Zionsville Monthly-October 2022

26 COVER STORY

Graham Rahal on Making Zionsville His Home and Headquarters

This month, we are pleased to feature IndyCar driver Graham Rahal on our cover. Recently, it was announced that Rahal, president of Graham Rahal Brands, has entered into an agreement with the Zionsville Economic Development Commission to purchase two lots at Creekside Corporate Park where Rahal’s 115,000-square-foot headquarters will be built. Rahal his family live in Zionsville, and Rahal shared with us his excitement to relocate the Graham Rahal Performance, Rahal Ducati Indianapolis, Rahal Paint Protection and the Graham & Courtney Rahal Foundation to the future site in Zionsville that will be across from the headquarters of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL). Rahal was gracious to share with Zionsville Monthly his vision and hopes for what this relocation will mean to his family, his brands and to the community of Zionsville.

6 Lesley Jane Leaves an Extraordinary Legacy on the Bricks

8 Zionsville Show Choirs Proudly Presents Carol of Homes Holiday Home Tour 2022

10 Civic Theatre Proudly Presents: “A Christmas Story,” The Musical

12 Carmel Symphony Orchestra Presents: “Holiday Pops”

14 Immerse Yourselves in the Magic of IBC’s “The Nutcracker”

16 Center Presents: Marie Osmond: A Symphonic Christmas Tour

18 “Indiana Stands with Ukraine” Gained National and Local Support

30 ZCHS Presents: “Legally Blonde The Musical”

ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

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Writer // Janelle Morrison • Cover photo // Laura Arick

Lesley Jane

Leaves an Extraordinary Legacy on the Bricks

“I bought Captain Logan [in 2004] and walked in [as the new owner] right after Thanksgiving,” Hunt recalled. “I was ready to leave marketing and advertising at that point in my career. I was lucky enough to have some employees that carried over, and we became best friends. There were, of course, some bumps along the way, I have to admit, but I learned quickly.”

In 2008, one of the nation’s greatest economic downturns hit and shook small businesses throughout the country down to their cores. Businesses were forced to take a hard look at their business models and adapt to how Amer icans were spending their money in those years and what was void in terms of services and goods in their respective markets. Around this period of time, Hunt’s business savvy and keen instinct had her looking beyond antique resto ration and used furniture and she began experimenting with her merchandise.

“I started sneaking in women’s clothing a little bit here and there,” Hunt said. “It was getting really hard to find [quality] antiques, restore them, and find used furniture, repaint the pieces, and I had discovered that I liked clothing better. So, I thought, ‘What the heck, I’ll just do that.’”

CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY

“It [the rebranding] happened in January of 2009,” Hunt said. “The chains that hung from my dropped ceiling and functioned as my clothing racks were installed, the merchandise came in and the sign went up. I had changed the name and incorporated to Lesley Jane.”

Ispoke with Hunt about the journey she’s experienced as a retailer in a small Midwestern town after an uber successful career in adver tising and marketing at a national level, the challenges and highlights of her retail career and what the next season of her life will look like once she flips the sign to “closed” and locks the door to her renowned and beloved store for the last time.

Hunt shared countless examples of fond memories and stories of her custom ers, employees and fellow business own

ers alike. She expressed how endearing all of these relationships and friendships are to her. Hunt shared some of her own thoughts on what she will be taking away from her time as a small business owner on Main Street.

EMBARKING ON A BRAND-NEW PROFESSIONAL ADVENTURE

In 2002, Hunt purchased Captain Logan that was housed in the same space as Lesley Jane and sold furniture, décor and specialty gift items.

The town of Zionsville had been a destination location for antiques and art galleries for many years, and post-recession, the town began to see more growth in the surrounding area that brought in more families. The needs and wants of locals began to reflect in the local business community’s offerings.

Wanting to be connected with her fellow merchants and in involved with decisions that impacted the business owners, Hunt joined the chamber of commerce shortly after launching Lesley Jane, and she was elected to the cham ber’s board of directors.

On November 1, Zionsville resident Lesley Hunt announced that after nearly two decades in retail, she will be retiring and closing her destination women’s apparel store, Lesley Jane, which is located on the historical brick street in downtown Zionsville, Indiana.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick

“I got involved with the chamber and its board because I thought in order to make things happen for my business and the other small businesses over here, I had to get involved in some way,” Hunt shared. “I stayed on that board for what seems like forever, and that was a really exciting period because there were a lot of creative things that we did to generate traffic, not just from locals but we reached over into Hamilton County and the surrounding communities. We worked to really expand the annual Street Dance and got food trucks involved, and the other big one was expanding Christmas in the Village from a one-day event to a month of themed events that benefit the business community and create experiences for the residents and guests.”

BUILDING A RENOWNED LEGACY

Over the years, Lesley Jane has become the destination for women’s clothing, gift items and accessories. It hasn’t just been about the unique and expressive styles that Hunt has carried as much as it’s been her standard of service and the customer experience in its entirety.

Anyone with a teenage daughter in the immediate area knows that the place to go for a unique and classy prom dress has been Lesley Jane. Hunt’s belief that every young lady should feel beautiful and comfortable in her own skin earned her a reputation of having not only an exquisite selection of gowns, but she also instituted a strict one-dress-styleper-school policy in part to eliminate the “Who wore it better?” competition. From a retail perspective, this policy created a sense of urgency to come in and reserve or purchase a specific dress while preserving the uniqueness of the young women’s prom gown experience.

“I didn’t ever want any of my customers put into a position where somebody was making a [dress] comparison, so that’s how that policy started,” Hunt stated. “For me, making it an enjoyable experience for my customers has always been first and foremost. I’ve made it my personal mission to make every woman feel like they are beautiful inside and

out. The other element of selling those prom dresses and event gowns was that I wanted every one of those girls and ladies to feel beautiful and confident, regardless of if they were a size 2 or a size 16. It’s been my goal that they were going to look amazing in that dress, not only in their own eyes but in everybody else’s eyes as well.”

CLOSING ONE BOOK AND BEGINNING ANOTHER

Like her fellow business owners, Hunt had to work around the COVID-19 pandemic in order to survive the global crisis. The very modality of brick-and-mortar business had to be reimagined. Hunt had to quickly switch gears and offer an online component to her retail business. She personally delivered packages to her customers during the shutdown and worked through all of the COVID-19 restrictions that were mandated by the state during that time. And in the end, Hunt feels she came out of it even more appreciative of being able to offer the “normal” in-person customer experience without restrictions.

Hunt added, “You’re not able to experi ence that kind of customer engagement in a mall environment, big store or online.”

Although the pandemic is not at the top of reasons for her decision to retire, it did remind Hunt of how precious time

with family is, as is having the time and freedom to travel to and explore new things. It was a bittersweet decision to close the book on this season of her life and start a new one that includes traveling, time with her son and volunteering.

“It was pretty much a New Year’s decision,” Hunt said. “I just decided that I needed to focus on some other things in my life. When you’re a business owner, you have to be willing to give up a lot. I’ve got a son that lives in Atlanta that I don’t get to see very often. So, I’ve made the decision that it is time for me to move on. I really want this to be a great Christmas for everybody, so I’m not going to just slap a ‘closed for business’ sign up on the door and ‘peace out.’ We are going to celebrate this season.”

Hunt will host several special events at her store and sales throughout the months of November and December before taking a brief hiatus after the holiday and into the new year.

“After the first of the year, I will sell ev erything that’s left, including the displays, art on the walls, but I will keep the web site going until all of my stock is sold out,” Hunt explained. “We’re going to have an open house on November 10. All of these events and special sales will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. I also have an email blast going out to all of our rewards club members.”

When asked if it was “worth it,” Hunt replied, “I have been blessed with all of the women and high school kids that have worked for me. I have learned a lot from them. When you have a small business in a small community like this, it’s amazing how intertwined your life be comes with theirs. I will remember those times and relationships always. Every business owner on this street knows how special this community is and how supportive the residents are to the businesses here. It’s pretty remarkable.”

Hunt concluded, “I am one of those people that has to always be doing something, so this [retirement] is going to be an interesting experiment. Seriously, if you see me walking down Main Street in my jammies and slippers, you’ll know [retirement] is not going well for me.”

Zionsville Show Choirs

Proudly Presents

Carol of Homes Holiday Home Tour 2022

The longstanding tradition of the “Carol of Homes” Holiday Home Tour presented by Zionsville Show Choirs is a Zionsville tradition that really sets the tone and tenor for the holiday season! The tour features six beautifully decorated homes in Zionsville and talented members of ZSI under the direction of co-directors Sam Chenoweth and Deana Broge. It is a wonderful tradition, as well as one of the organization’s most important fundraisers.

JOIN US IN SUPPORTING A BELOVED TRADITION AND OUR YOUTH

This annual fundraiser is critical to ZSI’s 2023 programs and to ensuring the continu ation of said programs. The Holiday Home Tour is also a vital component to Zions ville’s holiday traditions that are cherished by the ZSI performers as well as the event’s hosts and community at large.

Join us in supporting ZSI students and staff by purchasing your tickets to this year’s Holiday Home Tour! Be part of the celebratory vibes that help sustain our community’s most cherished traditions as well as supports our talented youth!

This year’s Holiday Home Tour cochairs Catherine Casciani and Staci Sullivan, and their outstanding team of volunteers are thrilled to feature beau tifully decorated homes in the village, The Willows, Spring Knoll and Holliday Farms! Casciani shared that local artist Robert Schaefer and his wife Laura are publicly displaying their love of the [holiday] season and will be one of the featured homes this year!

Casciani spoke about the impact that performing has on the show choir students and how much the community’s support means to the young performers.

Knowing that the community “sees” them and values their talents has helped carry them — emotionally — through the last couple of years.

“It really means a lot to the kids to be able to do this,” Casciani expressed. “Being able to see everybody coming through the homes and listening to them [perform] is good for the mental health of our kids as is just being able to get out and perform. The kids will not only be singing but some are musically talented with instruments. So, there will be some non-vocal performances as well.”

So, don’t miss a moment. Tap into the magic that is the holiday season in Zionsville! ZSI students will begin selling advance tickets to the Holiday Home Tour on November 3, and afterwards, tickets will be sold to the general public at Fivethirty Home, Akard True Value and Back to the Bricks beginning November 8. Folks can purchase tickets the day of the tour at the aforementioned locations. Tickets are $20 per person and all proceeds benefit the Zionsville Show Choirs as they prepare for competition season.

More information can be found at http://holidayhometour.net/.

of

This year's tour will feature 6 decorated homes in Zionsville. Our very own talented show choir students will be performing their favorite holiday songs.

All proceeds benefit the Zionsville Show Choirs as they prepare for competition season.

Tickets available at FiveThirty Home, Akard True Value, Back to the Bricks -or- from any show

At Feinstein's, enjoy upscale dining & cocktails in an intimate venue. Feinstein's delivers patrons a unique entertainment experience unlike any other in the Midwest!

Goldpark | Nov. 2

Nashville alternative-rock trio, Goldpark, mixes the sounds of Coldplay and Death Cab For Cutie to create their lush soundscape music. Enjoy this rising band featured on Spotify's Feel Good Indie Rock and Fresh Finds Indie curated playlists.

Kings & Queens | Nov. 11 & 12

From Aretha to Britney, Elvis to Prince, Barrett (Wicked, Doctor Zhivago, FX’s Fosse/Verdon) & Spector (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Jersey Boys, The Cher Show) cover the gamut of musical royalty.

I Think I'm In Love: Ben Jones | Nov. 18 Ben sings songs from Broadway to pop that examine all aspects of love, temptation, infatuation, obsession and heartbreak. Featuring music by Jerry Herman, Stephen Sondheim, Tom Waits, Jason Robert Brown, and more!

11/02 11/03 11/10 11/11 & 11/12

11/18 11/20

& 11/26

Goldpark ComedySportz Rocket Doll Revue Presents: Enchanté Kings & Queens

ATI LIVE Celebrates Stephen Sondheim With Pamela Myers I Think I'm In Love: Ben Jones Drag Me To Brunch

Scan to buy tickets, look at our menu, & see more upcoming shows, or visit FeinsteinsHC.com.

DECEPTION: A Night of Magic & Lies Wright Brothers Farewell Show SOLD OUT Adam B. Shapiro: No Chestnuts (Not Your Mother's Christmas Show)

Civic Theatre Proudly Presents:

Christmas Story”

The Musical

“A Christmas Story, The Musical,” which received rave reviews on its Broadway run, is based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on television every Christmas. Set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts — an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn with a similar echoing response, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun.

hile speaking with a few of the lead cast members and director, I was reminded of how extraordinary the Civic Theatre organization is all over again. I spoke with a few of these remarkable local talents who shared their thoughts about their respective roles, performing for a Civic holiday production and the role that “A Christmas Story” plays in most families’ holiday traditions.

Director Emily Rogge Tzucker shared that there will be fun and festive eye candy throughout the production, including leg lamps, a giant spinning slide, rotating scenes showcasing the versatility of the stage and so much more that will immerse audiences into Ralphie’s world and imagination.

Emily Rogge Tzucker – Director

“I think Christmas time, in general, is about rituals and traditions. We look at doing things that we know and at doing them with our families and our communi ty. Attending any Christmas production is something that we like to make a family tradition, and the wonderful thing about Civic is that they really pick shows that they will repeat so you can make them a

tradition, and they pick stories that we are really connected to. It’s set in Hammond, Indiana, and it celebrates the idea of families, in hard times, and you see parents working really hard to be the best for their families. I think we’re all doing that right now, because it’s such a crazy world. Kids are trying to figure things out and find out who they are. In the story, it isn’t so much about the item that Ralphie so desires as it is about what it means to kind of grow up and learn to stand on your own two feet.

One of the great things about Pasek and Paul’s version of the movie is that it blows up all of those imaginative dream sequences into fully realized and fully lived performance numbers. I think it’s great to see an imagination blown up right in front of you — it’s so exciting!”

Parrish Williams – Old Man

“People love the original movie, and I’m certainly not going to do an impersonation of Darren McGavin or anything like that, but I want to do justice by the original performance [of the Old Man] and make people feel nostalgic and have a good time. I see a lot of my own family and growing up in this [A Christmas Story] family. The dad

works a lot and maybe isn’t as present in the home, and the mom is kind of doing ev erything, and the kids kind of walk around on eggshells around the dad — I can relate to all of that.

Removing the Covid years, this will be the third straight year I will have done a holiday show at Civic, and the reason why I’ve come back is because of the joy that happens on the stage. Holiday shows are difficult to do and create demands on your personal time, but the joy that happens is unmatched and you feel really good about being able to give that gift to the audiences. When you’ve been in a holiday show at Civic and you see how much the audiences enjoy it and how much they get out of it, it makes it worth coming back and doing.”

Jackson Duncan (13) – Ralphie Parker

“I think everyone in this cast is super kind, nice and welcoming. This is my first Civic show, and it’s been wonderful so far. I really love my character. He’s funny and tries to be that cute kid but also kind of has an older, more mature side that he lets go of at certain points of the show.

I really like how ‘A Christmas Story’ takes place a long time ago. They didn’t have cell phones back then! It was a lot different, and they had weird cars and lots of other stuff. I think it can really open your eyes!

I really like the opening number [It All Comes Down to Christmas], and I think it brings a lot of passion and warmth into the show. It lets you know what you’re going to see, and I really like the ‘When You’re a Wimp’ number with the kids. I think its funny, and it shows the humor in this show. I hope that the people that come to see the show leave with happy and joyful spirits. I hope they think it was very interesting and something that they’ll never forget. It’s a funny show, but it’s also full of talent and joy, and I think it sends a really good message to people that will get them in the holiday spirit.”

Henry Kirk (11) – Randy Parker

“Just like Jackson, it’s my first time being at Civic and it’s my first time actually being on a pro stage. So, it’s just a really cool experience, and it opens your eyes to what you’re experiencing. It’s the closest thing to Broadway that you can get here in Indianapolis, and I feel that it’s a very good experience. All of the casting directors

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of Civic Theatre

and cast are amazing people, and they’re welcoming, awesome people. I can connect with them because they have the same talents and passions.

My favorite scene so far is ‘When You’re a Wimp,’ because it’s such a funny number. So, you’re like a kid and you’re with your friends and then all of a sudden, the bullies come along and you’re like, ‘Oh no!’ and it’s choreographed but it feels like an improv scene! It’s just a very fun number!

What I want people to take away from this show is that we put so much effort into doing the show and in trying to make them happy. I want them to laugh and laugh and just have a really good time — and like Jackson said, ‘to take away the message,’ because it’s a good one, and I want them to take that away.”

Mikayla Koharchik – Mother

“I think about the core memories that I’m creating for my kids and the traditions that they will look back on and talk about. And I feel like theater and productions are at the center of those core memories, espe cially around the holiday season. When I read the script [of A Christmas Story] and/

or listen to the music, I get weepy because you’re only a little kid for so long and then you’re grown up. I feel like Ralphie is this little kid who grew up that Christmas.

I feel like I’m playing myself in this show, as I’ve got two little boys at home and every thing that I say in this show are things that I say to my kids like, ‘Hurry up, we’re late! Let’s go!’ One of my character’s songs is called, ‘What a Mother Does’ and she says, ‘There’s so much to do, a house to look festive, a fam ily that’s counting on you …’ and basically, she’s talking about how she wants to build these memories with her kids. We want our kids to forget about the times that have been tough and build these core memories. I can’t wait to share this [experience] with the community, and I also can’t wait for my kids to come see this show!”

We all get busy in the hype of our lives, so this holiday season, take a pause … and build those “core” memories. The return on that investment is priceless.

Purchase your tickets for “A Christmas Story, The Musical” online now, and for more information on upcoming shows, visit civictheatre.org.

CAST LIST:

12/2-12/24

ENSEMBLE:

BOOK BY JOSEPH ROBINETTE

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BENJ PASEK AND JUSTIN PAUL

Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story distributed by Warner Bros., written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clark, and upon In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd.

Note: The December 11 performance at 2 p.m. is designated as an inclusive performance, designed to create a welcoming experience that is intended for patrons who have social, cognitive, or physical challenges that create sensory sensitivities. An ASL interpreter will also be available. Large-print programs are also available for the visually impaired upon request.

Shepard – Steve Kruze

Parker – Jackson Duncan

Parker – Henry Kirk

– Mikayla Koharchik

Parrish Williams

Thomas Murray

Lawson Leavell

Farkus

Dylan Acquaviva

Evan Cohen

– Nina Stilabower

Jon

– Ellie Raybuck

Beth – Liv

“Holiday Pops”

the community as a whole together and to expose both the audiences and musicians to music that is more diverse and unique.

“My whole message right now is that it’s all about bringing people together and reaching every facet of the community,” Hymes expressed. “We’re finding guest artists that are going to knock the socks off our audiences. It’s been two years of really hard and horrible stuff, and now, it’s our time to spread joy and to do it in unique ways. I am proud of our orchestra for stepping up and playing music that is so different for them and challenging in many ways.”

Experience the exceptional as Carmel Symphony Orchestra under Artistic Director

Janna Hymes gives you not one but two opportunities to kick off your holiday celebrations with matinee and evening performances of CSO’s “Holiday Pops.” We’ve reimagined our musical gift to you by inviting some of your very favorite performers to the party: multi-genre vocalist Josh Kaufman, winner of NBC-TV’s The Voice Season Six; the wonderful vocalist Leah Crane; the sensational dance troupe NZtapz; and the beloved Indianapolis Children’s Choir! Along with the CSO, they’re guaranteed to get your holidays off to a rousing start. Don’t miss it! Make plans now to be with us on December 4 for one or both shows!

It is always a pleasure to highlight CSO’s “Holiday Pops,” and this year promises to be another exhilarat ing experience that will feature some of central Indiana’s celebrated talents Leah Crane and Josh Kaufman. So, buy your tickets and build your holiday memo ries in the heart of Carmel!

Purchase your tickets and learn more about how you can support CSO at carmel symphony.org.

A Word From The Artistic Director

CSO opened their season with a phe nomenal celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in a concert featuring Pavel & Direct Contact. Hymes spoke about the energy that was created in the hall of the Palladium and her intentions to build from

that [energy and diversity] throughout the current and future seasons.

“Our first concert we did was so different and unique in the sense that we had all these people [attend] who had never come to our concerts before,” Hymes shared. “I loved it because some people think about orchestra, they think, ‘Oh, it’s not my thing,’ and then they come and they’re like, ‘Well, yes, it really is my thing,’ because we [CSO] don’t just play Beethoven and compos ers like that, even though we, of course, love that and are trained for that. But we also play the pops, and we play holiday [concerts] and children’s concerts. So, the message is: ‘We do it all!’”

Hymes and I spoke before the launch of the 2022–23 season about how she inten tionally programmed this [season] to bring

When asked about the state of the CSO organization — post-pandemic restric tions— and specifically about this year’s “Holiday Pops” concert, Hymes shared, “I’m excited because I see changes within our organization and eye-opening experi ences that are just fun. And we’ve got this amazing ‘Holiday Pops’ [concert] coming up and other exciting things coming down the pike. I love collaborations with other arts organizations because we bring not only our audiences together, but we also create something that we probably wouldn’t do except for that time, and if you miss it, it’s done. We are continuing to look at bringing in different organizations, and I’m all about that. And I think audiences love it too.”

Featuring Exceptional Local Talent

Those who attended CSO’s season open er that featured Pavel & Direct Contact have already experienced the spectacular talent and charisma of Indianapolis vocal ist Leah Crane.

Crane is well known to audiences in the Hoosier state, throughout the Midwest, and beyond. The versatile singer studied at the renowned IU Jacobs School of Music. Equally at home on the international concert stage, in commercial recording studios, and in faith communities, she is also the lead vocalist for Pavel & Direct Contact Latin Jazz and Salsa.

Crane is an accomplished studio session singer, and she can often be heard on na tional promotional recordings for various music publishers, including Walt Disney, Hal Leonard, Beckenhorst, Lorenz, Alfred, Carl Fischer, and Shawnee Press. She recently finished recording a solo album of jazz and Brazilian standards with Chica

Carmel Symphony Orchestra Presents:

Janelle Morrison

Photography

Courtesy of CSO

go-based producer/arranger Paul Langford, “Lucky to Be Me,” available on all platforms.

In addition to her many musical pursuits, she is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at IU Health’s Riley Hospital for Children, having earned a graduate degree in social work from Indiana University. She and her husband Jeff reside in Indianapolis with their two children, Karis and Carson.

Crane shared her thoughts on the importance of people coming together this holiday season in celebration of life and in practicing gratitude amid our challenges and daily stressors. She also shared her ex citement for working with CSO again and performing for the audiences at this year’s “Holiday Pops” concerts.

“I work at Riley Hospital four days a week, and I get to see some of people’s best moments of their lives and some of the worst moments,” Crane said. “I have a unique window to see into some of the most challenging aspects of what’s going on from a medical perspective. And there

are even more ways that our society is feeling stressed and anxious. All you have to do is turn on the news for a second or look at your social media — if you’re following too many negative people — and you just get a sense of feeling overwhelmed. If we prac tice gratitude and practice being able to celebrate everyday moments, I think that’s the only way to combat the stress, pressure and anxiety that we all feel just being in this world right now.”

Crane continued, “I’ve got friends and family already buying tickets [to ‘Holiday Pops’] and it’s definitely not too early to start getting your tickets! I’ve had the opportunity to work with ICC several times and Josh [Joshua] Pedde is another ball of energy and pure excitement. Having the Indianapolis Children’s Choir there bringing all of their families out is going to be a huge bonus. They have such a great following and perform at such a high level of excellence. And people just love watch ing kids sing! And Josh Kaufman is an

incredible vocalist. Of course, everyone has followed his career from the time he was on ‘The Voice’ and won. I used to sing in the studio with him [Kaufman] doing publisher demos, and I also did some caroling gigs with him. He’s just a really amazing artist.”

Crane shared a couple of teasers about her upcoming performance and duets in CSO’s “Holiday Pops.”

“Josh [Kaufman] and I will be doing a couple of duets — one of the duets is ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside,’ a great holiday classic. And the other [duet] is a famous Stevie Wonder song, which I’ve loved listening to but have never actually sung before: ‘Someday at Christmas.’ I’ve never heard it done with an orchestra, so I think that’s going to be really awesome! And then I have two solos, arrangements by my friend Paul Langford, who does fabulous orchestral arrangements. One of my solos is a bossa nova arrangement and the other song is Paul’s arrangement of ‘O Holy Night,’ and it’s beautiful. It has the high B-flat at the end, which everybody loves. It’s going to be great!”

Holiday Pops!

the Palladium

Josh Kaufman • Leah Crane

NZ TapZ from Expressenz Dance Center • Indianapolis Children’s Choir

“The Nutcracker”

Indiana Ballet Conservatory’s “The Nutcracker” is staged by founding Artistic Director Alyona Yakovleva and based on the 1934 choreography of Vasily Vainonen. Children and adults of all ages will be transformed by this heartwarming tale of a young girl and her beloved Nutcracker as she battles off evil and learns the value and resiliency of the human spirit. Come experience this timeless and beloved holiday favorite, “The Nutcracker,” as it debuted nearly 100 years ago.

The Indiana Ballet Conservato ry, founded in 2010 by Yakovle va, is a pre-professional ballet school committed to providing the best classical ballet training to its stu dents and launching the next generation of dancers onto the world stage. IBC stu dents continually place in top positions in national and international competitions and pursue professional careers in dance around the world.

HONORING A HOLIDAY TRADITION

Acknowledging the hardships that so many have been afflicted with, particularly throughout the last two years, Yakovleva spoke about how the arts and productions such as “The Nutcracker” can bring our lives to a pause and allow

us to reconnect with beauty, love and the traditions that many of us hold dear.

“There’s so much going on, and people are, at the same time, afraid and worried,” Yakovleva observed. “[The holidays] are a good and happy time, and when they come to see ‘The Nutcracker,’ they can escape from all the troubles and worries for a while.”

Yakovleva said IBC staff and students are excited to perform “The Nutcracker” at the Palladium in Carmel and are not anticipating any COVID-19-related restric tions this season. The Palladium lends an other layer of elegance and sophistication to an already breathtaking and authentic production of “The Nutcracker.”

“’The Nutcracker’ is a miracle to me,” Yakovleva said. “Honestly, we are always

excited to perform ‘The Nutcracker,’ especially at the Palladium. This year will be the first time [since the onset of the pandemic] that it will feel like a ‘normal’ environment. It’s an excitement and an exchange of energy that we may be feel ing even more than before [the pandemic]. We really missed that feeling between the performers and the audience being together without masks and restrictions. We are looking forward to it!”

Patrons of IBC and ticketholders will not only experience a longstanding tra dition of exceptional ballet but will have the added experience of the epitome of holiday ambiance in front of the Palla dium — Carmel’s Christkindlmarkt. And once guests enter the Palladium and walk into the extravagant hall, they will feel a charge of positive energy! This is not just a “show.” It is holiday magic!

IBC SETS THE STANDARD OF EXCEPTIONALISM

Exhibiting an authentic interpretation of Vainonen’s choreography, the perform ers who will be dancing the coveted role of the “Sugar Plum Fairy” this year are IBC dancers Aurora Ausserer (17) and Shannon McNiven (16). Yakovleva shared that Ausserer’s family is originally from Seattle, Washington, and her entire family uprooted and moved to Carmel so that Ausserer could train with IBC. She is fin ishing her senior year through The Laurel Springs School, and she has danced in the “The Nutcracker” for many years and the Sugar Plum Fairy has always been a “dream role” for her. Ausserer is excited to perform in “The Nutcracker” this year the role of Sugar Plum Fairy again.

McNiven has been dancing with IBC for three years. She was invited to the Youth America Grand Prix Finals this year after placing second in Contemporary and Top 12 in the Classical category at this year’s Kansas City Regional. She has loved being in the Advanced Day Program this year and continues to look forward to the next opportunities and experiences she will have with IBC.

IBC is thrilled to collaborate with and feature once again Sebastian Vinet — international guest artist and permanent principal guest dancer with Utah Metro politan Ballet.

Immerse Yourselves in the Magic of IBC’s

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Renzulli Photography and IBC

Born in Santiago de Chile, Vinet began ballet training at Escuela de Ballet del Teatro Muncipal de Santiago. After two years under full scholarship, he moved to Houston, Texas, to finish his train ing at Ben Stevenson Houston Ballet Academy.

In 2009, he joined the Houston Ballet and in 2010 the San Francisco Ballet. Vinet also was a recipient of the Premio Jóvenes Líderes del diario El Mercurio (2009) — an award to Chilean artists presented by the ambassador of Chile in the United States. Most recently, Vinet was honored to be a 2020 Prix de Laus anne competition jurist in Switzerland, being the youngest person in the history of the prestigious competition to be invited to join the panel of judges.

IBC is collaborating again with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and its artistic director Joshua Pedde. For those that missed previous productions of IBC’s “The Nutcracker” that featured children from ICC — you are in for an unforgettable experience!

TEA AND SWEETS WITH THE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Has your little one dreamed about dancing with the Sugar Plum Fairy? Mark your calendar for IBC’s special Nutcracker event taking place Sunday, November 13, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Indiana Ballet Conservatory located at 849 West Carmel Drive in Carmel, Indiana. Enjoy refreshments and learn ballet with the Sugar Plum Fairy as she dances to the music from the Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite!

Additionally, IBC will be performing on the opening day of the Carmel Christkindlmarkt, November 19, from 4:10 to 4:35 p.m. IBC will be performing on two additional days and times on December 4 and 18 from 11 to 11:45 a.m.

To purchase tickets to “The Nutcracker” or to make a financial contribution in support of IBC’s programming and pro ductions, visit indianaballetconservatory. org. Your generous support of IBC will help ensure its world-class productions, such as “The Nutcracker,” will continue to delight audiences for decades to come.

IBC Performances at Carmel Christkindlmarkt

November 19

(Opening Day of Christkindlmarkt): 4:10–4:35 p.m. ET

December 4: 11–11:45 a.m. ET

December 18: 11–11:45 a.m. ET

Indiana Ballet Conservatory: The Nutcracker

The Palladium // Nov 26 and 27

EVENT DETAILS

Sat Nov 26 at 2 p.m. ET

Sat Nov 26 at 7 p.m. ET

Sun Nov 27 at 1 p.m. ET

Sun Nov 27 at 6 p.m. ET

MARIE OSMOND: A SYMPHONIC CHRISTMAS TOUR

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of The Center

Marie Osmond has spent more than six iconic decades in the entertainment business performing as a successful singer, television performer and talk show host, dancer, actor, author, entrepreneur and public speaker.

Osmond’s debut single “Paper Roses” reached the No. 1 spot on two Billboard charts, a feat that not only placed her among an elite class of musical royalty but instantly cata pulted her into international superstardom.

Going beyond her small-screen fame co-hosting “Donny & Marie,” Osmond has remained an instantly recognizable figure across the globe. Since she and brother Donny ended their 11-year Las Vegas residency at the Flamingo in 2019, she has traveled the nation with sell-out shows featuring a 30-piece orchestra. Osmond’s latest album is 2021’s “Unexpected,” a collection of Broadway and opera classics.

Osmond is a multiple gold and platinum selling artist and CMA winner, garnering numerous Billboard chart-topping singles and albums and three New York Times Bestselling books. As a philanthropist, Osmond cofounded Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which has raised more than 8 billion dollars for children to date. Marie was recently awarded “The Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service” by four-star General Bob Brown, US Army Pacific (representing Secretary of Defense James Mattis), during her birthday concert in Hawaii.

Osmond’s recently released “Unexpected” studio album pushed her voice to remarkable heights and debuted No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Albums Chart following its December 2021 release. It has spent several weeks in the Top 10, having entered and re-entered the charts.

Osmond has always had great affection for her countless fans and personally keeps in touch daily with them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:

Janelle Morrison: You have enjoyed a remarkable career, and now with the holiday season approaching, you have decided to end your residency in Las Vegas and tour again. What was the motivating factor behind that decision?

Marie Osmond: It’s interesting — philosophically, I don’t really need to tour anymore. I really love being home with my eight children [pauses] well, I have seven now, but I will always have eight. And I have eight grandchildren. I am a spiritual and intuitive person, you know what I mean? I think to have survived my career — this is my 6th decade of performing consistently — as a female [artist] is just ridiculous in this business. There’s not many of us, and even my sweet friend Olivia [Newton-John] had five decades. But I’m still young, and I believe that you find the holiday spirit through serving others. So, it was an absolute must to go out and do shows. People are so sad right now. Some are lonely, some have lost loved ones, and some are financially stressed. So, for these reasons, I made the decision to go to them instead of having them come to Las Vegas. It’s not about the profit. That’s not why I am doing it. I give [the tour] the “Marie Osmond Good Housekeeping Stamp of Approval”! You will leave feeling happy — I promise you!

JM: Your show features several different musical genres that you appear to effortlessly perform. Is there any one genre or a few that resonate with you more than the others, or do you enjoy them all equally?

Osmond: Yes, and I’ll tell which ones during my show! I am one of those few entertainers that can sing multiple genres, and I don’t think there’s many of us, but I love putting all of that into a show because it gives something to everybody. I really love doing that. I am going to put one or actually maybe two songs from new album in the show. I was blown away by the success of the album, honestly because it’s my farewell album, and I did it strictly because I spent 25 years learning to sing soprano and opera. I sing in German, French and Italian. Now, the album isn’t strictly [opera]. I do songs from the Great American Songbook like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which is really the song that got me to sing when I was a little girl in “the business.” I knew when I heard [Judy Garland] and looked into her eyes, she knew my life and what it was like to be a child performer. I’ll also be singing “Unexpected,” the title cut.

JM: Speaking of your album “Unexpected,” congratulations on it being in the top ten for multiple weeks. Isn’t it like 22-plus weeks or more now?

Osmond: It keeps going back up in the top ten, and I’m like, “Shut up!” It’s my best album ever, and it’s the last. [Laughing] My brothers all tease me, “Wow, Marie. You beat us all.” Not that there’s competition in my family whatsoever! “Unexpected” was such a sweet and truly unex pected thing for me. It was a labor of love. It was recorded in Prague, and I really enjoyed doing it.

JM: Knowing how challenging times have been and continue to be for people throughout our nation, what words of encouragement do you have for your fans as we begin to plan for the holiday season and a brand-new year?

Osmond: I don’t know how much longer I’ll do this [touring], but I really do love people. And people are so sad, it just breaks my heart. I do these messages on social media and I do all these things to try and lift people up. You can get through it — I promise you. I’ve seen the other side of hell and back in my life. And I know there’s people that are worse off. Serving [others] gets you through it. So, get some people together

and come to the show and enjoy each other. Because you don’t know how much longer you will have each other. I promise you this show will be so fun! You will laugh and you will cry. So, go out and celebrate this time

of year. We need to experience joy and happiness again.

JM: In addition to joy and happiness, what else can we expect to experience when you perform at the Palladium in December?

Osmond: It’s going to be so fun! I’m doing some elements that are not only “Christmas,” but I’m going to take them down memory lane a little bit and remember times past. I’ve been associated with some of the best Christmas shows, I think, on the planet from Andy Williams to Bob Hope and my own specials with “Donny & Marie,” and we’re going to make you remember what’s good in life, I promise you! And I’m bringing David Osmond [nephew] who is a bona fide miracle. Wait until you hear this kid sing! There’s just the two of us in our family that can sing multiple genres of music, so you’re going to hear everything from big band to opera to tradi tional. It’s going to be so fun! We’re going to give it everything that we have out there!

“INDIANA STANDS WITH UKRAINE”

Gained National and Local Support

With the help of the event committee and our spon sors, this event quickly evolved into a significant affair that featured internationally renowned singer and actor Franc D’Am brosio accompanied by Stephanie Lynne Smith as the concert’s headliners. The funds raised have contributed to the combined total that has been raised by D’Ambrosio since he began fundraising on behalf of the Dominican Friars, who have been offering humanitarian aid to Ukrainian refugees since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

LOCAL AND NATIONAL TALENTS FEATURED

The concert also featured local artists and talents: Don Farrell accompanied by Terry Woods, Artistic Director Alyona Yakovleva-Randall and the Indiana Bal let Conservatory and a special “surprise” recorded performance by celebrity singer/songwriter John Ondrasik with Five for Fighting.

The fundraiser was hosted at the private residence of Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Amy Wright of Indianapolis and included small plates featuring both American and authentic Ukrainian fare

— prepared by Lena and Amy’s mothers and culinary professionals Valentyna Osinnia and Teri Uhrig.

There was a live auction of some remarkable and hard-to-obtain items and 100 percent of the event proceeds went to the Dominican Friars, who are on the front lines offering food, shelter, medical and mental health care to Ukrainian refugees and their children.

The Dominican Friars have an established 501(c)(3) set up, and all of the donations made to their website are being used to provide humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian refugees in their care.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

A special celebrity concert benefit was held on Saturday, October 1, in support of Ukrainian refugees who have crossed and continue to cross over the Ukrainian and Polish border in seek of humanitarian aid. The event in Indianapolis raised a remarkable total of $41,202.70.

Some friars have converted parishes into oncology wards and are providing both physical and mental health care to those who are in desperate need.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The “Indiana Stands with Ukraine” fundraiser is an ongoing fundraiser, and we hope that many of our friends and associates will continue to support this important cause and the friars’ extraordi nary work and for Ukrainian refugees.

My publisher, Lena Lucas, is from Kyiv, Ukraine, and still has family abroad. Through her lens, I have gained a perspective on the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the genocide that is ongoing — I personally cannot turn a cheek to this. This is not a political issue — it is a humanitarian crisis where men, women and children are being annihilated, but they refuse to lay down their arms and hoist a white flag. The Ukrainian people continue to fight for their very existence.

My publishers, Neil and Lena Lucas, myself and our extremely dedicated committee are committed to continue raising as much awareness and monetary support as possible.

Donations made to the Dominican Friars’ fund can be made for any amount, day or night, 365 days a year. Please consider donating to the Dominican Friars website at https://opwest.org/ indianadonation.

Together, we can help save and improve the lives of Ukrainians who are fighting for their freedom and their futures.

“INDIANA STANDS WITH UKRAINE” EVENT SPONSORS

Simply put, this event would not have been possible without the generosity and energy of our sponsors and performers. On behalf of the fundraiser committee, I would like to acknowledge the following:

NEAL BURNETT AND KAREN BRABENDER OF INDIANAPOLIS:

Neal Burnett, Karen Brabender and their seven children and three grandchildren, along with Wilson the chocolate Labrador, are all native to Indiana. Neal and Karen both own and work together in a commer cial development company in downtown Indy. They have completed many notable projects in central Indiana over the past 35 years. One more recent project is the New Back 9 golf and entertainment facility located in downtown Indy adjacent to the

Lucas Oil stadium. Back 9 is a state-of-theart golf and entertainment facility where one can enjoy playing golf courses and dif ferent games while in the comfort of one of the 75 available bays. Back 9 features more than four bars and dining experi ences, along with a full music pavilion and balconies that can fit 700–800 guests for some of the best music performances Indy has to offer. Neal and Karen both lead very active lives enjoying family, social gatherings, tennis and many outdoor ac tivities together. They especially like being involved in helping our community here but also abroad advance and thrive. Visit back9golf.com for more information.

CARMEL MONTHLY AND ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY:

Publishers Neil and Lena Lucas are the owners and publishers of Carmel’s and Zionsville’s premier lifestyle magazines and have been publishing in these com munities for nearly a decade. The Lucases and head writer Janelle Morrison publish

stories on the communities’ arts, educa tion, business, nonprofit, government and community affairs as they impact the lives of the residents and business own ers. Visit carmelmonthlymagazine.com and zionsvillemonthlymagazine.com

RYAN AND AMY WRIGHT:

Ryan is a bankruptcy attorney in India napolis, Indiana (bankruptcybyphone. com), and fronts the band Dean Martini. Amy is a partner with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. The Wrights are avid

supporters of the arts and staunch advocates for humanitarian efforts both locally and abroad.

HOTEL CARMICHAEL:

Hotel Carmichael, an Autograph Collec tion Hotel, is located in the heart of the Carmel City Center. This greater India napolis hotel offers modern accommo dations located next to the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, one of the greatest music halls of its time. Visit hotelcarmichael.com.

PIANO SOLUTIONS – CARMEL:

Piano Solutions in Carmel prides itself on offering not only the best pianos available today but also a thorough understanding of the instruments it sells and services.

Today, it is Indiana’s largest provider of new and used pianos, digital pianos, hybrid pianos, organs and keyboards, with an extensive collection of pianos from all over the world. Visit Piano Solutions at pianosolutions.net.

// LET’S TALK ABOUT GARAGE STORAGE

shelving & racks • cabinets • overhead storage

GRAHAM RAHAL ON MAKING ZIONSVILLE HIS HOME AND HEADQUARTERS

Both Rahal and his wife

Courtney live in Zionsville, and Rahal shared with us his excitement to relocate the Gra ham Rahal Performance, Rahal Ducati In dianapolis, Rahal Paint Protection and the Graham & Courtney Rahal Foundation to the future site in Zionsville that will be across from the headquarters of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL), which is currently under construction and owned by Rahal’s father, Bobby Rahal.

Rahal was gracious to share with Zions ville Monthly his vision and hopes for what this relocation will mean to his family, his brands and to the community of Zionsville.

GETTING THE CHECKERED FLAG TO RELOCATE

“I’m thrilled that we’ve finally gotten to this point. It’s been a couple of years in

the making and working through all the steps to get here,” Rahal shared. “I’ve al ways been a big fan of this area, and when RLL went into Creekside, I think it really brought a lot of life into the corporate park. It really attracted me to what we could do in that same vicinity.”

Rahal explained that he is still working though some final stages to get the agreements with the town “settled, signed and done” and that he feels like his brands will be a great addition to the town of Zionsville.

“In my opinion, Zionsville is an affluent town that has successful, business-mind ed folks that appreciate businesses like ours,” Rahal said. “A lot of our clients live in Zionsville and surrounding areas. A lot of our friends live here, I live here, and my mother lives here.”

BECOMING A COMMUNITY PARTNER

Rahal shared that he doesn’t just want to house his brands within the proposed HQ, he wants to build relationships with the residents and fellow businesses of Zionsville.

“We feel like we can bring a lot to the ta ble,” Rahal said. “Whether it’s the Graham Rahal Performance, Rahal Ducati India napolis, Rahal Paint Protection brands, the coffee facility and the bar and grill additions that we are putting together, the members and storage facility or the [Rahal] racing museum that we will have onsite, we feel that these will all be great additions to the town, and we’re really excited about these.”

Rahal shared that although plans are still fluid, he has secured a “great partner” for his proposed coffee shop, which will

This month, we are pleased to feature IndyCar driver Graham Rahal on our cover. Recently, it was announced that Rahal, president of Graham Rahal Brands, has entered into an agreement with the Zionsville Economic Development Commission to purchase two lots at Creekside Corporate Park where Rahal’s 115,000-square-foot headquarters will be built.

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Laura Arick and courtesy of Graham Rahal Performance

also be housed in the new facility, and he is excited about the proposed bar and grill amenity that is also under development.

“We are simply trying to grow this culture of cars and coffee or what we call ‘Ducs & Donuts,’” Rahal said. “We love what that brings. It’s not an ‘upscale-only’ deal at all. These are open to everyone. I don’t care if you drive a Fiat or a Ferrari. You are welcome to our events. What I love the most is that it doesn’t matter if you are 3 years old or 80 years old, you can enjoy our community events.”

Rahal continued, “What I enjoy most is seeing folks and families come through just for the love of being together and enjoying cool cars, motorcycles and a cool place to be. And between the showrooms, there will be a coffee shop that will be open to the public who want to come in, sit down and work, enjoy the Wi-Fi or write a novel. It will obviously be racing inspired, but it will be a great space when we have events. We’re really excited about that and think it’s going to be a great part of our facility.”

As also expressed by Bobby Rahal when we spoke with him in a previous article, it is important to the entire Rahal family and organizations to engage with

the Zionsville community that they are heavily invested in. The younger Rahal spoke about how his love of automobiles and community events began at a young age spending time with his father and attending events hosted by Bobby.

PERFORMANCE VEHICLE STORAGE AND PREMIER EVENT SPACE

Those who are familiar with the Mo tor District in Westfield and SILO Auto Club in downtown Indianapolis will be excited about Rahal’s forthcoming storage and social membership offerings that will be available within the new facility in Zionsville.

“You may have a Porsche or a fancy toy that needs somewhere to go in the winter, and we’re fairly centralized to our client base in Carmel as well, so we’re excited to be able to do this here,” Rahal expressed. “We will be able to store 100 cars and motorcycles on top, and we will do this in a vertical capacity so that we will be able to stack 4 high and still maintain a fairly low roof to give it a really clean and sporty look in the interior of the building. If you’re in the bar and grill area, you’ll be able to see the vehicles that are on display. It’s going to be a great event cen ter — maximizing the garage footprint — and like SILO, the event space can be rented to host dinners or whatever.”

THE GRAHAM & COURTNEY RAHAL FOUNDATION

As announced, the Graham & Courtney Rahal Foundation will also be housed in the Zionsville HQ, along with Rahal’s corporate offices.

The Graham & Courtney Rahal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt

charitable organization led by Rahal and his wife, former National Hot Rod Association Funny Car driver Courtney Force-Rahal. Rahal initiated the Founda tion in 2009 to continue the philanthrop ic efforts of his former team owner, the late actor Paul Newman.

Each year, the foundation hosts the GCRF Drivers Tournament powered by United Rentals the week leading into the Indianapolis 500, drawing participants from across the country to raise aware ness and money for the foundation’s two charitable partners: Turns for Troops / SoldierStrong USA and Colorado State University’s One Cure program.

Supporting numerous nonprofits over the last decade, the GCRF has donated more than $1.4 million to causes close to the Rahal family’s hearts.

“Our mission is to raise money and to give back to two main causes,” Rahal shared. “One is to our veterans. We pro vide a lot of funds to veterans who need more advanced treatments and therapies for their rehab through our Turns for Troops initiative. Then we have our Vino for Vets fundraiser, which is held in Napa Valley in October, that is capped at 25 cou ples. It is way too much fun, and we raise a lot of money for our Veterans.”

Rahal’s other philanthropic focus is on the family’s One Cure initiative and on raising funds to support the Losartan Combination Clinical Trial for children with metastatic bone cancer.

“When taken in extreme doses, [Losar tan] has been proven to be extremely ef fective in killing off [the cancerous] cells,” Rahal said. “We are seeing great results, so that’s why we are continuing to fund that.

It is important for people to know that our foundation does not pay [foundation] salaries. Courtney and I pay our folks to do the [foundation] work, and 100 percent of what we raise goes back to the charities that we support.”

For more information on the founda tion and how you can donate or assist, visit grahamrahal.com/gcrf.

PUSHING THROUGH THE FINAL LAP

With all of the proposed amenities and services being announced, one can hardly wait for the start and completion of con struction, and no one is more anxious to cross the finish line than Rahal himself.

“I would have loved to have broken ground 6 months ago,” Rahal expressed. “I’m so out of space, and that’s hindering me from being able to hire additional employees because I have nowhere to put any more employees. I literally don’t have office space or workspaces for addition al employees. Having said that, I think spring 2023 is likely [to break ground]

simply because we’re still working through some stuff with the town. I figure it will be about a 14-month build time, and it may be a good time, as the prices of steel and other building components are coming down or are at least plateauing in some areas, but the sooner the better.”

Rahal concluded, “I want people to understand that I will do the best I can for the people of Zionsville and will do it right. I think people will see the facility and how unbelievably beautiful and state-of-the-art it will be. We, as a family, take a lot of pride in what we do and hold ourselves to a very high standard. I hope that people reading this understand that we’re not a ‘normal’ car dealership that will have cars sitting out on a lot and lit up at night like a Christmas tree. That’s not what we do. We are a boutique, specialty brand, and Ducati is the same. We wouldn’t be coming to Zionsville if we didn’t think these brands are a perfect fit for what’s going on [in Zionsville], and we are excited about being there.”

“Legally Blonde The Musical”

Zionsville Community High School is proud to present “Legally Blonde The Musical,” a fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, “Legally Blonde.” “Legally Blonde The Musical” follows the transformation of Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and scandal in pursuit of her dreams. Action-packed and exploding with memorable songs and dynamic dances, this musical is so much fun, it should be illegal!

Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors and her ex. With the support of some new friends, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.

Don’t miss a minute of ZCHS musical magic — get your tickets now, as this production is sure to sell out!

Directing the cast and crew is Choral and Musical Theater Director Sam Chenoweth. Chenoweth, along with the cast and crew, is especially excited about this production, as it is the first without COVID-19 restrictions, allowing both the

cast and audiences to experience musical theater as it was pre-pandemic.

I spoke with Chenoweth and a few of the lead roles about how exciting it must be to be back to “normal” opera tions and if they are feeling a renewed sense of energy as they are progressing through rehearsals.

Sam Chenoweth – Director

“Yes, we’re back to 100% and with a ‘re newed,’ energy but there is also a lack of experience that comes with the fact that many of our kids have not done a ‘normal’ show at the high school before. Many are learning the process and what the final product looks — opposite of the audience — because it’s been a wacky three years. I’ve been asked lot of questions about things we haven’t been able to do during

ZCHS Presents:

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of ZCHS Performing Arts

those [three] years, which has been a good way to reset some status quo that can get shifted a little bit now because we’ve gone back to ‘normal.’”

Claire Kauffman (Sophomore) –Elle Woods

“Elle is definitely different than any oth er role I’ve played before. She’s sassy, and towards the end of the show, she’s very confident and knows how to stand up for herself. She’s a very powerful girl! I think the most challenging thing about playing Elle is she is just kind of all over the place and you have to experiment with her character and think outside of the box. There are so many sporadic things [about her character] and you have to be super confident in what you’re doing.”

Matt Nelson (Junior) –Emmett Forrest

“Getting completely back into the swing of things gives me peace of mind. It’s a funny and lighthearted show! It doesn’t really feel like ‘work,’ and I can personally relate with Emmett in terms of the char

acter he is in the show. He’s very calm and level, and I feel like I can sort of play into that well because the cast is very ram bunctious and kind of wild, and I’m very level and calm in person.”

Anjali Gupta (Senior) –Brooke Wyndham

“I love how intense [Brooke] is. The very first time you meet Brooke, she starts jump roping while singing for like the entire number! She’s in charge of a fitness empire, and she’s all about empowering everyone and allowing them to be their best. I think she’s just a very passionate and empowering character, and I love playing that! I’m mostly excited about the energy of the show because it’s been a really long time since we’ve done a more lighthearted and upbeat show. The vocals and the songs are amazing themselves, and there’s a lot of dancing. It’s a really funny show and empowering, as I’ve said, so I think everyone should come, because there’s something for everyone!”

Purchase your tickets before they sell out at zionsvillepac.org/events.

CAST

SHOW DATES & TIMES

Thursday, November 17, 2022 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 17, 2022 7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 18, 2022 7:00 p.m.

Friday, November 18, 2022 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 19, 2022 7:00 p.m.

Elle Woods – Claire Kauffman Emmett Forrest – Matt Nelson Paulette Buonofonte – Jilayne Kistner Serena – Izzy Casciani Margot – Nina Abel Pilar – Savannah McCarthy Professor Callahan – Ben DeBaltzo Warner Huntington Ill – Charlie March-Gibson Vivienne Kensington – Anne Nooning Brooke Wyndham – Anjali Gupta

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