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|  Thursday, February 28, 2008 |
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 "My Fair Lady"
March 4-9
Clowes Memorial Hall
You are justified in being a little skeptical. After all, "My Fair Lady" is one of the most familiar titles in the musical repertoire (and let us not forget that its original cast album was the third-best-selling disc of the 1950s).
But this isn't some bus-and-truck thrown-together production to fill out the Broadway series season. This is the luxurious tour of the raved-about London revival. Rather than recast it with "names," the tour retains its Brit talent - Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O'Hare - in the leads, supplemented by strong-if-unknown-out-here support.
Plus, trivia fans will be able to say they saw Marni Nixon after hearing her for so many years: In this production, she plays Mrs. Higgins, but she's best known for having dubbing the singing voices of Deborah Kerr in "The King and I," Natalie Wood in "West Side Story," and, yes, Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady."
For more details, click here.
"Treasure Island"
Feb. 29-March 8
Children's Theatre Institute
With talent at the helm (you may have seen Artistic Director James Leagre in the IRT's "Our Town" and Associate AD Ty Stover in many roles at Beef & Boards), I expect good things from this theater company, inaugurating its new home turf Friday.
As I write this, the fine-tuning continues on the new stage at the Gene B. Glick Junior Achievement Education Center, which is best known as the home of Exchange City (ask your elementary school aged kid what that is).
The theater launches with a party and premiere of a one-hour, audience-participation take on the classic "Treasure Island." In the future, look for a full schedule of programming as well as classes, camps and collaborations with other arts groups. For details, click here.
Patti Austin
Feb. 29
Clowes Memorial Hall
Just a few weeks ago, Patti Austin picked up a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
This week, she visits Clowes Hall.
Her appearance here is part of the Music For All National Festival, which planners estimate will bring 3,000 musicians, audience members and educators to town for a four-day fest running from Feb. 27-March 1.
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Austin's latest disc, "Avant Gershwin" isn't as far out as its title suggests. Gershwin songs have been given alternative treatments before, so playing with pace and style is nothing new. But Austin's alterations never feel gimmicky and her voice is a wonder throughout.
She switches out "Mama" for "Mammy" in her take on "Swanee," zooms through (with clarity) "Fascinating Rhythm," and gives an unforgettable reading to a "Porgy and Bess" medley. Here's hoping some - or all - of the disc is on the play list for her Friday concert.
To hear Austin's lovely pairing of "Love Walked In/Love Is Sweeping the Country," click here. For more details on the concert, click here.
"No Child ..."
March 1
Madame Walker Theatre
A first-year teacher attempts to teach theater to kids in a tough Bronx school. Sound like a half-dozen empowering movies that you've already seen? Well, perhaps.
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| But in this one-woman show, expect a tour-de-force performance - and a lot to chew on - as its creator, Nilaja Sun, brings her one-woman off-Broadway hit to town.
For a sampling, click here.
For more details on the show, click here.
Continuing
Still-running events from previous IBJ Daily A&E e-mails. 
 This Week's Contest
This week, win tickets to see the Indianapolis Opera's production of "Tosca" at Clowes Memorial Hall on March 14 or March 16. All you have to do is fill out the form here. We'll pull one winner at random.
While you are there, tell us your favorite opera moment (and yes, Elmer Fudd singing "Kill the Waaaabit" is acceptable).
Last week, we offered up a pair of tickets to see Patti Austin with Jazz Band of America at Clowes Hall on Feb. 29. The winner? Amy Piroska. We also asked you to tell us your favorite Pat, Patti or Patrick. Your responses are here.
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"My Fair Lady." Just get me to the show on time. 
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