Founded March 12, 2024, at Indianapolis, IN Vol. I, No. 44
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The views of the columnists in Current in North Indy are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
All-volunteer WITT serves the Greater Indianapolis community
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A little more than 16 years ago, all-volunteer WITT-FM community radio went on the air, serving the Indianapolis area with its eclectic mix of music and a sprinkling of community information.
The noncommercial, nonprofit radio station operated by Kids First, Inc., was founded in 2009 by the late Jim Walsh. While WITT is licensed in Zionsville, rebroadcasts Zionsville public meetings and airs public service announcements for Zionsville, it so far has never had studio space in the town.
That’s about to change, though, said WITT Board President Russ Dodge, with plans underway to move by the end of 2025 from WITT’s Broad Ripple studio — built in a converted backyard shed — to a new location in Zionsville.
Dodge said WITT began when Walsh — a longtime local broadcaster — decided to branch out on his own.
“He had this vision that he wanted to try and get a license for his own station,” Dodge said. “So, he found out when there was going to be an opening for it. He applied for it — had to jump through a bunch of hoops to get it, but he did it.”
Board Vice President Guy Davis said in an email that Walsh operated the radio station from a spare room of his Broad Ripple house for 14 years with the help of an automated playlist and a couple volunteers.
“Sadly, injuries suffered in a bicycle accident in late 2022 led to Mr. Walsh’s rapid decline and he died in April 2023,” Davis said. “With the station at risk of going dark, a handful of volunteers — friends of Mr. Walsh and a few other acquaintances with backgrounds in broadcasting — stepped in and assumed responsibility for programming.”
Dodge, a career broadcaster, was among those volunteers after helping at the station for many years. He said he met Walsh about a year before WITT went on the air and Walsh later recruited him to find sponsors for the thennew station’s programming.
Now, Davis said, a formal system for WITT’s finances has been established and the station was able to expand programming and solicit donations and
underwriter support. With a formal budget, the station is equipped to plan for the future, he said, and part of that plan is the move to Zionsville.
Dodge noted that while the studio has been in the Broad Ripple shed, the station’s broadcasting tower is in Zionsville — and the signal is strong enough to reach most of the Greater Indianapolis metropolitan area. The station also streams its signal online and has listeners from around the globe. But, Dodge said, the focus is on Zionsville and he hopes WITT can add more local programming, such as updates from the mayor, council and local chamber of commerce.
“We get involved in community activities, too, like the Zionsville Fall Fest,” he said. “We have a close relationship with the Zionsville Lions Club, so they have us out at different events and we love it because we’re getting in front of a rather large number of people.”
Zionsville resident Paulette Szykowny has been one of the station’s on-air volunteers for about a year. She is one of the hosts of the station’s weekly all-request show, 9 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays, and she records all the public service announcements for Zionsville and Whitestown.
“The spots are fun because they’re family friendly spots and current events happening in town — holiday parades
and pumpkin patches and pumpkin smashes,” she said. “It’s fun to be able to announce the fun things for kids.”
Szykowny said she enjoys volunteering with WITT because everyone involved is passionate about community radio. She also appreciates the unpredictable playlist.
“I particularly love the different programs, the different genres that are presented in the programs,” she said. “You learn a lot about music history, musicians, the one-hit wonders — there’s just a lot to learn on the music side, and then just being exposed to all of the different genres of music. So, it’s something you may not come across on other channels or radio or Spotify, but you find out about it on WITT.”
Davis said WITT’s unique programming and other innovations in the past couple of years have made an impact.
“We have tangible evidence that our audience has at least tripled since 2023’s low point and remains on a modest growth trajectory,” he said. “This year’s addition of a WITT streaming app has helped to greatly improve our internet listener count. The app was designed and launched by a longtime listener and recent volunteer and is exclusive to our station.”
To listen, tune in to 91.9 FM. For a schedule and playlist or for more information, visit 919witt.org.
WITT volunteer Don Worsham mans the table at an event. (Photo courtesy of Guy Davis)
COMMUNITY
Mesh on Mass Ave to close after New Year
northindy@youarecurrent.com
Cunningham Restaurant Group recently announced that its downtown Indianapolis restaurant Mesh on Mass Ave will close Jan. 4, 2026, after 15 years in that location.
According to a news release, the building’s owner put the property up for sale and CRG was not able to reach an agreement on a long-term lease.
“The decision is respected by both parties, who will part on good terms,” the news release stated, noting that Mesh marked the beginning of CRG’s journey. “For (CRG founder) Mike Cunningham, opening Mesh in the downtown market was an opportunity that has since evolved into more than seven CRG concepts in the downtown Indy area alone and 45 total across Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.”
According to the news release, Cunningham founded Mesh with the vision of bringing neighbors together around great food and hospitality.
“Mesh was always intended to be a place where our neighbors could share meals and memories and it’s been an incredible journey,” Cunningham stated. “While this chapter for Mesh is ending, our commitment to serving people is not and we’re excited for what’s next for CRG.”
Cunningham Restaurant Group has new developments underway, including The Lawrence in West Lafayette, opening near Purdue University in February 2026; and a new concept planned for Fishers in 2027.
CRG also recently relocated Stone Creek Greenwood to a new building and opened its 17th Bru Burger Bar in the same area this summer.
For more, visit crgdining.com.
Mesh on Mass Avenue in downtown Indianapolis will close Jan. 4, 2026. (Photo courtesy of CRG)
Butler-bound guard wants to finish strong for Millers
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Noblesville High School senior guard Baron Walker wants to make sure he appreciates all the final memories of his high school basketball career.
“I’m just excited with it being my last high school season to take in all the memories and experiences with the teammates each and every game,” said Walker, who has signed to play for Butler University for the 2026-27 season.
“(I’m) not taking it for granted knowing how priceless it is to play the game of basketball for my city that I’ve been born and raised in. Hopefully, we can win as much as we can, be successful and show growth as a team.”
Walker said he wants to focus on leadership.
“Helping the guys and just setting the standard, not only just for this year, but for next season,” he said. “Everyone has the end goal of making it to the state championship, and that’s one of my goals.’
Millers coach Scott McClelland said Walker’s leadership is essential.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
BARON WALKER
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite TV show: “Starting 5”
Favorite movie: “Remember the Titans”
Favorite musician: Drake
Favorite subject: English
“He’s got to provide solid, sound leadership every day in practice and games,” McClelland said. “Then we are going to need him to play well and he’s going to play in multiple positions. He’s going to be called on to guard, if not the other team’s best players, one of their two best players.”
The 6-foot-3 Walker averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per
Noblesville High School senior guard
Baron Walker has signed to play for Butler next season. (Photo courtesy of Millers Sports Media)
game last season. He shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line.
Walker moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore after a teammate was injured.
“While it was unfortunate how I got the starting spot, it did help my confidence and I was able to embrace a bigger role,” he said.
Walker said each year he’s worked on getting stronger and improving his speed.
“He had a really good junior year and really came into his own last spring and summer in AAU,” McClelland said.
“People have been keeping an eye on him through his junior high school season, and he got named (a) Junior AllStar. Then in the summer, he played on a really good team (Grand Park Premier) that played really well and he’s benefited from that.”
When Butler coach Thad Matta offered a scholarship in late summer, Walker quickly accepted.
“In talking with my parents, it was too good an opportunity to pass up,” he said. “It’s one of the great basketball places to play in the state of Indiana. Some even call it the basketball cathedral of Indiana. It’s just very historic from a basketball perspective, and from a school perspective, I can go there and get a great education and set myself up after because basketball has to stop one day.”
Not surprisingly, Walker said there is the perk of being 30 minutes from home, so family can watch him play.
“Playing in the Big East (Conference) is going to be awesome,” he said. “It’s some place where I see myself being able to exceed my maximum potential on and off the court.”
North Central choirs plan holiday concert
northindy@youarecurrent.com
North Central High School Choirs will present “More Joyful Sounds of the Season,” a holiday concert featuring 350 student performers, at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6 in Birge Auditorium at North Central High School, 1801 E. 86th St.
Now in its fourth year in its current format, “More Joyful Sounds of the Season,” sponsored by Westcomm, will showcase all 10 North Central Choirs, with the addition of special guest performers North Side Sound — the Washington Township sixth- through eighth-grade community show choir — which will perform Dec. 6.
This year’s production takes a fresh approach to the traditional winter concert format, a news release stated.
“Instead of just moving from one choir to the next, like a traditional winter concert, we are making it more of a production,” stated Jared McElroy, director of North Central Choirs. “The show will celebrate all that winter and the holiday season offer. We will begin with a Thanksgiving set, then work our way through Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, New Years, winter travel and all the warm fuzzy feelings in between.”
The evening will feature annual traditions, including a Christmas and Hanukkah Medley performed by North Central’s advanced mixed choir, Counterpoints; and “Turkey Lurkey Time” from the Broadway musical “Promises, Promises,” performed by North Central’s advanced univoice choir, Descants.
The concert ends with “A Joyful Sound,” a piece written specifically for North Central Choirs by former director Mike Raunick and NC alumnus Garrett Breeze. During the closing number, all North Central High School Choirs alumni will be invited to join students on stage.
“The concert is an opportunity to celebrate our incredibly talented students, the rich history of North Central Choirs and the various family traditions that bring us together during the winter months,” McElroy stated. “We view ‘More Joyful Sounds of the Season’ as a homecoming of sorts. It is a joy to see the many generations of the NC Choir family come together on stage each and every year.”
Proceeds from ticket sales support the North Central Choirs program. For tickets, visit northcentralchoirs.com/ events.
Hibernation Ball set — Re-Wilding Indiana’s Hibernation Ball fundraiser is set for Dec. 5 at the Indiana Historical Society during its Festival of Trees. The 21-and-over event raises money for the nonprofit that helps injured and orphaned wild animals. For more, visit rewildingindiana.org.
North Central Choirs will perform an annual holiday concert Dec. 5 and 6. (Photo courtesy of North Central Choirs)
Holiday Adventure Pass available
news@youarecurrent.com
Visit Indy and Visit Hamilton County’s Holiday Adventure Pass is a guide for residents and visitors to experience holiday attractions throughout Marion and Hamilton counties. The free pass is available through Dec. 31.
“The Holiday Adventure Pass is a fun, easy way for residents and visitors to make memories while exploring attractions across both counties,” stated Chris
Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Visit Indy.
Gahl said in the second year of the pass, the organizations have expanded the program to include locally sourced prizes that highlight small businesses.
“This initiative not only enhances the user experience but also supports our downtown and regional partners during the busy holiday season,” Gahl stated.
To earn points, users must check in
via a QR code found at participating locations.
“From ice skating under the stars to exploring festive celebrations, the Holiday Adventure Pass encourages families and friends to discover new activities, while making memories that will last long after the decorations come down,” stated Gabby Blauert, communications manager for Visit Hamilton County.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Holiday Adventure Pass back for its second year
and watch it grow into a beloved holiday tradition.”
Visiting a participating venue allows users to accumulate points, which can be redeemed for holiday-themed prizes, available to the first 300 users who redeem points. By visiting five adventure pass attractions, users will be entered to win a weekend getaway to central Indiana.
For more, visit visitindy.com/events/ holidays/holidays-adventure-pass.
When
See a high-risk pregnancy specialist sooner
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Find a specialist at ascension.org/IndianaMFM or scan the QR code to learn more.
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A traveler examines the “Hometown Heroes” mural, part of the Tuskegee Airmen exhibit on display at the Indianapolis International Airport. (Photo courtesy of the Indianapolis Airport Authority)
Indy airport debuts Tuskegee Airmen exhibit
The Indianapolis Airport Authority recently celebrated the debut of “Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers,” one of the largest and longest-scheduled exhibits in the history of the Indianapolis International Airport.
The new exhibit honors the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen with historical artifacts and the airmen’s stories filling exhibit cases throughout the Indy airport, according to a news release from the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
The traveling exhibit, presented in partnership with NOLAWORLD and the Indy Arts Council, launched Nov. 10 and kicks off the Indy airport’s celebration of the 250th birthday of the United State of America. It will remain on display through March 26, 2026, concluding on Tuskegee Airmen Recognition Day.
“The Tuskegee Airmen often described their legacy as a testament to excellence, duty and the right to serve
with honor,” IAA Executive Director Mario Rodriguez stated. “This exhibit celebrates their contributions, devotion to their nation and courage that continues to inspire generations — and we are honored to share their story with travelers from around the world.”
The exhibit highlights Indiana’s ties to the Tuskegee Airmen story. Notable Hoosiers include Major Charles B. Hall of Brazil, the first Black pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft; Dr. Lewis Jackson of Angola, director of flight training; and 2nd Lt. Charles H. DeBow Jr. of Indianapolis, one of the first five graduates of the Tuskegee combat training program.
Temporary art cases throughout the terminal display exhibit artifacts. Additionally, a “Hometown Heroes” mural featuring 44 Tuskegee Airmen with Indiana ties is on display in the airport’s Civic Plaza.
As a national traveling exhibit, the Tuskegee Airmen: America’s Freedom Flyers launched last June in St. Louis.
the Nor thside since 1982
SNew program helps preserve historic lodges
northindy@youarecurrent.com
A new grant program from Indiana Landmarks will help preserve historic fraternal lodge buildings throughout the state.
The statewide nonprofit previously worked with individual property owners to come up with preservation strategies for specific lodge buildings, according to a news release. The new grant program expands those efforts by offering assistance for lodges in active use and buildings no longer used for lodge functions.
Historic fraternal lodge buildings that are listed in or eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places are eligible for the program, which will award matching grants of up to $5,000 per property for qualified rehabilitation expenses and $2,000 per property for feasibility studies, historic designations and other preservation-related planning.
“In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fraternal orders proliferated across the U.S. At one point, nearly every town in Indiana had at least one fraternal organization and for generations lodges built by Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, Knights of Pythias and other orders became important community landmarks,” the news release stated. “Today, participation in fraternal organizations is on a steep decline. As numbers dwindle and members age, orders struggle to maintain their structures, leaving hundreds of significant buildings at risk.”
For more about the grants, visit indianalandmarks.org/resources/grantsand-loans; call 317-639-4534 or email mdollase@indianalandmarks.org.
Dunn Memorial Temple in Bedford is a historic lodge in Indiana.
(Photo courtesy of Indiana Landmarks)
Indy man arrested after high-speed chase
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
Carmel police arrested an Indianapolis man Nov. 11 after he led them on a high-speed chase in a reportedly stolen vehicle.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Egles Steven Gonzalez, 27, travelled at speeds reaching 120 mph on Keystone Parkway after initially pulling over for a late morning traffic stop under the I-465 overpass.
A police officer initiated the traffic stop after learning the blue Dodge Charger had a dealer tag tied to a stolen vehicle. As the officer approached the stopped vehicle on foot, Gonzalez sped off southbound, the affidavit states.
“The accused drove the vehicle at speeds over 120 MPH, weaving in and out of traffic with no turn signal, driving off the road on the right shoulder nearly colliding with multiple vehicles,” the document states.
police used a precision immobilization technique Nov. 11 to slow and contain a reportedly stolen Dodge Charger.
Gonzalez drove into Indianapolis and made a U-turn at Ruth Street back onto Keystone Avenue. He then tried to head westbound on 86th Street, but Carmel Police Department officers used precision immobilization techniques to slow and contain the vehicle, boxing it in.
The affidavit states that Gonzalez exited the Charger and led officers on a short foot pursuit near the Seasons 52 restaurant on Keystone Crossing. Officers captured Gonzalez and took him into custody.
Officers discovered 6.92 grams of marijuana and a Glock 23 firearm inside the vehicle, which had been reported stolen April 30 in Avon. Gonzalez told police that he purchased the vehicle for $15,000 cash “somewhere in Ohio” but wasn’t exactly sure where, the affidavit states.
Gonzalez was not permitted to carry a handgun because of an October 2020 felony conviction for resisting law enforcement in Shelby County. In addition, police discovered his driving privileges had been suspended since Aug. 7.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office charged Gonzalez with three felonies: auto theft, resisting law enforcement and unlawful carrying of a handgun after a prior felony conviction. He is also facing five misdemeanor charges: unlawful carrying of a handgun, theft, driving while suspended, possession of marijuana and reckless driving. His bond was set at $200,000.
Riley Parr, an attorney representing Gonzalez, did not respond to a request for comment.
A trial is set for Feb. 9, 2026, in Hamilton County Superior Court 1.
Gonzalez
Carmel
(Photo courtesy of CPD)
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COMMUNITY
Newfields kicks off new garden project
northindy@youarecurrent.com
Newfields art and nature museum, 4000 N. Michigan Rd., broke ground in mid-November on a $10 million flower and vegetable garden project set to open in late 2026 at the museum’s Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse.
RAS Landscape Architects worked on the design, according to a news release from Newfields, paying homage to its original use on the Oldfields Estate, also known as Lilly House and Gardens. Construction, in partnership with Shiel Sexton, will restore part of the original estate, while reimagining nearby areas to enhance the garden experience for visitors.
The project cost of $10 million is supported by donors and the Newfields endowment. To learn more, visit discovernewfields.org/current-projects.
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COMMUNITY
‘EMERGING’ FELLOWS
Eiteljorg opens new exhibit featuring contemporary Native artists
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A new exhibit in downtown Indianapolis’ Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art showcases contemporary work by descendants of America’s oldest cultures, with five featured artists using a combination of traditional and new materials and techniques to share their heritage through paintings, beadwork, sculpture and more.
“Emerging Current” is open at the Eiteljorg Museum through Feb. 22. The artists whose work is displayed are invited artist Jean LaMarr, Northern Paiute/Achomawi, of California; and fellows John Feodorov, Navajo, of Seattle; Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich, Koyukon Dené/Iñupiaq of Alaska; Maria Hupfield, Anishinaabek-Wasauksing First Nation of Toronto, Canada; and Cannupa Hanska Luger, Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara/Lakota, of New Mexico. Each artist brings their distinct voice and vision to the exhibit, which opened Nov. 8. One of the first pieces that catches the eye when entering is a coyote/human figure dressed to impress, created by LaMarr. She explained during a media preview tour that Ms. Coyote was looking for Junipero Serra, a Catholic missionary in the 1700s, who Ms. Coyote wanted to “have for dinner,” thus paying him back for his harsh treatment of Native American children.
Serra — declared a saint in 1988 — is depicted as a tiny figure standing in front of Ms. Coyote, who is dressed in purple tulle with a fur cape, and is armed with a toy gun, grenades, machete and more. LaMarr said Ms. Coyote’s accessories were a group effort, with friends and neighbors contributing items to her armory.
Stepping through to the next large exhibit space, the eyes are drawn to a massive serpent in the center of the room, made from old tires, pieces of pipe and other scavenged material. The creature is flanked by two figures in colorful regalia made with crocheted afghans.
Luger said he made the serpent out
Jean LaMarr, Northern Paiute/Achomawi, of California adjusts one of her pieces in a new Eiteljorg Museum exhibit that showcases the work of contemporary art fellows. (Photos by Leila Kheiry)
of byproducts of the hydrocarbon industry.
“There’s a Lakota prophecy around a black snake that would cross the land,” he said. “That prophecy has been applied multiple times throughout our
Artwork by Erin Ggaadimits Ivalu Gingrich, Koyukon Dené/Iñupiaq of Alaska, combines sculpture and beadwork to honor salmon — a key resource for Alaska Native people.
storied relationship with the United States. It was referenced when the train was coming through, referenced again when the Keystone Pipeline was being built (and the extension was proposed) — all of these sorts of things.”
EITELJORG CONTEMPORARY ART FELLOWSHIP
Every other year since 1999, the Eiteljorg museum has supported a new group of five artists in the contemporary Native art field as Eiteljorg Fellows. According to a news release, four are chosen by a panel of art experts and one is invited based on a lifetime of work.
Additionally, the museum organizes an exhibit of their art and publishes an art catalog to accompany the exhibit. The museum purchases some of the fellows’ artwork and provides a cash award.
“Each 2025 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellow is a powerhouse, incredibly talented and articulate and whose prac-
tice is equally compelling,” stated Curator of Native American Art Dorene Red Cloud, Oglala Lakota, who is curator of the fellowship. “The ‘Emerging Current’ exhibition will be a pure visual and cerebral delight and we are so excited to share this momentous program with our visitors and members.”
The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship is sponsored by Lilly Endowment Inc., Avis Foundation and the Efroymson Family Fund — a Central Indiana Community Foundation Fund.
For more, visit contemporaryartfellowship.eiteljorg.org.
Luger said “snake” is the English word, but it’s actually a serpent — something monstrous. The two figures represent “the one who checks and the one who balances.”
“They’re based on these monster-slayer figures from our Mandan cosmology,” he said. “They had a kind of storied relationship with slaying monsters to provide space, to get rid of things out of balance in the landscape.”
The figures wear regalia from material that Luger said he “hunted and gathered” at thrift shops — a way to reuse discarded material and to honor the people who originally made the crocheted items.
“Somebody’s auntie, somebody’s uncle, somebody’s grandma made those and gifted them to somebody else, and then they found their way into thrift stores,” he said. “I used them in the same way that we would use hides — this is the hide of Americana.”
Nearby, Gingrich’s pieces glimmer with beadwork while paying homage to the natural world that provided resources her Alaska Native ancestors relied on — resources that are now diminishing. One installment depicts a school of salmon as they would be seen from below — the perspective of the Earth.
“Salmon are so important to us up north and especially for my communities,” she said. “My family comes from the Yukon River … and that fishery has been closed since 2017 and we’ve been experiencing salmon loss. If we look at them in this way, and we look at them with the value that they innately have, hopefully better choices will be made and recognized when it comes to making decisions about salmon and the places they call home, which are also my home.”
Visitors can see the Emerging Current exhibition daily through Feb. 22 with regular admission, along with the museum’s other exhibitions. For more, visit eiteljorg.org.
ON THE COVER: A piece by Cannupa Hanska Luger, Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara/ Lakota, of New Mexico depicts a serpent. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
Commentary by Larry Greene
This charming Carmel home near Woodland Country Club gained new life with a front porch addition designed for comfort, character and year-round enjoyment.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The new covered porch creates a welcoming entry and gathering spot for family and friends.
• Classic columns and stone-wrapped bases add architectural detail and timeless curb appeal.
• A stamped concrete walkway and spacious seating area enhance both style and function.
• Warm lighting and natural textures make the porch feel inviting in every season.
• This addition beautifully blends with the home’s exterior, bringing lasting charm and value.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy. com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
A cozy Carmel porch addition
Holiday Donation Drive
Donate new, unopened items to bring joy to kids spending their holidays in the hospital Thank you for supporting local children
Requested Items:
Crayola pencils/markers (10–12 ct)
Uno card decks
Small puzzles (24–48 pcs)
Play-Doh tubs
Upcoming Show Dates
December 20, 2025 January 18, 2026 February 15, 2026 March 15, 2026 April 19, 2026 May 17, 2026
Dave Koz & Friends continue holiday tradition at Palladium
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Saxophonist Dave Koz has the distinction of being the concert performer with the second-most appearances at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
Koz, 62, has performed at the Palladium 12 times, including 11 times with his holiday show. The only performer with more appearances at the Palladium, which opened in 2011, is Michael Feinstein, the Allied Solutions Center’s artistic director.
The Koz & Friends holiday show will make its 12th appearance at 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Palladium.
“This is our 28th annual holiday show, and it’s nice to know that we’ve been at the Palladium for a good chunk of those 28 at the Palladium,” Koz said. “I love playing there. It’s one of the most beautiful venues in the country.”
Singer-songwriter Jonathan Butler returns with Koz as one of the friends.
“He’s kind of my right-hand guy,” Koz said. “We’ve been doing this as partners for probably 15 of those 28 years. He’s just full of heart and soul. When he opens his mouth to sing, it’s the truth. It’s very authentic.”
Koz said it’s special when they are side by side on stage.
“We come from such different backgrounds and life experiences, and yet we’re doing this music and united in the cause of bringing people together,” Koz said. “A few years ago, we started an initiative to introduce new artists. So, this year we have three younger artists.”
Those artists are pianist Kayla Waters, whose father is saxophonist Kim Waters; bass-vocalist Casey Abrams; and vocalist Haley Reinhart.
“Haley is easily the most famous person on the stage if you go by Spotify metrics,” Koz said. “Her version of Elvis (Presley’s) song ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ has over a half-billion streams.”
Reinhart placed third and Abrams sixth on “American Idol” in 2011.
“The five of us know each other very well,” Koz said. “But we’ve never done a tour together, so it should be really fun and very inspiring for the audience because you’re going to see a lot of incredible music from beautiful artists.”
Koz said holiday songs are meaningful to the audience, citing Butler’s version of ‘O Holy Night’ as an example.
“I guarantee people come to the Palladium every year just to hear that song,” Koz said. “Then there are some people who come just to hear me play the Hanukkah song (‘Eight Candles’). So, there are certain tent poles that we have to continue to do because they’re nostalgic and people have got very attached to them. At the same time as musicians, we want to push the enve-
lope a little bit and try new things.”
One non-Christmas song Koz will perform is “New Hope” from his album with Bob James, “Just Us,” which has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Koz said many people have had a difficult year with the economic realities.
“We want to put together an evening that takes people on a beautiful, heartfelt journey of bringing people together whatever way we can,” Koz said. “I’m continually humbled by the power of music to bring people together to find bridges, even if it’s just for one song.”
Koz said he never expected the tradition of holiday shows to last so long.
“It’s been such a magic carpet ride,” he said. “It started out humbly with probably six or seven shows.”
The idea was born when pianist David Benoit and Koz were doing a radio interview.
“We had both lost a parent within two weeks of each other,” Koz said. “This was in the spring and David said, ‘Why don’t we go out this holiday season and make some music for our folks?’ Neither of us thought it would be going on this long. The DNA of this tour is about family.”
Benoit rejoined the tour for the 25th anniversary.
“If we get to the 30th anniversary, I hope to have the original cast members back, David Benoit, Rick Braun and Peter White, along with Jonathan Butler and myself,” Koz said.
Butler wasn’t an original cast member but has been with Koz for about half the years.
“I think if we make it to 30, that will be our final Christmas tour,” he said. “Let someone else do it for a while. We had an amazing run, so these last few years we are going to make it as special as we can.”
For tickets, visit thecenterpresents. org.
‘A BEEF & BOARDS CHRISTMAS!’
“A Beef & Boards Christmas!” runs through Dec. 31 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
Indy Nights with Ryan Ahlwardt and XNC will perform at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and “A Sinatra Christmas” is set for 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Feinstein’s cabaret at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘MERRY MOVIE NIGHTS’
Heartland International Film Festival will hold “Merry Movie Nights” Dec. 4-7 and Dec. 11 with six festive films in The Basile Event Center at the Heartland Film HQ and the Fishers City Hall Theater. Tickets start at $7. For more, visit heartlandfilm.org.
‘JINGLE & SWING’
The Fishers Community Chorus and Mudsock Jazz Combo will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Fishers Art Center Theater. For more, visit fisherschorus. org.
‘A
CHRISTMAS STORY’
Civic Theatre’s “A Christmas Story: The Musical” is set for Dec. 5 to 27 at The Tarkington at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre.org
‘BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT’
Carmel Apprentice Theatre’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!” runs through Dec. 7 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
‘SLEIGH BELLS AND SNOWFLAKES’
Indiana Wind Symphony’s “Sleigh Bells and Snowflakes” concert is set for 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.
The Dave Koz & Friends concert is set for Dec. 12 in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Colin Peck Photography)
Butler
ENTERTAINMENT
Nunziata concert set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Jazz-pop vocalist Anthony Nunziata enjoys sharing music that brings people together.
“There’s something about holiday concerts that just feel different,” Nunziata said. “I love celebrating with people and creating moments they’ll hopefully remember long after I sing my final note.”
Nunziata will be joined by Ashley Nicole Soprano, an Actors Theatre of Indiana trio and the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus in a concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Broadway United Methodist Church, 609 E. 29th St., Indianapolis.
he always loves to include, such as “O Holy Night” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year.”
“I also enjoy sharing some of my own holiday originals,” he said. “I like to mix the traditional songs with ones that maybe people haven’t heard before. It keeps the concert feeling fresh and joyful.”
Nunziata hasn’t previously performed with Actors Theatre of Indiana members.
ATI Artistic Director Judy Fitzgerald leads the trio.
Nunziata has built a big following in recent years performing at Feinstein’s cabaret in Carmel.
“I’ve been so lucky to connect with audiences in Indianapolis and Carmel over the years,” he said. “Every time I come back, it feels like I’m visiting friends and family.”
Nunziata said there are a few classics
“I’ll be performing with my fellow co-founder and partner-incrime, Cynthia Collins, along with the incredible Terry Woods on the 88s (piano),” Fitzgerald said. “It will be just the three of us for a fun number in the first act and a lovely holiday carol mash-up in the second.”
Fitzgerald said the organizations benefiting from the evening of holiday classics are ATI, Kids Dance Outreach and the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus.
For more, visit brownpapertickets. com/event/6612656.
Holiday tradition returns
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Kenny Shepard loves the family feel of “A Beef and Boards Christmas!”
“I think the show has remained a family show since Doug Stark began it years ago. My friend and choreographer, the late Ron Morgan, always called it a show with ‘TV revue-show energy for everyone in the family,’” Shepard said. “Songs can come and go and come back again in a reinvented way, but family and a feel-good energy is still at the heart of it all.”
The Christmas revue runs through Dec. 31 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis.
Shepard, who is the co-host with Deb Wims, has been performing in the show for 26 years, starting in 1994.
“This year, my former student, AnnaLee Higgins, is choreographing the show with her husband Dan Bob Higgins, and it’s a real full-circle moment,” said Shepard, a former Fishers resident who now lives in the Geist area. “AnnaLee and Dan Bob are great friends now, and after years of telling
Deb Wims and Kenny Shepard perform at a previous “A Beef & Boards Christmas!” (Photo courtesy of Beef & Boards)
her where to go and what to do on stage, it’s fun to sit back and let her take the helm. I’m an assistant teaching professor at Ball State, and one of my favorite things about my job is seeing students, like AnnaLee, claim their space in the professional world.”
Shepard was living in New York when he heard Beef & Boards was staging an annual revue.
“I missed the first season (in 1993), but I thought, ‘I have to be part of this, so I can be home for the holidays each year,’ and that’s exactly what happened,” Shepard said.
For more, visit beefandboards.com.
Nunziata
IWS holiday concert set
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Indiana Wind Symphony Music Director Jay Gephart figures the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts campus is the perfect setting for a holiday concert.
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” Gephart said. “Everybody can experience the holidays with the music, the Christkindlmarkt, the ice-skating rink and the beautiful redecorations that are part of that whole area of Carmel.”
“It’s meant to be a family concert, so it’s for kids young and old,” Gephart said. “We will close the program with a Christmas singalong and a very traditional holiday favorite called ’Sleigh Bells’ by Leroy Anderson.”
Indiana Wind Symphony’s “Sleigh Bells and Snowflakes” concert is set for 4 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Payne & Mencias Palladium at Allied Solutions Center.
The guest vocalist is Cherresa Lawson, who will be featured on “O Holy Night.” Lawson, who performed with IWS last year, is the director of choirs at Kokomo High School; is the lead vocalist for the Caribbean Consort Steele Band; and frequently is the featured vocalist with the Kokomo Park Band.
The singalong will be a medley of tunes with lyrics printed in the program.
There will be a visit by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, played by Gephart’s wife Jana.
“We’re doing a medley of light holiday tunes that the kids will enjoy, and the arranger is the great jazz arranger Sammy Nestico, who is famous for doing a lot of original compositions for the Count Basie band,” Gephart said.
Gephart said a new piece to the holiday repertoire is Ennio Morricone’s “Gabriel’s Oboe.” Another piece is Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Sleepers Awake.”
Gephart said he enjoys mixing up the set list.
For more, visit indianawindsymphony.org.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
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Lawson
The Carnegie Hall Headliner dubbed “America’s New Romantic Singing Sensation!” Featuring Ashley Nicole Soprano.
