Indy Theatre Habit

I judged an Encore show last Friday night but, as usual, I am not allowed to tell you about it.  I have five more Encore shows to judge.  I can hardly believe my year as a busy-but-silent Encore judge is almost over!

A new show opened at Theatre on the Square this weekend and the Shakespeare group in Greenwood did another one-weekend-only show, and actually, there were tons of interesting theatre-related things going on.  I am sorry I couldn’t attend all of them.   On Saturday night I decided to take another little break from reviewing and accept an invitation to a theatre party instead.  Tom McTamney and his partner hosted a fundraiser in their beautiful home for the Heartland Actors Repertory Theatre (HART.)  Each of us paid $30 to get in.

I got to see a lot of people that I already know and like and I got to meet a lot of nice new people.  I gave my blog card to a few of the new people, but I forgot all about pumping the people I knew for blog-worthy gossip and news when the official entertainment for the evening began.  What a treat it was to sit close and hear several talented individuals sing and/or play the superb piano in Tom and Larry’s music room! 

These gifted, generous souls included:

• Brent Marty, Director of Music and Education for the Indianapolis Civic Theatre - I don’t know Brent well at all, but I have enjoyed both his acting and directing work before.  Watching him play piano and sing with and for the people at this party made me think he must be a pleasure to work with. There is a certain generosity and sensitivity to his music-making that is very appealing. Plus, he knows a gazillion songs by heart!
• Marni Lemons – I have enjoyed Marni’s vivacity and powerful singing voice in several shows and also enjoyed her non-singing work most recently in “Enchanted April.”  After the HART party I am even more looking forward to hearing/seeing her perform in “Pumpboys and Dinettes: A Country Music Revue” at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre some time during its “20^th Anniversary Farewell Engagement” August 6-8, 2009.
• HART company member Megan McKinney - I enjoyed Megan’s acting in “Midwestern Hemisphere” last year  and in “The Little Dog Laughed” the year before but I discovered at this party that she is actually better known around town as a vocalist. Her singing voice is, indeed, beautiful.
• Cindy Lash – Cindy told me that she misses acting and singing in shows but that she does sing often for her church. Lucky congregation! She sounded great at the party.

Later in the evening, the hosts, by request, took a turn playing and singing some moving pieces that brought tears to people’s eyes.  Then HART actor-director Michael Shelton said he couldn’t resist playing a few Beatles and Billy Joel songs “on such a gorgeous instrument.”   I think he said he plays regularly at a place called “Howl at the Moon.”  And at yet another point in the evening, when Brent was back on the piano, I loved hearing the robust voices of HART president Brian G. Hartz and HART company manager Ben Tebbe singing along to “Join Us” from “Pippin.”

Speaking of HART company members, Brian told me that at next weekend’s two performances of “Much Ado About Nothing” there will be some pre-show entertainment in the form of music and “other.”  The “other” made me laugh, but knowing these guys, I’m sure they will come up with something appropriately whacky and engaging to fill in with in between the music.  Brian is MC-ing on Friday night with pre-show music by singer/songwriter Cara Jean Whaler and cellist Grover Parido.  Lou Harry from the Indianapolis Business Journal will MC on Saturday night, with singer/songwriter Tim Brickley.  I loved Tim Brickley’s work in “The Zippers of Zoomerville” earlier this year, but Saturday afternoon is when I have some free time in which to write, so I will probably see “Much Ado” on Friday night.

The pre-show activities will start around 6:30 pm.  The show is free of charge (thank you, sponsors!) but you might have to pay something for parking.  (Last year it was $5, I think.)

Below is most of the press release that Ben sent me several days ago.  And here is a link to my thoughts on HART’s outdoor production of “The Merchant of Venice.”  It was SO MUCH FUN!  I have a lot going on next weekend, too, but I am definitely going to make time to see “Much Ado About Nothing.”  Maybe I will see you there?

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HART Returns to White River State Park

Second Summer of Family Arts Series and “Shakespeare on the Canal”

Heartland Actors’ Repertory Theatre (HART) is extremely excited to bring back “Shakespeare on the Canal” as part of the White River State Park’s Family Arts Series. This year HART has chosen William Shakespeare’s fun crowd pleasing comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

Last year, HART’s Shakespeare production attracted nearly 1,500 people for the one-night-only event. In response to that overwhelming enthusiasm for the program, HART and White River State Park (WRSP) are pleased to announce an added performance to this year’s line-up. Much Ado About Nothing will play Celebration Amphitheatre along the bank of the White River on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 at 8 pm both evenings.

Production: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Location: Celebration Amphitheatre at White River State Park (between the canal and river in front of NCAA Hall of Champions and across the river from the Indianapolis Zoo)

Date: Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1

Time: 8 pm

Ticket information: FREE. Open to the public – for all ages. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a free evening of Shakespeare under the stars on the bank of the White River.

About the play:

Love, Hate, Disguises, and the peerless word play of the timeless rivalry between Benedick and Beatrice. Performed by some of the most sought after actors in the state, this is pure Shakespeare at his most enjoyable – sure to entertain novices and enthusiasts alike.

About the Cast:

Strong casts have become a hallmark of HART in its short history, attracting some of the best actors in the region. Much Ado About Nothing is certainly no exception. The cast includes many local favorites and nationally sought after talent.

Playing the headstrong iconic pair, Beatrice and Benedick, are HART Company members Diane Timmerman* and Michael Shelton*. Ms. Timmerman is a professor of Theatre at Butler University and Mr. Shelton serves as Artistic Director of HART in addition to his many credits with IRT and Phoenix Theatre. Company member Charles Goad* joins the Summer Shakespeare cast again as Leonato with IRT mainstay Mark Goetzinger* as his brother Antonio. And in the roles of the young lovers are Company members Phebe Taylor* as Hero and Ben Tebbe* as Claudio.

Other familiar names in the cast include Sam Fain, Scot Greenwell, Jamison Garrison, Matthew Roland, and Chris Hatch* and Robert Neal* as the brothers Don Pedro and Don John.

Much Ado About Nothing is directed by Nathan Garrison*. Mr. Garrison has surrounded himself with a topnotch design team including: Lighting Designer Laura Glover, Sound Designer Brian G. Hartz, Set Designer Lindsey Lyddan and Costume Designer Kathleen Egan whose beautiful costume design of last summer’s show had people talking.

About HART:

Heartland Actors’ Repertory Theatre, a fully professional company, is a powerful force in the Indianapolis theatre community. HART has blazed a new trail, daring to stage works in new and unique places. For this very reason the company was featured in the April 2008 issue of American Theatre Magazine highlighting its world premiere production of Midwestern Hemisphere by Lou Harry and Eric Pfeffinger in the Indianapolis Artsgarden. In the summer of 2008, HART restored professional outdoor Shakespeare in Indianapolis with The Merchant of Venice in White River State Park which attracted nearly 1,500 people. Most recently it presented an Indiana premiere of Neil Labute’s play In A Dark Dark House in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Indiana at the IndyFringe building. Other past productions include the critically acclaimed Death and the Maiden at the Wheeler Arts Center and readings of Happy Birthday, Wanda June (part of the Year of Vonnegut celebration) and An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe (twice) and David Mamet’s The Duck Variations.

*Go to http://www.in.gov/whiteriver/familyArts for more information about the Family Arts Series.

Special thanks for financial support to:

The White River State Park (http://www.in.gov/whiteriver/ )

The Indianapolis Foundation (http://www.cicf.org/ )

Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation and Lilly Endowment, Inc.

* indicates indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union for professional actors and stage managers in the United States

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Hope Baugh – www.IndyTheatreHabit.com

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