On the Aisle with Tom Alvarez

Jeff Bowen reflects on a lifelong journey through music, from childhood singing and piano lessons to performing, arranging for show choirs, creating original musicals, and leading sing-alongs. He and Tom Alvarez explore the power of live performance, the emotional connections music creates, and the importance of embracing new opportunities, technology, and creative challenges. Bowen also shares the inspiration behind “Llouie the Llama” and offers encouragement to aspiring musicians to keep learning, stay curious, and never stop moving forward.

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In this engaging conversation, Eduardo Luna shares his journey from immigrating from Mexico as a teenager to becoming a passionate advocate, producer, and connector for Latino artists and cultural communities in Indiana. He reflects on how family, festivals, music, visual art, and his Mexican heritage shaped his appreciation for the arts, while discussing the importance of preserving cultural identity without feeling pressured to choose between being Latino and American. Eduardo also highlights his work creating opportunities for Mexican and broader Latino artists through collaborations and free community events, emphasizing how the arts can build community, celebrate diverse traditions, and challenge stereotypes. His story offers a thoughtful look at the people and experiences behind the growing visibility of Latino arts and culture in Central Indiana—and the power of staying connected to where you come from while helping others find their voice.

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Host Tom Alvarez talks with Glen Kwok about how the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis fuels world-class artistry, community pride, and career launches for young soloists, powered by volunteers and donor support (including a gold medal prize up to $75,000). Kwok shares a crisp elevator pitch, practical advice for families to “push, but not past joy,” and a call to attend, give at violin.org, and rediscover Indy’s transformed, walkable arts scene—welcoming diverse audiences and celebrating inclusive programming.

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In this captivating episode of On the Aisle, host Tom Alvarez sits down with maestro David Commanday to celebrate his appointment as Music Director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and explore his rich, multifaceted career across symphony, ballet, and opera. Commanday reflects passionately on the healing, connective power of shared live performance, the exceptional acoustical brilliance and pristine silence of the Palladium, and the charm of Carmel’s vibrant, walkable arts community. Looking ahead to an invigorating season that champions cross-disciplinary collaborations—spanning dance partnerships, multimedia tributes, and celebrated American masterworks featuring luminaries like soprano Angela Brown—the dialogue illuminates how dynamic, inclusive programming, diverse representation, and genuine community engagement can break down traditional barriers and redefine the modern orchestral experience.

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Tom Alvarez talks with Leyla Peeran, a global millennial whose multicultural upbringing, travels, and life experiences have shaped her passion for community, the arts, food, and meaningful connections. From growing up in Saudi Arabia with Indian roots to building a new chapter in Indianapolis, Leyla shares lessons on identity, resilience, embracing opportunity, and living authentically. It’s a lively conversation about finding purpose, celebrating diversity, and truly living your best life.

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In this engaging episode of At the Piano with New York-based Music Director John Fischer, Tom Alvarez reconnects with pianist, music director, vocalist, and educator John Fischer to explore his remarkable career in Broadway, cabaret, and live performance. Fischer shares stories of working with Broadway stars, meeting Stephen Sondheim, traveling the country with acclaimed performers, and discovering his musical path from his Arkansas roots to New York City. He also discusses the intimacy and storytelling at the heart of cabaret, his work mentoring aspiring performers, and his connection to Indianapolis and its growing arts scene. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories and insights from a musician who has spent decades at the piano, this episode offers a personal look at the people and experiences that make live performance so special.

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Tom Alvarez reconnects with longtime broadcaster and arts advocate Susanne McAlister for a thoughtful conversation about media, community, the arts, and reinvention. Susanne reflects on her decades in television, her leadership with organizations including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Newfields, and the importance of making the arts accessible to everyone. She also shares personal insights on lifelong learning, volunteering, grief, and finding renewed purpose after loss. Filled with memorable stories and candid reflections, this episode celebrates a life driven by curiosity, connection, and a passion for giving back.

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In this engaging conversation, host Tom Alvarez welcomes back acclaimed costume designer and theater artist Anthony James Sirk for a wide-ranging look at the experiences, inspirations, and creative journey that shaped his distinctive career. From growing up on a farm in Huntington, Indiana, discovering the arts through childhood drawing, theater, and fashion, to finding his calling in costume design at Ball State, Sirk shares how his path took him from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and regional theater to becoming a sought-after designer and costume shop manager at Purdue. The conversation explores his maximalist, whimsical design aesthetic, his love of “bangles and baubles,” his work on productions including Yuletide Celebration, and his commitment to mentoring emerging artists and expanding opportunities for diverse voices in Indiana theater. Alvarez and Sirk also reflect on the power of the arts to provide belonging and hope, Sirk’s experience coming out as a teenager in rural Indiana, the evolution of LGBTQ+ acceptance, and the collaborative spirit that makes Indianapolis’s theater community so special. With upcoming projects including Yuletide, Fringe, and Alvarez’s Cabaret Latino, the episode offers both longtime listeners and newcomers an intimate portrait of an artist whose journey is a testament to creativity, community, perseverance, and the belief that the dreams you imagine for yourself really can come true.

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In this engaging episode, Host Tom Alvarez sits down with Chad Rabinovitz, the artistic director, producer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and driving force behind Constellation Stage & Screen, for a wide-ranging conversation about building creative communities, taking artistic risks, and redefining what success looks like outside traditional entertainment hubs. Chad shares how he has woven together theater, film, education, and business to create a thriving cultural ecosystem in Bloomington, Indiana, while reflecting on his journey from regional theater to leading an innovative arts organization whose new works have reached audiences around the world. Along the way, Tom and Chad explore the connections between sports and the performing arts, the importance of collaboration, inclusion, philanthropy, and storytelling, and why communities flourish when artists are empowered to create. Whether you're a longtime listener or discovering the podcast for the first time, this inspiring conversation offers an inside look at the vision, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit behind one of the Midwest's most dynamic creative leaders.

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Host Tom Alvarez sits down with acclaimed playwright, actor, novelist, and cabaret performer Charles Busch for a candid conversation about the people, experiences, and creative passions that shaped his remarkable career. Busch reflects on his early years in New York and Chicago, the profound influence of his beloved Aunt Lil, finding his artistic voice through theater pioneer Charles Ludlam, and building a groundbreaking career with works like Vampire Lesbians of Sodom and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories about Bette Midler, Broadway, cabaret, and television, offers thoughtful insights into the evolution of drag and queer theater, and discusses the challenges, triumphs, and resilience that have sustained more than 50 years of storytelling. Warm, witty, and deeply personal, this episode is an inspiring look at a singular artist whose greatest ambition has always been to tell unforgettable stories.

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