Weekly View » Mary Beth Kuhns

Students Walkout to Protest Gun Violence

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:09:20 +0000

Indianapolis high school students from across the city walked out of their schools on Friday, September 5th, and traveled to the Indiana State House in a coordinated action to protest gun violence, demand safer schools, call for legislative action for stricter gun laws, and exercise their civic right to assemble and be heard.
Hundreds of teenagers from at least four Indianapolis high schools, Herron, Shortridge, North Central, and Brebeuf, gathered on the State House steps, carrying protest signs and chanting “Enough is Enough” and “We Want Change.” Many of the students had taken the Red Line bus downtown from their schools, some carrying their heavy school backpacks (many of them clear, per their school’s gun safety rules).
The rally was part of a nationwide action organized by Students Demand Action, a national grass roots movement of student activists, organized in a matter of days in response to the August 27th shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, MN.
Locally, the walk out and rally was organized by Holden Pasley, a Herron High School Senior and the president of Herron’s chapter of Students Demand Change. Pasley coordinated with student leaders and activists at other schools to stage the walk outs, and invited other gun law reform political action groups (Moms Demand Action and Hoosiers Against Gun Violence) and gun reform lawmakers to attend and share their messages. Indiana State Senators Andrea Hunley (D- District 46), La Keisha Jackson (D- District 34), and Fady Quaddoura (D- District 30) addressed the crowd of students, sharing stories of their thwarted attempts to bring sensible gun reform legislation to the State House floor and encouraging the students to use their voices to bring about change.
“As legislators in this building, we could make sure that people need a permit to carry a gun. We could make sure that people have to register their guns, and all of their gun sales. We could ban the sale of assault weapons. We could ban that. But it is going to take you all standing up, you all coming out, you all showing up, you voting, you calling upon us as lawmakers to make these changes,” said Hunley. “These are choices that lawmakers are making to put guns over kids. So let’s let them know loudly today that we expect them to put kids over guns.”
The national Students Demand Action website reports that more than 250 schools across the country participated in this protest.

“My City, My World”: Remembering Bill Rasdell

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:11:06 +0000

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in December, 2009. It gives readers a look into the world of William Rasdell, who passed away in November last year, and will be remembered at the Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware, on Friday, Feb. 2 from 6-9 p.m. Rasdell was a digital artist and photographer who was the very first artist to have a studio at the Harrison Center. He was also a Greatriarch of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood and leaves behind a legacy of using photography to tell complex stories.

Through an after-school program that combines culture, technology, and the arts, students at IPS #14 are expanding their understanding of what constitutes their community. By sharing photographs with students in South Africa, they are learning how they are part of a shared world community that is not confined to just their local neighborhoods.
Photographer and artist William Rasdell created and facilitates this cultural arts exchange and education program called “My City, My World.” Students at three Indianapolis schools (IPS #14, IPS #43 and Cold Spring Elementary) share their cultural experiences through photography and new media with youth in Cape Town, South Africa.
The goal of the program isn’t to show the students how vastly different Cape Town is from Indianapolis; rather, it is to show how much the cities are similar. Rasdell says the local students are always surprised to see photographs of neighborhoods in Cape Town with a McDonald’s or a KFC on the corner. “They realize how they are part of a larger and different community,” he said.
The local students learn about South Africa by viewing Rasdell’s own photography and the photos shared by the South African students. The students initially create a video recording introducing themselves to their South African neighbors, and vice versa. Then the students take photographs of their local communities to share. Rasdell provides digital cameras that the students in both countries are able to borrow to photograph the cultural elements of their neighborhood. This allows the students to learn about culture and community both from the shared international photographs and the process of taking photos locally. “The goal is to give young people an understanding of how their neighborhood functions and with that understanding, they can better understand their responsibility to their community,” said Rasdell.
In addition to cultural education, this program helps improve the students’ digital and technical skills; they work with new media portals such as GoogleEarth, YouTube, Flickr and IMA’s ArtBabble. Using GoogleEarth, they view their own neighborhoods and surrounding areas, as well as the communities 9,000 miles away. “The focus is to get them to examine their neighborhoods and see that they can grow beyond their community,” said Rasdell.
Rasdell said one young local girl was baffled when she started the program, wondering what South African students would do with digital cameras in the jungle. She didn’t have a concept of an urban presence in Africa. “This program gives them a global window,” he said. “And a clarity they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
The South African students have an idea of American culture that is distorted through media (i.e. television and rap music) and Rasdell helps them see a truer reality by their interaction with the children here.
Starting in 2008, Rasdell began visiting South Africa annually for this project. While there, he takes his own photography and works with young people at the ComART community center in Elsies River, Cape Town. The South African students come to the community center twice a week for this program, but must go to another facility for Internet access. Rasdell said that because they are participating on their own, and not through school, they take the program very seriously. “Fifteen years after the end of apartheid . . .their desire to excel is at a peak.” During his last visit, earlier this year, the South African students became very interested in light paintings, which involve using flashlights to decorate photographs. The students used this method to produce portraits of their local living legends for their celebration of Human Rights Day. These photographs and more information about the program can be found on Rasdell’s blog: http://wrasdell.wordpress.com/south-africa
Rasdell has been involved in arts education programs since the mid-seventies. His work has allowed him to visit Cuba regularly. But when this program began, he wanted to explore a new venue, and South Africa was a perfect choice. “As an artist, I am always looking for new ground. I was looking for a new perspective to work from,” Rasdell said. With this program he has a long-range vision and sees the potential for several years of study.
Rasdell will return to South Africa again in February. He is excited that he has been invited to exhibit in the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in April. He plans his visits around large cultural events. He goes in mid-February during the Spier Performing Arts Festival and stays through the jazz festival in April. The festivals give him inspiration and provide subject matter for much of his photography.

Review: “Breakneck Romeo & Juliet” at Fringe with Tim Mooney

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:09:50 +0000

Think you’ve seen every possible version and variation of Romeo & Juliet? Breakneck Romeo & Juliet at Indy Fringe will have you laughing at tragedy, as it is the funniest and most efficient way to enjoy this classic love story. In his sixth Indy Fringe show, Tim Mooney returns with this hilarious, new production of the famous play, as another volume in his award-winning Breakneck Shakespeare catalog of one-man, one-hour shows.
The talented and captivatingly funny Mooney pivots between dialogue and interpretation, taking a scholarly and comical look at the Bard’s well-known tragedy. The Breakneck-format lends itself to mad humor, rushing us through the story at the pace of the reckless youth protagonists. He annotates where Shakespeare was indeed funny, ironic, or downright bawdy, runs us through themes in the story, and plays each part with hilarity.
Mooney adds a fresh and modern spin with his commentary, examining how the coincidental missteps that lead to tragedy in the story weave a multiverse of alternate realities, most with happier, less-exciting endings. So bring your teen along; they will be into it too, whether they admit it or not. And this is a far better way than Cliffs Notes to cram for Shakespeare. More fun too. And maybe you will finally understand what your high school English teacher was trying to say.
Breakneck Romeo & Juliet will run two more times at the Indy Eleven Theater as part of Indy Fringe: Friday, August 25 at 5:30 pm and Sunday, August 27 at 1:35 pm. See the indyfringe.org Web site for more information and tickets. Go see it. “Go Girl.” Turns out that is quoting Shakespeare, who knew?

A Christmas Carol at IRT

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 06:09:09 +0000

Seeing Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol live onstage is a wonderful holiday tradition. And this year’s production at the Indiana Repertory Theater is a special treat, offering an experience that immerses the audience in the mood and literary elements of the original story, while creating connection between the characters and the audience. The sets and lighting worked together to create a beautifully spooky atmosphere, highlighting the ghostly elements of the classic tale. Rob Johansen starred as Scrooge, and his performance was moving and compelling. His performance was enhanced by seven very talented ensemble actors, who seamlessly switched characters and brought the whole story to life, each adding layers of perspective. All of the performances were amazing, including Scrooge’s real life wife Jennifer Johansen and rising star Elliot Sagay’s performance as nephew Fred was notably moving.
Director Janet Allen chose this version of the classic tale as her swan song at IRT; she is retiring as Artistic Director after this year, the theater’s 50th anniversary year, having herself served 27 years with IRT. This particular adaptation was written by her mentor, and former IRT Artistic Director, the late Tom Haas and includes often forgotten excerpts and dialogue from the original novella, illuminating the human condition, and providing a showcase for incredible acting.
A Christmas Carol plays through Dec. 24. Visit irtlive.com for ticket availability and information.

Steve Nicewanger 1950-2021

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 06:11:12 +0000

The Irvington community has lost a kind and generous neighbor, and the Nicewanger family has lost their heart. Stephen Nicewanger, 71, passed away on December 28, 2021, at IU Methodist Hospital, after a long battle with congestive heart failure and complications from diabetes and kidney disease.
Steve was very active in the Irvington community. He was on the Irvington Community Council for many years (served as President one term) and on the board for the Historic Benton House. He volunteered to work the polls often, and was president of the Warren Township Democrat Club for 6 years and helped turn the precinct blue. Steve was Santa Claus for many years, volunteering for events such as the Benton House Holiday Bazaar and at the Ronald McDonald House Christmas party. His grandchildren are proud that he is Santa (every Papaw has to have a job).
Steve was a lifelong eastsider, atttending school #71, graduating from Arlington High School in 1969. He graduated from IUPUI in 1980 with a degree in English, history and political science. He followed that up with Masters work in Library Science. He was a librarian, working for the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library for over 20 years at Central, East Washington, Spades Park, Fountain Square, and on the bookmobile. Before retirement, he worked for the Indiana State Health Department as the Death Registrar for the state of Indiana.
Steve married his wife, Mary Paula, in 1971 at Lawrence United Methodist Church. They were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this summer, with their immediate family at a cabin at Brown County State Park. (Luckily, they had had a big celebration, with all of their friends and family, for their 40th anniversary, long before the pandemic made big events risky.) After retirement, Steve wrote (up until the end of October this year) for the Weekly View Community newspaper (a.k.a. the Eastside Voice) as the Sports columnist, food critic, and often wrote the pop culture column Boomerang. He was a big sports fan, an expert on the Indy 500, and especially liked football. He grew up as a Chicago Bears fan, and became a Colts fan when they moved here in 1984.
Steve was a devoted father and grandfather. He was known to be kind, funny, and an expert on movie trivia, pop culture, and history. He passed his love of classic movies on to his children. Appropriate to his Irvington home, he loved Halloween. He loved decorating for Halloween, dressing up in costumes, and hosting Halloween parties. He made a fantastic Henry the 8th. He also did some acting, appearing in several independent films and a stage play with his daughter.
Steve is survived by his wife Mary Paula (Collins) Nicewanger, daughter Mary Kuhns, son Chris Nicewanger, sisters Janet (Jim) Carter and Robin Nicewanger, nieces Amy (Erik) Parker and Andrea (Mike) Link, aunt Mary Tomlinson, in-laws Gail and Mark Collins, and two grandchildren. Steve is proceeded in death by his parents, Robert (Bob) and Betty (Newbold) Nicewanger.
The celebration of Steve’s life has been postponed, but will take place at Oakley-Hammond in Irvington. Steve’s ashes will be interned at Washington Park cemetery, near his parents, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the Weekly View Community Newspaper, at 195 N Shortridge Rd Ste D, Indianapolis, IN 46219.

The Nicewanger family wants to thank all those that sent well wishes on Facebook to Steve – Mary read them to her Dad Christmas Day (over 150) and to all the messages of sympathy – we are overwhelmed. Also special thanks to Joe Hammond at Oakley/Hammond Funeral Home for his compassionate care through all this. (Paula Nicewanger will be writing a series of articles about Steve in the next few weeks.)

Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio Closes Abruptly

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 05:09:29 +0000

July 2 will be the last show for Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio at the Indiana State Museum. Peewinkle’s founders Peggy Melchior Pearson and Debbi White will perform Summertime Cabaret in three performances.
Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio has been in existence for 23 years, previously housed in a little theater on Henry St., less than a block outside of the Mile Square, and for the past 3 years at the Indiana State Museum.
Melchior Marionettes (with a multi-generational history of puppetry) and Hands in Puppets, the two companies that formed Peewinkle’s, have been around 47 years. Until closing in 2018, Peggy operated Melchior Marionettes in Nashville seasonally for 34 years.
The Indiana State Museum has other plans for the space. At this time, Peewinkles does not have plans to reopen in a new venue.
The morning show on July 2 has been sold out, so two afternoon shows (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) have been added. Tickets are $8 and popcorn is free. Don’t miss this chance to see Peewinkle’s performing a cabaret style show one more time. Order your tickets before they sell out. Call the ISM box office at 317-232-1637 or visit www.peewinklespuppets.org/

Peewinkle’s Presents Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 05:09:26 +0000

Peewinkle’s Puppet Studio, located at the Indiana State Museum, is presenting a classic rendition of Goldilocks and the Three Bears through September 22, with weekday morning performances and two shows on that last Saturday. This is the perfect show for preschool playdates and grandkid outings. With the 25 minute running time, followed by a simple workshop, it is ideal length for toddlers and includes free popcorn.
“I feel that puppetry is the perfect first live theatre experience for children. There is something about the magic of puppetry in which all children seem to relate. There is a twinkle in the eye of a child once they fall into this enchanting world,” said Heidi Shackelford, artist and 3rd generation puppeteer at Peewinkle’s.
Originally used by her grandmother, famous puppeteer Erica Melchior in 1957, the marionettes in this production are truly vintage. With the financial help of donors, Peewinkle’s art director and co-founder Peggy Melchior Pearson restored the marionettes, including corduroy bears) to their original working state and kept much of the original costuming. Pearson, 2nd generation puppeteer, was able to keep much of her mother’s original costuming.
Debbie White, executive director and co-founder of Peewinkle’s, simplified the script and added music. Shackleford painted the set. “A true group effort,” Shackleford said.
Opening in 1998, Peewinkle’s is celebrating it’s twentieth year.
Goldilocks tickets are $8 and can be purchased through peewinklespuppets.com or at the Indiana State Museum website or box office. Also watch for their kid-friendly Halloween show, the Slightly Haunted Puppet Studio running October 13-28.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert is Fabulous at Footlite

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 10 May 2018 05:09:47 +0000

Priscilla Queen of the Desert made its Indiana debut at Footlite Musicals this past weekend, and will continue through May 20th. The show was nothing less than fabulous. While it is worth seeing for the amazing costumes alone, the entire performance was wonderful.
Footlite Musicals spared no expense renting the Broadway- designed, award-winning costumes for the show, and it was sooo worth it. There was an exciting momentum to the costume choices, with the outfits getting better and more incredible as each act progressed, with an amazing visual climax before intermission and the finale, with the entire ensemble in the most incredible frocks, heels and headdresses ever imagined. Throughout the show the audience cheered for the costumes as they came on stage.
But underneath the costumes, there was a hilarious and touching story that was performed with energy, emotion and great talent. This was male lead Michael Howard (Tick/Mitzi) debut at Footlite Musicals, after 7 years off from acting (though he is a theater teacher at Franklin Central High School, so never far away from the theater). His acting showed dramatic depth and comic timing, and his tall stature dominated the stage (especially when wearing complicated headdress, at one point I was certain he was going to hit the disco ball). Similarly, the two other male leads gave top notch performances. Chris Jones (Adam/Felicia) gave an incredible performance in many ways, as a fabulous drag performer, as a vulnerable character, and as sassy comic relief. John Philips (transgender Bernadette) also showed depth in his acting, and delivered his role with all the class and comedy necessary for the mature and clever character.
Dennis Jones, who played Miss Understanding (i.e. the drag show MC), may have only had a small part, but he was a delight to watch on stage. He channeled Tina Turner in a way that was hysterically funny, but made you want to get up and dance. Jones is also a Footlite Board Member.
The choreography was lots of fun, and it is particularly impressive how well the actors moved around in their often enormous costumes and shoes. The gymnastics and moves of one ensemble member, Cameron Hicks, was particularly impressive as he flipped across stage.
The music, well-known pop music from the 70s and 80s, Gloria Gaynor to Cyndi Lauper, was performed entirely by the cast and orchestra and was absolutely fantastic. By the end, the audience was singing along. The renditions sounded every bit as fun and energetic as the radio hits (and adding the outrageous costumes, and sometimes working into the story line in a touching way, some were even better than the originals). The three female divas, Leigh Query, Jessica Hawkins and Abby Okerson, all had amazing voices that really stood out as they each got to lead their own song. Notably, Hawkins’ voice stole the stage on several occasions. And Philips (Bernadette) had an absolutely stunning voice (no wonder, since he was also the vocal director for the show). Also, Dan Flahive (Bob) proved he has a wonderful voice in a simple and beautiful solo toward the end of the show.
Last but not least, director Rich Baker should be applauded for an amazing performance. His expert touch can be seen throughout the show, in every touching scene, in every laugh and even in every costume (he was the driving force that brought these costumes across country to Indiana).
“I want to make sure that, if nothing else, you have a good time, but you get a little bit of heart,” Baker promised before the show. And he delivered.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert tickets for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances are $23 for adults and $15 for youth 17 and younger. The Thursday and first Sunday performances are $10 for all seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.footlite.org or by phone at (317) 926-6630.

Adopt-A-Costume Fundraiser First for Footlite Musicals

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 05:09:05 +0000

Footlite Musicals is bringing the Indiana debut of Priscilla Queen of the Desert to Indianapolis May 4-20. Priscilla Queen of the Desert, originally a Broadway musical based on the 1994 Australian film, is known for its amazing costumes.
Footlite Musicals has spared no expense by renting the award-winning costumes used in the Broadway version of Priscilla. The costume designers, Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, who won Oscars for designing the costumes for the film, went on to win Tonys for designing these costumes.
“The costumes are important to the show. They are somewhat of a character themselves,” said Jeff Farley, president of Footlite Musicals and Costumer for Priscilla.
Footlite Musicals, a non-profit staffed entirely by volunteers, is currently hosting an Adopt-a Costume fundraiser to help cover the cost of the show. Patrons of the arts who donate $150 or more will get a backstage tour, an up-close look at the costumes, acknowledgement in the program, a photo taken with a costumed character and an autographed poster of the show. Donors who give $400 will receive all that, plus they get to wear a costume headpiece and a chance to sit in the driver’s seat of Priscilla the lavender bus and their backstage private tour will be conducted by the director. To donate online, go to www.footlite.org, and under the tab ‘support us’ look for ‘operations fund’ and note it is for the Priscilla Costume Fund. Or you can mail a check to Footlite Musicals, 1847 N. Alabama St, Indianapolis, IN 46202 and note on the check Priscilla Costume Fund.
The tale of getting the show and costumes to Indianapolis has been an adventure much like the journey of the lavender bus Priscilla in the story. These costumes have been all over: from stages in the U.S. and London, to traveling in wardrobe boxes in a semi-trailer in New Jersey and Florida for storage. And soon these 500 costumes and accessories will be traveling to Indianapolis.
Director Rich Baker first saw the Broadway show in Chicago in 2014, and fell in love. “I walked out of the theater so excited. It’s just one of those feel-good shows. I knew all the songs,” Baker said. “And it was just visually stunning.”
After that, the show went back to the West End of London, and then disappeared for a while. Baker, wanting to bring Priscilla to Footlite, began trying to figure out how to obtain the rights for the show. Eventually, he tracked the show to a small licensing house in New York, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, who had also bought the Broadway costumes. Baker contacted them, and followed the show and costumes to a small production in Algonquin, Maine. Despite the fact that show wasn’t a high budget Broadway production, it was still impressive because it used the Broadway costumes. Baker realized that was the key. “The costumes really make this show over-the-top outrageous,” he said.
Baker went back to the Footlite board and proposed doing Priscilla, but under the stipulation that they too rent the costumes. “I wasn’t going to do it without doing these costumes, because it’d be like doing something on a budget, and it just wouldn’t look that great,” said Baker.
The board agreed, despite the fact that the show would cost three times the normal budget. And that’s when Farley and Baker set to work. “Once we got the green light from the Footlite Board, we have had Priscilla on the brain non-stop,” said Farley.
The costumes will arrive in Indianapolis just a couple of weeks before the show. The costume team has their work cut out for them, most costume changes are during a single song, so they have to be done backstage, and a few have to be done in 15 seconds. It will take a lot of practice to fine-tune the process, and costumes will be the main focus the days leading up to the show.
With 21 people in the cast, with about 10 costumes each, this production will require a dozen or more “dressers” to help the actors change backstage. “These dressers, who are invaluable to the run of the show, are just as important as the actors on stage. Most theater goers don’t realize that the people backstage make the magic on stage and without their efforts a show can flop. They are unsung heroes of a production,” said Farley.
Considering how elaborate the costumes are, and how complicated the costume changes, the short time frame to rehearse with costumes is a big stressor for Farley. “I know what it takes to costume a show of this magnitude. I try to make good use of my time and think ahead about the show that I’m working on. Relying on someone else and depending on them to deliver what we need for this show has been a little nervewracking,” said Farley. “However, just the thought of using these amazing costume creations is so exciting.”

Dreamgirls at Footlite

Mary Beth Kuhns — Thu, 11 May 2017 05:09:57 +0000

Footlite Musicals’ production of Broadway favorite Dreamgirls is amazing. With awesome music, incredible choreography and very professional production values, this local performance is on par with the very best Broadway shows. It is hard to imagine a better performance.
The entire cast was excellent. Kathryn Council as Deena Jones is the picture of elegance and grace. Rayanna Bibbs as Effie White stands out in an already amazing cast with her incredible voice. And Brenton Anderson’s performance as James Thunder Early steals the show, with all the style, pizzazz and comedic appeal of James Brown and Chuck Berry.
Running Thursday-Sunday until May 21, this is a show that you shouldn’t miss. Visit the Web site footlitemusicals.wildapricot.org for dates, times, and to order tickets online. Shows have been selling out, so be sure to order early.