Welcome to the 2008 Fall Arts Guide!

Each year, The Indianapolis Star provides an insider's look at the array of offerings on the fall arts scene -- art exhibitions, dance, theater, music and literary events.

Below, Star reporters offer their Top 5 picks of the season.

David Lindquist's top 5

About Dave: I grew up in a rural community in Illinois, where I learned the basics of playing piano and trombone. I didn't develop any aptitude as a musician, but concerts became a favorite pastime. I still consider live shows to be the peak artistic experience. It's the only time a specific performance will be shared with a specific audience, and it won't be the same tomorrow night in Cincinnati.

"Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure"

When: Various times Sept. 16 through Oct. 11.

Where: Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St.

Tickets: Various prices. For more information, call (317) 635-5252 or visit www.irtlive.com.

This Indiana Repertory Theatre production brings ace detective Sherlock Holmes, sidekick Dr. John Watson and nemesis Professor James Moriarty to the stage.

A European king and a flirtatious opera singer are two more characters in a story that blends two tales written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: "The Final Problem" and "Scandal in Bohemia."

Conan Doyle and actor William Gillette wrote the script for "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure" in 1899. Steven Dietz adapted the work in 2006.

Folk Arts Troupe of China's Jiangsu Province

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 12.

Where: Clowes Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $25, $15, $10. For more information, call (317) 940-6444 or visit www.cloweshall.com.

While the recent Olympics showcased China's northern capital city of Beijing, a traveling group of dancers and musicians will represent the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu at Clowes Hall.

The Folk Arts Troupe of China's Jiangsu Province will perform Sept. 12, on the campus of Butler University. A famed "horse dance" -- in which two costumed performers gallop under a young rider -- originated in Jiangsu, and the two-stringed erhu violin is a signature instrument of the region.

The Clowes Hall performance is scheduled one night before the inaugural Indianapolis Chinese Cultural Festival at White River State Park's Military Park.

Brian McKnight

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 3.

Where: Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave.

Tickets: $40. For more information, call (317) 239-5151 or visit www.indianablackexpo.com.

R&B star Brian McKnight will sing hits ranging from "One Last Cry" to "Back at One" at the annual Circle City Classic concert presented by Indiana Black Expo.

McKnight is touring to promote 2006 album "Ten."

Lakeside, the Ohio-based funk band known for 1980 hit "Fantastic Voyage," also will appear on the bill. The next day, at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Circle City Classic football game will match Alabama A&M University against Tuskegee University.

"Our Land: Contemporary Art from the Arctic"

When: Nov. 15 through Feb. 15, 2009.

Where: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 W. Washington St.

Tickets: $8 adults, $7 ages 65 and older, $5 ages 5-17 and fulltime students with a valid ID. For more information, call (317) 275-1310 or visit www.eiteljorg.org.

This collection of contemporary art originates in Nunavut, an arctic region that became Canada's newest territory in 1999. In the language of the indigenous Inuit, the word Nunavut translates to "our land."

Sculptures, prints, fiber art, photography and digital media will be displayed at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Most of the pieces reflect the communal Inuit values of Qaujimajatuqangit, or traditional knowledge.

"Our Land: Contemporary Art from the Arctic" comes to the Eiteljorg from the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass.

Baxter Black

When: 2 p.m. Oct. 26.

Where: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 W. Washington St.

Tickets: $35. For more information, call (317) 275-1310 or visit www.eiteljorg.org.

Cowboy poet Baxter Black will share his home-on-the-range wit at the Eiteljog Museum of American Indians and Western Art.

Known for appearances on National Public Radio and cable television network RFD-TV, Black recently published a book titled "The World According to Baxter Black." An advertisement for the volume touts "strangled similes" such as "slippery as a fish on a Formica table."

Arizona-based Black also will make an appearance Oct. 25, as part of the Eiteljorg's Buckaroo Bash fund-raiser for education in Indiana.

Amy Bartner's top 5

About Amy: I have always had a great deal of respect and love for all forms of entertainment. Early on in my life, I quickly realized I had no talent for singing and dancing, so I had to stick with watching musicals and shows instead. Nowadays, you'll find me playing Wii, watching horror movies or singing along with the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack in my car.

'Say Goodnight Gracie'

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 27.

Where: Pike Performing Arts Center, 6701 Zionsville Road.

Tickets: $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and students. For more information, call (317) 216-5455 or go to www.pikepac.org.

Billed as "the life, laughter and love of George Burns and Gracie Allen," this show comes as a last-minute replacement for the canceled "An Evening With Lucille Ball."

"Say Goodnight Gracie," starring Don McArt, was Broadway's third-longest running solo performance. It also was nominated in 2003 for a Tony Award.

'Oh My Goth!' Performed by the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1

Where: Pike Performing Arts Center, 6701 Zionsville Road.

Tickets: $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens and students. For more information, call (317) 216-5455 or go to www.pikepac.org.

This dark dance performance is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. It's an amalgamation of two stories, beginning with "The Seven Deadly Sins" and ending with "Alice ....." a one-act condensed version of "Alice and Wonderland."

If that's not enough darkness, on Halloween there'll be a costume contest during the show's intermission.

The Last Domino

When: 8 p.m. Nov. 14.

Where: ES Jungle, 6151 N. Central Ave.

Tickets: $12 at the door, includes admission, a CD, a live EP and "goody bag."

This all-ages show for The Last Domino's double album "Diamond Days & Fire Nights" is the first of two CD release shows.

The CD is the second full-length album for The Last Domino, which is the project of 26-year-old John Orr. The musician plays multiple instruments and is influenced by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Foo Fighters and the Doves. Orr, who typically performs his shows solo, will appear with a live band for this event.

Rockers Eisenhower Field Day also will perform.

Class Pictures: Photographs by Dawoud Bey

When: Sept. 26 to Nov. 23.

Where: The Indianapolis Museum of Art, McCormack Forefront Galleries, 4000 Michigan Road.

Tickets: Free admission. For more information, call (317) 923-1331 or go to www.imamuseum.org.

Forty high-school students are on display through portraits and their own words.

Dawoud Bey (bottom photo) photographed the students from all over the country and from a variety of economic, racial and ethnic classes. Each appears with a statement -- ranging from heartfelt to humorous -- in Bey's depiction of what it's like as an adolescent today.

The 21st Annual Printing Partners Hoosier Storytelling Festival

When: Oct. 8-11.

Where: Military Park and the Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St.

Tickets: $5 to $12. For more information, go to www.storytellingarts.org.

Oh what wonderful tales they'll weave at this year's Hoosier Storytelling Festival. From traditional African and Asian tales -- some featuring African folk instruments, others paired with modern dance and jazz -- the event offers something for most age groups.

Featured storytellers include Charlotte Blake Alston, Brenda Wong Aoki (pictured), Beth Horner, Kevin Kling and Gene Tagaban.

Whitney Smith's top 5

About Whitney: Theater and classical music have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Music is an intangible art, and I rely on my own performing experience and study at the IU School of Music to pin down and convey what's interesting or diverse. On a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, I learned that the best theater writers capture a virile sense of life on stage, not to judge, but to continue the conversation.

Frank Bidart

When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16.

Where: Butler University, Johnson Room, Robertson Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Admission: Free.

Frank Bidart, an American poet whose collected works have been published since the early 1970s, will be the first of 13 authors to speak on Butler University's 2008-09 Visiting Writers Series.

The Wellesley College professor was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for "Desire" in the late 1990s. More recent volumes include "Star Dust" and "Music Like Dirt."

'Animal Magnetism: The Wildlife Art of Daniel Smith'

When: Sept. 6-Dec. 12.

Where: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and West Art, 500 W. Washington St.

Tickets: $8 general admission, $7 seniors, $5 students, free to children 4 and younger. Call (317) 636-9378 or visit www.eiteljorg.org.

The works of Daniel Smith, who brings a strong sense of realism to his wildlife painting, will be on view at the Eiteljorg through the fall.

A Minnesota native who lives outside Bozeman, Montana, Smith was awarded a one-person show after taking part in the Eiteljorg's 2007 "Quest for the West" art show, an invitational showcasing 50 artists who celebrate the American West.

Alison Balsam, trumpeter.

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18.

Where: Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle.

Tickets: $16-$68, $10 for students with ID. Call (317) 639-4300 or visit www.indianapolissymphony.org.

Up-and-coming trumpeter Alison Balsom will make her Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra debut this fall. She will play concertos by Italian baroque composer Tommaso Albinoni and Franz Joseph Haydn.

The 29-year-old musician, who lives southwest of London, said she considers the middle movement of the Albinoni concerto "just heartbreaking."

'Avenue Q'

When: Oct. 14-19.

Where: Clowes Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $22-$65. Call (317) 239-1000 or go to www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. (317) 940-6444.

The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about real life on a fictional street in New York City will make its Indianapolis debut.

Inspired by "Sesame Street," the show "follows the children's TV recipe of people and puppets living on the avenue and learning lessons together," said Robert McClure, one of the show's seven performers.

But McClure also said that this is not a show for young children, because it addresses such issues as sex and drinking.

"Avenue Q" will introduce characters including Princeton, a college graduate wondering what to do with an English degree; Rod, an investment banker with a secret; and a therapist called Christmas Eve.

'Musica Latina'

When: Noon and 7 p.m. Oct. 16, 8 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19.

Where: Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St..

Tickets: $18-$37 for evening shows, $6 for the mini matinee. Call (317) 940-6555 or go to www.dancekal.org.

Hispanic harmonies and rhythms drive Dance Kaleidoscope's season opener, which will feature a revival of three David Hochoy pieces created earlier in the decade.

"Musica Latina" showcases Hochoy's "Concierto de Aranjuez," "Canciones" and the "Fire" movement from "The Four Elements."

Konrad Marshall's top 5

About Konrad: I've always dabbled in the visual arts. I once aspired to be an architect, but soon found I was better with words than pictures. Now, I prefer going to small art exhibitions in places like the Murphy Building and the Harrison Center for the Arts, and I love talking to artists about who they are and what drives them.

Deepak Chopra

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22.

Where: Clowes Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $125 for the lecture and VIP reception; $45 and $30 for just the lecture. For more information, call (317) 239-5151, or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

What is our true nature? How can I transform myself? How can I make this world better?

These are the kinds of questions the author/physician/motivational speaker will address when he arrives in Indianapolis this fall.

Time magazine once hailed Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the 20th century, calling him "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine."

If you're looking to reconcile any mind-body issues, it behooves you to listen to Chopra's answer: "It takes a total shift in perception to realize that you are not in the world, the world is in you." Or, just come out and hear him speak.

Derek Trucks Band

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 8 (doors open at 7 p.m.).

Where: The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave.

Tickets: $22.50 advance, $27.50 day of show. For more information, call (317) 259-7029, or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

For those interested in musical exploration, the return of the Derek Trucks Band will be a sound for sore ears.

Big on improvisation and blending musical genres -- including jazz, blues and Latin -- Trucks and his troupe are sure to please Hoosiers who consider themselves jam band fans.

Trucks, 29, started playing guitar when he was 9, and by age 12, he had opened for Bob Dylan. In 2003, he was named one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine.

November

When: Sept. 11 through Oct. 11 (7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.)

Where: The Phoenix Theatre, 749 N. Park Ave.

Tickets: $25 for ages 25 and older, $15 for ages 24 and younger. (Thursdays, all tickets $15). For more information, call (317) 635-7529, or visit www.phoenixtheatre.org.

Playwright David Mamet, known for such sober fare as the film "The Verdict" and the play "Glengarry Glen Ross," is also a master comic. In "November," which debuted on Broadway earlier this year, Mamet's president is a leader with low poll status and a xenophobic vitriol, trying to win a second term.

Wealth of Nations -- America's REM Part 2

When: Oct. 3 (opening reception from 6 p.m. to midnight) through Oct. 25.

Where: Big Car Gallery, Suite 215, Murphy Arts Center, 1043 Virginia Ave.

Tickets: Free. For more information, go to www.bigcar.org.

Artur Silva's new show at Big Car delivers everything Indianapolis has come to expect from the Brazilian-born artist, and maybe a little more.

Since making the Circle City his home shortly after the terrorist attacks of 2001, Silva has given the public a slew of sculptures, installations and prints that explore the unique foibles of the United States through his exploratory, South American, graphic and illustrative lens.

But with titles such as "Tempting Commodity," "Rock 'N' Roll Brand" and "Dopamine Factory," Silva uses photography-based digital work, a pair of video installations and a wall-mounted graphic piece (300 inches wide by 128 inches tall) to examine his favorite topic with even more skepticism.

The new work looks at capitalism, consumerism and the American way of life through one man's specific prism of juxtaposed cartoonery, photography and color.

Phantom of the Opera

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and 31, and Nov. 1.

Where: Madame Walker Theatre Center, 617 Indiana Ave.

Tickets: $25 adults, $15 teens/seniors/military, $7.50 children 5-12 in advance. (A $2.50 surcharge is applied to tickets purchased at the door.) For more information, call (317) 501-9673, or visit www.IndianaBalletCompany.com.

Long before Andrew Lloyd Webber created his Broadway juggernaut, "Phantom of the Opera" was a humble French novel. And it is that story, direct from 1910, that the Indiana Ballet Company brings to life in its second annual production of the ballet.

Alyona Yakovleva, IBC artistic director, created original choreography for the performance, and set the dancing to a score that includes contemporary composers such as Apocalyptica and Piazzolla, as well as classical pieces by Chopin and Shostakovich.

The same narrative love triangle is there, a tale of the difference between sweet, innocent love and deep, desirous passion. Sergey Sergeiv returns as the Phantom, and Tuesday Mayhew reprises her role as Christine.

Jenny Elig's top 5

About Jenny: During the days, I shop; I split my nights between being part of a local nonprofit burlesque troupe and playing bass in smoky bars. When I have a night off, I like to see live music or movies (especially local horror flicks like "Red Harvest").

Dance Kaleidoscope and the ISO present 'Scheherazade'

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 5 and 6.

Where: Clowes Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $30, $40 and $60 for adults; $12.50, $15 and $17 for ages 18 and younger; $100 for VIP reception package. For more information, visit www.cloweshall.org.

Have you ever been under the spell of a beautiful story?

This fall, dance and music enthusiasts can fall in love with "Scheherazade" again as Dance Kaleidoscope and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra present their collaboration featuring Rimsky-Korsakov's famous piece.

The groups will also present Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" with Alessio Bax on piano.

'Golda's Balcony'

When: Oct. 31 through Nov. 16.

Where: Indianapolis Civic Theatre, 3200 Cold Spring Road

Tickets: $21-$28. For more information, call (317) 923-4597, or visit www.civictheatre.org.

Golda Meir, the outspoken Israeli prime minister, was more than hero material. Find out why in "Golda's Balcony," an affectionate and stirring bio-drama by Tony Award-winning playwright William Gibson.

The one-woman show illustrates Meir's transformation from Russian immigrant to American schoolteacher to a leader of international politics.

This complex and dynamic show follows Meir's life, with a focus on the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Robert J. Sorbera directs.

Day of the Dead Festival

When: 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27.

Where: Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th St.

Admission: Free. For more information, call (317) 255-2464 or visit www.indplsartcenter.org.

To the uninformed, Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos) seems like a morbid event, one for folks who like to lurk around graveyards. The truth is, this traditional Mexican holiday is a time to celebrate the lives of the people who have met their great reward.

The Indianapolis Art Center helps festival attendees celebrate with altars, shrines and crafts.

This year's event features the work of printmaker Rosa Maria Dies, the music of Sones de Mexico and the glistening sugar skulls of Miguel Angel Quintana.

Ensemble Folklorico Indianapolis will perform traditional dances, mariachi music will be played by Mariachi Sol Jaliscience, and Adobo Grill and Tamale Place will serve up cuisine from the border.

Ann Katz Festival of Books

When: Oct. 29 through Nov. 20; times vary.

Where: Arthur M. Glick JCC, 6701 Hoover Road.

Tickets: Prices vary by event, but most are free. For more information, call (317) 251-9467 or visit www.jccindy.org.

If you're all wrapped up in literature, visit the JCC for the 10th anniversary of the Ann Katz Festival of Books. The three-week event features a mix of fiction and nonfiction authors from around the world. Festival highlights include "Peace through Humor: Children's Art from Israel"; "Sex and the City" star Evan Handler speaking about his memoir "It's Only Temporary"; and a book sale with more than 800 titles for all ages.

Soweto Gospel Choir

When: 8 p.m. Nov. 14.

Where: Clowes Memorial Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $25, $30 and $35 for adults; $20, $24, $28 students. For more information, call (317) 940-6444, or visit www.cloweshall.org.

Whether or not you are a person of faith, you'll find the Soweto Gospel Choir's performance a moving experience. The 26-voice group -- which performs with traditional percussion instruments -- was formed to highlight African gospel music, and puts on a powerful show.

The choir has won multiple international awards, including the American Gospel Music Award for Best Choir, the Gospel Music Award for Best International Choir, and a SAMA Award for Best Traditional Gospel for debut CD "Voices From Heaven." The CD has also garnered rave reviews.

Christopher Lloyd's Top 5

About Christopher: My love of the arts started with pop culture touchstones such as film, novels, comics and video games, but soon branched into the fine arts. You'll find me at the movies a lot, but also touring the IMA or other local art venues and an occasional live music performance. Film remains my first and greatest love, though. In a given week, I usually watch about three movies at local theaters, plus a couple more on video.

Daniel H. Pink

When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29.

Where: Clowes Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: Admission is free, but tickets are required. For more information, call (317) 940-6444 or visit www.cloweshall.org.

The provocative author of "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the World" will offer his opinions on what it takes to excel in a 21st-century society.

He says that we are shifting from a left-brained "Information Age" that valued facts to a right-brained one where empathy, creativity and meaning will dominate.

A speechwriter for then-Vice President Al Gore, Pink's latest work is "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need," the first U.S. business book in the Japanese pulp comic format known as manga.

Dan Tyminski Band

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 24.

Where: Music Mill, 3720 E. 82nd St.

Tickets: $26 in advance, $28 at event. For more information, call (317) 239-5151 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Best known as the singing voice of George Clooney in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", Dan Tyminski helped launch the rebirth in popularity of bluegrass music.

For years, his mournful tenor and skills on the guitar and mandolin have been staples of Alison Krause and Union Station. But with Union Station on hiatus for 2008, Tyminski has been touring with the latest incarnation of his own band. Its new album, "Wheels," hit stores on June 17. Bandmates include Adam Steffey, Justin Moses, Barry Bales and Ron Stewart.

Dragons Unearthed

When: Sept. 19 through September 2009.

Where: Children's Museum, 3000 N. Meridian St.

Tickets: $13.50 for adults, $12.50 for seniors older than 60, and $8.50 for children ages 2 to 17 (museum admission). For more information, call (317) 334-3322, or visit www.childrensmuseum.org.

What kid doesn't dream of riding a scaled, taloned dragon across the sky? The popularity of the "Harry Potter" series and other fantasy fiction has renewed interest in the mythical creatures.

The "Dragons Unearthed" exhibit, which runs through year's end, features the John Lanzendorf Collection of paleo art, and explores dragon iconography in art and culture.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

When: 8 p.m. Oct. 24.

Where: Clowes Hall, 4600 Sunset Ave.

Tickets: $25-$35 for adults, $20-$28 for students and seniors. For more information, call (317) 940-6444 or visit www.cloweshall.org.

For more than 30 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been at the forefront of pioneering original dance.

Its latest incarnation rolls into Butler's Clowes Hall, led by artistic director Jim Vincent, who succeeded founder Lou Conte in 2000. The troupe continues to pursue a diverse range of choreographies that reflect Chicago's international blend of communities.

Disney's The Lion King

When: Nov. 19 through Dec. 28.

Where: Murat Theatre, 502 N. New Jersey St.

Tickets: $20-$130. For more information, call (317) 231-0000, or visit www.murat.com.

After more than 10 years on Broadway and on tour, the stage production of "The Lion King" is arguably more influential than the 1994 animated film that spawned it.

Known for its amazing animal costumes, songs and choreography, "Lion King" tells the story of Simba, a young cub who is separated from his pride, but eventually reclaims his place as king of the jungle. Director/designer Julie Taymor's eclectic vision transformed the story from Serengeti to stage.