Also, IUK presents Pride and Prejudice; Duke awards grant to FSA
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Kokomo Community Concerts continues its 2024-2025 season with pianist Gilles Vonsattel. Born in Switzerland, this American classical pianist is a professor of piano at UMass Amherst. His program features one or two of Beethoven’s sonatas, along with masterpieces by Schumann, Debussy, and Villa-Lobos O.
The concert will be held Sunday, November 17, at 2:30 p.m., at the Kokomo High School auditorium, 2501 S. Berkley Rd. This concert is the third of Kokomo Community Concerts’ five-concert season, which will also feature Broadway’s Jeremy Stolle and Jim Witter singing Billy Joel favorites.
Season tickets are available online for $60 at https://kokomocommunityconcerts.org or at a ticket outlet (Comprehensive Planning Corporation, Frittata’s, Windmill Grill, and Herbst Pharmacies). Single concert tickets are available online or at the door for $25. For ticket questions, please call 765.210.0686.
IU Kokomo presents Pride and Prejudice
Indiana University Kokomo returns to 19th century England, as the Department of Communications and Performing Arts presents Pride and Prejudice.
Performances of the adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic story are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 15, and Saturday, November 16; and 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, in Havens Auditorium. Tickets are $10 (cash only) general admission, $5 for students (K-12 and college); and free for children younger than 6.
Joann Kaiser, teaching professor in communication arts, directs the production — her last before retiring in May 2025. She previously directed a campus production of Pride and Prejudice in 2016.
The romance is part of the appeal of the show, she said, adding that when it was published in 1813, it was groundbreaking.
“It was feminist,” she said. “The Bennet family didn’t seem to care a lot about social proprieties, and Elizabeth is the daughter who refuses to marry for money; she wants to marry for love. I think it’s popular because of the love story, but also because of the strong female characters.”
Audiences will enjoy the fast-paced version of the story, she said.
“If they are familiar at all with it, they will enjoy seeing a younger cast, how much work they’ve put into it, and the joy of one of the most famous love stories ever,” Kaiser said.
Her favorite part about directing theater productions is the relationships students create in the process.
“I’ve always considered that part of the objective of doing college theater is the community they build, and the friendships they gain,” she said.
Senior Mason Gottshall, who plays the part of Mr. Darcy, said participating in theater has been an important part of his IU Kokomo experience.
“My freshman year, I didn’t have very many friends,” said Gottshall, a computer science major from Camden. “Once I started actively participating in the program, that changed. I’ve met almost all my friends through theater. I love the community we’ve formed around it. It’s helped me in more ways than I can describe.”
He’s excited to play one of the romantic leads in the show.
“I really love Mr. Darcy’s growth,” he said. “Out of all the characters in the show, he was the one I really wanted to portray. I love seeing his evolution as a character, going from this more stern, not very emotional person into somebody who is willing to admit his faults and try to improve himself for the sake of the people around him.”
He encouraged people to attend one of the performances.
“I think it’s a show everyone needs to see,” Gottshall said. “We are putting our all into it. I am proud of the cast. This version is a good way to introduce someone to the book if they’ve never read it before. “
Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.
Duke Energy awards grant to FSA
The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded $73,000 in grants to 13 Indiana organizations and initiatives focused on supporting Hoosier military veterans and active-duty service members. The grants support a wide range of veteran-serving organizations across the state, including those working to provide civilian career pathways, transitional housing and health care services for those who’ve served in America’s armed forces.
“Our veterans have sacrificed and done their duty, and we should all be there when they need us most,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “As we look ahead to Veterans Day, we’re proud to extend our support to organizations across Indiana that are delivering care and services to those who’ve answered the call to serve.”
The Family Service Association of Howard County was one of the 13 grant recipients, accepting $5,500 in support of mental health and mentorship services for homeless disabled veterans.
Other grants impacting the greater Howard County area include:
The Indiana Veterans Initiative, which received $10,000 in support of new web platforms aimed at improving veterans’ job prospects and mental health.
Job Ready Veterans, which received $1,000 in support of career transition services for Indiana veterans and military families.
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 900,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.