Marvin Hamlisch. Not just misty water-colored memories. "The George Washington Method for Blues Ukulele." Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story. "Say You Love Satan." One hell of a date. "Mickey's Corner." M. I. C. . . see a live interview! Continuing: Still-running events from previous IBJ Daily A&E e-mails. This week's contest: Win tickets to see Todd Rundgren at The Music Mill. Lou Harry's A&E blog: Join in on the discussion of arts and entertainment in Indy and beyond HERE .
Marvin Hamlisch Jan. 11-13 Hilbert Circle Theatre
He created the music for "A Chorus Line," adapted Scott Joplin to produce the classic score for "The Sting," wrote hits for Barbra Streisand, won three Academy Awards in a single year and was the fantasy love interest of Gilda Radner's Lisa Loopner character in classic "Saturday Night Live" sketches.
With the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra this weekend, Marvin Hamlisch is slated to conduct a pops program that includes his own compositions as well as music from "Carousel" and "My Fair Lady." He'll be joined by vocalist J. Mark McVey, a former Broadway Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables." For more details, click here: http://www.indianapolissymphony.org/tickets/details.aspx?id=1427
"The George Washington Method for Blues Ukulele" Jan. 12 Indiana History Center
Betcha didn't know George Washington invented the kazoo and created abstract art.
And I further betcha that Willy Claflin doesn't have a shred of historical research to back up the claims he makes in this one-man show, being presented by Storytelling Arts of Indiana.
Lest you think Claflin's story-spinning is just a glorified stand-up comedy act, remember that tall-tale-telling is an American art form. How else to explain our country's embracing of everything from Pecos Bill to Paul Bunyon to Bigfoot? And just last year, George Pendle's bogus historical novel "The Remarkable Millard Fillmore" was a colossal hit that drew comparisons to Mark Twain in his prime. (OK, I'm stretching the truth on that, but it was a fairly funny book).
"Say You Love Satan" Jan. 11-Feb. 2 Theatre on the Square
It's always something of a dice roll with new plays. When they connect, you have the privilege not only of seeing a good show, but of being one of the first to see a good show. When they don't connect, well, you kick yourself for not making more conservative choices.
Here's a comment that raises my level of anticipation for Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's play "Say You Love Satan," a comedy about a young man's new love-who happens to have 666 burned into his forehead. The quote comes from a "Talkin' Broadway" review of the show's Boston production:
"Aguirre-Sacasa does what many clever, young writers do, namely hook us with a clever, zany setup and charm us with a liberal sprinkling of 'in-the-know' cultural references. But then he rises above most of his peers by getting us to care about the characters and resolving the whole silly mess in a satisfying and heartfelt way."
You know, I think I'm willing to take my chances on a well-resolved silly mess.
"Mickey's Corner" Jan. 16 Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center
The Hollywood writer's strike isn't having an impact on Indianapolis' newest talk show.
That's because this show is just for the benefit of those in attendance.
The unique new series, "Mickey's Corner," is the creation of Mickey Maurer (full disclosure: an IBJ Media Corp. shareholder), who will host onstage interviews at the Jewish Community Center. His first guest: Angelo Pizzo, the Bloomington-based screenwriter behind "Hoosiers"and "Rudy".
I've interviewed Pizzo before, and he's got plenty of great stories-not just about those popular films, but also about his early days in Hollywood (including a stint working on a game show) and of projects that never quite came to fruition (a Harlem Globetrotters biopic anyone?). For more details, click HERE .
This week's contest This week, win tickets to see music legend Todd Rundgren at The Music Mill.
You may be familiar with him from his signature songs "Hello It's Me" and "Bang the Drum All Day," but Rundgren's influences are all over the musical map. Who else could write music for "Pee Wee's Playhouse" and produce Meat Loaf's classic "Bat Out of Hell" album?
See him for yourself in concert on Jan. 20. Just fill out the form, HERE . We'll pull one winner at random on Jan. 15. For more info on the concert, click HERE .
While filling out the form, in honor or "Bang the Drum All Day" (which I now can't get out of my mind), tell us your favorite performance by a drummer-real or fictional. We'll link you to representative responses next week.
Last week, we asked for a song title you might suggest to Marvin Hamlisch. Responses are HERE .
We pulled one winner at random, Jeri Ballantine, who won a pair of tickets to see Hamlisch with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Continuing Still-running events from previous IBJ Daily A&E e-mails
Thursday, January 10, 2008 
Marvin Hamlisch. Not just misty water-colored memories. 
Betcha didn't know George Washington invented the kazoo and created abstract art. 
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