BÉLA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES JAMES AND things to do 352in the area ANNOUNCE PAVILION SHOW THE DRIFTERS CALENDARS START ON PAGE 9 Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2019 FREE WHAT THERE IS TO DO IN FORT WAYNE AND BEYOND A WHATZUP INTERVIEW WITH JOHN CUSACK THE EMBASSY HOSTS A Q&A WITH CUSACK AFTER A VIEWING OF HIS FILM, HIGH FIDELITY ALSO INSIDE: POP EVIL AT THE CLYDE · FORT WAYNE YOUTHEATRE · ALBUM AND MOVIE REVIEWS whatzup.com FEBRUARY 8 FEBRUARY 14 GET POP EVIL W/ DON JAMIESON CANDLEBOX Larger than life rock n’ roll conjuring Celebrating 25 years, seminal grunge band, aggressive riffs and melodic power Candlebox is best known for “Change”, “You”, and “Far Behind” NOTICED! Bands and venues: Send us your events to get free listings in our calendar! FEBRUARY 15 FEBRUARY 17 whatzup.com/submissions BADFISH W/ BUMPIN UGLIES SPACE JESUS W/ BUKU, TOADFACE Baddsh: a Tribute to Sublime continues to Brooklyn-based producer known for channel the spirit of Sublime dynamic live performances FEBRUARY 21 MARCH 2 UMPHREY’S MCGEE W/ MOSER WOODS LOS LOBOS W/ NEAL FRANCIS Celebrating 20 years of genre-bending, Three decades, thousands of world-class musicianship and unmatched performances, two Grammys, and the energic live shows global success of “La Bamba” BONEY JAMES APRIL 25 CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE WITH GLENN HUGHES MAY 2 WHO’S BAD: THE ULTIMATE MICHAEL JACKSON EXPERIENCE MAY 4 ZOSO: THE ULTIMATE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE MAY 11 2 WHATZUP JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 6, 2019 Inside This Week Volume 23, Number 27 4 HUGE After the Miracle: SAVINGS Helen 5 on pro & Keller Pop Evil step-up saxophones FEBRUARY IS SAXOPHONE MONTH The Growling Sax 6 7 STARTING AT James and the Drifters Old Crown Brass Band $ 12 , John Cusack 2Exclusively499 at Mynett! Saxophones D’Addario Reeds UP TO UP TO % % Columns & Reviews Calendars OFF OFF Spins ⁄ 8 Picks ⁄ 16 Music/On the Road ⁄ 9-11 40 50 Tom Brumley and the Buckaroos, Strange Waters, Karaoke Classics Live, Alone in the Woods, Metal Church Tiny Tree Road Trips ⁄ 11 Financing available | Ask for details! Backtracks ⁄ 8 News and Venues ⁄ 19 Live Music & Comedy ⁄ 15-19 Megadeth, Rust in Peace (1990) Arts organizations receive million- Stage & Dance ⁄ 21 dollar grants Road Notes ⁄ 9-10 Things To Do ⁄ 22 Stalwarts of the ’90s team up for Reel Views ⁄ 20 summer tour Serenity: Can’t shake sinking feeling Art & Exhibits ⁄ 23 watching soggy neo-noir Out and About ⁄ 14 Pavilion snags Béla Fleck and the Screen Time ⁄ 20 Flecktones Shyamalan completes his comeback 3710 Hobson Road | Fort Wayne, IN with Unbreakable sequel MynettMusic.com | (260) 482-5533 Clarification: The photo that accompanied the Whatzup Pick for Fire & Light Production’s Tuck Everlasting on page 16 of our January 24-30 issue should have credited Ruth Shaull of Captured in the Moment Photography. JANUARY 31-FEBRUARY 6, 2019 WHATZUP 3 Given that the actors would have to communicate largely through sign language, Stieber wanted to give Bringing Katarena Burke (who plays Helen How to reach us Whatzup LLC Keller) and Sloan Amburgey-Thom- 5501 U.S. Highway 30 West as (Annie Sullivan) ample time to Fort Wayne, IN 46818 tackle their roles. Phone: (260) 407-3198 Keller’s Stieber has also cast a narrator, Fax: (260) 469-1027 a “spirit,” to speak on behalf of Hel- [email protected] whatzup.com en Keller, one which will capture facebook.com/whatzupftwayne Keller’s thoughts as she ages (which instagram.com/whatzupftwayne story to her character on stage will not do). twitter.com/whatzupftwayne Fitting all of this material into a play performed for audiences of all ages Publisher is challenging, but it’s clearly a chal- Gerson Rosenbloom life again lenge that Stieber embraces. “It’s such a gift that I get to do Editor this,” he said. “It’s my favorite thing Jon Swerens Production shows I do.” Calendar and Distribution Director her life after the YOUNG HEROES Mikila Cook Initially intended to be a trilogy, breakthrough the Young Heroes on Conscience Se- Web and App Developer ries is now a solid part of the Youthe- Brandon Jordan BY MICHELE DEVINNEY atre season each year, and Stieber WHATZUP FEATURE WRITER likes to represent so many different Contributing writers young people both through our col- Nick Braun, Benjamin Dehr, For anyone who has ever seen a lective history and within the local Michele DeVinney, Dennis Donahue, Courtesy photo Evan Gillespie, Heather Herron, staging of The Miracle Worker — or theatre community. the 1962 film based on the play — Katarena Burke and Sloan Amburgey-Thomas, who star in the Fort Wayne “There’s really a great ‘full circle’ Jason Hoffman, John Hubner, Youtheatre production of After the Miracle: Helen Keller, pose in a re-creation of Helen Keller has made an indelible thing happening with this,” Stieber Chris Hupe, Brent Leuhold, the famous Helen Keller/Anne Sullivan image. Greg W. Locke, Steve Penhollow, mark on our consciousness. The said. “Anthony Hayes, who played Jennifer Poiry, Kevin Smith, powerful story centers on the trials AFTER THE MIRACLE: a story in about an hour and 15 min- Ryan White in our second of this Rachel Stephens of a young girl who lacks the ability utes. So those provide a great guide- series, was 13 when he played Ryan, to see, hear, or speak. HELEN KELLER post for what I need to include.” and is now preparing to go to Ball Distribution Trapped in her own world, inside FORT WAYNE YOUTHEATRE State to study directing. So I’m hav- Whatzup is distributed once per week her own head, it took the patient but 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 VAUDEVILLE ON STAGE ing him direct a part of the show so at more than 650 locations in nine determined efforts of her teacher 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Staging for the Young Heroes Se- he has something to show for his counties — Allen, Whitley, Noble, Wells, Adams, Huntington, Kosciusko, Dekalb, Annie Sullivan to help unlock her Feb. 9 ries is also a great forum for Stie- work.” and Steuben. Whatzup is distributed from those burdens and allow her 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10 ber’s creativity since he not only Stieber hopes audiences will on Wednesdays and Thursdays by to find a way to communicate with Black Box Theatre, PPG ArtsLab writes the Heroes scripts, but also not only marvel at the accomplish- Whatzup LLC. others and live in the world. Auer Center for Arts & Culture, directs the production. ments of Helen Keller and Annie But Keller’s story continued into With the ArtsLab in the Auer Sullivan but will also think about Back issues Fort Wayne adulthood, when Keller made her $15-$20 · (260) 422-4226 Center home for the series, Stieber the many people who struggle with Back issues are $3 for first copy, 75¢ own way in a new and now more ac- has a very versatile space to not only disabilities but also thrive and cre- per additional copy. Send payment with cessible world. present the material but connect ate and inspire. With a nod to ev- date and quantity of issues desired, happened in those years with Annie with the audience. He’s doing some- eryone from Oscar winner Marlee and your name and mailing address, to BRINGING THE YEARS TO LIFE after that breakthrough?” thing especially interesting with the Matlin to Patty Duke, who shared Whatzup LLC at the above address. Gregory Stieber, who has been The previous five productions Keller piece. her struggles with mental illness Calendar listings writing the plays for Fort Wayne of the series have featured Mary “In my research, I discovered well before many were courageous Must be received by noon Monday the Youtheatre’s Young Heroes of Con- Ingalls, Ryan White, Ruby Bridges, that Helen and Annie performed in enough to do so, Stieber reminds us week of publication for inclusion in that science series for five years, now Anne Frank, and Harriet Tubman. vaudeville shows to make money,” that we all know people who strug- week’s issue and, space permitting, brings to life After the Miracle: Helen Asked what he does first when he he said. “It’s hard to imagine these gle everyday and that kindness and will run until the week of the event. Keller. decides on his next subject (and he women who had such dignity being, understanding go a long way. Calendar information is published “I was drawn to the story of Helen already knows who will be featured essentially, in a freak show. But they “We use the word ‘dummy’ a lot in as far in advance as space permits Keller because we only really know in 2020), Stieber was firm in his re- were a huge hit, and I liked the idea this show because that was the lan- and should be submitted as early as her in these two contexts,” Stieber sponse. of staging it in that vaudeville con- guage that was being used against possible. Whatzup makes every effort to authenticate claims and accurate times said. “We know her from the mira- “I go to the library,” he said. “I text and contrasting the spectacle, people like Helen,” he said. “It’s the and event locations. We encourage cle, her breakthrough with Annie start with the biographies and any vibrancy, and fun of a vaudeville way now that the word ‘retarded’ is readers to verify information prior to Sullivan. Then we also know her books I can find on the subject, and show with Helen who can’t see or used as an adjective, and we know attending events or purchasing tickets.