Weekly update

Summer stages

PWJW_Indy Weekly update

With the July 4 holiday behind us, a new bunch of plays open this week.

The Phoenix Theatre in downtown Indy opens the Simpsons-inspired comedy, “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play,” Thursday (likely today if you are reading this within hours of our posting it). Just a couple of blocks away, Theatre on the Square opens the acclaimed “Love, Loss and What I Wore” by Nora and Delia Ephron on Friday. Just up Alabama Street, two more shows open Friday: a young-adults production of “West Side Story” at Footlite Musicals and a more mature cast in Epilogue Players‘ “The Second Time Around.”

Meanwhile, out in Greenfield, the CrazyLake Acting Company presents an excellent and fun production of the musical “Legally Blonde” for a two-weekend run at the Ricks Centre for the Arts, just a block or so west of the county courthouse on U.S. 40.

And up in northwest Indy, by the Pyramids, “Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming” opens at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. As this is one of B&B’s most popular series of plays, the preceding sentence is all one would have to say to inspire sellouts through the end of the month. Judging by the previous editions, if you find the term “old-time Gospel sing” at all appealing, this show is a must-see.

So, there you have it – something for everyone.

– See you in the audience!

Pop goes the weekend

PWJW_Indy Weekly update , , , , , ,
Edward James Olmos as Admiral Adama on the 2004-09 version of
Edward James Olmos as Admiral Adama on the 2004-09 version of “Battlestar Galactica.” Meme from some joker on the internet, photo from NBC/Universal

All the geeky aspects of pop culture go on display at Indy PopCon, Friday through Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. This critical mass of gaming, internet culture, comics, costumes, TV, movies, anime, fantasy and sci-fi features celebrity guests including Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica”), Sam Jones (“Flash Gordon”), John DeLancie (“Star Trek”), Malcolm Goodwin (“iZombie”), Sophie Henderson (“Doctor Who”), “Face Off” winner Rashaad Santiago and former WWE star Chris Masters.

This is neither the only big thing downtown nor the only convention in town. A few blocks away, at Military Park, just north of the Eiteljorg Museum, is the Eiteljorg’s annual Indian Market and Festival, celebrating Native American art and culture 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is also a more expensive pre-party on Friday, see website for details.

As for the other con, out at the Wyndham Indianapolis West, horror extravaganza Days of the Dead returns with appearances by Tobin Bell of the “Saw” movie series, wrestling legend Rick Flair, “Phantasm” star Angus Scrimm, “Tales From the Crypt”s John Kassir, the now-grown-up twins from “The Shining,” and legendary hosts Joe Bob Briggs and Indy’s own Sammy Terry – as well as numerous other slasher and suspense stars, makeup effects artists and more.

As for fresh theatre, there is a lot of buzz around the premiere of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre‘s “La Caza Azul,” based on the life of artist Frida Kahlo. It will be on stage just this weekend, Friday through Sunday at the Tarkington theater in The Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Carmel.

Looking ahead, we must note that, in addition to next week featuring the Fourth of July (and the arrival of the Rolling Stones at IMS – are the Brits upstaging our holiday?) there will also be another home-grown sci-fi convention, the 35th InConJunction July 3-5 at the Indianapolis Marriott East – where John&Wendy are among the convention volunteers.

– Go have some fun!