Culture Club: the week's top arts and culture events

Indy.com Staff

September 17, 2008 by Indy.com Staff

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DePauw Discourse 2008: America's Role in the World

4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 18; all day Sept. 19. Free. DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind., (800) 446-5298, http://www.depauw.edu/discourse/

Serious foreign policy junkies will get their fall fix at the 2008 DePauw Discourse. Particular topics discussed by leading experts will include journalism's role in the war of ideas, America through Middle East eyes, and global corporate social responsibility. Headlining on Sept. 19 will be former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. And just as impressive are the dozens of DePauw graduates and faculty who will be on the panels: top journalists, scholars and business leaders. Leading the alums will be retired United States Congressman Lee Hamilton (class of '52). It's nearly enough to make one forgive DePauw for Dan Quayle (class of '69).

Fiesta Indianapolis

Noon to midnight Sept. 20. Free. American Legion Mall and Veterans Memorial Park (Downtown between Meridian, Pennsylvania, North and St. Clair streets). (317) 890-3292, Ext. 40, www.laplaza-indy.org/index.asp?p=50

If you think "Latino" just means tacos and mariachi bands, think again. Newcomers from more than two dozen Latin American countries have made Indianapolis their home in recent years, and they'll be showing off their finest music and food at Fiesta Indianapolis. OK, there will be a world-famous mariachi band, but there will also be Argentine tango, Colombian cumbia and the very popular Puerto Rican drum ensemble Bembe. You'll be able to get tacos, but you'd be loco to pass up a chance to sample snacks from Peru, Guatemala and Cuba.

Opening concert of the Spanish Song Project

7:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Free. University of Indianapolis Christel De Haan Fine Arts Center, Ruth Lilly Performance Hall, 1400 E. Hanna Ave. http://arts.uindy.edu/event.php?...

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra expected a great creation when it named Gabriela Lena Frank as its composer-in-residence. But no one expected how much energy she would give to the broader Indianapolis classical music scene. Frank has inspired students and faculty in the Spanish, English and Music Departments of the University of Indianapolis to launch a yearlong Spanish Song Project. A highlight of the kick-off concert will be a performance of excerpts from Frank's gorgeous new song cycle, "Songs of Cifar and the Sweet Sea," based on the Nicaraguan poet Pablo Antonio Cuadra. Baritone Robert Gardner, for whom Frank composed the Cycle, is flying from Denver just for this performance.

NoExit Theatre presents 'Julius Caesar'

7 p.m. Sept. 18-21 and 25-28. $15 adults, $10 students. Crown Hill Cemetery (Main Entrance), 700 W. 38th St. (317) 339-2711, www.noexit.org.

Directors Alyson Mull and Michael Bachman distill the politics in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" to its essence: words and violence. The focus is on Cassius as he uses the power of words to convince the other conspirators to take out their knives against their friend and leader, Caesar. Each then must bear the consequences of this political choice. Coming in the heat of an election year, this promises to be one of Indianapolis' most timely and thought-provoking productions of Shakespeare in a while. Plus, it will be performed in a graveyard -- how can you beat that?

The Indy.com Culture Club Committee: John Clark, The Sagamore Institute; Gwyneth Sutherlin, Provocate .org; Whitney Smith, The Star.

Forum: Talk

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culture club, visual arts, indy events, indy theater, indy arts, indianapolis art scene, indy artists, indianapolis entertainment, indianapolis arts, indy art scene, indy culture, indianapolis culture, indianapolis artists, indianapolis events

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1 comment

Jon Silpayamanant
Jon Silpayamanant, September 17
0 votes

The Spanish Song project sounds wonderful!

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