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The timing could not be better for the WAVE 3 News Abbey Road on the River to pay homage to the iconic and acclaimed album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album was released by The Beatles exactly 50 years ago in 1967, and is set for the much anticipated re-release on May 26, which coincides with the five-day festival, coming up May 25-29, 2017.
Sgt. Pepper, regarded as one of the first ever concept albums, is known for being one of the most influential and innovative albums of all time. It won four Grammy’s, and included hits like “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and “A Day in the Life.” The new, remixed special anniversary edition of the Sgt. Pepper album includes previously unreleased takes from their recording sessions.
More than 15 events will celebrate the groundbreaking album throughout the weekend, including 9 concerts, a presentation by internationally recognized Beatles expert Scott Freiman, and a “Pepper at 50” panel discussion with author Bruce Spizer, Beatle best friend and long-time aide Tony Bramwell, and “Beatle Brunch” Radio Host Joe Johnson. OnSaturday, May 27th at 11:45pm, a listening party will be held for the release of the new Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Anniversary Edition.
The WAVE 3 News Abbey Road on the River will be held in Jeffersonville, IN at the Big Four Station Park on Memorial Day weekend, May 25-29. The 2017 lineup includes Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, Grammy-winner Peter Asher, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers The Family Stone, The Grass Roots, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders,Ambrosia, and former Wings band members Laurence Juber (guitarist) and Steve Holley (drummer). More than 50 bands from around the world will perform on eight indoor and outdoor stages over the course of the five-day event.
The festival has partnered with 91.9 WFPK Independent Louisville to host a free kick off concert starring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s sax man Jake Clemons today, May 25th. Live music begins at 2:00pm, and Jake Clemons will take the stage at8:45pm. Admission is free all day.
Tickets are available at arotr.com, and discounted general admission tickets are available for $20 each at all 45 area Thorntons stores. Tickets purchased at Thorntons also include free admission for one guest 21 and under.
The WAVE 3 News Abbey Road on the River is sponsored by WAVE 3 News, StarVista Live, Southern Indiana Tourism, City of Jeffersonville, Coca-Cola, Budweiser and Bud Light, Four Roses Bourbon, AML Inc., 91.9 WFPK Independent Louisville, Louisville Magazine, Louisville.com, Clark Memorial Hospital, Gretsch Guitars, Crosley Radio and Thorntons.
For more information and to purchase tickets for this year’s event, visit www.arotr.com.
Photo: Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
Kentucky’s lakes and streams are bound to be crowded with anglers, paddlers and pleasure boaters during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Boating safety officials want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience on the water.
“On really busy holidays, the boat’s operator has to remain extremely attentive,” said Zac Campbell, boating education coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “They need to go slower than they normally would, and they should be wearing a life jacket at all times, but especially while they are underway, day or night.”
Recreational boating statistics compiled annually by the U.S. Coast Guard show an overwhelming percentage of people who had been involved in boating accidents and drowned were not wearing a life jacket at the time.
Federal and state law require a Type I, II or III life jacket for each person on board a vessel. Anyone operating or riding on a personal watercraft must wear an approved life jacket. Children under 12 are required to wear an approved life jacket any time they’re in an open portion of a boat that’s underway. Boaters ages 12 and older aren’t required to wear a life jacket, but there should a readily accessible one for every person on board.
“If a person can’t swim, they really need to have a life jacket on at all times,” Campbell said. “People who are strong swimmers should try this test: dive in the lake then have someone throw them a vest. Now try to put it on – it’s difficult to do once you’re in the water.”
Operators should have passengers try on their life jackets beforehand to familiarize themselves with how they work and make any necessary adjustments.
A person must be 12 years or older to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Kentucky. To drive a motorboat or personal watercraft powered by a 10 horsepower or greater motor, children ages 12-17 years old will need either a Kentucky Safe Boating Certificate Card or a certificate showing successful completion of a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)-approved boater education course.
A boater education course benefits novice and experienced boaters alike. Courses are offered in person around the state at no charge and online for a fee. Course schedules are posted on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s website at fw.ky.gov. Registration is required.
Visitors to the department’s boater education web page can find links to the online courses as well as a boating safety checklist.
Nobody wants to get to the launch ramp only to realize they forgot to renew their boat registration, or they don’t have enough life jackets or a throwable cushion, or they forgot to charge their boat batteries.
“For a lot of people, Memorial Day weekend is the first time their boat’s been on the water this year,” Campbell said. “Ideally, you should take your boat out on a smaller body of water to test everything out before the big weekend to make sure it’s mechanically sound.”
Either way, you will want to have your boat numbers and decals properly displayed. Slide the registration receipt into a sealable sandwich bag and stow it on board. If the boat has an engine, lantern, stove or other equipment fueled by a flammable liquid, you will need to have a fire extinguisher. A horn or a whistle is required for boats 16 feet or longer, but good to carry in smaller boats. Test the red, green and 360-degree white navigation lights to ensure they are in working order. One small thing that is easy to overlook is securing the boat’s plug. Always double check that it is in place before launching.
When lake and river levels are up, as they have been in recent weeks across Kentucky, boaters must also be on the lookout for floating debris and keep in mind that some hazards may be hidden just below the surface.
“The water might not be as clear when the water is up, so objects that aren’t normally submerged can be even harder to spot,” Campbell said. “The operator is in charge of everybody’s well-being on the boat, but a good operator will have a good spotter who can help identify any hazards.”
A log striking a lower unit can throw occupants overboard and capsize a boat. An ignition kill switch combined with wearing a life jacket can be a godsend in such an event.
Most boats are equipped with a flexible red cord or lanyard that attaches to the ignition or throttle and clips to the boat operator’s life jacket or is worn around the wrist. Should the operator be ejected from the boat, the kill switch trips and stops the engine. If your boat’s lanyard or cord is missing, replacements are available through retailers that sell boating equipment.
The Memorial Day holiday weekend revs up the summer boating season and is one of the busiest boating weekends of the year. Make it a safe one by preparing ahead of time and operating responsibly while on the water.
Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change exhibit, presented by ESPN® and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, opens to the public at the Ali Center on May 25th. The exhibit invites visitors to walk among giants like Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Billie Jean King. Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change is included in the “I Am Ali” festival, the six-week, community-wide festival celebrating the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali, taking place from June 3-July 15, 2017.
Said Jeanie Kahnke, Sr. Director of Public Relations and External Affairs, “The Ali Center is honored to offer this exhibit, for it demonstrates ways in which athletes—including Muhammad Ali—have utilized sport as a platform to transform social issues and to raise awareness of how sport can be used to unite people and open doors.”
This traveling exhibit tells the story of how athletes have used their celebrity to fight for social change. It includes interactive displays that show how some of history’s super athletes like Muhammad Ali, Martina Navratilova, Jesse Owens and Terry Fox scaled to the heights of sports by defying expectations and restrictions levied by governments, advertisers, and spectators alike. In doing so, they became potent symbols that helped drive movements that changed sports and society.
Derreck Kayongo, CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights said, “Similar to Ali’s legacy, the exhibit shares how athletes have empowered people to stand up and protect human rights. Their courageous struggles in America and around the globe gave people everywhere the strength to persevere and make change happen in their communities.”
To learn more about Breaking Barriers: Sports for Change visit sports4change.net.
In a united effort to promote history and tourism in Jefferson County and beyond, eight National Historic Landmarks representing the most historically significant sites in the area have united to form a new organization, National Historic Landmarks of Louisville.
The group includes Actors Theatre, Belle of Louisville, Churchill Downs’ Twin Spires, Life-Saving Station #10, Locust Grove, Louisville Water Company Pumping Station No.1 and Water Tower, the U.S. Marine Hospital and Zachary Taylor’s Boyhood Home.
“There’s only one Louisville, and Churchill Downs’ Twin Spires, the Water Tower, Actors Theatre and the other national landmarks are synonymous with who we are as a city,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “I’m excited that National Historic Landmarks of Louisville will be promoting these places of culture and history. I encourage every citizen to learn more about the landmarks of Louisville, because their history is our history.”
National Historic Landmarks of Louisville is launching a new program to encourage people to visit six of the eight sites that are currently open to the public. (The U.S. Marine Hospital is closed to the public. Zachary Taylor’s Boyhood Home is a private residence).
“The eight National Historic Landmarks of Louisville will connect you to our nation’s vibrant past in a way that cannot be experienced through images, film or the pages of a book,” says Anna Gibson Holloway, PhD, Maritime Historian, with the Park History Program, National Park Service. “Local preservation efforts are key to keeping these Landmarks accessible to current and future generations of Louisville citizens and to those visitors from around the world who come to experience Louisville’s hospitality and heritage.”
Guests can get a special pass validated at each of the public National Historic Landmark sites when they visit, and then bring the pass to the Louisville Visitor Center at 301 S. Fourth St. to receive a gift. The passes are available at any of the landmarks and the Louisville Visitor Center.
Visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag #LandmarkLover to share their experiences via social media.
Photo: Actors Theatre of Louisville
Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are proud to introduce the 2017-2018 Professional Training Company. Each year, Actors Theatre of Louisville invites the most talented and highly motivated early-career theatre professionals in the nation to undertake a nine-month long training program that combines hands-on practical experience with educational seminars and professional guidance. Entering its 46th Season, Actors Theatre’s Professional Training Company is one of the oldest pre-professional training programs in the nation, and has built an incredible legacy of supporting the long-term vitality of American theatre through the mentorship and fostering of the best forthcoming talent in the field.
Waters shared, “I am thrilled to see this vital program continue to flourish and witness our alumni colleagues expand their leadership in arts communities across the country. Actors Theatre is honored to champion these talented young professionals as they become the next generation of theatre artists and leaders.”
Selected from more than 2,000 applicants from across the nation the 2017-2018 Professional Training Company consists of 42 college graduates—each of whom is extremely talented in their chosen field. Through their participation in the nine-month long program over the course of the 2017-2018 Season, they will receive practical training, the opportunity to work with celebrated artists, and a firsthand look at the inner workings of one of the nation’s leading regional theatres. The company will also mount a number of productions, including new work by nationally renowned playwrights, and original creations developed by the members of the company themselves.
The Professional Training Company has launched the careers of many burgeoning leaders in theatre, both at Actors Theatre and elsewhere nationwide. Timothy Busfield (Thirtysomething, The West Wing), Lila Neugebauer (Director The Wolves, Everybody, Signature Plays Off-Broadway), Jenny Robertson (Bull Durham, Role Models), Brendan Pelsue (Playwright of Wellesley Girl), Josh Hopkins (Cougar Town, Quantico), Sarah Lunnie (Literary Director, Playwrights Horizons), Jeff White (How to Get Away with Murder, House of Cards), Mirirai Sithole (Master of None, The Death of the Last Black Man…), Chris Boneau (Publicist and Co-Founder of Boneau/Bryan-Brown), Lisa McNulty (Producing Artistic Director at Women’s Project Theater), Anna Kull (Director of Community Relationships at Lark Play Development Center), Alex Hernandez (Mafia 3, Unreal), Neil Pepe (Artistic Director of the Atlantic Theater Company), Jason Butler Harner (Ray Donovan, Blacklist, Changeling), Kristen Jackson (Connectivity Director of Wooly Mammoth Theatre), Charles Haugland (Artistic Programs & Dramaturgy, Huntington Theatre Company), Erica Sartini-Combs (Associate Casting Director, Goodman Theatre), Stowe Nelson (New York Innovative Theatre Award winning and Drama Desk Award nominated Sound Designer), Jason Pacella (Production Assistant for The Wiz Live!), and Actors Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director Meredith McDonough. The Professional Training Company provides an avenue for future theatre leaders to network with alumni of the program across the country.
Actors Theatre’s Professional Training Company is generously supported by a significant grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. The $1.2 million award supports grants over a ten-year period for each apprentice during the nine-month program, and enables year-round employment for the program’s leadership. Founded by Roy Cockrum, the Foundation supports world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout the United States. The Foundation considers grants by invitation only and is dedicated to helping nonprofit theaters reach beyond their normal scope of activities and undertake ambitious and creative productions.
Apprenticeships for the 2017-2018 Season have been awarded to:
- Andrea Abello | Acting | Bedminster, New Jersey
- Vivian Barnes | Dramaturgy/Literary Management | Stafford, Virginia
- Jordan Bean | Producing & Casting | Huntington, West Virginia
- Calum Bedborough | Acting | Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
- Bear Brummel | Acting | Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Sergio Caetano | Acting | Kearny, New Jersey
- Satya Chavez | Acting | San Diego, California
- Jelani Cornick | Directing | Brooklyn, New York
- Shannon Csorny | Production Management | Stonybrook, New York
- Gabriela De La Rosa | Festival & Events Management | Austin, Texas
- Nayib Felix | Acting | Manchester, Pennsylvania
- Brandon Fox | Acting | Wall, New Jersey
- Kevin Hanley | Stage Management | Seabrook, New Hampshire
- Rigel Harris | Acting | Lebanon, New Hampshire
- Laurel C. Henning | Communications | Louisville, Kentucky
- Nathan Hewitt | Development | Fishers, Indiana
- Kelly Jonske | Stage Management | Barrington, Illinois
- Alaina Kai | Acting | Cincinnati, Ohio
- Emily Kaplan | Acting | Media, Pennsylvania
- Jessica Kemp | Stage Management | Saranac Lake, New York
- Emily Kleypas | Acting | Temple, Texas
- Bridget Kojima | Company & Artistic Management | Clarkston, Michigan
- Emma Kravig | Costumes | Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin
- Jerardo Larios | Acting | Merced, California
- Meghan McLeroy | Dramaturgy/Literary Management | Cullman, Alabama
- Joseph Miller | Acting | Dayton, Ohio
- Abigail Miskowiec | Education/Teaching Artist | Charleston, West Virginia
- Connor O’Leary | Properties | Hanover, New Hampshire
- Tory Parker | Marketing | Charleston, West Virginia
- Tim Peters | Acting | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Dwaine Jihaad Potts | Sound | Wichita, Kansas
- Marika Proctor | Acting | Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Margaret Rial | Stage Management | Erie, Pennsylvania
- Zoe Rosenfeld | Education/Teaching Artist | San Francisco, California
- Omer Abbas Salem | Acting | Darien, Illinois
- Jonathan Schmitt | Acting | Cleveland, Ohio
- Joan Sergay | Directing | Bethesda, Maryland
- Jessie Lynn Smith | Lighting | Cresco, Pennsylvania
- Corey Umlauf | Scenic Painting | Bellingham, Massachusetts
- Suzy Weller | Acting | Lawrence, Kansas
- Karoline Xu | Acting | San Antonio, Texas
- Jenna Zhu | Acting | Dallas, Texas
For more information about the Professional Training Company contact Sara Durham, Public Relations Manager, at SDurham@actorstheatre.org.
The sounds of summer return to Freedom Hall in August for the star-studded Kentucky State Fair Main Stage concert series. Three nights of music, ranging from country to hip-hop, offers something for everyone at the annual summer festival.
“The Main Stage concert series starts off with fun music from the 90s, and closes with a unique country rock tour right on the dirt in Freedom Hall,” said Jason Rittenberry, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues. “With the tradition of Alabama and newcomer Tucker Beathard in between, we believe this is one of our strongest lineups for the Fair.”
Thursday, August 17 – I Love the 90s Tour featuring Vanilla Ice Featuring some of the most iconic names in rap, hip hop and R&B, this show brings the best acts of the 90s together for what Entertainment Weekly dubbed an “arena-sized dance party.” “I Love the 90s” features Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa, Color Me Badd, Coolio, Tone Loc and Young MC.
Dance to favorite songs including “Ice Ice Baby,” “All 4 Love” and “Gangsta’s Paradise.” The awardwinning artists have collected numerous accolades including honors from the American Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards and Grammys. The celebration of 90s nostalgia begins at 7 p.m. and ticket prices start at $37.
Friday, August 18 – Alabama with special Guest Tucker Beathard Alabama, one of the most successful bands in country music, blends traditional country music with a Southern rock sound. With more than 40 No. 1 hits, counting a 21 song streak on the top of the charts, Alabama is known for popular songs including “Tennessee River,” “Love in the First Degree,” “Song of the South” and “Mountain Man.” Alabama has amassed more than 200 awards, making them the most awarded band in country music history. Up-and-coming country music singer Tucker Beathard is currently working on his debut album. Beathard has charted two singles, “Momma and Jesus” and “Rock On” and is gaining a following for his honest songwriting. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and ticket prices start at $32.
Sunday, August 27 – Southern Uprising Tour The Southern Uprising Tour features several defining stars of country music, including Travis Tritt, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band and Lee Roy Parnell.
Between them, the artists have charted more than 50 songs and are known for recognizable hits such as “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “Here’s A Quarter,” “Long Haired Country Boy” and “Can’t You See.” Set on the dirt of Freedom Hall, the boot stomping music begins at 6 p.m. and ticket prices start at $32.
Tickets for all three headline concerts go on sale Monday, April 10 at 10 a.m. at the Kentucky Exposition Center Ticket Office and Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices do not include Kentucky State Fair gate admission.
Photo: Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
The months of May and June make for two of the best for catching largemouth bass. The weather is warm, but not too hot, and the largemouth bass feed heavily as warmer water temperatures increase their desire to eat.
Largemouth bass are one of the most popular sport fish in Kentucky. Two of Kentucky’s excellent state resort parks, Barren River Lake State Resort and Lake Barkley State Resort Park, lie on two of the best largemouth bass lakes in our state.
A buddy weekend of largemouth bass fishing while staying at one of these top class state resort parks could be the trip of the year.
Barren River Lake State Resort Park:
The 2017 Fishing Forecast produced by the Fisheries Division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources rated the largemouth bass fishery in Barren River Lake as good/excellent, noting the lake is chock full of 2- to 4-pound fish.
“You are launching at a good spot at the Barren River State Resort Park ramp,” said Geoff Roberts, conservation educator at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Salato Wildlife Education Center. “You are within a very short run to the biggest tributaries on the lake: Skaggs Creek and Peter Creek. Barren River State Resort is also near deep main lake spots that are productive for largemouth bass in summer.”
Roberts knows Barren River Lake like the back of his hand and has landed myriad largemouth bass in the 3- to 5-pound range from the lake over the years with some larger bass mixed in with these. In early summer, he likes a jig in hues of green pumpkin, brown, orange with a touch of chartreuse or a medium running shad-colored crankbait to catch largemouths.
“The bass move to main lake points after they spawn,” Roberts said. “Focus on ones that are near deep water. They need deep water nearby in summer.”
A river or major creek channel swinging close to one of those points supplies the needed deep water sanctuary.
“As you fish those points, work the drop that falls off into the river or creek channel,” Roberts said. A jig fished in a slow pull and drop retrieve works great in these spots as does the crankbait worked shallow to deep.
“The state resort park is also close to main lake bluffs that are productive for largemouth and Kentucky spotted bass in hot weather,” Roberts said. A crankbait worked parallel to the bluff walls picks off bass suspended in the water column near the bluff, waiting for a school of shad to amble by.
“I also like to throw topwater baits in the early morning during summer,” Roberts said.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park:
Lake Barkley is not only one of the best largemouth bass lakes in Kentucky, but also one of the best in the nation. It consistently rates high in Bassmaster Magazine’s Best 100 Bass Lakes in the country.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park is in the Little River arm of the lake. A bass angler could have an excellent weekend of early summer largemouth bass fishing without ever leaving the Little River arm.
A shallow lake by Kentucky standards, fishing near the submerged creek channels is key to catching early summer largemouths on Lake Barkley. Anglers who pound shallow cover near the bank will pick off the occasional small largemouth, but anglers who want quality must fish near the channel.
In the early morning, largemouth bass move onto the flats near the channel to feed on shad or small bluegill. Those flats with some brush or other cover on them are best. A medium-running shad-colored crankbait fished on the flat allows an angler to cover water and catch bass. A white buzzbait fished in the same area draws vicious hits from bass in the low light of dawn.
As the sun rises in the sky, an old school 3/16-ounce Texas rigged curly tailed worm in the plum glitter or junebug colors fished along the channel drops draws strikes. A 6-inch green pumpkin lizard fished on a 1/2-ounce Carolina rig also works well in summer, especially if the water has some color to it. Cast the Carolina rig onto the flat and work it back into the channel.
When the truly hot weather sets in, bass anglers move to the main lake and the mouths of major creek arms and fish humps and channel drops near deep water. Locals call these spots “ledges.” A 10-inch plum glitter or red shad-colored curly tailed worm fished on 5/8-ounce Shakey heads draws strikes. A 3/4-ounce black and blue jig and trailer combination also works well on the ledges for largemouth bass.
Slowly crawl these lures on the bottom along the ledge. Fishing the ledges may present the best chance of the year to catch a largemouth bass larger than 6 pounds.
Head to Barren River Lake or Lake Barkley State Resort Parks for a fun weekend of bass fishing and boating this summer.
