Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen Celebrates One Millionth Guest in Louisville
The great reviews for PNC Broadway in Louisville’s Dear Evan Hansen keep flooding in and you have until Sunday, October 6th to see what the buzz is all about. The winner of six Tony Awards, including best musical, is leading audiences through a mix of emotions and inner fulfillment when the final curtain calls.
The show is not only popular in Louisville, but has been blazing the box office across America and welcomed its one millionth guest at the October 4th performance at The Kentucky Center for the Arts.
read moreLouisville’s Waterfront Gardens to Merge Art, Nature for ‘3-D’ Experience
The question counts among the more common ones Kasey Maier encounters when talking to people about Waterfront Botanical Gardens.
I don’t really care much about plants, the inquiry goes. Why would I come?
Maier, president of the Gardens and a leader of the development of the new Louisville landmark since 2013, has a ready answer.
“I say, ‘Would you come to hear the orchestra? Would you come to see the ballet perform? Or to hear some kind of musical performance or see some visual art?’”
read more‘Hype Man’ and the search for perspective
Waiting a little longer won’t kill us.
Waiting a little longer is what’s killing us.
The exchange of dialogue between two of the three characters of Hype Man: a break beat play hits like a gut-punch when its deployed by Idris Goodwin’s script to set up the second act of his microcosm of racial tensions in the era of Black Lives Matter.
The trio represent a Goldilocks-esque set of perspectives on excessive police force against African-Americans and what to do it about it. Too cold? Too hot? Is “just right” even possible in the era of double-down politics?
read moreKentucky Center Presents ‘Home Free Dive Bar Saints’
“Dive Bar Saints” is the title track in Home Free’s latest album, released in September of this year. The band’s rich, Southern harmonies come from their four vocalists (Tim Foust, Rob Lundquist, Austin Brown, Adam Chance) and beatboxer Adam Rupp.
Now, Home Free is bringing their new and older music to The Brown Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, at 8 p.m. With praise rolling in from the likes of Rolling Stone, Country Living, Perez Hilton, FOX & Friends, and AXS.com, the extraordinary showmen electrify crowds with a one-of-a-kind live show, mixing Nashville standards, soaring originals, and quick-witted humor that brings audiences to their feet with energy and laughter.
read moreKentucky Shakespeare presents ‘Night of the Living Dead’
The same creative Kentucky Shakespeare team that brought you last year’s popular THE WAR OF THE WORLDS is back with a unique take on George A. Romero’s cult classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.
The 1968 film NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, which has been called the grandfather of the modern zombie film, tells the story of seven people trapped in a rural farmhouse in western Pennsylvania, alternately hiding from and fighting a large and growing group of living dead ghouls. The story has been remade and retold many times, including a 1988 radio drama.
read moreOrchestra to bring Hollywood magic to Louisville
A few months ago I excavated from a basement closet a box of my old albums. I wasn’t surprised to rediscover that a large portion of them fell into the category of movie soundtracks. The oldest one was for Jaws. It may have been the first album I ever bought with my own money, way back in 1975. The unforgettable, simply evoked dread of the famous theme predicted a brilliant career for its composer, John Williams, just as the decision to proceed with such a minimalist score signaled the genius of director Steven Spielberg.
Not far behind in age and permanence in my brain—and the brain of virtually every other cinemagoer of that era—was the soundtrack for Star Wars. Saturday Night Fever was in there, too, though I may have moved to 8-track by the time it was released. I listen to The Godfather from time to time. And the collection still builds, through Blade Runner, Mike Oldfield’s orchestral version of his “Tubular Bells” used in The Exorcist. Hans Zimmer’s simultaneously opulent and haunting score for Gladiator. Many others.
read moreLouisville Hosts Three Rockin’ Festivals in September
In what is sure to be the most rocking month in the history of Louisville, Kentucky, music fans are in for at treat with three all-star music festivals covering just about every genre of music. Kicking it all off is Hometown Rising (September 14 & 15) featuring country music all-stars, then get ready for the rock legends at Bourbon & Beyond (September 20, 21, 22), and lastly Louder Than Life (September 27, 28, 29) will wrap it all up with the rockers of the world. Regardless of what your music preference is, you will surely find your niche with one of the three and Louisville is waiting for you with open arms.
All three festivals are conveniently located among the newly renovated Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Festival Grounds offering plenty of parking and proximity to hotels, restaurants and the airport.
read moreThe Kentucky Center Opens 36th Season with Lewis Black, Wu-Tang Clan, Lyle Lovett and more!
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is offering a wide variety of entertainment as it opens its 36th arts season – including a bevy of shows at the historic Brown Theatre and the newly opened standing room venue, Old Forester’s Paristown Hall. Fall performances will feature rap group Wu-Tang Clan, the return of singer Lyle Lovett, comedian Lewis Black, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and many others.
View the current season lineup at www.kentuckycenter.org.
read moreThe Cinema at the Speed Art Museum: Aug.-Sept. 2019
One of the great treasures for the thinking community in Louisville is the 138-seat Cinema that opened as part of the Speed Art Museum’s expansion. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including 16mm, 35mm and DCI-compliant 4K digital projection systems, the venue screens films that otherwise would never be shown locally. Look for features that offer the Cinema+ experience, where after-screening talks and conversations feature artists and filmmakers tied to the projects. Here are shows scheduled for August and September 2019.
Playwright Idris Goodwin talks ‘Hype Man’ and the BLM movement
Hype Man is one of Actors Theatre of Louisville’s production for the 2019-2020 season. The hip-hop centric drama touches on issues of race, class and music. Here’s what playwright Idris Goodwin had to say Actors’ resident dramaturg, Hannah Rae Montgomery.
Hannah Rae Montgomery: What inspired you to write Hype Man?
Idris Goodwin: On a basic level, Hype Man is about a band. It’s a workplace drama, the business just happens to be rap music.
read moreOrchestra to kick off season with free outdoor concert
The Louisville Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Teddy Abrams, presents a free concert on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. at the Iroquois Amphitheater (near the intersection of New Cut Road and Kenwood Drive).
The program, sponsored by Brown-Forman and LG&E, is for the entire family, Teddy leads the LO in a wide variety of music including classical (Symphony No. 9 by Antonín Dvořák), bluegrass (Pando by Jeremy Kittel), traditional (Amazing Grace), and film (Star Wars by John Williams). The concert closes with the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky.
read moreTake a trip to Pine Mountain
In a few recording sessions scattered over the autumn, winter and spring of 2017 and 2018, 44 musicians and writers from all across Kentucky gathered on the slopes of Pine Mountain in Harlan County to make a record. Their aim: Connect all of us to the important work of the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust. Produced and Engineered by Daniel Martin Moore, sales of the Pine Mountain Sessions album directly benefit the Lands Trust and the Pine Mountain Settlement School.
Railbird Fest Set for August 10 & 11 at Keeneland Racecourse – Lexington, KY
Get ready to experience Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky like never before with the first-ever Railbird Festival, taking place August 10th and 11th! A Kentucky extravaganza through and through, Railbird is centered around music, bourbon, and equine with performances by The Raconteurs, Hozier, Tyler Childers, Brandi Carlile, and more! CLICK HERE for more information and tickets!
The Mavericks are back and coming to Louisville Sept. 26
Sometimes all you need for things to go right is a little time.
The Mavericks—masters of country-Latin rock ’n’ roll, born in the rich cultural mix of Miami then tempered in Nashville’s country hothouse—rode high in the country and rock charts of the 1990s with culture-crossing hits like “What A Crying Shame” and “All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down.” Then they conquered Europe with the titanic feel-good party classic “Dance The Night Away”, a 400,000-seller in the UK. Yet nothing lasts forever, and in 2004 The Mavericks went on hiatus while frontman Raul Malo explored new musical avenues.
read moreIt’s never too early to count down for the Count … Dracula, that is
Labor Day barbecue menus haven’t even been planned yet, but already we’re ramping up for Halloween. The U.S.’s second-favorite holiday (spending for it falls behind only our spree at Christmas) seems to get our attention earlier each year. And if you live in Louisville, the first whiffs of pumpkin spice means one thing: Fifth Third Bank’s “Dracula” is stirring, ready to storm from the cave for a flight and a bite at Actors Theatre of Louisville.
Ready to get it on with Theo Von?
Now is the time to get your tickets to see one of the hottest performers in stand-up. Theo Von will be in Louisville for a one-night-only show on Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Bomhard Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.
Comedian and podcast host Theo Von is on the rise as he continues to sell out theaters worldwide while gaining millions of downloads per month of his popular podcast This Past Weekend.
The guy is everywhere these days. He can be seen in his very own Netflix Original comedy special, No Offense. Theo’s podcast, This Past Weekend, is one of the top comedy podcasts, garnering 3.5 million listens a month. Theo has appeared numerous times on Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, and regularly on Joey Diaz’s The Church of What’s Happening Now. He was voted guest of the year on The Fighter and the Kid by TFATK listeners in 2017.
read moreWarmed by the ‘Ring of Fire’
May I confess to you that my relationship to Johnny Cash has always been a bit on the cold side? I grew up in the ’60s in a home where Hee Haw was forced on my pre-teen self the way some kids were routinely dosed with cod liver oil. Neither leaves a pleasant taste when you’re 6 and would rather suck on Dum Dums and turn the dial to whatever was on Channel 41.
In fact, no one who might have appeared on either side of Grandpa Jones’ reciting the components of the night’s dinner menu, or who might sit in for a robust interlude of picking and grinning, stood much of a chance of being endeared to me.
“Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” reminds me of how much I’ve missed over the years.
read moreActors Theatre wants to know: Are you ready for a hot ‘Ring of Fire’?
Are you ready for this summer to get hotter? Actors Theatre of Louisville has just the ticket—or two, so you can favorite theatergoer with you—with “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.” The musical review presents the best known and loved songs by the Man in Black.
YOUTH OPERA CAMP: A Musical & Theatrical Experience for Grades 2-5 – July 15-19
A perfect summer day camp for your young performer. During this week, each camper will have the opportunity to create, act, sing, and explore within a supportive environment with age appropriate skill building. Professional teaching artists will guide students to create musically theatrical narratives, build social skills, and promote personal growth. Family and friends will be invited to attend the end-of-week camp showcase. $375 per participant – Financial assistance is available.
The Louisville Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (TM) July 6-7 @ The Kentucky Center Whitney Hall
The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert, the fourth film in the Harry Potter series. On Saturday, July 6 at 7PM and Sunday, July 7 at 3PM, YOUR Louisville Orchestra will perform the magical score live from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen.
Contact Audience502. We Would Love to Hear from You!