Top 10 Performing Arts in Indianapolis 2011

Gotta Go Top 10 List for Performing Arts

Indianapolis 2011

The annual compilation of the Gotta Go Top 10 Best Performing Arts performances in Indianapolis is always difficult to select due to the quantity of great talent and shows in the Indy metro area. As the 12th largest city in the nation, the Circle City offers something for just about everyone.

With so many shows, and only one of me, let me say as always that this is not an all-inclusive list and represents only the performances personally attended and reviewed by this critic.
Some of the reviews were in print, some online, and some were on WIBC.

Whether you agree, disagree, or have comments or questions, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

1.  Opening Night Gala: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Krzysztof Urbanski-Urbanski brings in a whole new era for Indy. The energy that evening was palpable. Click here for review.

2.  Puccini People: Dance Kaleidoscope-Quite simply, this is the best, in my opinion, of David Hochoy's work in the five years I have been a performing arts critic in Indianapolis. I reviewed it on WIBC to give listeners the time to catch it.**

3.  Stephanie J. Block: The Cabaret at The Columbia Club-Fun, flirty and feisty. Click here for review.

4.  Idina Menzel: ISO-Delightful, charming and utterly impish. Click here for review.

5.  39 Steps: IRT-Proving it doesn’t have to be dramatic to be worth noting. Click here for review.

6.  Singin' in the Rain: Beef and Boards-Wet with a movie-set ambiance. The acting, the set, the dancing…all fabulous. Click here for review.

7.  Evening with the Stars: Indianapolis City Ballet-This is consistently in the Top Ten List for an excellent reason. I reviewed it on WIBC to give listeners the time to catch it.*

8.  Dracula: IRT-The not-so-light version by Stephen Dietz packed the house. Click here for review.

9.  Tierney Sutton:The Cabaret at The Columbia Club-Ethereal and earthy at same time. Click here for review.

10. Madama Butterfly: Indianapolis Opera-A classic story told well. Click here for review.

*2011 Lesson learned: Write and post all reviews -- even on those performances I cover on air in order to have something to share with you at the end of the year.

Bottom Line: I have enjoyed 2011 and look forward to Indy's offerings for 2012. So many more could have, should have been mentioned. Each year it becomes more and more difficult to choose the best of the performances and that is a great problem to have.

Image by: T. Wenger

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @GottaGo and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Indianapolis City Ballet Announces Evening with the Stars 2011

Indianapolis City Ballet is proud to announce that international ballet star and soloist from American Ballet Theatre Daniil Simkin leads the roster of stars for the annual Evening with the Stars performance on September 10 at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre. Daniil’s performance last year in “Le Corasire Pas de Deux” (with Boston Ballet’s Misa Kuranaga) was astonishing in its technical bravura and his signature “Les Bourgeois” brought down the house.

Indianapolis City Ballet Announces Daniil Simkin to Headline Evening with the Stars 2011

Daniil Simkin will also be performing on the Young Stars of Ballet program on Friday, September 9 at 7:30PM at the Murat Theatre at Old National Center. “We want to give these young and emerging stars of ballet an opportunity to perform on a program and participate in rehearsals with today’s stars so when I mentioned the Young Stars program to Daniil, he graciously and excitedly joined the program - as he said ‘I’m happy to do it for the kids’” said ICB producer Kevin Hesse..

Daniil was born in Russia, raised in Germany and schooled in ballet at home by his mother, a former dancer. A gifted academic student, he studied at a prestigious school inWiesbaden Germany and trained after school. Without the typical ballet school recital schedules, his artistic goals were instead set and tested on the competition circuit. He won first prize and Gold Medal at Varna in 2004, the Grand Prix inHelsinki in 2005 and Senior Gold at the USA International Competition in 2006. He joined the Vienna State Opera in 2006 and American Ballet Theatre in 2008 where he dances soloist and principal roles. Daniil is a renowned guest artist with major companies in Europe and Asia and a star performer in galas around the world

Ticket Information – On Sale Now!

Young Stars of Ballet

Produced by Indianapolis City Ballet

Friday, September 9, 2011 at 7:30PM

The Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre

Evening with the Stars

Produced by Indianapolis City Ballet

Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 8:00PM

The Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre

Order online: www.LiveNation.com

Call: 800-745-3000

Box Office: Murat Theatre at the Old National Center, 502 N. New Jersey, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Group discount available for groups of 10 or more: Contact Elli Baker at 317-339-1413 or elli@indianapoliscityballet.org.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC, and follow her on Twitter @ejmusgrave1 and Facebook. Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.