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Kennedy to discuss arts journey

Karen Kennedy.
Photo provided.

The 6-year-old girl knew from the moment she saw a production of "Pippin" at the Wagon Wheel Theater in Warsaw that she wanted a career singing and performing onstage.

Her dream accompanied her throughout her high school and college years and became reality when she began her career in Chicago.

Huntington native Karen Altenhof Kennedy will discuss her journey and the importance of the arts in schools today when she speaks as the Advocate for the Arts as this year's "Fashions for the Arts," sponsored by the LaFontaine Arts Council.

The event is scheduled for Nov. 7 and will be held at the LaFontaine Golf Club.

Kennedy is a graduate of Huntington North High School, where she was a member of the Varsity Singers. She continued her studies in voice performance first at Butler University's Jordan College of Fine Arts and then at Indiana University, where she sang with the Singing Hoosiers.

Chicago became Kennedy's home for 10 years. She performed in cabarets and in many Chicago Light Opera Works productions.

Her next move was to Vermont, where she opened a jazz bar. The Hoosier native returned to Indiana and helped manage The Checkerberry Inn in Goshen.

She is currently the general manager of Kelly Jae's, a tapas restaurant in Goshen, and recently developed a cabaret show, which explores the themes of love and work through song.

Hard work and family support has enabled Kennedy to have a 25-year career on stage. She credits her mother, saying, "She was always encouraging."

And she feels somewhat lucky.

"I feel fortunate to have made a living in a challenging lifestyle," she said.

"Fashions for the Arts" begins at 11 a.m. with a social time to bid on silent auction items. Lunch will be served at 11:30, followed by Kennedy's presentation, and concluding with the fashion show featuring clothes from Chico's. Joel Froomkin and Rich Najuch from The New Huntington Theatre will emcee the event.

Tickets can be reserved by calling 260-358-0055 or 260-356-8874. All proceeds from the event benefit the LaFontaine Arts Council's "Arts in Education" programming.