Tim’s Picks: First Mosey and then some
Your guide to five choice picks for your Greater Lafayette week.
By Tim Brouk / For Based in Lafayette
“Urinetown, the Musical,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, May 8-10; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11; 7:30 p.m. May 15-17, and 2:30 p.m. May 17, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, 313 N. Fifth St., Lafayette — A Tony Award-winning musical with a pee-pee pun title makes its Civic Theatre debut this weekend. “Urinetown” does have some potty humor, but the show created by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis in 2001 is devastatingly funny, poignant and even a little scary when viewed with the lens of 21st century political turmoil, social inequities and climate change. The story follows a dystopian society suffering from a 20-year drought. To curtail water usage, wealthy political and corporate powers have monetized all public toilets. You must pay to pee in “Urinetown.” However, an uprising against the “oligar-pee” is being led by Bobby Strong (played by Tyler Ledman) and his love interest Hope (Esther Kirgiss), the daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell (Martin Fernandez), the CEO of the toilet controlling Urine Good Company. Throughout the laughs and rebellion, the songs in “Urinetown” are catchy, varied and hilarious, and they should stream well thanks to music director Paul Addison. Directed by Tom Robson, the show also features Micah Davis, Rivers R. Blue, the father-daughter tandem of Craig and Kate Martin, and many other stellar singers flush with talent. This will be the first regional production of “Urinetown” since Purdue Theatre debuted it in the area in 2007. $17-$26. Tickets.
Ryan Chan, 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 9, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 600 Ferry St., Lafayette — One of the world’s top young organists will prove why he earned the 2024 First and Audience prizes from the American Guild of Organists during a free concert in downtown Lafayette. Born in Hong Kong, Ryan Chan has performed all over Europe and in the United States with an impressive classical repertoire. Chan also plays a mean harpsichord in a baroque ensemble while he nears his doctoral degree in organ performance from the renowned Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. The young musician should wow music lovers, especially in the delicious acoustics of St. John’s Episcopal.
NOW PLAYING: 20% OFF YOUR FIRST 12 MONTHS OF A BASED IN LAFAYETTE SUBSCRIPTION. GET IT HERE …
Ozium with Courtesy and Cut by Shards, 9 p.m. Friday, May 9, The Spot Tavern, 409 S. Fourth St., Lafayette — One of the better Purdue bands to graduate to off-campus gigging, heavy metal act Ozium has had a strong 2025 so far with the release of its debut, self-titled EP. The four-song release features the “single” “Hammered” as well as other gems that blend the band’s doomy, sludgy influences. This weekend’s gig will be the band’s last until the fall as the younger members of the band go back to their hometowns for the summer. The downtime will result in new material for a follow-up recording. Joining Ozium for this show will be touring Milwaukee emocore outfit Courtesy and Cut by Shards, an Indianapolis hardcore band that features the hit tune “I (Laced) My Friend with a Gas Station Boner Pill.”
Mosey Down Main Street, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, May 10, downtown Lafayette — Downtown Lafayette festivities get to full strength this weekend with the first Mosey Down Main Street of 2025. The free street festival is entertainment gold, whether its listening to local and regional bands like Graciously Departed and Relentless (both performing this weekend), patronizing the dozens of local business and artisan booths, or just people watching. Here is the band schedule for the big event:
Grand Opening 6 p.m. — Tippecanoe Ancients Fife and Drum Corps
First Farmers Stage, Sixth and Main streets
6 p.m. — Blackheart Gypsy
7:20 p.m. — Medicinal Moonshine
8:40 p.m. — The Brothers Footman
10 p.m. — Graciously Departed
Q106.7 Stage, Eighth and Main streets
6 p.m. — Sacred Dollar
7:20 p.m. — Relentless
8:40 p.m. — Scratch Thing
10 p.m. — Pearl River Jam
Ninth and Main streets
7-9 p.m. — Oasis Dance Troupe
East End Stage, 11th and Main streets
6 p.m. — Wrath or Mercy
7:20 p.m. — Blends
8:40 p.m. — Blues Locos Band
10 p.m. — Star City Rhythm Revival
Vickie Maris, Scott Greeson, Michael Kelsey and Courtney Von Drehle, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11, The Arts Federation, 638 North St., Lafayette — All stellar performers alone, top Lafayette singer-songwriters can shine in the group dynamic too. On-and-off collaborators for years, the quartet of Vicki Maris, Scott Greeson, Michael Kelsey (all three vocals and guitars) and Courtney Von Drehle (accordion) will perform original tunes as a band. Of course, these muscians will welcome special guests during their set, which will have mom tapping her toes on this tuneful Mother’s Day.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.