Free Tickets for the Most Thrilling Event in Town this Weekend!

[Elizabeth Audet]

The Indiana Ballet Company is offering three sets of two tickets to Smaller Indiana Members who join the Indiana Ballet Company group, here on Smaller Indiana, and provide us with the most compelling reason why they would like to attend the Company's production of Phantom of the Opera this weekend: October 30th at 7:30 PM, October 31st at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Winners will also agree to blog about their experience on Smaller Indiana after attending the event. The winners and their responses will be announced here on Thursday, October 29th at 6:00 PM.

Good luck!


For more information about the production visit IndianaBalletCompany.com

Following the Saturday evening performance, please join the cast at ZING for the most thrilling costume party in town, and help us raise some spirits as we celebrate the finale of the three-year Phantom phenomenon!

[Jennifer Swineford]

I have always loved the Phantom of the Opera. I loved the live musical, the movie version, I have the soundtrack and it's what got me through those tough days in college. I love everything about it. I even have a Phantom Pleco (fish) and named him Erik - that's the name of the Phantom in Tolstoy's original version. And if I were to win this, it would make the BEST birthday present. My birthday was last week and because of work, I didn't really get a chance to celebrate. I LOVE the work and very blessed to be busy, but this would be icing on the cake. I hope whoever wins has a simply wonderful time.

[Gary Bolenbaugh]

I am married to the most amazing woman. For 27 years she has been dragged to all manner of sporting events, boat shows and miscellaneous outdoor activities. While she loves me dearly and does these events willingly, I would love to treat her to the beauty and pageantry of this production of the Phantom of the Opera.

[Chuck Lasker]

Hey, Gary - you're in the 27-years-married club, too! There aren't many of us these days. Some of us 25+ year couples should get together and write a book about what it takes to stay together so long...

[Michael VandenBerg]

I moved to INDY over a year ago, but my wife stayed back in Michigan to try to sell our home, finish her job with the State and help our kids move. Now after over a year apart we are back together again in the same city, but she is spending every day now looking for work in a new city and at home by herself. She has also been taking care of her dad, and going to the Phantom with her dad while he is with us this week would be a simply wonderful way for her to enjoy the weekend while her dad is here. She and I love the opera and we don't go often because of tight finances but if given the chance, I know she would be thriled, not only to be going, but to be going with her dad as they have never shared that experience together.

[Garth Smitman]

I first saw the Phantom while stationed in Pearl Harbor with a fellow sailor and his wife. That was a different life, a lifetime ago.

Since then, I have moved to Indiana, married, and have a wonderful family. I've kept the memory of that musical particularly dear, and have shared with my family. However, my wife has never seen the Phantom, and this is something I would really love to share with her.

We didn't pre-purchase tickets of our own because of a rather difficult year. Our 6 year old is home-schooled, so that my wife may be closer to our live-in grandmother (granda has alzhemier's, we don't get out as much anymore). We have the potential for a sitter Friday (Yay!) and would consider it a true blessing to have this opportunity come up.

Thank you for the opportunity to share,...

[Tod Esquivel]

Have never been to an Indiana Ballet Company and would like to experience something like this!

Am also single and would love to go on a BLIND DATE with a nice girl!

Thanks! Tod

[Chuck Lasker]

I have never seen a ballet. You'd think my family would have taken me to one, growing up an hour outside New York City. But they didn't, nor have I been in the Statue of Liberty.

I love seeing live performances. I've been to almost every venue in Indy - from the Phoenix to Lucas Oil Stadium. But still, no ballet. Sigh.

I'll be honest here. I hadn't been jumping up to see either a ballet or opera, thinking they were too snobbish. But, and don't fault me for this too badly, after seeing Melissa Sandvig, the ballerina on So You Think You Can Dance, I became interested. Your message about these tickets tweaked my interest and got me excited about the opportunity to see my first ballet production.

At 47 years old, I think it's time I went to a ballet! And my wife of 27 years, who's age I will not reveal under penalty of flogging, is also interested. I would definitely blog and Tweet about my experience, which I would expect to be a revelation of my new found interest in ballet.

[Mike Seidle]

I simply would love to take my wife, 12 year old daughter and 10 year old daughter to see the Phantom. Both daughters dance - the twelve year old is dancing en pointe and would find inspiration in the performance to continue dancing as advancing in the art becomes more and more physically demanding and difficult. Dance has been something that has brought my family together as my daughters have grown up, and I'm hoping that an evening with the Phantom would be a wonderful memory and an inspiration.

[Shannon Brunton]

While growing up in foster care there was one particular family I was with that would, once a year, choose two children (there were seven of us) to see a Los Angeles Broadway musical. Generally, three days prior to the event we were told what was playing and then the following day we drew names from an old black hat to see who the lucky Broadway spectators were going to be. That year’s choice was The Phantom of the Opera and not that any of us misfits knew exactly what an opera was let alone why a phantom would be at one; it didn’t matter because it was not about the show so to speak but that rather exclusive feeling of having one’s name drawn from the "golden hat", while the other anxiety ridden children watched wide-eyed in almost painstaking anticipation for their name to be called next. I had witnessed the subtle transformation of what it meant to be the chosen one from the year before when my foster sister, Roxann, name was selected. I watched her prepare for the Great Event, much in the way that Cinderella planned for the ball; and much like Cinderella too, Roxanne must have realized that for the first time in her young yet complicated life the whole world was her glass slipper for one night. I couldn’t help but want glass slippers, too.

My name was never called for The Phantom of the Opera that year and, sadly, not long before the next drawing I had to leave this adoring family. A family who fostered in me, not only the anticipation of hope that can transpire from a silly old hat and seven emotionally vulnerable children but mostly instilled a philosophy that even when your name is not drawn from the hat…go ahead and put your best dress on and discover your Cinderella moment anyhow.

I suppose when I saw this message board e-mail this morning...I saw the black hat, a ridiculously pitiful child, and a hope for the opportunity to see The Phantom of the Opera all over again.

[Melody Hinks]

Wow, This is one show that would combine my love of theatre and passion for dance into an unforgettable evening and bring back the memories of performing myself......

[Mel Sanders]

My wife loves the novel and musical! This would be a wonderful surprise for my bride - she homeschools our 3 boys, and would love a change of atmosphere. Having 8 years of dance growing up, it would be an evening she wouldn't soon forget. We don't take the time as often enough and treat ourselves to the IBC. An elegant evening for an elegant woman. thank you!

[Nancy Anderson]

I am such a big Phantom fan that I am going to respond twice to this discussion thread. MY daughter has been dancing for 8 years in Anderson and I would love the opportunity for her to see a different ballet company. We will even bring paying customers with us if chosen to receive the tickets. Her dance friend from Muncie LOVES the Phantom of the Opera sooooooo much her Club Penguin account name is Phantomgirl.