Earlier this month, the Towle Theater team canceled their opening weekend run of the musical “Pippin,” directed by Jeff Casey and intended to be unveiled for audiences with performances starting July 12.
The cast and creative staff forged on, fought off illness and continued the second weekend of performances in downtown Hammond, 5205 Hohman Ave., July 19-21. Now, the final weekend run continues July 26-28. Tickets start at $24 at the box office by calling 219-937-8780 or online at towletheater.org.
More doom and gloom of “disaster” struck the opening weekend for the Genesius Guild production of their silly and fun parody production of the musical “Disaster!” at their Hammond performance space at the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church, 6635 Hohman Ave.
Alerts on social media provided the following missive: “CANCELLED! Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel our opening weekend of ‘Disaster!’
The good news is the second and third weekends remain a greenlight with weekend performances July 26-28 and Aug. 2-4, featuring both matinee and evening shows and also a $40 dinner option. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. More information is available at the box office at 219-501-8228 or www.genesiusguild.net.
My first and only time seeing a performance of “Disaster!” was in September 2018 at The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, and I loved it.
This jukebox musical comedy filled with great song hits of the 1970s was created by Seth Rudetsky and written by Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick. The real stars of scene after scene are the natural disasters that plague the cast during the two hours, such as earthquakes, tidal waves, piranhas, and fiery infernos all in comedic homage to 1970s disaster films I grew up with in my youth, having been born in 1970.
The show debuted in 2011 before a second production was helmed at Triad Theatre, and then finally a third production ran from November 2013 through April 2014 at New York’s St. Luke’s Theatre. The show finally opened on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on March 8, 2016, and starred playwright Rudetsky, along with Roger Bart, Kerry Butler, Kevin Chamberlin, Adam Pascal, Faith Prince, Rachel York, Max Crumm and Jennifer Simard. The show closed on May 8, 2016, after playing 32 previews and 72 regular performances.
The plot has a group of New Yorkers attending the opening of a floating casino and disco nightclub plagued by the plots, from earthquakes to killer bees and everything in between, highlighted in the succession of disaster films of the 1970s.
Closing time
I recall spending my last week of December 2018 touring the about-to-open new Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting and chronicling much fanfare. Just more than five years later comes news the museum and event space is shuttering permanently.
The $18 million, 25,000-square foot, three-story state-of-the-art Mascot Hall of Fame Interactive Children’s Museum at 1851 Front St. opened Dec. 26 and was dreamed up with a design to appeal to fans of all ages.
On Monday, the Mascot Hall of Fame issued the following statement: Mascot Fans — It is with sadness in our hearts that we must announce that the Mascot Hall of Fame will be closing in Whiting for good on Sept. 14. We have made quite a family in the 5-plus years since we opened our doors. We have had the pleasure of sharing in hundreds of your special days and birthdays. We’ve had thousands and thousands of students visit for field trips. We’ve been able to fill gaps in the community with free and reduced programs, food banks, blood drives, backpack giveaways, sensory days, reading programs, and so much more. It has been an honor. And the mascots! How lucky are we to have worked with the mascot community – such talent and kindness! It is magic when a mascot visits the MHOF. We will certainly miss the confetti! The Hall will go on! Until a new location is secured, the MHOF will continue online as it has always been. Let’s not be sad, let’s celebrate our years at the MHOF! Because just closing our doors would be boring….so, come to the MHOF on Sept. 14 and celebrate 5 years of community, camaraderie, and confetti!
Details at https://mascothalloffame.com/…/mascot-mayhem-the-grand…/
Marching forward
Munster Lions Club and the town of Munster asked me to be one of their announcing commentators, joined by arts and media personality Cara Schmitt, earlier this month, for the Fourth of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, while perched on the review stand as the 25-unit afternoon parade marched along Ridge Road past The Center for Visual and Performing Arts.
The judging panel included media personality Tony Panek, Lake County deputy prosecutor Crista Zivanovic, Gourmet Goddess Katie Sannito, Purdue Northwest senior and final Gavit High School valedictorian Class of 2021 Luke Miiller, and Carla Meyer, administrative director for patient care services for Powers Health.
Awards started at $150. For the Business Float category, Strack and Van Til was first place, followed by Family Dental Care and third place was Crumbl Cookies. For the category of decorated Autos/Trucks, first place was awarded to Griffith Super Squad, with second place honors to Cub Scout 936 and third place to Westminster Presbyterian Church. Congrats to all!
Worthy of reward
It’s that time of year to nominate someone in Northwest Indiana noted for exceptional customer service.
Annually coordinated by the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, each year they pose the following questions to consider in the workplace: Are you ready to show someone how much you appreciate their passion for providing first-rate service? If you witnessed an employee go beyond your expectations, share your experience with a nomination for a 2024 Recognition of Service Excellence (R.O.S.E.) Award. Previous R.O.S.E. Award winners are also eligible for a Recognition of Industry Success and Excellence (R.I.S.E.) Award.
Go to www.southshoreCVA.com to make a nomination, due by Aug. 1. Recipients receive a gift basket valued at more than $1,000 and are recognized as one of Northwest Indiana’s top hospitality professionals at an awards dinner on Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Hard Rock Live at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary. Cocktails, entertainment, dinner and the awards ceremony will from be 5:30 to 9 p.m. Cost is $60 per person.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and the director of marketing at Theatre at the Center. He can be reached at pmpotempa@comhs.org.
