May 2001 Gossip
A lot of people are talking about improving the downtown Fort Wayne
entertainment scene. These folks are doing something about it. Hank LaBrosse
and Deb Storich, two certified chefs specializing in French cuisine, have
re-opened the Midtowne Place grand ballroom above the old Thirsty Camel in
downtown Fort Wayne. They serve gourmet lunches to the downtown business
community during the week, then feature entertainment on Friday and Saturday
nights. You can enjoy your favorite beverage while listening to the Midtowne
Jazz Trio. Or you can stop in on theatre night for a buffet dinner and a
hilarious audience-participation mystery from Bower North Productions May 4,
May 12, or May 26. For more information, call Midtowne Place, 120 W. Jefferson,
Fort Wayne, 219-420-0072.
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Former IPFW music major Dennis Cooper will perform a recital on May 5th at
7pm at the Merrillville United Methodist Church on Broadway. The recital is not
in fulfillment of his degree in Theatre at Indiana University N.W., but rather
a requirement for a full scholarship and internship in opera at Georgia State
University. The recital will feature French, Italian, and German arias and art
songs, as well as a scene from Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance with
another former IPFW student.
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TJ. McCombs reports that Fort Wayne's only improv troupe ...Running With
Scissors, which performs regularly at Henry's, The Pfeiffer House, and the Art
Museum, was recently invited to Improvalooza in Louisville, KY. Four troupes
performed at this improvisational comedy festival, and Running… received rave
reviews by the Louisville newspaper. The troupe, which is also available for
corporate and charity functions, features a cast of six, including T.J.
McCombs, Mark Lahey, Susan Kahn, John Bierbaum, Travis Patton and Jim Welch,
ranging in age from 20s-50s. You can reach they troupe by e-mail at : Laughriot4u@home.com
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The Pulse Opera House added to its list of achievements by winning the award
for Best Visual Interpretation and Presentation for its production of A
Midsummer Night's Dream at the Indiana Community Theatre competition on
Saturday, March 24. Reports Randy Neuman, "The adjudicators were impressed
with the Pulse's fresh approach to Shakespeare. They commented on the depth of
the actors' understanding of the Shakespearean language and referred to the
troupe as 'accomplished.' One adjudicator, from Stratford, Ontario, (home of
Shakspearean Festivals) commented on how the unique and successful approach of
combining the fairies (performed by children age 7-9) with the adult rustics
was clever and ingenious and felt some of these ideas will sure to be
incorporated into future productions in Canada."
In other Pulse news, the article Ron Wartzok wrote about the Pulse's
performance of Dames at Sea at the international musical theatre festival in
Stuttgart, Germany, for the Indiana Community Theatre League's Newsletter is
about to be picked up by the national newsletter for the American Association
of Community Theatre.
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The IPFW Department of Theatre holds auditions for Bye, Bye, Birdie on
Sunday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the Williams Theatre. Opening July 13, Birdie
will be directed and choreographed by Larry L. Life, with musical direction by
Stephen Sheftz and features community guest artist Susan Domer as Mae Peterson
and faculty artist Craig A. Humphrey as Harry McAfee.
The rest of the season includes: Corpus Christi by Terrence McNally directed
by student Jonathan Gilbert, August 10 & 11; The Rivals, September 28-29
October 4-6; Atlas's Cigar by IPFW student Betsy Breitenbach, November 2- 3,
8-10; Harvey, November 30-December 1, 6- 8 - 2, 9; Picasso at the Lapin Agile
By Steve Martin, February 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 2002; Tennessee Williams: Foolish
Dreamer Devised and Directed by Larry L. Life March 1, 2, 2001; The Vagina
Monologues, March 29, 30 April 4, 5, 6, 2002; and On The Town, April 26, 27,
May 2,3,4 at 8 p.m. April 28 May 5, 2002.
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IPFW Music student Matt Diehl made his directing debut last month with a
scene from The Magic Flute. This scene was part of this year's Opera Ensemble
production, featuring operas by Mozart . Diehl's scene featured a cameo by
three IPFW professors as spirits. Other scenes included Don Giovanni and The
Marriage of Figaro. The production marks the last by director Rebecca
McConnaughey, who announced that this is her final year at IPFW. She will be
missed by her students and colleagues.
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Last month, Phillip Colglazier, Executive Director of the Civic Theatre,
hosted a focus group at his home involving many actors from the Civic Theatre
and the artistic director of the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT). Discussion
focused on collaborative efforts between the two organizations.
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On Friday April 20, a one-act drama, Now He Belongs to the Ages by Ranae
Butler and Gerry Prokopowicz, premeired at the Lincoln Museum. The drama about
Lincoln's assassination featured local actors Michael Young, Jack Cantey, and
Anita Ross.
