TheatreWorksEDU student productions begin this week at the Riverfront Amphitheater.

Like the e-mail says, "The latest and greatest news on your favorite little playhouse in Downtown New Albany."

For more information visit the TheatreWorks web site.


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Dear Friends,

The TheatreWorksEDU student productions of Disney’s The Lion King KIDS and Seussical JR begin this week at the New Albany Amphitheater. The performances are July 11, 12, 18, 19, & 20 at 7:30 p.m and they are free to the public. Both productions are directed/music-directed by Katie Maras Haulter, assistant-directed by Brooklyn Chalfant, choreographed by Sarah Gahagen, and tech-directed by Kota Earnhardt.

The 60+ students involved with these two shows have been rehearsing since May. “It has been such a pleasure working with these talented young performers,” said Gahagen. “These kids have willingly given up much of their summer break to practice and that enthusiasm shines through on stage. It is such a positive experience not only for the children, but for us adults as well.”

Gahagen shared, ““These are such great shows with such fun music. It has been such a privilege to work with these kids and see them learning and growing as performers. They have worked so hard all summer, and I think we are all looking forward to seeing all the pieces come together into a great performance!”

Haulter is no stranger to working with student actors of all ages. She directed The Lion King KIDS at Clarksville Little Theater last summer, and is currently the theatre director at Hazelwood Middle School. Haulter shared, “The kids and teens in both Lion King KIDS and Seussical, Jr. have devoted their summer to honing their acting, singing, and dancing skills, and I couldn’t be prouder of all they have accomplished. These are perfect shows for the whole family to join us in celebrating - including little ones - and to share New Albany and Southern Indiana’s love of theatre for all ages.”

These productions are an effort to provide summer activities and positive experiences for students. “The focus of this project has been on the students,” said Dr. Jason Roseberry, Executive Director for TheatreWorks of SoIN. “From the acting, set work, lighting, and sound, these students have worked with professionals and then had the responsibility handed off to them for the performances.”

The Jeff Gahan Money Machine, Part 2: Of fire stations, amphitheater studies and Axis Architecture and Interiors of Indianapolis.

Previously: The Jeff Gahan Money Machine, Part 1: Mysterious CRS Marketing and the inevitable HWC Engineering tie-in.

Some people watch movies for fun, but during the coming weeks we'll be plucking highlights from eight years of the Committee to Elect Gahan's CFA-4 campaign finance reports. Strap in, folks -- and don't forget those air(head) sickness bags.

Preceding is the record of campaign donations made to Mayor Jeff Gahan by the Indianapolis firm Axis Architecture and Interiors from 2011 through 2018. The total is $11,750, and Axis is one of three Gahan donors uncovered so far to have contributed in each of the past eight years (the others are the Clark Dietz PAC and New Albany contractor Terry Ginkins, who since the public housing putsch has been an NAHA board member).

The total is $11,750. Axis lists New Albany's newest fire house among its completed projects.

It's probably just a flip-of-the-doubloon coincidence that Axis is to receive the impending contract for the "Axis Downtown Conceptual Design" expenditure, an amphitheater and levee parking vicinity study.

Ah, but design studies, consultations, engineering preliminaries ... they're all discretionary, courtesy of appointed boards. Whomever makes the (ahem) "best pitch" gets the contract.

If you have supplementary information to offer about any of this, please let us know and we'll update the page. The preceding was gleaned entirely from public records, with the addresses of "individuals" removed.

Next: The Jeff Gahan Money Machine, Part 3: Eight-year donor Terry Ginkins and a consistency of beak-wetting.

Redevelopment on the down low as city officials say they're cooking up an amphitheater move or remodel, but even Irving Joshua says "not so fast."

Preceding is the record of campaign donations made to Mayor Jeff Gahan by the Indianapolis firm Axis Architecture and Interiors from 2011 through 2017, omitting 2012; I don't have the finance form for 2012, but I'm guessing a donation was made (in 2018, too).

The total is just shy of $10,000. Axis lists New Albany's newest fire house among its completed projects.

It's probably just a coincidence that Axis was to receive the contract for the amphitheater study (below), which was tabled yesterday.

The Green Mouse was told that Democratic Party chairman Adam Dickey, longtime redevelopment commission member, was especially keen to study SOMETHING right away.

The question: What exactly is being studied?

Relocate the current amphitheater?

Remodel it?

Build the parking garage plaza once minted for use by Mainland Properties as a collateral for condo construction?

Why was Dickey in such a hurry?

And, the biggest question of all: who's paying for it?

Just imagine an administration proposal so vague that even Irving Joshua wants to think about it.

Has it ever happened before?

By the way, newspaper reporters are free to borrow these questions.

New Albany considering development between downtown, riverfront, by Brooke McAfee (Tom May Overkill)

NEW ALBANY — An amphitheater is just one possibility that could occupy a city-owned parcel downtown that New Albany officials are eyeing for development.

At Tuesday's Redevelopment Commission meeting redevelopment Director Josh Staten proposed a $25,000 contract with Axis Architecture & Interiors to look into the feasibility of creating a project on the property spanning State and Bank streets near the riverfront.

Many options for the property are on the table.

"The goal is to figure out the best land use for this public space," Mayor Jeff Gahan said. "There’s all kind of possibilities for what we could do to get downtown connected with the riverfront."

After discussion, the commissioners tabled the matter for the next meeting with the plans of broadening the scope of the conceptual study. An outdoor amphitheater was among the proposed options, but the city wants to make sure other concepts are explored ...

INDOT to make funding available for railroad crossing safety projects. The path to the amphitheater might be one of them.

Recently State Senator Ron Grooms passed along information of importance to downtown (below). First, some background.

Among the impediments (both real and imagined) to greater use of the amphitheater is one that largely has remained outside the city's control: a railroad track carrying passing trains.

Local folk wisdom holds that the levee acts as a sort of forbidding mountain range, dissuading riverfront use. For my money, trains are a far bigger safety concern, as well as a periodic roadblock: they'll queue to the west to leave the 6th Street automotive crossing open, thus blocking the pedestrian path from downtown to the amphitheater, often for a very long time.

And I'm probably not the only person who has witnessed people climbing over the couplers. It's very dangerous, indeed.

I chatted with Grooms yesterday at WANA's Political Social. Previously he had met with Mayor Gahan to discuss the railroad crossing, and then the new INDOT program arose. It provides funds to address railroad crossing safety through competitive match grant applications. I'm told that the city has responded favorably to this, and is dispatching John Rosenbarger for due diligence.

Let's hope something comes of it. If we can't have forward-thinking, multi-modal transport networks including a light rail stop at the amphitheater, and if we must tolerate freight trains, then crossing the tracks safely is job one.

Indiana to provide $125M for local railroad safety projects (The Republic)

CHESTERTON, Ind. — Indiana’s transportation authority will provide at least $125 million in matching grants to local governments that undertake railroad safety projects.

The Department of Transportation program will require local agencies to contribute 20 percent of the money for land acquisition and construction. The state would take care of the rest.

The plan is part of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s agenda to upgrade the state’s infrastructure. Holcomb signed a bill last year authorizing funding for the program, which was part of an infrastructure improvement plan approved by the Legislature that hiked taxes and fees.

Local communities may submit proposals from May until the end of August. INDOT is expected to hold several meetings this month to answer questions from local officials.

Grant winners will be announced starting in late summer.

The plaque-ing of the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater began with the late Darrell Sweet, drummer for Nazareth.

The clip's from 1981.

Way back on October 4, 2008, a bar bet was settled here at NAC.

Mark Keeler said that the drummer for Nazareth died in New Albany after 1995. I said he died before the pub started business in 1992. Let the record show that Darrell Sweet died in 1999, which means that Mark was right and I was wrong. Can anyone remember why Nazareth decided to play New Albany in the first place?

Better stated: Who booked Nazareth to play New Albany?

Here is the rest of the story. Darrell Sweet, drummer and founding member of the Scottish rock band Nazareth, took ill before a scheduled show at the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater on April 30, 1999. He was taken to (then) Floyd Memorial Hospital, where he died of a heart attack at 51 years of age.

Fans of Nazareth commissioned a commemorative plaque for Sweet, which was affixed to the rear of the stage (facing the Ohio River) at some point prior to 2008, when the topic entered the barroom transcript.

Here is my 2012 photo.

A closer look.

And the plaque above Darrell Sweet's?

Circa 2011, this plaque was presented by the local Democratic Party to Shelle England. It was followed by a plaque of different design for her husband (and three-term mayor) Doug England. Both were mounted at the amphitheater by mid-2012.

Ironically, without boatloads of money from the Clark-Floyd Counties Convention and Tourism Bureau, there would not have been an amphitheater reconstruction following wind damage in 2008, and hence no Bicentennial gift for England to bequeath.

Alas, these funds never seem to get mentioned.

The preceding three plaques eventually were joined in 2012 by a richly deserved memorial to the late Kevin Hammersmith.

Somehow I get the impression that when it comes time to affix a Gahan plaque, we'll no longer be measuring in inches.

Old Albania (photo credit Michel Setboun)

Dread & circuses: Trunk and Treat and lots of leftover Harvest Homecoming debris at the amphitheater.

Second billing? The mayor's being coy for once. Given that the Englands attached plaques to themselves ...

 ... can you imagine the size of the statue Jeff Gahan will erect to commemorate his reign?

It's the city council version -- don't ya know.

Meanwhile, the amphitheater was looking a bit threadbare yesterday when I walked past. Has there been an event held there since the Orange Occupation ended?

But the star of the show was a skateboarder over on the city side of the levee.

Here's a cropped and filtered view.

Talk about riding the rails.

Spring Street stage block: "It's like buying a new car and then putting it in the garage and driving a rental to work."

Regular reader J asks:

By chance, did anyone notice that Friday on Spring Street the city closed the single eastbound lane for a stage? I want to say we have a nice big stage somewhere already -- it's yellow?

Yes, sir. That'd be the Bicentennial Concert Series blocking a traffic lane, and the Riverfront Amphitheater three blocks away, perched by the Ohio.

For me, the question is two-part.

Why are we closing the two-way street we (JUST) made, and during Friday evening rush hour?

Why are we paying for this stage when we have a larger stage with an area that can facilitate more people?

Also, I seem to remember we renovated the amphitheater fairly recently. It's like buying a new car and then putting it in the garage and driving a rental to work.

The first question only now arose. The second one has been unanswered for almost six years.

THIS WEEK: New Albany Riverstage Productions presents Footloose and School of Rock at New Albany's Riverfront Amphitheater.

New Albany RiverStage Productions is staging two rock musicals this week, beginning on Thursday evening. First, the organization's mission statement:

"Our goal is to encourage educational enrichment, commerce, and a higher quality of life in the local community by creating diverse cultural events, music, theater, fitness and social interaction."

Here is the schedule for this week.

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Footloose - July 20 & 22
School of Rock - July 21 & 23

Pre-show “Sounds of the 80s” begins at 7:30 p.m.

Main show begins at 8:00 p.m.

Gates open at 7:00 p.m.

Special needs parking off 6th street towards the river. Main parking next to the YMCA.

Tickets are $10 for Adults and $5 for children (through high school) and senior citizens. 

Cash, Check or Charge at the door.

Website

Facebook

2017 Fest of Ale ticket presale at The Exchange on Thursday, April 13, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Learn more about this year's Keg Liquors Fest of Ale, returning to New Albany's Riverfront Amphitheater on Saturday, June 3.

The ticket presale is this week on Thursday evening:

Here is your chance to get the first crack at tickets for the 2017 Keg Liquors Fest of Ale. General ticket sales will start on April 14th, but you can get them a day earlier and save some money as well.

Fest of Ale representatives will be at the Exchange Pub + Kitchen from 5:00 - 8:00 PM on April 13th selling discounted tickets for the Fest of Ale. Tickets will be on sale for $30.00, a $10 savings off of the regular price of $40.00.

We will be accepting credit cards, cash and checks for payment.

Stop in, get a drink or a meal and get the first crack at tickets for what will be a sold out event and save some money as well.

City Hall describes the four major projects to be funded (in part?) through the Horseshoe Foundation's $5 million gift.

Earlier, we had video from today's ceremony.

horseshoe-foundation.html" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">Cosmetic surgery: Horseshoe Foundation gives Jeff Gahan $5 million to spend on whatever he damn well pleases.

There'll be time for further discussion.

Until then, following is the city's press release -- Team Gahan's own words and illustrations, offered without comment.

One clarification: The segment of Market Street pictured below is between W. 1st and Pearl. 

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horseshoe-foundation-gives-5-million-gift-to-city">Horseshoe Foundation Gives $5 Million Gift to City

This morning, at a media event at the scenic Riverfront Amphitheater, the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County awarded a $5 million gift to the City of New Albany.

"On behalf of the City of New Albany, I'd like to express my sincere thanks for this extraordinary gift from the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County," stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. "Their generous gift will benefit the City of New Albany for years to come."

The gift is to help fund projects in downtown New Albany and along the Ohio River Greenway. Four major projects will be funded through this generous gift from the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County.

Additions Along the Ohio River Greenway

As the original Ohio River Greenway Project nears completion, a few areas surrounding it are in need of some revitalization.

One project aims at developing the Loop Island Wetlands into a nature preservation area, and encouraging residents to take part in and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The Ohio River Greenway Project aims to bring increased tourism to the area, encourage healthy lifestyles, and improve the overall quality of life of residents, and this project will assist the Greenway in those goals. The nature preserve, in addition with other beautification efforts on site, will create a beautiful space to relax and reconnect to our roots as a river community.

Along the western edge of the Ohio River Greenway, river recreation reigns supreme. Plans for this section include campgrounds, canoe and kayak launch off points, docks/slips, fuel pumps, a boat house and boat ramp, and more.

"For years, access to our natural waterways here in New Albany has been limited," stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. "These projects, and others like the Silver Creek Access project, will help us reconnect to our river heritage."

Market Street Promenade

This project aims at both beautifying and improving the safety and walkability of the Market Street corridor, while retaining the unique historic feel. It will include enhanced crosswalks and intersections with decorative pavers, improved pedestrian safety and walkability, all with a focus on the historic character of the area. Work will also be done to enhance the overall tree canopy with native and proper species, and improve the landscaping and foilage for both beautification and improved safety and sight-lines.

Downtown Facade Improvements

New Albany has a plethora of beautiful, historic buildings in its downtown. Unfortunately, over the years, some of these buildings have had windows shuttered and closed off, original brick walls painted over, and historic character lost. Some buildings have even been painted together to appear as one structure. This project will seek to revitalize, refurbish, and redevelop buildings and facades in the downtown area, reinvigorating these historic strcutures to their original historic look, including improved windows and uncovered original brickwork.

Riverfront Overlook

The current overlook for the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater has served its purpose for many years overlooking the beautiful Ohio River. However, after many years, it is time to look at updating this structure. This project will both study and redevelop the structure into a more usable and friendly location for residents and visitors to gather and view the majestic Ohio River, along with events and festivals along the riverfront property.

Cosmetic surgery: Horseshoe Foundation gives Jeff Gahan $5 million to spend on whatever he damn well pleases.

4:15 p.m. update: City Hall describes the four major projects to be funded (in part?) through the Horseshoe Foundation's$5 million gift.

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The down and dirty: Horseshoe is tithing $5 million for New Albany.

$2.5 million is to be devoted to a westward expansion of the Greenway from its current amphitheater terminus toward the vicinity of QRS (recycling; presumably to be reclaimed), and another $2.5 toward facade grants (details undisclosed) and "beautification" in downtown, including amphitheater touch-ups.

There are no further details at this time. I shot some sloppy video. If you have the stomach for self-congratulatory rhetoric (not a word of which recognizes the investments made by independent local businesses), then have at them.

The public has had no input into the planning, and we can only hope the Foundation has some measure of control over the disbursements.

Jerry Finn introduces Mark Seabrook, who contemplates whether he's ever going to run for mayor.

Horseshoe's Brad Seigel.

Pat McLaughlin recognizes the power of his board appointments.

The dignitaries sign, and Jeff Gahan launches into agoraphobic outer space.

Just remember: We're all here because we're not all there.

An "artsy" refit for the waterfront skate park? Sure, but why has City Hall allowed it to become an "eyesore," anyway?

You know, adjacent to the neglected amphitheater. 

With no disrespect to the Carnegie's Daniel Pfalzgraf, who has identified a viable opportunity in Nawbany's forever neglected riverfront skate park, and by doing so is thinking so far outside our self-imposed local boxes that he might as well be curating the museum on Saturn, the place to start at the skate park is repairing and improving what already is there, then moving forward with more costly ideas -- and (dare we mention it) connecting these ideas with something approximating a Riverfront Amphitheater master plan.

Conversely, if City Hall remains aloof to waterfront possibilities, preferring its newer shiny objects to the daily grind of maintaining existing facilities, far better to cut it out of the plan as much as possible, and "placemake" independently.

Pfalzgraf is on to something, and in moving forward there is one absolutely huge imperative, one the city customarily ignores: None of these ideas should begin gestation without the direct participation of those currently using the space.

They should be asked, and any plans should pass their approval. If they're asked and decline participation, then let the inevitable campaign finance monetization begin.

Absent the public aspect of placemaking, we'll have yet another imperfect target for excessive expenditure that looks peachy keen on the outside, to the detriment of its intended functionality (see Park, Bicentennial).

FROM EYESORE TO OPPORTUNITY: Carnegie Center talks artsy plans for New Albany skate park; Carnegie curator hopes to create a skate-able work of public art, by Danielle Grady (News and Tribune)

... (Daniel) Pfalzgraf also hopes to ask for proposals from artists, local or regional, detailing their ideas on how to make the park look unique.

He wants passersby to have the same experience looking at the renovated skate park as they would looking at any other work of art, he said.

If nothing else, Pfalzgraf just wants to repair what’s already at the park and maybe give it a paint job.

“We’d love to make it a huge event and completely revamp it, but we’ll basically do whatever’s possible,” he said ...

Carnegie Center's #IAmPublicArt and performance schedule (Sept. 24 at the Amphitheater).

The lowdown on the Carnegie's annual public art gig, this year in concentrated form at the Riverfront Amphitheater. 

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#IAmPublicArt

On Saturday, September 24, 6:00 p.m. - Midnight, The Carnegie Center for Art & History is hosting our annual New Albany Public Art Project event down at the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater. This year's event is titled #IAmPublicArt and will incorporate a wide range of opportunities for visitors to experience and participate in creative expression, hands on activities for all ages, and food and drink vendors.

The event will feature three Pop-Up Art Installations created by students from local universities - one piece each by students from Indiana University Southeast, University of Louisville, and Kentucky College of Art + Design. The installations will be unique creations employing multiple media made specifically for the spaces they inhabit, to be viewed and experienced for one night only. In addition to the art installations, there will a strong slate of performers from Louisville and Southern Indiana on the Amphitheater stage curated by Louisville artist and renaissance man, Jecorey Arthur, aka 1200.

Here's the official performance schedule for #IamPublicArt:

6:00-6:30 PM | River City Drum Corp
Founded in 1993, the River City Drum Corp focuses on children and young adults ranging between ages two and eighteen. These kids experience the richness of African culture while exploring African materials and drumming techniques. “We’re not just over here beating drums,” says RCDC founder Edward White. “We’re committed to the education and sense of community that comes with it.”

6:30 PM | Welcome Remarks

6:30-7:00 PM | The Compass Quartet | thecompassquartet.webs.com
“More than just your typical string quartet”, the Compass Quartet encompasses all genres of music. The group’s repertoire includes everything from Lady Gaga, Journey, and Coldplay, to Disney, Star Wars, and Motown.

7:00-7:15 PM | DJ Sam Sneed | nightvisionsradio.com
Sam Sneed is one of the hosts of Night Visions Radio on 91.9 WFPK. Night Visions Radio “brings you a mix of independent and underrepresented dance, electronic, rock, and pop music from around the world.” Sam’s passion of music ranges from the MC5 to the Jackson Five, from Public Enemy to Public Image Limited.

7:15-8:15 PM | Mode Roulette | soundcloud.com/moderoulette
Mode Roulette plays “retro-futuristic math music” and features Skyler Bready on guitar/vocals, Steven Cox on drums, Rachel Hobbs on vocals, Ryan Olexa on keyboard/saxophone, Andre Phelps on bass, and Riley Puckett on guitar.

8:15-8:30 PM | DJ Sam Sneed

8:30-9:00 PM | Louisville Dance Alliance | louisvilledancealliance.com
The Louisville Dance Alliance provides proper technical dance instruction in a nurturing, creative atmosphere, and provides students ages 3 years to adult with numerous performance opportunities in a concert setting throughout the year.

9:00-9:15 PM | DJ Sam Sneed

9:15-10:00 PM | SpreadLove Presents | spreadloventerprise.com
SpreadLove Enterprise is an artist-based education company, providing workshops and performances in various community centers, juvenile detention centers, and private organizations. SpreadLove Presents will feature performances from two poets, and a singer or comedian.

10:00-10:30 PM | House Music

10:30-11:30 PM | Eons D & the Space Campaign | eonsd.bandcamp.com
Eons D is an original hip-hop artist with a unique perspective on the world, with songs about life, struggle, racism, foes, and capitalism. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, FL, he now resides in Louisville, KY.

Your ASK THE BORED follow-up: The disappearing school recruitment banner atop the levee.

I go away for ten days, and upon returning, see that almost nothing has changed, except this.

Stay tuned for more. I'm seeing lots of illegally placed pro-referendum signs around town. Shouldn't they have to take a class, or something?

ASK THE BORED: Can we all have a banner atop the levee, or just the school corporation?

ASK THE BORED: Can we all have a banner atop the levee, or just the school corporation?

I've had several reader questions about the NAFC schools banner currently hanging on degraded remains of the structure atop the levee by the amphitheater.

Because I'll be out of town, I cannot attend this week's BOW meeting and ask them. Perhaps someone else will.

Strictly speaking, the marketing campaign in question is about student recruitment, and in theory, the banner does not reference the referendum.

However, it's been a thinly veiled sidestep all along, with "YES" in big letters and "enroll" written very small. Rightly or wrongly, there's no doubt in the minds of many in the city that the secondary intent of these and other variously sized "yes" signs is to encourage a "yes" referendum vote.

But this isn't my point. 

Does every organization have equality of opportunity to use this elevated space for ads?

Is there a Board of Works procedure for such?

NA Confidential would love to have the exposure. Where do I register? Can someone point me to the Board of Works minutes indicating discussion and approval of the school corporation banner as currently placed?

Or, is it first-come, first-served?

By the way, here's the list of school board filings for the fall election, and here's a link to a previous letter exploring our school corporation's marketing strategies, because ...

As enrollment declines, L.A. public schools borrow a tactic from the charters: marketing, by Anna M. Phillips (Los Angeles Times)

Seven views of the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater's deteriorating observation deck.

Thanks to N for the photos. This strange structure, which looks somewhat like a coastal defense facility from the Spanish-American War, is dilapidated even by the standards of the amphitheater itself (apart from the new canary yellow roof dating to England III).

Will anything ever be done to improve and actually utilize the amphitheater? It seems highly unlikely in the sort term, and it's a huge waste of potential.