November 23-29 , 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NOVEMBER 23-29 , 2017 FACEBOOK.COM/WHATZUPFTWAYNE • WWW.WHATZUP.COM ----------------------------- Feature • The Nutcracker ----------------------------- Dancing into the Holiday By Michele DeVinney grown into larger roles over the years, in ad- spread to other local performance organiza- dition to these beautiful dancers who have tions. (Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Holiday For its historic 60th season last year Fort come to us from far away places.” Pops and Fort Wayne Youtheatre’s annual Wayne Ballet pulled out all the stops, begin- Fort Wayne Ballet’s production of The holiday productions have followed suit with ning the season with its annual homage to Nutcracker is the yearly opportunity for animal adoption programs of their own.) both classic and modern dance with its lav- even the younger ballet students to get some Gibbons-Brown, a devoted parent and fos- ish fall production and ending its mainstage stage experience, and several scenes allow ter parent to several dogs herself, is proud of schedule with a full-scale production of for the most adorable of the cast to warm the what the collaboration has brought to both Swan Lake, one of ballet’s most famed pieces hearts of the audience. Oddly, that wasn’t al- the ballet and Animal Care and Control. Saturday, Nov. 25 • 8pm • $15-$30 and a work which featured the ballet’s strong ways the case with productions of The Nut- “So far 70 adoptions have come from our company of dancers. But the centerpiece of cracker, says Gibbons-Brown, who notes ‘Muttcracker’ program,” she says. “When REGGAE FEST 2017 the ballet’s season we first began it each year is The seven years ago, featuring STANN CHAMPION & Nutcracker, and we really didn’t while it may have know what to ex- been the one pre- pect, but it’s been ROOTS ROCK SOCIETY dictable element amazingly easy. of the 2016-17 an- Of course, the city Wednesday, Dec. 13 • 7:30pm • $12-$25 niversary season, shelter doesn’t al- it is the one which ways know what most deeply con- they’ll have, so it THE BRILLIANCE nects it to its full comes down to the history. day of the show, “The Nut- they have to pick cracker has from who is there. been part of Fort And they’re very Wayne Ballet for good at behavior- many years, but al testing, so it’s it has evolved as safe as it can be over time,” says both for the dog Karen Gibbons- and for the people Brown, executive involved. Each and artistic direc- one has a handler, tor of Fort Wayne and they make Ballet for the their appearance Saturday, Dec. 16 • 6pm past two decades. during the party $6-$12 Plus a Canned Food Item “Originally it was scene and then the ‘Nutcracker at the meet-and- Suite’ that was FORT WAYNE BALLET greets in the lobby A C2G CHRISTMAS performed, but where people can Featuring Mike Conley, eventually they were able to do THE NUTCRACKER apply for an adoption on the Hannah Bushong, KelsiCote, the full ballet in its entirety.” featuring the Fort Wayne Philharmonic ($28-$50) spot. We’ve only had one time For many years the an- 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 when one of the animals had an Alicia Pyle, The Bel Airs & More nual tradition has reflected not accident on the stage, but we only the talents of Fort Wayne 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 just cleaned it up and went on Saturday, Jan. 27 • 8pm • $15-$30 Ballet but also the community, Fort Wayne Ballet only ($17-$40) with the party scene.” with annual auditions – open to Each year Gibbons-Brown the public – taking place early 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 & Dec. 10 weighs tradition versus innova- DAVY KNOWLES in September, weeks before 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 7-8 tion, knowing there are parts their fall production hits the the audience expects and other Saturday, Feb. 3 • 8pm • $15-$30 Arts United Center stage. That 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 places where she can make continues to this day, and the Arts United Center some adjustments that keep the end result is a cast of more than 303 E . Main St. , Fort Wayne show fresh. 130 performers from around the One place where she an- TINSLEY ELLIS area. $17-$50 thru box office, 260-422-4226, nually makes changes, as their Friday, Feb. 23 • 8pm • $15-$30 “The Nutcracker features artstix or fortwayneballet.org budget allows, is in the sets dancers from our academy and and costumes. While both are from the community,” says Gibbons-Brown. that early productions featured only adults in expensive to overhaul completely, yearly “But it also features our lovely professional the roles of even the young children. Now it tweaks allow her to keep things fresh and ANTHONY GOMES group and our dancers in-training. A couple allows the company to feature the full range functional. Last year’s new addition – a new GO TO OUR WEBSITE of our dancers from the past couple of sea- of talent and skill from their youngest stu- tree for the set – was dazzling, but even there sons have left, but we now have a company dents to their professionals. she saw room for some improvement. FOR TICKET INFO & MORE of dancers which include one from Australia It’s not only the charming children and She also has a team of volunteers who ALL SHOWS ALL AGES and one from Japan. Then we have dancers the poised professionals who tug at the emo- keep the costumes in good repair and see who have grown up in Fort Wayne Ballet, tions of those who attend The Nutcracker. where replacements might be necessary. so those who have seen The Nutcracker over Since 2010, Fort Wayne Ballet has also fea- Choreography is also altered, and Gibbons- the years have seen dancers who began as tured “The Muttcrackers,” dogs eligible for Brown says this year audiences can expect a party boy and then the Nutcracker Prince adoption from Fort Wayne Animal Care and a few changes to the popular Arabian scene. and is now the Sugar Plum Cavalier. We Control, a program that has become very have several members of the cast who have popular with Nutcracker audiences and has Continued on page 7 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com ----------------------------------------------------------November 23, 2017 whatzup Volume 22, Number 17 udging by this week’s issue of this area’s one and only free-distribution arts and entertainment weekly, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Fort Wayne area. That means, among other things, Fort Wayne Ballet’s annualJ production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, holiday concerts from perform- EMBASSYFESTIVALOFTREES ers like Straight No Chaser at the Embassy Theatre and fantastical gingerbread creations at The History Center – all of which we feature in this week’s whatzup. You’ll find more holiday cheer in many of this issue’s ads (the Embassy’s Festival NOVEMBER 22-29 of Trees, Youtheatre’s production of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Mike Conley’s Beautifully decorated trees and youth performances annual Christmas bash at C2G Music Hall), previews (Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) wrapped in the splendor of the Embassy Theatre and calendars (the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Holiday Pops, University of Saint Francis’ Christmas in the Castle and much more). The fact is, this issue of whatzup is packed with so many Christmassy things to do TICKETS that you’re going to have to do some serious allocating of your time and resources $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 and under – and that’s exactly why we do what we do: to help you do what you want to do. Available at STAR Bank box ofce at the Embassy, Speaking of helping you, why not let us help you dine out for less for the next 12 Ticketmaster.com or call 800.745.3000 months. Check on the 2017-18 whatzup Dining Club on page 13 and order your card(s) before December 15 in order to take advantage of special offers at 20 area eateries. Better yet, order some for the mailman (or lady), your office co-workers or anybody else you know who enjoys eating. HOURS AND EVENTS Night of Lights Friday, Saturday, Sunday All that said, read on, make your plans to have some fun this holiday season and remember to tell ’em whatzup sent you. Sponsored by Broadway Nov. 24, 25, 26, Noon-8 p.m at the Embassy Nov. 22, 6-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday inside the issue Nov. 27, 28, 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day • features FLIX ................................................. 16 Nov. 23, 4-8 p.m. Loving Vincent New in 2017: Irving Berlin’s COMMUNITY SING-ALONG SCREENTIME ................................. 16 Fort Wayne Children’s Choir THE NUTCRACKER ........................................2 One Comic Book Supplants Another “White Christmas” movie Dancing into the Holiday Nov. 27, 5-9 p.m. DIRECTOR’S NOTES ....................... 17 screening, 5 p.m. STRAIGHT NO CHASER .............................4 Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with performance from 10 Guys, 10 Different Voices 6:30-7:30 p.m. DIRECTOR’S NOTES ....................... 17 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA FESTIVAL OF GINGERBREAD ..................5 Peter and the Starcatcher Season’s Sweetings Sponsored by McDonald’s & SEAN ARATA ...............................................6 3Rivers Federal Credit Union Home, Home on the Stage • calendars Nov. 24, 25, 26, 9:30-11 a.m. Tickets: $15 per person • columns & reviews LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ....................8 MUSIC/ON THE ROAD .................... 12 SPINS ................................................7 ROAD TRIPZ ................................... 15 St. Vincent, Weezer ART & ARTIFACTS .......................... 17 BACKTRACKS ...................................7 STAGE & DANCE ...........................