By Mark Ambrogi
Actors Theatre of Indiana co-founder Don Farrell is a firm believer in the Deborah J. Simon Spotlight’s mission.
“(The event) is a magical evening held once a year where all of Indy’s arts organizations come together as a community to share our love, passion and talent towards a noble cause,” Farrell said. “It is an honor for Actors Theatre of Indiana to participate in the fight against HIV/AIDS by helping the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis and the Indiana AIDS Fund raise awareness and generate financial support towards its prevention programs. Keeping such an awful disease relevant in our communities and for the younger generation is more important now than ever.”
The fundraisers, which features several arts organizations, is set for 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis. More than 12,000 Hoosiers live with HIV/AIDS. Indiana had 507 new HIV/AIDS diagnosis in 2016.
ATI is one of the Carmel-based arts organizations participating along with Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, Ballet Theatre of Indiana, Ballet Theatre of Carmel at Performer’s Edge and Indiana Ballet Conservatory.
ATI’s contribution will be “Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart” with Katy Gentry McCord, Fishers, and Annie Yokom, of Brooklyn, N.Y., performing.
Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s Abbie Lessaris will be dancing “Who I Was Born to Be” from “Under the Big Top.”
“Whenever arts organizations come together and donate their services to raise awareness and funds for a worthy cause, it is great for the entire community, ” said Gregory Hancock, GHDT founder and artistic director.
The Ballet Theatre of Indiana will be performing a dance duet choreographed by Cole Companion entitled “Post Petite Mortism,” which will be performed by Stirling Matheson and Megan Noonan.
“It’s a piece Cole created for Beer and Ballet III this year, that we all found to be particularly meaningful and touching,” Matheson said. “It explores the moment a relationship moves from being a fun diversion to being something that both requires and is worth working on.”
For more, visit butlerartscenter.org/event/spotlight-2017.
