Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana continues its fourth anniversary celebration this month hosting a free concert starring Beyond the Blonde, a Chicagoland-based tribute band on the Hard Rock Cafe stage at 9 p.m. Friday, May 31. A celebration of powerhouse divas like P!NK, Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga, audiences enjoy high-energy performances of favorite hits with costume changes paying homage to each of the artists’ iconic styles. Audience participation includes sing-along moments for a salute to female pop power. Beyond the Blonde features Charity Marie for lead vocals, Bobby Eden on guitar and background vocals, Anthony Marena on bass guitar and background vocals and Kevin Curtin on drums.
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, directly adjacent to the Interstate 80/94 Burr Street Interchange. For more information, call 219-228-2383 or visit www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.
In ‘Misery’
Dunes Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michigan City, that rustic and woodsy oasis of arts and culture established in 1941, is producing a new run of “Misery” which will star Chicago TV news personality Janet Davies as Annie Wilkes opposite Kevin Giese as tortured novelist Paul Sheldon, who is held captive by “his biggest fan.” The production, May 30 to June 15, is being directed by John Hancock, the noted filmmaker and Oscar-nominated movie director who hails from LaPorte and did the filming for his 1989 holiday classic “Prancer” at his family’s farm in LaPorte. Also, in this “Misery” cast are Jim Lampl and Emmie Reigel with creative wiz Michael Lasswell as set designer. Steve Scott is the artistic director at Dunes Summer Theatre. Stephen King’s 1987 novel “Misery” was adapted for the stage as a play by Simon Moore and William Goldman, the latter of whom wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film version starring Kathy Bates and James Caan. Tickets are $30 to $35 and available at www.dunesarts.org or call 219-879-7509.
More ‘Rumors’
Beatnik Entertainment presents “Rumors” by Neil Simon, the dark comedy produced for the intimate 60-seat stage space at Beatniks On Conkey, 420 Conkey St. in Hammond with Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances opening this Friday, May 30 through June 8, with curtain times at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. The night of a 10th-anniversary wedding party commences with the discovery of guest of honor Charlie Brock, deputy mayor of New York, found on the floor bleeding upstairs. Hi wife Myra is also missing and as the guests slowly arrive, confusion and miscommunications mount for a stage adventure of this classic farcical stage romp. The cast stars Dean Johanson, Diana Smoot, Dylan Root, Kelly Koester, George Romero, Amy Bannister, Michael Depriest Reed, Julie Breford, Maggie Reister and Daniel Murillo. Tickets are $20 at https://cur8.com/24177/project/131606 or call or text 219-852-0848 for reservations and more information at www.beatniksonconkey.com. Seating is limited so reservations are strongly suggested. For walk-up patrons who pay at the door, it’s cash only.
A ‘Twisted’ Dee
Lita Ford’s career began in 1975 as a founding member and guitarist of the groundbreaking all-female group the Runaways. The group’s hard rock/punk edge spawned hits like “Cherry Bomb” and “Queens of Noise.” Lita and the Runaways proved timelessness in 2014 when “Cherry Bomb” was featured in the critically acclaimed Marvel/Disney Studios hit movie “Guardians Of The Galaxy” and was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 1983, Lita launched her career as a solo artist with her début album “Out For Blood,” and now, she’s paired on tour with Dee Snider of Twisted Sister heavy metal fame for one concert at Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo with one performance at 8 p.m. CST May 30. Snider has starred in several reality TV shows including appearances in three seasons of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Growing Up Twisted,” an A&E cable series featuring the entire Snider family and their Long Island lifestyle. Four Winds Silver Creek Event Center is at 11111 Wilson Road. Tickets start at $65 at 866-494-6371 or fourwindscasino.com.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and weekly radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
