In the news: Interviews, online programming and a very special concert
November 23, 2020
The Center's livestreams and other new programs
are getting attention
The Center for the Performing Arts has been in the news a lot lately, with stories about the new online programming and other adaptations made to continue providing arts, entertainment and educational content to our local community, as well as new audiences across the country and worldwide.
President/CEO Jeff McDermott made the cover of Carmel Monthly magazine’s October issue, in which writer Janelle Morrison described how the Center and its Resident Companies are still serving audiences despite the restrictions posed by the pandemic.
Read Carmel Monthly: “Saving the Arts”
The Indianapolis Star also interviewed the boss for a similar piece about how Central Indiana performing arts organizations and venues are coping with capacity limits and a shortage of touring talent.
Read IndyStar: “Many arts groups still performing but relief desperately needed”
VP Jeff Steeg
Venue Professional, a national magazine for the performing arts production industry, invited Jeff Steeg, the Center’s VP of Operations, to write an article about how the Center’s concert production crew has evolved into a video and streaming team that can now provide multi-camera HD coverage of any event to a worldwide audience.
Read Venue Professional: “Pandemic Fuels Pivot to Streaming”
The Center’s new Live at the Center livestream series featuring Indiana-based artists has drawn attention from NUVO in Indianapolis and Hamilton County’s Current newspapers.
Read Current interview with jazz guitarist Charlie Ballantine
Read NUVO interview with indie-rock band Moxxie
Michael Feinstein performs Nov. 20 at the Palladium (photo by Mark Sheldon)
The Center set a new standard last Friday with a free livestreamed concert that was literally seen and heard around the world – Home for the Holidays: An Evening with Michael Feinstein and Sandi Patty. Broadway World was among the national outlets to take notice when the show was announced, and Feinstein gave several interviews to preview the event, including:
More than 3,800 households – representing 45 states and 11 nations – registered to watch the concert. Viewing numbers from Vimeo, YouTube and Facebook suggest that well over 10,000 people tuned in during the livestream.
The comments on Facebook were sometimes humorous and often touching:
- “This concert is such an amazing gift! Thank you.”
- “You have brought joyous tears to my eyes! Thank you so much for this wonderful concert.”
- “Thank you for bringing such joy to our home.”
- “Oh my, I really need this tonight.”
- “Southern California sends a warm hello and thank you!”
- “This is brightening me up tremendously.”
- “Best seat I've ever had for one of your concerts.”
- “Merry Christmas sir, from the U.K. Thank you for this very much needed marvellous concert to help us through.”
- “Thank you for this great concert. Boy did we need some holiday spirit!”
- “Thank you so very much Michael. We all needed this reminder of a brighter outlook for tomorrow.”
