In and near South Bend, the weekend has music, film and theater on tap
Five Things to Do is a day late this week, so we give you six ideas for how to spend the weekend, from old-time Hollywood played for laughs to tie-dyed orchestral music, from independent films to independent music, and more. Also, see Joseph Dits' Outdoor Adventures column for more ideas and The Tribune's online events calendar for even more.
Acting Ensemble presents Hollywood farce ‘Moonlight and Magnolias’ about the making of ‘Gone With the Wind’
MISHAWAKA — “Moonlight and Magnolias” opens April 14 and continues through April 23 at the The Acting Ensemble, 602 E. Mishawaka Ave.
In this Hollywood farce by Ron Hutchinson, legendary film producer David O. Selznick is five weeks into shooting “Gone With the Wind” when he realizes the script is awful, and that the director doesn’t have a clue. He has five days to replace them, and restart the shoot, or the production will shut down.
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Selznick calls Victor Fleming from the set of “The Wizard to Oz” to direct, and he taps legendary playwright, screenwriter and script doctor Ben Hecht to rewrite the script.
There's only one problem: Hecht hasn’t read the book.
Over the course of five madcap days, the three men, assisted by Selznick’s assistant, Miss Poppenghul, frantically craft one of the most beloved screenplays of all time.
Directed by Brittany Gardner-Kennel, and performed by Tiemen Godwaldt, Kyle Hutslar, Brad Mazick, Ken McCoy and Paige Sailor.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 14-15 and 20-22 and at 2 p.m. April 16 and 23.
Tickets are $19-$16; pay-what-you-can for April 20.
For more information, call 574 217-8873 or visit actingensemble.com.
Sixth annual LUNAFEST screening held at library
SOUTH BEND — The sixth annual LUNAFEST Michiana film screening and panel discussion begins at 1 p.m. April 15 at the St. Joseph County Public Library, 305 S. Michigan St.
The seven films in this year’s festival are:
• “Miss Chelove: From Java to the Streets of D.C.”: As she paints a mural, artist Cita Sadeli, aka Miss Chelove, opens up about her life, her cultural heritage and how she fell in love with graffiti in the 1980s. Directed by Sara T. Gama.
• “Pete”: The true story of Pete Barma explores gender identity, Little League Baseball, the people who inspire change by being themselves, and the superheroes who champion that change. Directed by Bret Parker and Pete Barma.
• “This Is Beth”: As celebrated rock climber Beth Rodden grapples with her body image, she rediscovers the love of her sport … and herself. Directed by Jen Randall.
• “More Than I Want to Remember”: After her southeastern Congo village is bombed, 14-year-old Mugeni sets out on a remarkable solo journey across the globe, determined to reunite with her lost loved ones and lift up the Banyamulenge people. Directed by Amy Bench.
• “Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night”: All cards are on the table when Noor, a queer Pakistani Muslim woman, brings her Puerto Rican girlfriend, Luz, home for the first time on the family’s annual game night. Directed by Fawzia Mirza and written by and starring Kausar Mohammed.
• “Swimming Through”: Amid a brutal Chicago winter and the global pandemic, Deirdre, Helen and Jennefer’s friendship grows as they commit to a daily sunrise plunge together in Lake Michigan. Directed by Samantha Sanders.
The screening benefits the MCF Scholarship fund for returning women students at Indiana University South Bend.
Films are rated for 13+.
Presale tickets are $25-$7.50; $30-$10 at the door.
For more information, visit lunafest.org or email lunafest.michiana@gmail.com.
SBSO and Jeans ’n Classics present ‘A Night at Woodstock’
SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Symphony Orchestra presents “A Night at Woodstock” at 7:30 p.m. April 15 at the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.
Jeans ’n Classics and guest conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg join the orchestra for a program of music performed during the 1969 rock festival attended by more than 400,000 people on a farm in Upstate New York.
Selections include vocal and orchestral arrangements of material by artists such as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; The Who; Janis Joplin; Santana; Jimi Hendrix; Blood, Sweat & Tears; The Band; Jefferson Airplane and more.
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Although not a tribute act, Jeans ’n Classics faithfully interprets the music of legendary rock and pop albums and artists paired with lush, fully realized arrangements for rock band and symphony.
In August, American conductor Samuels-Shragg assumed her role as assistant conductor of the Plano Symphony Orchestra (PSO).
Since arriving in Plano, she has worked with PSO’s education director, Jennifer Wheeler, to launch multiple new community initiatives, including the P.I.T. (Pit Instrumentalists Training) program and the PSO Youth Orchestra Festival.
The P.I.T. Program recruits and mentors high school musicians to perform in musical theater productions with North Texas Performing Arts (NTPA).
In May 2022, Samuels-Shragg graduated with her master’s degree in orchestral conducting from The Juilliard School. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in German studies from Swarthmore College.
An enthusiastic chamber musician, she co-founded The Three Twin Trio, with whom she played piano throughout her undergraduate years, performing works by composers ranging from Joaquín Turina to Johannes Brahms.
Tickets are $84-$24.
For more information, call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org.
Abbie Thomas performs at the Box Factory
ST. JOSEPH — Independent singer-songwriter Abbie Thomas performs at 7 p.m. April 15 at the Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St.
Joining her will be two members of her backing band — Simon Hurst on keyboards and guitar and Caitlyn Faust on violin and background vocals.
Thomas mixes pop melodies with soulful vocals and hints of R&B, jazz and a vibe from the songwriters of the 1970s.
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She released her debut album, “Who I Am,” in June 2021 and the EP “Dirty Little Things” in May 2022.
Her music video for the song “Fireflies” has received more than 10 nominations for awards, including one for Best Female Solo Artist in 2021 for the California Music and Video Awards and for Best Independent Music Video for the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
Thomas also performs May 14 with the Elkhart County Symphony at The Lerner Theatre in Elkhart as the guest composer and soloist.
Tickets are $15-$12 in advance and $15 at the door.
For more information, call 269-983-3688 or visit boxfactoryforthearts.org, abbiethomasmusic.com or ticketstripe.com/abbiethomas.
B-3 organist Bruce Katz plays The Acorn
THREE OAKS — Bruce Katz performs at 8 p.m. April 15 at The Acorn, 107 Generations Drive.
The local group The Resurrection Blues Band opens.
Based in Woodstock, N.Y., Katz specializes in original, instrumental music that draws from the blues, soul-jazz and New Orleans-inspired roots music.
A Hammond B-3 organist and pianist, he has released 11 albums as a leader and has appeared on more than 75 other releases for artists such as John Hammond, Delbert McClinton and Ronnie Earl, among others.
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He has also had a strong musical connection with The Allman Brothers Band and was a member of Gregg Allman's band for six years (2007-2013), Jamoe’s Jasssz Band (2010-2015), Butch Trucks’ Freight Train Band and Les Brers (2015-2017). He also occasionally toured with The Allman Brothers.
His trio includes recent new members Aaron Lieberman (God Street Wine) on guitar and vocals and Liviu Pop (Lucky Peterson) on drums.
Tickets are $50-$25.
For more information, call 269-756-3879 or visit acornlive.org.
‘HITS! The Musical’ makes tour stop at the Morris in South Bend
SOUTH BEND — “HITS! The Musical” makes a tour stop at 3 p.m. April 16 at the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.
Created by Bob Gries and executive produced by Grammy winner Dionne Warwick and multi-platinum record producer/Oscar nominee Damon Elliott, the show features a cast of just 29 performers ranging in age from 10 to 22.
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The 90-minute singing and dancing production features 80 hits in a medley of pop, rock and Broadway from the 1960s to the present, including “Hero,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Singing in The Rain” and more.
Tickets are $52.50-$42.50.
For more information, call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org or thehitstour.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend weekend full of movies, music and theater
