Presented by The Republican Newspaper with support from the Hendricks County Community Foundation

Tickets On-Sale Now!

PLAINFIELD, IN (September 2, 2025) – Hendricks Live! in downtown Plainfield continues to announce exciting concerts and events for the 2025 season. Up next, the Opening Doors Series continues with a screening of the award-winning documentary The Best We’ve Got – The Carl Erskine Story by filmmaker Ted Green.

“Carl Erskine’s story is one of integrity, courage, and compassion - values that resonate deeply with our mission,” said Chris Petrelli, Executive Director of Hendricks Live!. “We’re honored to present this powerful film and thoughtful panel discussion, offering our community a chance to reflect on a life that continues to inspire change far beyond the baseball field.” 

The film profiles the extraordinary life of baseball legend, Indiana-native Carl Erskine, and his seminal roles in two of the great human-rights movements of the past century, first as a teammate and close friend of Jackie Robinson, then as a pioneer in the fight for people with special needs. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the Hendricks County Special Olympics, My Time to Shine, a local arts organization committed to serving children and adults of all abilities, and Sycamore Services, a nonprofit organization that provides individualized training and services for individuals with disabilities and others experiencing daily challenges. 

“If you, like me, were not aware of the Carl Erskine story, I want to especially invite you to this event,” said Jerry Vornholt, owner and publisher of the newspaper. “It's about an Indiana kid that had one of the most exciting careers in professional baseball during a time of racial tension in America, but that is not the best part of this story by a longshot. The Carl Erskine story will bring you joy. Don't miss this. You will thank me later.”

Tickets are on sale now for the first event, The Best We’ve Got – The Carl Erskine Story – Film Screening and Panel Discussion, for $10 each, and guests will receive a complimentary bag of popcorn with each ticket.

“We are proud to partner with Hendricks Live! and The Republican to bring the Opening Doors series to our community, reflecting our shared commitment to building a welcoming, connected, and caring community," said William Rhodehamel, President & CEO of the Hendricks County Community Foundation. "The personal stories shared by our friends and neighbors help us recognize that every person has value and every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow together. Carl Erskine's life, in particular, demonstrates the profound impact one person can have by championing two of the past century's most significant human rights movements. We hope his story will inspire our community to continue opening doors for one another."

Hendricks Live! is the premier venue in west central Indiana for year-round performances, events, and exhibits for all ages and interests. Since its launch in the spring of 2024, the venue has hosted a vast array of artists and community events. 

TICKETS: Tickets are on sale now, and they will be available at hendrickslive.org/events. For questions about purchasing tickets, please email info@hendrickslive.org.

Visit Hendricks Live! on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HendricksLiveInc 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hendricksliveinc/ 

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hendricksliveinc/

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About Hendricks Live!

Located in the heart of one of the fastest-growing communities in the region, Hendricks Live! is Hendricks County’s new home for arts and entertainment. Featuring a 600-seat proscenium theatre and a 160-seat event space, Hendricks Live! is the premier destination in west central Indiana for local, regional, and national art and entertainment. The venue features year-round performances, events, and exhibits in various creative styles and disciplines by local, regional, and national artists and organizations. Follow us on Facebook @HendricksLive, Instagram, and YouTube @HendricksLive, or visit HendricksLive.org.



About The Republican Newspaper

In an age of social media and short attention spans, The Republican Newspaper provides a weekly source of news, entertainment, and stories of those who make up the Hendricks County community of today. In addition, weekly excerpts from past issues in the Yester-Year column gives a unique look at the way history unfolds in our community. Since 1847 The Republican has been reflecting the lives of Hendricks County residents.

About Hendricks County Community Foundation

The Mission of the Hendricks County Community Foundation: To be a trusted community partner in understanding needs, aligning resources, and empowering people to address today’s priorities and create lasting impact. Our vision is Hendricks County as a place where everyone has the opportunity to have a fulfilling life and the tools they need to build a stronger future together. The Community Foundation manages assets of over $31 million in a collection of funds created by individuals, families, businesses and organizations for charitable purposes. In 2024 the Community Foundation gave over $2.2M in grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to local students. For more information, call 317-268-6240 or visit www.hendrickscountycf.org.

Media Contacts: 

Hendricks Live!: EveMarie Bessenbach, Director of Development and Communications - evemarie.bessenbach@hendrickslive.org 

The Republican Newspaper: Isabella Zarate, Reporter, isabella@therepublicannewspaper.com

Hendricks County Community Foundation: Frances Mock, Director of Community Relations - frances@hendrickscountycf.org