against a backdrop of vibrant music and dance.
Broadway Getaway: Boston, Massachusetts
We are excited to present another Audience Broadway Getaway featuring great destinations that you can travel to with a non-stop flight from Louisville’s Muhammed Ali International Airport.
Boston, Massachusetts is known for its rich history, championship sports franchises, amazing food and a world-class arts and theater scene, and Broadway in Boston always delivers high quality performances year after year.
Audience Spotlights: Leaders of Louisville’s Arts Groups
Louisville’s vibrant arts scene thrives on the vision and passion of its leaders, each shaping the city’s creative landscape in unique ways. To celebrate the kick off of Audience Magazine in print, we caught up with seven trailblazing leaders of local arts organizations to explore their inspirations, challenges, and hopes for the future. From fostering community engagement to pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, these visionaries reveal what it takes to keep the arts alive and flourishing in Louisville.
Each interview is available to read or listen to in its entirety below. Enjoy and see you at a show soon!
Broadway in Louisville: Come From Away Returns for Special 3-show Performance – January 11 & 12, 2025
Broadway in Louisville is excited for the return of the hit musical, Come From Away, January 11 and 12 for three special performances.
The critically acclaimed Broadway musical tells the remarkable true story of what transpired in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The show, written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, opened on Broadway in 2017 and quickly gained widespread praise for its powerful message of kindness, humanity, and resilience in the face of tragedy.
(Review) Houndmouth Returns to Louisville – Sat. Nov. 16 – Louisville Palace
(Review) When Houndmouth made their return to Louisville Saturday, November 16 at the Louisville Palace, we knew it was going to be a great concert. It seems that anything at the Palace is always a treat and this concert was no exception. The band had great energy and played several of their more popular hits aw well as some new ones. Fan favorites including the opening song, Darlin’ and then rolling thru to Black Gold. The full set list of eighteen songs also included McKenzie, Miracle Mile, Good for You and My Cousin Greg with a four song encore that ended the night with Sedona.
This was the last night of their tour and could tell they were happy to be home and their on stage performance prooved it.
Houndmouth makes their return to Louisville Saturday, November 16 at the Louisville Palace for what we think will be another fun and energetic show from the New Albany, Indiana-based band. Known for their soulful blues and rock sound blending Americana, folk, and rock influences, recent concert reviews indicate the band is playing great together with fan favorites like “Sedona”, “My Cousin Greg”, “Golden Age” and more. Their sound blends to catchy melodies with fun spin offs in each song, but not quite to the extent of a jam band.
They always put on a great show and being the last show of their current tour, this should be a great night. (Spotify Artist Channel)
Japanese Style Drum Sensation TAIKOPROJECT Comes to Kentucky Center November 10
TAIKOPROJECT is an acclaimed ensemble that has redefined the art of taiko, or Japanese drumming, by infusing it with a distinctly modern, American style, and is coming to the Kentucky Center Bomhard Theater, Sunday, November 10.
Founded in Los Angeles in 2000, TAIKOPROJECT combines the deep cultural roots of traditional Japanese taiko with fresh, innovative techniques and dynamic performances. Since their debut, they’ve developed a reputation for breaking barriers in the art form, balancing reverence for tradition with a desire to push taiko into new, uncharted territory.
Audience Interview: Cash or Trade Ticket Platform Co-Founder – Dusty Rich
In this Audience Interview, we are excited to dive into the world of digital ticketing and how to navigate the process and what has become the norm for concerts, events, festivals, and really any live performances. There are certainly pro’s and con’s to the digital ticketing world, but in the end, I think it’s here to stay. To get an inside perspective on some of the best practices for ticketing in today’s landscape, as well as an alternate outlet for face value tickets, we caught up with one of the founders of the online ticket trading platform, Cash or Trade. Brothers Dusty and Brando Rich launched Cash or Trade in 2009 as a user-friendly ticket platform to buy, sell, and trade concert tickets for real fans of music that was kind of built and cultivated for fans and buy fans. From what started as a ticket trading bulletin board in a Phish show parking lot, has grown into over 500,000 users and a integrated fan experience for a much better price.
Listen to the interview:
Grateville Dead Music Festival Returns October 18-20 to Waterfront Park
Louisville’s tribute to Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead Dead returns to Louisville for a weekend of great music, local vendors, food, drinks and family fun.
Now in its 10th year, the GrateVille Dead Music Festival will return to the Brown-Forman Amphitheater at Waterfront Park October 18, 19 and 20. The three-day music festival serves as Louisville’s celebration of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead and is chalked full of local and regional Grateful Dead tribute bands celebrating the band’s music. Headlining this year’s lineup is Kentucky Grateful Dead Tribute Band, Born Cross-Eyed, along with Pink Talking Fish and award-winning bluegrass group, Mama Said String Band.
Audience Interview: Nicole Yates – Caring for the Community
Nicole Yates has a passion for making her community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky a better place, and the arts are a big part of that. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Fund for the Arts and is also the Vice President for Growth and Community Engagement for Passport by Molina Healthcare, where she leads teams around the state to ensure that the underserved people of Kentucky have access to quality health care. Her efforts lead to real results that have real effects, and we can’t thank her enough.
Audience Magazine caught up with Nicole to hear more about her life’s work as an advocate for disadvantaged populations.
St. James Court Art Show: Oct.4 – Oct. 6 – The Art Show That Gives Back
Kentucky’s favorite autumn tradition, the St.James Court Art Show, is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 art shows in the nation. Annually attracting about 600 artists and more than 250,000 visitors to Old Louisville, people come from near and far to purchase one-of-a-kind handcrafted art directly from the artists that created them.
The annual celebration of art will take place held among the country’s largest collection of Victorian homes in the heart of historic Old Louisville. The 4-square block features six unique sections, one art show. St. James Court, Belgravia Court, Fourth Street, 3rd Street, 1300 Section, West End Baptist Church.
Broadway in Louisville: Performance Preview – Les Misérables – October 1 – 6, 2024
The Heart of Valjean – Nick Cartell on Fatherhood, Loss, and 1,200 Nights of Les Mis
Nick Cartell steps into the spotlight, alone on stage. For the audience, it’s a performance. For Cartell, it’s personal. After more than 1,200 performances as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, this role isn’t just a job — it’s a mirror. Every night, Cartell finds something new in the part: a glance, a note, a reaction. Each moment is a reminder that Valjean’s story is also his own.
It’s that kind of energy, authenticity, and vulnerability that audiences can look forward to when one of Broadway’s most iconic musicals, Les Misérables, comes to Louisville in October.
“If you haven’t seen the show yet, take the leap. Come and join us,” Cartell says. “You’ll come away thankful that you did, especially with everything happening in our world right now. An audience can come together, sit in one space and connect with these characters. There is a collective energy that comes with seeing theater.”
Celebration of the Arts POSTPONED to April 19, 2025
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, Fund for the Arts will now host Celebration of the Arts (originally September 28, 2024) on April 19, 2025.
Originally part of the Paristown Fall Art Fest, Celebration of the Arts will now be a part of Paristown’s Spring into Derby Art Fest, in Christy’s Garden from 10 am – 4 pm on April 19. Paristown will then welcome Juicebox Heroes, who perform that night at 7 pm.
Festival Fever: Bourbon & Beyond Ready to Roll with All-Star Line-up
With the return of the regions largest music festival September 19 – 22, 2024, Bourbon & Beyond is ready to host over a hundred thousand fans to four days of amazing music across four stages as well as other entertainment and culinary experiences.
From the moment the line-up announcement came out for this year’s festival, fans have been on the edge of their seats for the final line-up and set times. Well, the wait is over, and the line-up is stellar as advertised. Featuring music industry icons such as Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, Dave Matthews Band, Sting and more, tickets are few and far between and it seems that we are on the forefront of what will be another amazing weekend!
Blues Icon Buddy Guy to Perform at Whitney Hall Tuesday, August 13
(Show Review by Adam Richards & Doug Dreisbach) Buddy Guy came to Whitney Hall on August 13 for his Damn Right Farewell Tour, and left his fans with a great goodbye. The 88 year old living legend put on an amazing performance with a tremendous band backing him up consisting of drums, bass, a smokin’ secondary lead guitar and keyboard player who both showed their skills with several fantastic break out solos. He told stories from his past and held captivated the audience with every word and note played. He still has the voice and can wail on the guitar. Be sure to check him out if you can.
Buddy Guy, an iconic figure in the world of blues music, is coming to Louisville on Tuesday, August 13th for his “Damn Right Farewell Tour”. The show will take place at Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts and will be a testament to his enduring legacy and contribution to music.
Announced as his final major tour, it has been a bittersweet event for his fans, marking the end of an era while celebrating his incredible body of work. The tour’s name is a nod to his famous catchphrase, “Damn right, I’ve got the blues,” which is also the title of his Grammy-winning 1991 album.
Announced as his final major tour, it has been a bittersweet event for his fans, marking the end of an era while celebrating his incredible body of work. The tour’s name is a nod to his famous catchphrase, “Damn right, I’ve got the blues,” which is also the title of his Grammy-winning 1991 album.
4th Annual Summer Beer Fest Returns to Frazier Museum – Sat. July 27
The Frazier History Museum has announced its fourth annual Summer Beer Fest at Frazier, which will again be a block party in front of the museum on Main and Ninth Street. This year’s Beer Fest will feature more than 200 specialty beers, food, retail, live street music by brass bands—including a “Chicken Dance” for all in attendance—and a fun zone with games and activities! “This summer tradition in downtown Louisville started four years ago,” president and CEO Andy Treinen said. “This will be our third year shutting down Main Street for 1,200 beer lovers to celebrate right alongside our amazing Kentucky brewers from nine different Kentucky counties!”
Speed Art Museum Exhibit Spotlight: Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrored Room – LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER
The Speed Art Museum is excited to unveil Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrored Room – LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER. This installation marks the first time an “infinity room” has been presented in Kentucky and is on special loan from the Art Gallery of Ontario. The immersive exhibit envelops the visitor inside a large, mirrored space with stainless-steel spheres suspended from the ceiling and arranged on the floor.
The reflective spheres recall Kusama’s installation Narcissus Garden, which was first shown at the 1966 Venice Biennale.
Fund for the Arts: Cultural Pass Kick-off
The 2024 Cultural Pass and Summer Reading offer “passport to creativity” for Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana young people
School’s out and the 2024 Cultural Pass and library summer reading programs are here to prevent summer learning loss, provide fun and free arts and culture experiences, and inspire young people ages 0-21 to take full advantage of their passport to creativity! Cultural Pass programs are available in Jefferson, Bullitt, and Oldham counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties in Indiana.
Event Spotlight: St. Matthews Summer Fest Set for June 22
The streets of St. Matthews will come alive at this highly anticipated street fest – St. Matthews Summer Fest 2024 on June 22, 2024, from 12pm to 10pm. The event will take place along Frankfort Ave between Lexington Rd and Bauer Ave, as well as in Gerstle’s parking lot.
This year’s St. Matthews Summer Fest promises to be a big day of fun featuring an array of attractions for the whole family to enjoy. With free admission and open to the public, attendees can expect a day filled with family fun, delicious food, captivating live music, and the opportunity to support local artisans and businesses.
Railbird Rocks Lexington June 1 & 2 with All-Star Line-up
Festival season is heating up and the Railbird Festival in Lexington is ready to rock this weekend.
Chris Stapleton and Noah Kahan headline this years festival along with over 30 artists across three stages including Hozier, Turnpike Troubadours, Counting Crows, Lord Huron, Wynonna Judd, Dwight Yoakam, and Elle King.
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