Matt Wallace – Producing Artistic Director Kentucky Shakespeare
By G. Douglas Dreisbach
Kentucky Shakespeare may be most known for its world-class Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park, but there is so much more to the organization. The group also provides education programs for schools, public performances, and community outreach programs. In fact, it’s the most comprehensive in-school arts education provider in the commonwealth. The group serves schools throughout the region with interactive educational programming directly tied to academic standards, helping to impact student achievement. Many of the programs explore conflict resolution, empathy building, and communication in a range of settings from preschools to senior centers.
We caught up with Producing Artistic Director, Matt Wallace, to hear more about what it takes to maintain excellence in the Shakespeare space, the programs they offer, and the importance and results of how said programs benefit students in the schools they visit.
Be sure to visit KYShakespeare.com for an updated schedule of events and more information.
Erin Silliman – Producing Director CenterStage at the Trager Family JCC
By G. Douglas Dreisbach
CenterStage at the Trager Family Jewish Community Center is one of the oldest continuously operating theater groups in the region, known for its high-quality productions of musicals and plays. The theater company moved to JCC’s new, state-of-the-art facility in April 2022.
Established in 1913, CenterStage enriches Louisville’s cultural landscape by showcasing local talent and fostering a love for the performing arts, while celebrating diverse stories and perspectives. Each season consists of four to five productions with six to seven performances each. This year’s line-up includes The Music Man, Bent and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, that were both in 2024, and upcoming productions include Disney’s High School Musical (Feb. 20, 22, 23 & 27; March 1, 2, 6, 8 & 9) and 9 to 5: The Musical (May 8, 10, 11, 15, 17 & 18).
We caught up with CenterStage Producing Director, Erin Silliman, to get the inside scoop about what’s going on with the season and what makes it such a special place for theater productions in Louisville.
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) When Houndmouthmade 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.
Houndmouthmakes 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)
TAIKOPROJECTis 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.
