ART TAP

On tap this week is a holiday roundtable of friends Cindy Gerlach Managing Director of Lafayette Master Chorale, and Brittany Rees, of the Frank Muffin band and engineer at Rec Room Recording Studio. We talk over a wide range of topics from the local cultural landscape, from both the current year and the next!

On tap this week is a husband and wife team, and members of the band Frank Muffin, the wonderful Brittany and Hans Rees, who are also part of the staff at Rec Room Recording. Joining us is Tiffany Palacio, Director of Family Promise of Greater Lafayette. Frank Muffin is presenting its annual tribute show on November 4th and 5th, a cover-to-cover performance, this time celebrating Electric Light Orchestra's Out of the Blue double album. Each year's tribute show is dedicated to local charities and this year the show will benefit Family Promise of Greater Lafayette.

On tap this week is a pair of directors preparing to bring a thought-provoking program to the area stage. Marking 25 years since the tragic death of Matthew Shepard, Lafayette Master Chorale is joining with Purdue University Choir to present a contemporary oratorio on October 29th. Joining us are the Artistic Director of Lafayette Master Chorale, Michael Bennett, and Assistant Director of Purdue Musical Organizations, Purduettes, University Choir, and Recruitment, Jeff Vallier. The two talk about the moving experience of singing with others, creating physical sound resonance, and communicating with choral language. The recent impact and challenges of Covid, and the limitations posed by distancing, masking, and relayed headset sound, made apparent the fundamental magic of live, communal singing. Both Purdue Musical Organizations and Lafayette Master Chorale have a shared commitment to “uplift and encourage both singers and audience members.” The story of Matthew Shepard was a tragic mark on American society, with repercussions still felt to this day. His family, through the Matthew Shepard Foundation they've founded (https://www.matthewshepard.org), has made it their mission to “embrace the dignity and equality of all people.” The oratorio by Craig Hella Johnson. a relatively new piece, is comprised of varied segments, including classical, Broadway musical-style, country-western, and blues-oriented. It proves to be powerful and dramatic in numerous ways, including text in the music taken from protesters' signs.  Look for more information on the concert and coordinated events at: https://www.lafayettemasterchorale.org or https://www.purdue.edu/pmo/  Considering Matthew Shepard – Lafayette Master Chorale with the Purdue University Choir 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29th at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, West Lafayette

On tap this week is a trio of performers preparing to bring what is now a modern classic to the area stage. We have three singer/performers, the female leads of “9 to 5: the Musical,” coming to Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette… Caitlin Cotten, who is a previous guest on ART TAP, Kate Martin, also a previous guest and, by chance, my daughter, and Esther Kirgiss, a newcomer to the area. The three talk about their influences to perform publicly, as part of lives with other endeavors in Lafayette Symphony (https://lafayettesymphony.org), Purdue Bands (https://www.purdue.edu/bands/), and a new local eatery, The Lobby (https://thelobbybygreyhouse.com). And they talk about the legacy of the 1980 movie, its iconic characters, the legendary actors who brought them to life on the screen and on stage, and the variations between the movie and the eventual Broadway show.  There is more Florida Man to share, and a common crafting influence led to the quote of the episode, “You just gotta glue some shit together sometimes.” “9 to 5: the Musical” comes to Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette from September 7th to 16th. Tickets are available at lafayettecivic.org. 

On tap this week is Dave Bangert, of Based in Lafayette reporting project, an online news subscription he's established for local news. Dave has transitioned from daily newspaper coverage to daily online substack coverage, all with an eye to highlighting local happenings without judgement or political stance. Dave talks about his growth as a reporter who moved throughout the building to different desks and finally column work. And he talks about the changing market of the news industry nationwide, which led to drastic reductions to personnel and service. This left a gap in portraying baseline local news which Dave has stepped into very competently and with well-earned trust. Check out Dave's daily coverage at https://www.basedinlafayette.com. 

On tap this week is Chris McCauley, Executive Director the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. Chris has been with the Art Museum coming up on one year now – and he is wholly committed to making the museum's programs a vital part of the community. Chris talks about his experiences, progressing from an upbringing in the upper peninsula of Michigan, through art school and the Boy Scouts of America. His wonder with the arts in the ever-changing and ever more digital world is addictive. Chris brings up several upcoming events at the Art Museum, including Art, Bark & Brew on August 12, Friday Night Live on August 18, an opening reception on August 25, and Art on the Wabash on September 24, as well as collaborative projects with the library and downtown Lafayette in the coming year. Check out the museum's events at https://www.artlafayette.org. Oh, and he brings a tragic father and son Florida Man story to light, in our regular feature on all things “Florida Man.” 

On tap this week are Annalyse Ewing and Emily Nolan, co-hosts of another local podcast, called “We Can Do Pod Things.” Here at ART TAP, we are all about the arts, but more accurately culture, and we want to encourage talking about the talk of life and culture. Annalyse's and Emily's “work” is a genuine and honest and funny effort to talk about yet another podcast, but more importantly (I think) to talk about their own lives and to make sense of the lives we all lead these days. It's a very good listen and you should spend some time with these two. Annalyse and Emily talk about their experiences becoming friends who share and discuss their takes on the world and mental health, and their interpretations of other professionals in the field. Kids, the challenges of making a living and a life, holding public discussions on the “public ocean” of podcasting, calimochos (look it up), and Florida Man. Don't miss it!

On tap this week is Sean Lutes, president of the Lafayette Historic Preservation Commission. Sean's work is preserving and protecting noteworthy buildings and sites that represent our history in this town. And his posts on Facebook, under the group “Preserve Historic Lafayette,” are very revealing of the nature of the growth and history of Lafayette – buildings, people, families, and stories – things that we unfortunately lose touch with as time passes and things get rebuilt and paved over. Sean talks about his work documenting and protecting the “Old City's” urban core of structures and neighborhoods, as well as contemporary opportunities to utilize historic preservation for, and in cooperation with, economic development. Lafayette's “walkable historic environment” has the potential to be its calling card and its visual statement. As well, we joke about some of Lafayette's lesser known history and infamy, including the potential for Sean's Lafayette history scratch-n-sniff book and line of scented candles. And Sean lists his “secret gem sites” in the Old City. Don't miss it!

On tap this week is Bai Rosa, professional lighting director, product of Lafayette, Indiana, and now technical director for Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette. Bai talks about the role of a lighting designer in theatre and the challenges of getting started as a freelance creative person, traveling many miles each week to contribute to various projects in various locations. What's it like living and working as crew and part of a traveling production? That's covered as well. Oh, and being young. And being old. All part of the convo with a fresh spirit and creative technician.

On tap this week is Monica Shaeffer, a private piano and voice instructor, occasional music director for shows at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, and now Music and Artistic Outreach Director at Trinity United Methodist Church. We spoke about her background as a performer, youth instructor/music director, and now artistic consultant for Trinity United Methodist Church. Discussions of her “meet/cute” with her husband, the nature of creative activity and performance, Lafayette history, preservation, and the possibility of the return of the “Tour of Terror” ensue. The church is making a concerted effort to involve itself culturally in the community, and it has a project currently in place called “Living Water.”

On tap this week is a Pre-Show look at "Flanagan's Wake," coming to Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette on March 16th, 17th, and 18th. I'm talking with Sarah Mishler, who plays Fiona Finn, the grieving fiancé of the deceased Flanagan, and Helen Coats, who plays town eccentric and mystic, Kathleen Mooney. Interestingly, Sarah played the part of Kathleen last year, so we have a, if you'll excuse me, “old Kathleen/new Kathleen” dynamic here.

On tap this week we're kicking off a new series of the ART TAP podcast called “Pre-Show.” Pre-Show will offer early looks at upcoming MainStage productions at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette. We'll talk with directors, performers, planners, and designers and get a preview of what's about to take the stage at the historic Monon Depot Theatre. The Play That Goes Wrong is a 2012 play by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. It opens at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette on Thursday, September 8th and runs through Saturday, September 17th. Go to lafayettecivic.org for information and tickets. I spoke with some of the cast of this wonderful, ridiculous show – Annalyse Ewing (plays Annie the stage manager), Richie Stephan (plays Robert/Thomas Colleymoore), Helen Sorensen (plays Sandra/Florence Colleymoore), and Amelia Goins, who is our real-life stage manager for this play about a play-within-a-play.

On tap this week are the artists known collectively as Frank Muffin Band. Joining me are Brittany and Hans Rees, and Jerome Hemersbach. The Muffin group have gotten active again, in light of eased restrictions on gatherings, and recently enjoyed a DC-area trip to visit other musicians they met online during the pandemic. Their schedule is picking up this fall, and there are a number of things to look forward to. They play several tunes and share upcoming events.

On tap this week is a local artist who is a steady presence on the gallery and art festival scene. Rena Brouwer is a watercolorist, instructor, gallery director, and arts collaborator who is about as "Hoosier" an artist as one can get.

On tap this week are a pair of local singers/songwriters who are enlivening the area music scene. Justice Fuller, is a singer/songwriter who has performed throughout the Lafayette region and the Washington DC area, and who is previous Mike Lane Horizon songwriting award winner – and Lauren Grace is an 17-year-old Lafayette-area songwriter who won the Shirley Martin Scholarship in 2018 and has since gone on to become a well-recognized talent in the region. Both perform for the podcast.

On tap this week is director, set designer, painter, performer, and also Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Lafayette, Indiana, John David Collier. We talk about the thrills and challenges of participating in community theatre. John’s experience with Civic Theatre has run for 35 years and 93 productions now.

On tap this week… is one of my most fun friends, singer and performer Caitlin Cotten Benner. Caitlin is perhaps the closest living embodiment of an actual Disney princess I know, keeping that spirit of discovery and joy alive in the air around her. We talk about the challenges of social distancing when working with students as a representative of Purdue Bands, and as a creative individual and performer. But some “low effort creativity” Instagram posts and a new venture as a writer has enlivened her.

On tap this week… is one of my most valued creative friends, playwright Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos. She was, oddly enough, on the last episode of ART TAP in April of 2020 – the one that convinced me it was too hard to conduct a podcast that way. It wasn’t her fault – it was the logistics that proved too interruptive to me. We talk about the challenges of trying to be creative in a pandemic, and reading and formulating thoughts in an era of social distancing. She suspects her writing will be different in the aftermath, but she doesn’t know exactly how yet…

On tap this week are two of my most valued arts friends, ceramist and sculptor Siggy Zahner and playwright Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos. Both are deeply insightful and inventive artists, both bring unique and confrontational imagery to their work, and both are outspoken feminists. We talk about the experiences and challenges of women in the arts, the role of the artist in social quarantine, and working through, or choosing to observe instead, the era of social distancing.

On tap this week is an assessment of what we’re going to be missing, in light of Coronavirus concerns that are forcing cancellations of arts and culture events, as well as all other public gatherings and activities, throughout our region and across the country. Notifications from Lafayette-West Lafayette cultural groups are shared.

On tap this week are my friends, artists and retired teachers Stephanie Funcheon and LuAnn Lamie. These longtime friends and colleagues reminisce on teaching in the arts, former notable students, the state of education then and now, and the decisions in our young lives that led us to become artists.

On tap this week is my friend, Richard Stockton Rand, actor, director, choreographer, writer, and Professor and Coordinator of Undergraduate Theatre Studies in the Department of Theatre at Purdue University, where he specializes in acting and movement. We discuss the upcoming production of “Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches” by Tony Kushner he’s directing for Purdue Theatre. And we address the challenges faced during the AIDS crisis, as well as the continuing challenge of awareness we face today for the crisis and its societal effects.

On tap this week are director Laurie Russell, choreographer Brian Kocher, and actor Kate Walker, all working to bring to the Civic Theatre stage a magnificent production of Mamma Mia! We have some laughs while recounting the experience of rehearsing and planning the show, which is nearly completely sold out at this point and will be quite the spectacle.

On tap this week, local journalists and artists Cindy Gerlach, Amy Long, and Jeff Smith. We share some cocktails, some discussion of recent and coming arts events and movies, “old things in a new way,” favorite artists and visual experiences, “who understands art better than a six-year-old?,” a coming 30-Day Arts Challenge, jumping the shark, etc.

On tap this week is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories, who happens to make his home right here in Lafayette-West Lafayette – Jonathan Janz. We talk about the appeal of scary stories, outlets of fear, allowing yourself to suck, being a “psychic vampire” in a historic place, and a life of creative writing.

On tap this week is local musician, singer-songwriter Scott Greeson. We talk about his overcoming dyslexia through the inspiration of music, the Songwriters Association of Mid-North Indiana (SAMI), a new nonprofit recording studio at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation achieved with a North Central Health Services grant, and a unique presentation coming up with Dr. Will Miller. 

On tap this week are some thoughts on the Art Biz, from the perspective of an artist new to the commerce of social media art sales.

On tap this week are members of the cast and crew of Dead Man’s Cell Phone, by Sarah Ruhl, presented from November 1st through 16th at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette.  I sat down with my castmates (I played the titular dead man) on closing night of the production to get their thoughts on community theatre and reactions to the show.  We talk about wrestling with “odd” and very avant-garde scripts and sharing our fun with audiences.

On tap this week are members of local band Frank Muffin.  With me are Brittany Rees, Hans Rees, and Jerome Hemersbach.  The Muffin group will be presenting the next of their annual album tribute concerts, this time celebrating Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, to be staged on Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 pm at Lafayette Theatre.  The band plays a number from Rumours, as well as an original number, and talks about a project coming in 2020.

On tap this week is Tippecanus Rex, with guest author and reader, local arts supporter, and yarn-spinner extraordinaire Shelley Lowenberg-DeBoer.  Shelley and I read a couple of stories from Lafayette’s earlier and wilder days, highlighting more of the background of Ginger Wigglemann and a new discovery, the enigmatic Percy Hare.  

On tap this week is local teacher, actor, and improv performer Stephanie Bosma.  Stephanie works with young people in the classroom and now in the theatre, as well as being a terrific comedic performer herself.  And she’s directing a Civic Youth Theatre show, The Phantom Tollbooth by Susan Nanus, based on the book by Norton Juster, opening this Friday, October 4th.

On tap this week is local artist Craig Whitten.  Craig works in watercolor, henna, and acrylic from the Bindery Artist Studios in downtown Lafayette, and he’s a regular at art fairs thoughout the region.  Craig will be exhibiting at Art on the Wabash, an art fair in West Lafayette, this coming Sunday, September 22nd. And he’s part of a special project coming up – a release event of the book “Come and Sleep” by author Mika Yamamoto, which he illustrated.  The release event will take place at the Bindery Studios on Ferry Street during downtown Gallery Walk in Lafayette on Friday September 27.

On tap this week is a conversation with two people working to develop "To Kill a Mockingbird" at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette. First up is local musician, accomplished singer-songwriter Jeff Anderson. Joining him is musician, performer, actor, and director TJ Rosa, who is directing the show. The two talk about Jeff’s contributions to the production as an on-stage “troubadour,” lending tonal sounds and musical transitions.

On tap this week is my first beyond-Lafayette guest in a while, Terre Haute, Indiana artist Rachel Hellmann.  She talks about coming home to Terre Haute and living and making it work as a contemporary artist in middle America.

On tap this week is Shelley Lowenberg-DeBoer, who has played the Tippecanus Rex game with me before.  She has a creative work she shares, “A Short Biography of Ginger Wigglemann,” as inspiration for the upcoming Tipp. Rex project of creative stories of (un)natural history of the Tippecanoe County region.

On tap this week are my first husband and wife guests, David and Thea Strand, local performers and arts supporters. We talk about shared experiences with local arts, including the Jefferson High School music program, and the dual roles of performers and parents of performers.

On tap this week is Zach Medler, local muralist/graffiti artist and more.  Zach’s got an exhibit opening soon at Artist’s Own titled “Squint.”  It runs July 18 through August 17, with an opening reception during Gallery Walk on July 19 from 6 – 9 pm.  We talk about the nature and challenges of graffiti and being a public artist as well as the wide range of media in which he works.  Zach’s website is https://www.zmedstudios.com.

On tap this week are friends from the Indiana Fiddlers’ Gathering, coming this weekend, June 28th– 30th in Battle Ground, Indiana.  With me are Karah Rawlings, Executive Director of Indiana Fiddlers’ Gathering, and board president Cliff Harrison, as well as members of the Bum Ditty Barn Dance Band, who will be performing at the festival.  Included in the band are Cliff Harrison, Robert Freeman, and Jesse Danner.  We hear two numbers from Bum Ditty Dance Band and hear about the upcoming Fiddlers’ Gathering, opportunities for visiting the festival, volunteering, and participating as part of the fiddlers community.

On tap this week are improv and podcasting buds who contribute to the “Adventures in Videoland” podcast, Doug Pruim and Gary McFall. The boys share their early experiences with acting and singing, a fascinating discussion of reading imaginatively, developing artistic skills through Photoshopped nipple work, and their shared experiences with improv. Gary and Doug shared Look-Ups of One Size Fits All improv troupe, Adventures in Videoland Pantheon Companion, and a best/worst movie discussed on the show, “Miami Connection.”  You can catch Gary and Doug in a One Size Fits All performance this Friday, June 21 at Bobby T’s on campus at 8:00 pm.  Be sure to catch it!

On tap this week is TJ Rosa, Purdue University student, local musician, and volunteer at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette as an actor, director, and educator. TJ talks about taking on the directing challenges of the American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee this fall at Civic Theatre, and three shows at the upcoming 7th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival. Make sure to catch it this weekend, June 7th, 8th, and 9th.  She also shares her original song, "Travis."

On tap this week is an introduction to a special project in which ART TAP is encouraging, and will play host to, creative storytelling from the community.  Today ART TAP is announcing “Tippecanus Rex,” a community-wide story projectcelebrating the (un)natural history of Tippecanoe County, Indiana through mythical beasts, imagined histories and fake statistics.  Creative works of writers, performers, and musicians will be selected for “major awards” and broadcast on this podcast!  Entries will be due Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019!

On tap this week are friends from Lafayette Citizens Band, promoting itself as "Music that Brings the Community Together Every Summer".  With me are Jenn Tordil and Krista Steinmetz.  Jenn is Vice President of the Board and Krista is a board member on the PR community – “the face of the band.”  We talk a bit about the history of the band, the aspects of playing outdoors in the summer, and the upcoming season of performances.

On tap this week are friends from CHiPS, or Community Historic Project Support, which highlights the City of West Lafayette's heritage through the identification and acquisition of significant historic properties throughout the West Lafayette community. With me are Shelley Lowenberg-deBoer, Kay Conner, and Amy Harbor, talking about a Cemetery Walk on Sunday, May 19, highlighting individuals in the arts who are interred at Grandview Cemetery.

On tap this week (again) are my friends Amy Long and Cindy Gerlach, from the Live765 arts section of the Lafayette Journal and Courier.  We meet occasionally to review and discuss the things we’ve seen and experienced in the area, and to recognize the efforts that are not getting much formal recognition.  So what's happened since December...?

On tap this week is John Clare, music director at WBAA Public Radio from Purdue University. John is a classical music host, a videographer, and an accomplished violinist. John surprisingly talks a lot about art (visual) while describing music (classical).

On tap this week is Amy Lynn Budd, Visiting Assistant Professor at Purdue University Theatre.  Amy was our guest in episode 011 and she’s back to discuss a new project, “She Kills Monsters,” opening April 12th.  Amy also talks about a recent course in which she collaborated, designed to explore the musical “Hamilton” from very creative perspectives.

On tap this week is Jake Wood, scenic artist and properties manager for Purdue University Theatre.  Jake talks about getting into scenic work, some of the challenges of painting for theatre as part of a technical team, and presenting theatre in a university system.

On tap this week is a James Taylor Fan tribute. No guests, but it’s short. Singer-songwriter James Taylor was born on March 12, 1948. No matter what his music means or where it stands in the great American music canon, it will always hold a special place in my heart.  This is for Ron.

On tap this week is a group of my friends, that I’m calling the Comics Guys, gentlemen from various walks of life I’ve called together to talk about something near and dear to our hearts – comic books. On hand are writer and editor and previous guest on the ART TAP podcast, Brian K. Morris; Keith Long, Vice President of W. H. Long Companies; and actor, teacher, and technical director at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Trey Gorden. The discussion tonight circles around the question "Is Bill Maher right? Or is he just an a**hole?" (explicit episode) For our listeners, comedian Bill Maher made comments recently about the death of comics legend Stan Lee, which questioned his impact and the value of comics in modern culture as a whole. We, of course, take issue.

On tap this week is Mark Ruschman, senior curator of art and culture for the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Mark went from managing his own art gallery in downtown Indianapolis, which featured Indiana creatives, to curating exhibits of Indiana artists for the State Museum. He shares a number of historical and contemporary Look-up links that examine the wide-ranging Indiana arts scene.

On tap this week is Julia Muney Moore, Director of Public Art at the Arts Council of Indianapolis.  Julia directs and manages all aspects of public art programs for the Arts Council of Indianapolis, including project development, execution, and maintenance of individual works of art. She talks about how artists can work with neighborhoods and communities to not just enhance shared spaces but to draw attention with the artwork to what makes those areas unique and important.