For this week’s blog feature, we talked to Justin Wade, Executive Artistic Director of Young Actors Theatre, about their mission and approach to Self-Empowerment Theatre, and the role music plays in their productions. Young Actors Theatre will open two shows this weekend: Sleeping Beauty, and Twelve Dancing Princesses, at The Toby at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.

In honor of National LGBT+ Pride month, Classical Music Indy spoke with the Pride of Indy Bands, Indiana’s only LGBT+ and ally instrumental ensemble. The Pride of Indy Bands’ mission is to be an outlet and a resource for anyone who wants to continue playing past high school and/or college. The Pride of Indy is comprised of both LGBT+ people and LGBT+ allies that participate in and support the bands.