Lexington, KY - What you are holding in your hands right now (the phrase doesn't really hold true with this online version) is one of my favorite issues we produce each year: our annual Fall Arts Preview -
pages and pages worth of event information for the coming year from some of Lexington's favorite organizations, representing the gamut of performing and visual arts, from gallery listings to theater, venue and festival schedules. (I say "some of," because I know we're going to get phone calls and e-mails from a few, hopefully not too many, slighted arts organizations or fans wanting to know why they weren't included -
don't worry, we'll make it up to you next year.)
I like the end product, but I like the process of putting our Fall Arts Preview together as well, especially as we leisurely watch fresh information about the 2011 - 12 season start to trickle in beginning in early August, and then frantically as deadlines start barreling down on us and we've got a few holes left to fill. When you look at all the information as a whole, it's apparent that Lexington has a relevant and thriving arts scene for all ages and persuasions.
This is the fourth installation of our Fall Arts Preview, and after having compiled this information for that long, it's become interesting to watch as organizations' programming evolves -
like the Actors Guild of Lexington's, who will be entering their second season of programming at their new theater in the South Elkhorn Village -
and reflect auspicious milestones -
like the Lexington Philharmonic's, who have a number of special engagements planned to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
What I really like is getting programming information from new organizations, as was the case this year with Project SEE Theatre, a new troupe of performers bringing five innovative productions to the Downtown Arts Theatre this coming year during their inaugural season. We can always use more of that.
I know this is something we at the magazine like to offer all of our readers, and I know all of these various arts organizations are grateful to get their upcoming schedules out to the public, but I also know some of the managers and administrators cringe when they start to get our annual phone calls harassing them for an upcoming year's worth of information -
it's hard to plan that far in advance. A lot of them say that they are in the final stages of finalizing the season, that they will get us the information in a few days; a lot of them beseech us for the last possible minute they can get us the information.
Then we ask for some photos, and we start the whole dance all over again.
I hope you like, and use (and keep), this year's Fall Arts Preview. It takes a little bit of corralling.