Arts and Humanities

The Kentucky Opera opens Puccini’s tragedy “Tosca” this week.  The company will begin its 60th anniversary season with Friday’s gala performance in the Brown Theatre, accompanied by the Louisville Orchestra.

The  Kentucky Theatre in downtown Lexington is preparing to celebrate its 90th birthday and a group of local volunteers is working to raise up to $1.5 million for renovations to the movie house.

Actors Theatre opened the “Dracula” crypt Friday for its 18th consecutive Halloween season run. Directed and adapted by William McNulty, the play is based on Bram Stoker’s classic horror novel about a mysterious count from Transylvania who terrorizes a seaside town in England.

Our arts segment on this week's Byline was bittersweet; Charles Venable is leaving Louisville after five years as director of the Speed Art Museum. Meanwhile, the Speed itself will say goodbye for now, as it breaks ground on a $50 million renovation and expansion, starting next weekend. WFPL's Erin Keane spoke with Venable about what's next for him, and the institution he's leaving behind.

The Broadway in Louisville production of the smash hit “Wicked” opened Thursday at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical depicts the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, polar opposite witches from the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz,” as schoolgirls struggling with their ambitions, convictions and loyalty in an oppressive political climate.