On the Aisle With Tom Alvarez | Tom Alvarez

‘Wasabia’ Offers a Tongue-in-Cheek View of Death and Dying

March 30, 2026

While witnessing Wasabia, a drama packed with biting humor about death, I couldn’t help but relate it to my own experiences as a 78-year-old member of the so-called “Silver Tsunami” generation facing health issues. The Phoenix Theatre presented Wendy Herlich’s play on Friday at the... read more

Ann Hampton Callaway Delivers a Resplendent Cole Porter Tribute

March 25, 2026

Juggling multiple roles—as a journalist, critic, TV contributor, podcast host, producer, director, and co-owner of a production company—can raise conflicts of interest, especially when reviewing my own work. While traditional outlets have strict rules on this, as a freelance writer, I’m not held to the... read more

IRT’s ‘English’ Examines Identity And Belonging

March 17, 2026

Sanaz Toossi’s drama, English, is being performed on the Janet Allen Stage at Indiana Repertory Theatre. Its relevance and timeliness are especially noteworthy. I saw the absorbing play exploring themes of language, identity, and cultural assimilation on Friday. A Pulitzer Prize-winning work, it premiered Off-Broadway... read more

IO Resident Artists Shine in ‘Lift Ev’ry Voice’

March 2, 2026

The Indianapolis Opera Resident Artists captivated audiences during a recital titled Lift Ev’ry Voice, Celebrating Black Composers at the Basile Opera Center on Saturday. As I listened to the vocal performances of bass/baritone Tony Domino, soprano Rachel Kobernick, tenor Ian Michael, and mezzo-soprano Elise Miller,... read more