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Can a rabbit police officer and a fox con artist work together to figure out what’s going on in a city of animals where certain species are disappearing? That is the premise of “Zootopia” the next Free Summer Movie at Iroquois Amphitheater on Saturday, July 15th.

“As the Free Summer Movies celebrates its tenth year, we have a fun film for everyone. It’s free to the community at the Iroquois Park Amphitheater, a state of the art outdoor facility,” says Councilwoman Marianne Butler (D-15).

The 2016 animated film from Walt Disney Studios tells the story of a rabbit, Judy Hopps, who fulfills her dream of becoming a police officer in Zootopia. On the beat she comes in contact with Nick Wilde, a fox who is also a con artist. The two become unlikely partners as savage animal behavior starts breaking out though the city.

“Zootopia” features the voices Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, J. K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, and Shakira.

Joining Councilwoman Butler as sponsors of this year’s Free Summer Movies are Council Members Rick Blackwell (D-12) Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13), Dan Johnson (D-21) President David Yates (D-25), Mary C. Woolridge (D-3), David James (D-6), Cindi Fowler (D-14), Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), Angela Leet (R-7), Pat Mulvihill (D-10),  Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4), Bill Hollander (D-9), Robin Engel (R-22), Barbara Shanklin (D-2), Madonna Flood (D-24), Stuart Benson (R-20) and James Peden (R-23).

The remaining summer lineup for “Movies Under the Stars” is as follows – all movies begin at 8:00pm:

  • August 12 – Sing

Here is the lineup of Free Monday Night Movies for 2017 – all movies begin at 8:00pm:

  • July 17 – The Jungle Book
  • July 24 – Dial M for Murder
  • July 31 – The Wild Life
  • August 14 – The Legend of Tarzan

The Concession Stand is open for these events selling hotdogs, popcorn, ice cream and sodas.

To see all the great summer entertainment this year at the Iroquois Amphitheater, go to www.iroquoisamphithearter.com or call 502-368-5865.

Louder Than Life will return to Champions Park in Louisville once again this year September 30th and October 1st. The two day festival will be returning for its fourth year of music, Gourmet Man Food, craft beer, Bourbon World, and more.

This year’s line-up will feature a variety of acts, including Lacuna Coil, Of Mice & Men, In This Moment, Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Eagles of Death Metal, as well as many other rock and heavy metal favorites.  Headliner performances Saturday night include Mastodon, Five Finger Death Punch, Rob Zombie and the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne with Zakk Wylde. Sunday’s feature performances will be Stone Sour, Rise Against, Incubus, and Prophets of Rage.  Full details of the line-up are available on the website.

Tickets are currently available online ranging from single-day GA tickets starting at $69.50 to entire festival weekend VIP experiences that include hotel for up to $1450.

Photo: Beechmont Community Center

A program offered at the Beechmont Community Center will introduce storytelling and acting to youths ages 8-13 and culminate in a performance at the center on Friday, August 31. Led by actor and director Tony Dingman, the Beechmont Theatre will cultivate confidence, cooperation, compassion and joyful learning in its students through imaginative play and storytelling.

Dingman is the Co-Artistic Director of Louisville’s Think Tank Theatre and previously Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble.  He has been building new works for the stage for more than 12 years. He has directed and taught young actors at Missoula Children’s Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare, Walden Theatre and the Frazier Museum.

“Theatre is unique in the way it can tell a story, and there is a magic in it,” Dingman said. “It is a shared moment that can’t be reproduced, where the audience and actors are counting on each other to help build a world. I hope to help ignite the imagination of young people and give them tools to create and share their stories, the ones that they think are exciting and fun.”

The 8-week program begins on Monday, July 10, and the group will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. through August 31 at the newly renovated theatre area at the Beechmont Community Center, located at 205 Wellington Avenue.

The class size is limited to 15 students, and the program fee is $145 and includes a free meal each night. The Beechmont Theatre Showcase will end the class’s run on Friday, August 31 at 7 p.m., and family, friends and the public are invited to attend.

Metro Parks and Recreation has recently renovated the basement at Beechmont into a theatre space, including new paint, floor tiles, a stage, curtains and sound system, as well as a colorful mural created with the help of the Kentucky Center’s ArtsReach program.

As a way to enjoy both the summer and Algonquin Park, Councilwoman Mary C. Woolridge (D-3) is offering free swimming at the Algonquin Pool on Mondays and Thursdays for the remainder of July.

“This is my way of saying thank you to the community for showing everyone that Algonquin Park is a place of pride. Earlier this year, we asked the community to help us finding the staff needed to open up Algonquin pool. So now, come and enjoy a swim on District 3,” says Woolridge.

On Mondays and Thursdays for the remaining weeks of July, it will be free admission to the first 50 people who want to come and swim at the pool. There is no age requirement however younger smaller children should be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian

Working with Metro Parks and Recreation, Councilwoman Woolridge has allocated funding from her District 3 Neighborhood Development funds to cover the costs.

The pool is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Closed on Tuesdays. The pool is located in Algonquin Park at 1614 Cypress St.

For more information contact Councilwoman Woolridge’s office at 574-1103.

Summertime and ice cream have long gone hand in hand as a way to bring family and friends together to enjoy a lazy summer afternoon.

This weekend, the Annual Riverside Old Fashion Ice Cream Social returns to the Ohio River on Sunday, July 9th.

“Riverside’s Annual Ice Cream Social will be a great time for young and old alike,” says Councilwoman Cindi Fowler (D-14). “This is a chance for the family to enjoy a little of America’s past, listen to some good music and enjoy something everyone loves, ice cream.”

The Annual Old Fashion Ice Cream Social at Riverside will get underway on Sunday, July 9th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Admission is free!

Joining Fowler as sponsors of the event are Council members Rick Blackwell (D-12), Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) and President David Yates (D-25).

There will be food, fun and entertainment for everyone including, the Celtic Pig and Lexie Lu’s food trucks, children’s activities; including a miniature train ride, farm animal petting zoo, pony rides and ice cream eating contest starting at 3:00pm sponsored by Ehrler’s Ice Cream.

The event features live music from the Josh Logan Band at 1:00pm, 2:00pm and 3:30pm and a magic show at 2:30pm and 3:00pm

Visitors will also be able to participate in an archaeological dig currently underway, or take discounted tours of the 1837 Farnsley-Moremen House. Admission to the event is FREE, but tours of the historic home require purchase of a ticket. Tickets will be 1/2 price this Sunday only!

“Come join us, especially if you have never been to the Farnsley-Moremen House. It is one of the great places to visit in Metro Louisville,” says Fowler.

For more info about the Annual Riverside’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Social, call 502/935-6809 or email info@riverside-landing.org.

Riverside, the Farnsley–Moremen Landing is located at 7410 Moreman Road.

A Pleasure Ridge Park High School student, alumnus and teacher have earned a prestigious media award by the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS).

Sophomore Laquan Richardson and Class of 2017 graduate Jailen Leavell, along with teacher Mary Dunn, recently received a Student Production Award for their video news story titled English Conversation Club. The piece highlights an outreach program in Louisville aimed at connecting the city’s immigrants with volunteers.

The Student Production Award competition received entries from colleges, universities and high schools across the chapter’s four-state region. Industry professionals judged and critiqued the entries, which showcased a wide range of talent from these future broadcasters and media producers.

“The work of our region’s students continues to impress the professionals who judge their submissions,” said Leslie Blackston-Favors, High School Student Awards Chairman for the Ohio Valley Chapter. Richardson, Leavell and Dunn will officially accept their award during the chapter’s annual Emmy® Awards Gala in August.

Click here to watch English Conversation Club.

Actors Theatre of Louisville is delighted to announce the return of their successful Community Ticket Grant program for the 2017-2018 Season, sponsored in part by Brown-Forman. In serving Actors Theatre’s mission to unlock human potential, build community, and enrich quality of life by engaging people in theatre that reflects the wonder and complexities of our time, this city-wide initiative extends the opportunity to experience Actors Theatre’s robust programming to any members of Louisville and Southern Indiana’s community groups and 501(c)(3) charities, who for various reasons, may not have the resources to attend a performance on their own.

In its inaugural season, the Community Ticket Grant program served 61 area charities, which granted the opportunity for a theatrical experience to 1,500 local residents. “We are thrilled to provide this opportunity again for everyone in our community to participate in the power of live theatre,” said Melissa Hines, Marketing Manager. “We had an overwhelmingly positive response this past season, which only solidifies the importance of this program. We want our audience to be reflective of our dynamic and diverse community, and the Community Ticket Grant program is one more way to remove any barriers to accessing artistic programming.”

Qualifying community groups and 501(c)(3) charities serving individuals in the greater Louisville and Southern Indiana area are welcome to apply to receive complimentary tickets to an Opening Night performance from a selection of Actors Theatre’s 2017-2018 Season Brown-Forman Series, holiday shows, and 42nd Humana Festival productions. Each group may apply for up to three productions a year with ticket quantities ranging from a minimum of 10 tickets up to a maximum of 150 tickets. The selected groups will be awarded tickets to one of their three production choices for the 2017-2018 Season. Groups will work with Melissa Hines, Marketing Manager, and members of the Actors Theatre Box Office to coordinate attendance details and seating selection for their group members.

As part of their grant applications, groups may request tickets to the following productions in Actors Theatre’s 2017-2018 Season:

  • Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches
    • Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 7 p.m.
  • Fifth Third Bank’s Dracula
    • Friday, September 8, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika
    • Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 7 p.m.
  • Fifth Third Bank’s A Christmas Carol
    • Friday, November 24, 2017 at 8 p.m.
  • Skeleton Crew
    • Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 8 p.m.
  • Little Bunny Foo Foo
    • Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 8 p.m.
  • The Magic Play
    • Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
  • 42nd Humana Festival of New American Plays
    • Lineup and grants available November, 2017

Deadline to submit applications for the 2017-2018 Season is August 4, 2017. Additional season information, program rules and restrictions, and the online application form can be found at actorstheatre.org/community-ticket-grant. Specific questions may be directed to Melissa Hines, Marketing Manager, at mhines@actorstheatre.org or 502.584.1265 x3140.

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