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.
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 Friday October 4 through Sunday October 6 and is 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.
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.”
(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 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.
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!”
