See behind the scenes inside Danville's Royal Theater
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Sharon and Bill Wright, owners of Royal Theater in Danville, pose Monday, June 9, 2025, for a portrait in front of the theater.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Old movie posters sit stacked Tuesday, May 13, 2025, behind stage at Royal Theater in Danville.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
An old movie reel sits Tuesday, May 13, 2025, inside the projector room at Royal Theater in Danville.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
An old movie film sits Tuesday, May 13, 2025, inside the projector room at Royal Theater in Danville.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Bill Wright organizes a back room Tuesday, May 13, 2025, inside Royal Theater in Danville. Ahead of movies showing at the theater, Wright will purchase mascot outfits to help make visits special for children.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
Sharon and Bill Wright, owners of Royal Theater in Danville, pose Monday, June 9, 2025, for a portrait inside of the theater.
Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar
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Indianapolis Star
10 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Jesus, LeBron and Tom Brady (!?): Who would Central Indiana's top football players invite to Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving in Indiana means IHSAA football state championship weekend. It also means good meals and better company. We asked members of the 2025 IndyStar preseason football Super Team: Who would you invite to Thanksgiving dinner? 'I'd have to go with my favorite quarterback and NFL player of all time, Tom Brady. To be able to sit there and talk ball with him, talk life with him, that would be pretty awesome. I'd ask him how he took care of his business, took care of his body and how he prepared for games and how he separated himself from everybody else. Just ask him what he does to prepare.' — Decatur Central QB Bo Polson 'Outside of Jesus, I might throw in Bill Dance. He's a great fisherman from back in the day. I've gotten really big into fishing the past couple weeks with some of my teammates. Some of the knowledge I could take off him would be great. I'd do anything I could to improve my fishing game. That would be somebody I'd say.' — Brownsburg QB Oscar Frye Loyalty vs. opportunity: What Indy-area's top players say about new transfer rule IHSAA football predictions: Picking 2025 state champions as season begins 'Probably Tom Brady. Probably Tom or Tiger Woods. I'd probably ask Tom Brady how he got through all of the challenges in his career. He was doubted a lot. Started as like fifth string and made his way up at Michigan and went pro and made it up. Just what helped drive him and kept him sane, I guess.' — New Palestine QB Jacob Davis 'Let's go Tom Brady. First of all, my dad loved him. Biggest Tom Brady fan ever. And he just wins all the time.' — Lapel QB Devin Craig '(Washington Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels. I just look up to him. Or (Minnesota Timberwolves guard) Anthony Edwards. I just like their mindset and would want to pick their brain and talk ball, talk life. I feel like my (style) represents (Daniels) a lot. I'd ask for tips, ask for advice. When to you use your legs and when not to. He does a neat thing with (virtual reality). He watches VR of every team before every game. I thought that was pretty cool. Little things like that to pick his brain.' — Carmel QB Anthony Coellner 'Either Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady. Just talking to those great quarterbacks and processing the game and things like that.' — Jackson Sorgi, Tri-West 'I would say, maybe Martin Luther King. Obviously now times are different. We don't truly know how stuff was back then. I think it would be good to be able to pick his brain and see how things were and how he went about changing things peacefully.' — Hamilton Southeastern QB Terry Walker III 'I always watched J.J. Watt growing up, even though I'm an offensive guy. I think he'd be really cool. I'd have to go Jason Kelce as well just to get a little knowledge from him.' -- New Palestine OL Brock Brownfield 'I'd probably say (Alabama offensive lineman) Tyler Booker who just got drafted to the Cowboys. He's just a great offensive lineman — a guy I try to model a little bit both in-game and as a character. I know he's a high character guy. Just to talk to him about stories and stuff. I think that would be great because he's a guy that I really look up to who plays offensive line.' — Bishop Chatard OL Zion Haney 'I would say Jason Kelce. I like him as a player a lot and think he's a really interesting, funny guy. I like his podcast a lot.' — Westfield OL Job Mavrick 'Jesus. I'm a big religious guy, so I'd say Jesus Christ.' — Westfield OL Malachi Mills 'Probably Jason Kelce.' — Center Grove OL C.J. Scifres 'I'd like to experience another Thanksgiving with my dad. He passed away in 2017 when I was in the fourth grade. He was incarcerated most of my life but when he got out, he spent a lot of time with me. But Thanksgiving is something I don't think we got to do. He passed away due to gun violence.' — Lawrence Central OL James Williams 'LeBron. He's the 'goat.' That would be hard to sit and have dinner with him. That's my 'goat.' Best basketball player to ever do it. Best athlete to ever do it in my opinion. I get in arguments in school about (LeBron vs. Michael Jordan). But LeBron is the 'goat.'' — Decatur Central WR Kasmir Hicks 'My favorite athlete is Conor McGregor. I just love his swag and how he is on the mic. I don't know if I really want him at my family Thanksgiving dinner. I'd honestly probably go Kyle Schwarber. Went to Indiana, so he's familiar with Indiana. I think that'd be a cool Thanksgiving with him.' — Center Grove WR Drake McClurg 'I'm inviting Druski. He's a funny dude who could make everybody laugh.' — Brownsburg WR Avin Robinson 'Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State receiver). I'd just want to work out with him. That's what I want to do. After the dinner, go to the field with some cleats.' — Lawrence North WR Monshun Sales 'Probably Drake. Just because I feel like he would have a lot to say just throughout his life. I really like his music and feel like I can relate to a lot of his lyrics. I feel like we would get along pretty well.' — Brownsburg WR Branden Sharpe 'My girlfriend. Or if it's a celebrity, Jahmyr Gibbs. I'd ask him what is the difference between high school, college and NFL. Like what are things he did to be dominant at each level. — Cathedral RB Xavier Dangerfield 'I'd say Michael Jordan. That's my favorite athlete. I'd just want to be around him. I watched the 'Last Dance' documentary and how they talk about him, I'd just want to be around him for a day.' — Decatur Central RB Fa'Rel Carter 'LeBron. Just the goat. Great person. Great father. Never did nothing bad.' — Lawrence North RB Izayveon Moore 'Probably Steph Curry. I used to love Steph Curry. Still do. He's my favorite player. I used to play basketball until eighth grade, then quit to focus on football.' — New Palestine RB Josh Ranes 'I'm going to have to say Tom Brady, just because he's the 'goat.' It would be great to talk to him and meet him and see another side of his life and try to take some things away from him. That would be pretty cool.' (What would you ask him?) 'How to make money. Because he has a lot of it.' — Greenwood RB Gunner Ruppert 'I want to talk to Steph Curry about golf, about basketball. That would be cool. Just being the greatest shooter ever. I did (play basketball) for a long time. I'm a 3-point hunter so that's where I get it from. Just watching a lot of Steph Curry, I guess.' — Plainfield RB Luke Starnes 'Probably my grandma. She recently passed a couple years ago so it would be nice to have here there for dinner.' — Crispus Attucks RB Darrell Taylor 'Mine would definitely be Kobe Bryant. He's definitely been my mentor growing up. I love Kobe and love his work ethic. That's somebody who I'd want to sit there and have a talk with.' — Fishers RB Ryan Thembulembu 'I would definitely say Kobe Bryant. He's very inspiring and would definitely help me on a bunch of things that I would need help on. (I'd definitely) talk to him about mentality because he's really special with that.' — Center Grove TE Dominick Barry "Dennis Rodman. I don't know how that dinner would go. I liked Dennis Rodman and Allen Iverson. Those were my two favorite basketball players.' — New Palestine TE Mason Oglesby 'Jesus Christ. Absolutely. Whether you believe in his miracles or not, he definitely existed right? So 100% I'd want to sit down with him.' — Carmel DL Kaiden Bower 'I'd probably pick LeBron James. That's my favorite NBA player, so I'd definitely pick him.' — Franklin Central DL Jayce Brewer 'Definitely Mike Tyson. I know that seems funny but I think he's a funny guy no matter how cold blooded he is. Great personality. I'd love to hear that little lisp at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I think he would be hilarious.' — Center Grove DL Kobe Cherry 'Jalen Carter from the Eagles. (I'd ask) 'How do you do it?'' — Warren Central DL Jerimy Finch Jr. 'I've got two people – LeBron and Genghis Khan. LeBron is my favorite basketball player – the goat. And Genghis Khan, he's a cool dude in history.' — Pike DL Muna Newman-Nwodika 'Probably my grandma or grandpa that have passed.' — Cardinal Ritter DL Terry Robinson 'Adam Sandler. I feel like he doesn't try to show that he has a lot of money. He dressed how he wants. He wears the 'And1' shorts and the baggy t-shirt. I just like how he doesn't try to show off and he just is who he is. And he's funny.' — Franklin DL Blake Smythe 'LeBron James. Easily. My dad (is my hero), then LeBron. Big LeBron fan.' — Decatur Central LB Mykul Campbell 'Probably my grandmother because I miss her.' — Pike LB Dammy Adeoba 'Beyonce. Beyonce, come join me at Thanksgiving. I'd love to celebrate any holiday with Beyonce. Great conversation.' — Westfield LB Alex Aramboles 'It would be my grandmother. She passed away four years ago. She was a really influential person in my life and a light in my family. It would really mean a lot to bring her back.' — Brebeuf Jesuit LB Parker Maiers 'I'd say Payton Wilson, the linebacker on the Steelers. I'd learn a lot from him. I like how he plays.' — Lawrence North LB Breck Mallory 'I'd go Derrick Henry. I know he's throwing down some grub and we'd chat it up. That would be cool.' — Whiteland LB Jordan Palmer 'I would pick Sean Taylor, rest in peace to him. I'd pick him to understand the game more, especially because he played my position. He's definitely someone I look up to.' — Warren Central DB Kaleb Elkins 'Sauce Gardner or Pat Surtain. Best corners in the league. Get all the advice from them.' — Fishers DB Carsen Eloms 'Ed Reed. Really any defensive NFL player that played safety, or an NFL running back as well. Derrick Henry. Just to talk to them about their game and how their experience has been.' — Westfield DB Deacon King 'I would say Kobe Bryant. He is a huge inspiration for me in just watching the way he goes about his work ethic, his recovery and his workouts. He just gets up super early every day. He talks about how can you impact someone to go impact other people. He's been super inspirational for me.' — Carmel DB Isaac Nelson "Probably the music artist Prince for my mom. She was a really big Prince fan before he passed away. If not Prince then probably Kyrie Irving. He's my favorite basketball player.' — Ben Davis DB Robert Reddick 'Probably LeBron. My favorite athlete. I feel like LeBron would be a pretty cool guest to have.' — Cathedral K Van Krisiloff
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
'Fine arts and stuff' includes something for everyone in Gallery 6202
ARTS Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuffn is at 6202 N. College Ave. in Broad Ripple. Photo taken Thursday, July 17, 2025. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Jeff Evans shows some of the local art at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Art by Diane Andrews is featured as a local artist for the month at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. This piece is called 'Divine.' Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar This holograph called 'Aquatic Dream' is by Ron Agam. It is for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Jeff Evans shows a Jack Wickes photo for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The photo is one of the photographer's scenes from Indianapolis. This one is of Monument Circle. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of types of art are for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. These Nancy Miller decorative eggs are chicken eggs that are blown out and covered with Japanese paper. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Pete, a cat, rests at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The once feral cat lived in the house crawl space but now lives in the house. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Art by Diane Andrews is featured as a local artist for the month at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. One of Yardbirds and Junkyard Dogs & Cats scrap-materials works, at right, shows an open-mouthed T-Rex. It holds an open sign for the gallery. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. These pieces are limited editions of Garfield drawings by Jim Davis. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Pete, a cat, walks through Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, walks through the gallery Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The once feral cat lived in the house crawl space but now lives in the house. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art is for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be purchased at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. 'Mystere' by Erte is a serigraph in color on paper, for sale at the gallery. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Indiana artist Laura Crawford's 'Paintbrush Meadow' is seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Pete, a cat, takes a snooze at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The once feral cat lived in the house crawl space but now lives in the house. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Pete, a cat, rests at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The once feral cat lived in the house crawl space but now lives in the house. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Jim Davis' 'School Days' is one of the pieces of art for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The 1999 piece is a hand-painted production cel with laser background. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Peter Max's 'Statue of Liberty' is seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Jeff Evans shows a Jack Wickes photo for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The photo is of St. Joan of Arc in Indianapolis. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. One of Bandana Yardbirds scrap-materials works, at right, shows a wide-eyed dog called 'Pete P. Pup' with hydrant. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Jeff Evans and his wife Jackie Evans made these folded-book sculptures. They are seen at their gallery, Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A painting by historic Hoosier artist George Jo Mess is seen for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. It is called 'Early Morning.' Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar An oil-on-canvas painting by historic Hoosier artist George Jo Mess is seen for sale at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. It is called 'View of an Indiana Town.' Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar A variety of art can be seen at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. These Jim Davis' works are ready for display. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Pete, a cat, peeks from behind a door at Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff, Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. The once feral cat lived in the house crawl space but now lives in the house. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar Decorative flags in front of Gallery 6202 Fine Arts & Stuff welcome all Thursday, July 17, 2025 in Broad Ripple. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
New pop culture reporter starts her gig with chaotic, sometimes-thrilling Lil Wayne show
Let's start with the byline, which probably looks unfamiliar: Hi, I'm IndyStar's new pop culture reporter. If you're into music, movies, TV shows, books, celebrities and all the art and culture Indianapolis has to offer, we're about to get to know each other really well. In that vein, let me explain why I chose Lil Wayne for my first review. As most critics, branded T-shirts and Wayne's DJ T. Lewis will tell you, Lil Wayne is the best rapper alive. And he's the backbone to some of the definitive party music of the 21st Century. There are few things in this life that thrill me like a great artist and a great party, so this was a no-brainer. I headed out to Ruoff for the same reason fans packed arenas to watch Michael Jordan play when he rocked a Washington Wizards jersey. I wanted to see a superstar be a superstar, and around two-thirds of the way through Lil Wayne's frantic, gleefully jumbled set at Ruoff Music Center, I thought he had that in the bag. The crowd was eating out of the palm of his hand, hanging on every word spit with that signature rasp. He did his little dancey dance, marching around the stage in a way that begs comparison to the Seven Dwarfs Hi Ho-ing off to work (that's Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneeezy and Weezy, to you). He ended every song with a big, lazy grin and an earnest 'thank you.' It's tough not to root for the guy. A top-heavy set that frontloaded the hits only built on the goodwill — never mind that he only got part of the way through most of those hits before they came to a screeching halt. By the time he had the crowd screaming to him that a certain group of women weren't loyal, I didn't think there was anything he could do to turn the tide against him. And just like that, the energy evaporated. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Carter left the building, and he sent his Young Money proteges in his place. Signees to Wayne's storied record label grabbed the spotlight as the big boss disappeared, promoting their newest singles as enthusiasm dimmed. By the time Wayne returned with a new outfit — an all-white, Backstreet Boys-esque ensemble — some of the energy he started with built back up, but it never quite reached peak levels again. Lil Wayne's Ruoff stop on his Tha Carter VI tour — which runs until early October and includes stops in 36 North American cities — was a yo-yo of a thing, with thrilling highs and head-scratching lows. Fresh off his album of the same name and a year removed from his Indianapolis NBA All-Star Weekend appearance, Weezy F. Baby (one of Lil Wayne's many monikers) showed glimpses of the greatness that has etched him on rap's Mount Rushmore, but these moments were often all too fleeting. At his best, Wayne makes it all look easy. There's an effortlessness and a spontaneity to his delivery, as though even lyrics he's recited for 30 years are occurring to him in real time. With heavy hitters like 'Fireman,' 'Mr. Carter' and 'Uproar' early in the set, Lil Wayne tapped into that magic, bopping around with almost childlike joy in his yellow Balenciaga sweatsuit and toying with the inflection of his voice. But the wheels wobbled, with spurts of energy coming to dead stops as Wayne bounced from song to song. That Lil Wayne is in the awkward middle-ground of a legacy act still touring new music didn't help the flow. Crowd pleasers like 'Mrs. Officer' and 'Love Me' were mixed in with a quick guitar ballad dedicated to Wayne's unnamed crush who may or may not have been in attendance. The crowd filled in the blanks for his more iconic punchlines with fervor ('Smooches!' 'I couldn't blame Tammy!'). Calls to echo Wayne's shoutouts to the critically panned Carter VI weren't as well received. In this 'phones recording the whole show' epidemic we find ourselves trapped in, it's tough to tell whether the audience is actually enjoying the experience. I used the well-dressed gentlemen next to me, who recited Wayne's every word back to him during the front half of the set, as my litmus test. The first time Wayne brought his son, burgeoning rapper Lil Novi, out to perform their Carter VI collaboration 'Mula Komin In,' the guys sat down. As Young Money cleared the bench and Lucefina, Lil Twist Lil Novi and Jay Jones filled the stage one by one, the guys turned to social media for a break. By the time Domiio (who?) started on his to-be-released debut single, one of the guys dapped his buddies up and left. Another one feigned sleep. 'It's over for Lil Wayne,' he announced upon waking up. With most of my section back in their seats or beelining for the concessions, it certainly felt that way. Still, rock star privilege means the rules don't apply, and Lil Wayne is absolutely a rock star. You can start your set a little late. You can clutch the pricey white Fender and eke out a few squealing solos, even when your skill on the six-string is notoriously mediocre. You can bring your teenage son onstage and make the entire amphitheater watch as he tries to stunt like his daddy. But the dip in energy was a critical hit, and honestly, I felt Wayne never fully recovered. A flashback to Wayne's legendary mixtape run with 'Swag Surf' and 'Watch My Shoes,' among others, got the ball rolling again. Guest spots from opener Tyga (who rolled out a no-frills set chock-full of 2010s party smashes — though I could've done with a little less from the Chris Brown catalog) and Gudda Gudda for Young Money posse cut 'BedRock' carried the newfound momentum. As Ruoff's 11 p.m. noise curfew crept closer, it seemed like Lil Wayne might get the show back on track. But like most of the night, the flame died out before it really roared. A verse or so into 'A Milli' and Mr. Carter called it. Thank you. Big grin. Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You,' played him off, and the house lights went up. The moments were frustratingly scarce, but what a thrill that they were there at all. Maybe that's the key to a career that spans decades: Leave them wanting more.
