Lafayette Jeff names first Performing Arts Hall of Fame class
Plus, Evil on Erie takes a one-year pause on its haunted house. Hunger Hike this afternoon in downtown Lafayette.
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LAFAYETTE JEFF NAMES INAUGURAL CLASS OF ITS PERFORMING ARTS HALL OF FAME
Six Lafayette Jefferson High School grads, including a Tony winner and spanning several generations, will be the first inducted into the school’s Performing Arts Hall of Fame.
Announced Friday and selected by a committee of educators, alumni and community members, the inaugural class will be part of a hall of fame intended to highlight what Lafayette Jeff touts as long tradition of performing arts strength and to honor graduates who have gone on to make careers in the performing arts.
“This is a chance to showcase to our students, school leaders and the Lafayette community just how powerful a foundation in the arts can be,” Tyler Long, performing arts department chair at Lafayette Jeff, said in a release. “We want our current performers to see what’s possible, and to celebrate the accomplishments of those who came before them.”
Lafayette Jeff will hold an induction ceremony Nov. 15 at the Richard Jaeger Theater ahead of the school’s performance of “The Wizard of Oz.” Several of the honorees are expected to be at the school a day earlier for workshops and clinics with students.
The class includes:
Vinéecia Buchanan, class of 2008: A vocalist and jazz studies educator, Buchanan is an adjunct professors of jazz voice at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music and has performed with the Nashville Symphony Chorus, the Scottish National Orchestra Chorus and the Nashville Opera Chorus.
Aaron Glick, class of 2002: A Broadway producer, Glick won Tony Awards for “Kimberly Akimbo” and “The Boys in the Band” and received Tony nominations for “Sweeney Todd” and “What the Constitution Means to Me.”
Brock Clawson, class of 1994: An award-winning choreographer, Clawson has had works commissioned by the Joffrey Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet and Houston Metropolitan Dance Company.
Norma Brooks, class of 1972: A double bassist and teacher based in the Netherlands, Brooks has performed with major ensembles around the world, including the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, Symphony of India and the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic.
Robert Wood, class of 1970: A trumpet performer, educator, and contractor, Wood is a longtime member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, performing also with the Houston Ballet, Miami Chamber Symphony and leading popular artists. He also taught at Butler University and the University of Indianapolis.
Donald Ambler, class of 1947: Ambler was a clarinetist and teacher who became bass clarinetist with the Denver (now Colorado) Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 30 years. He founded the Colorado Clarinet Choir, judged national competitions and mentored students who went on to join the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and the U.S. Marine Band.
EVIL ON ERIE TAKES A PAUSE: Evil on Erie, an annual haunted house attraction open in October for the past 19 years, will not open this year, organizers announced this week. They said the building Evil on Erie rents on Erie Street, between 18th and Greenbush streets, recently took weather damage that couldn’t be fixed in time to open for the 2025 season.
“We are disappointed that the youth and adults involved in the year-round program won’t be able to showcase their skills and talents this year,” Marie Morse, executive director of Homestead Resources, said. Homestead Resources, a Lafayette nonprofit, operates Evil on Erie each year as a fundraiser for its affordable housing programs and services.
“October is a month we look forward to every year,” Morse said.
Evil on Erie is Homestead Resources youth development program that draws up to 150 youth and adults for activities during the year, leading up to hosting the haunted feature.
“We have a dedicated leadership team called the Evil on Erie roundtable that has tirelessly and passionately been involved over the years,” Jim Slaven, Homestead Resources board chair and Evil on Erie haunt leader, said. “We even have multi-generational families involved in the program because they see the impact it has on hundreds of kids each year and they want to remain involved after they graduate high school. The volunteers donate thousands of service hours to make the youth development program and Evil on Erie a staple in the Lafayette community, so we are all disappointed that we can’t open this season.”
LAST CALL: HUNGER HIKE TODAY: The annual Hunger Hike steps off at 1 p.m. today/Sunday at Riehle Plaza, Second and Main streets in downtown Lafayette. The walk supports the work of Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank and the Haiti Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas. Sign up to walk, to support a team or become an event sponsor at www.hungerhike.org. Or just show up at Riehle Plaza this afternoon.
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Jeff Isbell? (He did actually graduate, unlike that Bill Bailey guy.)