Robert Barry Fleming – Executive Artistic Director Actors Theatre of Louisville
By G. Douglas Dreisbach
Actors Theatre of Louisville has been a longstanding pillar for theater in Louisville since 1964. Located in the heart of downtown, Actors is known for its innovative productions and commitment to new works, garnering national attention and awards for its various works. It continues to be a vital hub for contemporary American theater today. We caught up with the theater’s Executive Artistic Director, Robert Barry Fleming, to hear more about his outlook on the arts community, his roles and responsibilities, biggest accomplishments, and more.
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.
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.
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.
Director, Raphaela Platow address Speed Art Museum members and partners at the opening of India: South Asian Paintings from the San Diego Museum of Art. Photo by Kevin Sivakumar
The Speed Art Museum stands as a testament to artistic exploration and cultural immersion. Founded in 1927, the Speed is not only the oldest and largest art museum in Kentucky, but also boasts a vibrant and diverse collection that has been applauded by the deep appreciation for the arts in the community, fostering artistic dialogue and igniting imaginations for generations.
Audience publisher, G, Douglas Dreisbach, caught up with Director Raphaela Platow to hear more about her background, the importance of The Speed and the exciting new season of exhibits.
