Nov. 15-19
‘Romeo and Juliet’
U of L’s Theatre Arts Department presents Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” as you’ve never seen it before. Renowned director Rinda Frye promises to include scenes seldom staged for the play, and focuses more on the characters’ lives than their deaths. “We are trying to base scenes on what real people would have done,” said Frye. You will also get a history lesson as J. Barrett Cooper, manager of interpretive programs and education at Frazier International History Museum, coaches the fight scenes. Music history professor John Ashworth is advising on music and instruments of the period. Don’t miss this rare staging of a classic! —Sherry Deatrick
U of L Playhouse
Third St. and Cardinal Blvd.
852-6814
$10, $7 (students); 8 p.m. (Sunday matinee 3 p.m.)
Thursday, Nov. 16
‘Louisville Late Night’
“Louisville Late Night,” the 10-year-old cable program spotlighting local music (and marijuana and medical politics) scores a coup this month with its nine-part interview of local jazz guru Jamey Aebersold. What can be said about Aebersold that hasn’t already been said? The man is a legitimate jazz legend. Students come from the world over to seek his instruction. He needs no steady gig, no university teaching post, no regular live club work. Jamey picks and chooses when and what he wants to play, which is surely the goal of any self-actualized musician. Check out this program with special guest MC Chris Parente.
The show airs once this week and again in late December (23rd), mid-January (18th) and mid-February (15th). —Paul Kopasz
Channel 98
2, 8 & 11:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 16
‘Joy of Cooking’ exhibit
Seventy-five years have passed since Irma S. Rombauer published her book “Joy of Cooking,” helping countless people finesse the art of preparing dishes. The Main Public Library invites you to celebrate the cookbook and its founder this Thursday. Rombauer’s grandson, Ethan Becker, will enlighten attendees about the history behind the popular cook, dazzle his audience with cooking demonstrations and discuss the latest edition of the cookbook, which contains new recipes as well as seasoned ones.
In addition, the Library’s Bernheim Gallery has an exhibit running through Dec. 3 about Rombauer. What makes the program and exhibit satiating is that they are free, although tickets are required. —Claudia Olea
Louisville Free Public Library
527 W. Jefferson St.
574-1644
Free; 7 p.m.
Nov. 16-18
The Max’s Request-a-Thon
This weekend, DJs Lynda Lambert, George Lindsey and Aaron Miller of WXMA-FM “The Max” will literally live at Fourth Street Live while they collect donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, all part of their fourth annual Request-a-Thon. During this time, they say anyone who coughs up $15 or more can request ANY song, even ones not on their current playlist, if they can “find” it. Hmmm … I think $15 is worth a listen to Clarence Carter’s “Strokin,” what do you think? (If you need more convincing, $15-and-up donators will also receive a copy of the new Animal Magnetism: The Best of Lambert and Lindsey, Vol. 6 CD.) To kick things off, there’ll be a free concert Thursday night (6:30 p.m.) at FSL featuring Smash Mouth and … wait for it … Ace Young from last season’s “American Idol”! Holy hell. —Sara Havens
Fourth Street Live
www.themaxfm.com
Saturday, Nov. 18
75th Anniversary of Talking Books
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Library of Congress’ creation of the Talking Book Program of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and the American Printing House for the Blind here in Louisville was the first facility equipped to create what were then known as “Talking Books.” To celebrate, the American Printing House for the Blind will hold a marathon recording session of “Gulliver’s Travels” in tribute to the first-ever Talking Books, which were essentially books read into tape-recorders and turned into wax records. The Printing House staff, plus narrators from Central Kentucky Radio Eye, Kentucky Talking Book Library and other area volunteers, will recreate these early recordings at APH’s Callahan Museum. Mitzi Friedlander, Barry Bernson and Milton Metz are among the more than 25 people who have already agreed to participate as the Printing House’s original recording studio is put back into service for a day. Volunteer narrators are sought and will still be accepted through Nov. 16, or feel free to stop by, tour the museum and listen in. —Kevin Gibson
The Callahan Museum
1839 Frankfort Ave.
899-2365
www.aph.org/museum
Free
Saturday, Nov. 18
Angie Reed
Angie Reed is bringing her audio-visual theatrics to town.
Reed is touring in support of her new record, XYZ Frequency, which has been released on the Chicks on Speed label. She visits the newly christened Butcher Block Gallery on Saturday.
Angie’s live show is a combination of video projection and musical performance, covering electrobeat to punk to Motown. The concept of XYZ Frequency is time and mind travel. Angie slips into different characters and costumes, amid a soundtrack of bass clarinets, saxophones, synthesizers, drum-machines, vibraphones, guitars, organs and bass.
Reed grew up and resides in Berlin, Germany. Her parents recently moved from Germany to Louisville. Reed, an accomplished visual artist, has had her animations and drawings shown in exhibitions throughout Germany, Barcelona, Spain and Rotterdam, Holland. —Mat Herron
Butcher Block Gallery
931. E. Main St.
$5; 11 p.m.
All ages
Nov. 18-19
Good Folk Fest
Scott Scarboro has come up with an art and music festival that is a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll. The more than 80 outsider, visionary and folk artists include Joel Pinkerton, Anessa Arehart, the Louisville Craft Mafia and automata artist Dan Torpey, whose toy-like sculptures are complicated pieces of wood combined to move.
The 15 “primitive” (low-tech) musicians vary from folk singers to rock. It’s sure to be a good time had by all good folks. —Jo Anne Triplett
Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center
1860 Mellwood Ave.
895-3650
www.junkabilly.com/goodfolkfest
Free; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sat.-Sun.)
Sunday, Nov. 19
Smokey Robinson
For one hour and 30 minutes, Smokey Robinson will treat us to his groundbreaking cache of soulful, R&B hits.
Robinson, a living legend, has been the recipient of the Kennedy Center honors. For this show, he will bring a 14-piece band, a large string section and dancers, ingredients sure to make this a classic concert by Motown’s heavyweight. —Mat Herron
Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center
501 W. Main St.
584-7777
$55-$75; 7 p.m.
Through Dec. 5
Horse drawings by Jeaneen Barnhart
Artist Jeaneen Barnhart is a Kentucky treasure. If you do superb horse art in this state, where the competition is stiff, you deserve the recognition (but with a name like Barnhart, she was destined to draw horses). The Brown Hotel Gallery is featuring some of her best work, including pieces from her “Equine Passion” series. “Barnhart’s work really represents the best of Kentucky horse art,” gallery manager Christian Trabue said in a press release. “Her pieces are powerful illustrations of the strength and beauty of a racehorse.”
Drawings in charcoal and pastel are her media of choice, followed by oil painting. In whatever medium she works in, Barnhart’s lines capture the energy of the animals. You’ve probably seen her work before, as she did the posters for the 1994 and 1997 Kentucky Derby, and the 1999 St. James Court Art Show. —Jo Anne Triplett
Brown Hotel Gallery
335 W. Broadway
583-1234
Free; 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sat.-Sun.)
