THE TIMES MEDIA CO. 04.03.2014-04.09.2014
VALPO JAZZ FEST AT HARRE UNION
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HENDRIX TRIBUTE CONCERT AT STAR PLAZA
NISO CHORUS PERFORMS BLUEGRASS MASS
LITTLE ITALY SERVES UP AUTHENTIC CUISINE
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04.03.2014-04.09.2014
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Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock
COVER STORY
FUN+GAMES
9 / BLUE NOTES VU’s Harre Union hosts the annual VU Jazz Fest.
9 / CASINO SCENE Players hit big jackpots at Four Winds.
12 / 24/7 Your guide to the latest events and happenings in Northwest Indiana and surrounding regions. 14 / FUEL Dyer’s Little Italy offers large portions and authentic flavors.
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MUSIC+CLUBS 3 / JIMI HENDRIX Guitarists pay tribute to legend at Star Plaza. 5 / LOCAL SCENE Chicago rockers The Westies perform at Chicago Street Theatre. 6 / BLUEGRASS Monroe Crossing and NISO Chorus star in concert.
10 / CAPSULES The lowdown on all the latest films at a multiplex near you.
SEE+DO 7 / THEATER The latest local theater productions and shows. 8 / PHIL POTEMPA “Peter Pan” prequel flies into Chicago.
P h o t o b y J e nny An d e r s o n
ON THE COVER: New York jazz trombonist John Fedchok to appear at the 2014 Valparaiso University Jazz Festival.
Joey deBettencourt and Megan Stern star in the new national Broadway tour of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” which opened at Bank of America Theatre in Chicago Tuesday and continues until April 13.
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STEVEN C . PESANT / AUTHENTIC HEN
Billy Cox, legendary bassist from The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band Of Gypsys is photographed on stage during his performance on the Experience Hendrix Tour in 2008.
Hendrix lives as guitar disciples invite the region to get ‘Experienced’
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imi Hendrix was arguably the greatest of all rock guitar gods ever to bend a steel string and was certainly the most innovative. Hendrix’s indelible legacy and ground-breaking music will be honored Saturday at Merrillville’s Star Plaza Theatre by a legion of his famous guitar-slinging disciples. Hendrix once asked, “Are you experienced?” By the time the final notes of the aptly titled “Experience Hendrix” concert are struck all inside the Star will certainly be able to respond – “I am!” This all-star annual tribute clocks
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in at nearly three hours and has been produced worldwide over the last few years by John McDermott with the full blessing and cooperation of the Hendrix Estate, now headed by Jimi’s sister Janie Hendrix. The talent roster changes from tour to tour and sometimes even from show to show, but it’s always top shelf. A core rhythm section for much of the show is comprised of former Hendrix bassist Billy Cox and drummer Chris Layton of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan’s band Double Trouble. Cox first met Hendrix in 1961 at Fort Campbell where they were stationed in the Army. The two bonded
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over music and became fast friends, first jamming together at the base’s service club. “We’d play ‘Green Onions’ and ‘Soul Twist’ and stuff like that,” recalled Cox of gigging with Private Hendrix. Cox recalled Hendrix’s famous Woodstock Festival delivery of “The Star Spangled Banner.” “That’s me playing the first five or six notes in ‘Star Spangled Banner’ but we had never practiced it, so I immediately stepped back and then bang, Jimi just opened up and played from his soul.” Together Cox and Layton provide a rock solid foundation for “Experience Hendrix” upon which several famed guitarists – Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, Eric Johnson, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Taj Mahal, Doyle Bramhall II, Mato Nanji, Dani Robinson, the Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson, and former region resident Stan Skibby – perform various selections from Hendrix’s vast catalog via unique collaborations and all out jam sessions. “There’s two sets of drums and all the guitar players have their amps and stuff ready to go, so people just walk on and off stage all night and the music just keeps coming,” said Grammy Award winning Texas guitarist Eric Johnson, who on this tour pairs up with his pal Dweezil Zappa. “The show is pretty seamless. Everyone plays from two to five songs. You hear a lot of music. As a musician, it’s cool to be a part of this kind of thing. It’s always fun together and play music with such talented people as are on this tour.” “It’s an amazing night with some outstanding musicians,” added Whitford now
older). $35
ll concerts listed A below are all ages unless otherwise noted. Some of the ticket prices below do not include taxes and fees. RIVIERA THEATRE Jamusa.com M.I.A., A$AP Ferg, 8pm May 1 (18 and
LIVE MUSIC VENUES BUDDY AND PAL’S PLACE CROWN POINT 1206 E. Summit St., Crown Point, IN 46307; 219.662.0088 BUDDY AND PAL’S PLACE SCHERERVILLE 340 U.S. 30, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.865.8377; buddyandpals.com J.J. KELLEYS 2455 Bernice, Lansing, IL 60438; 708.474.9977; jjkelleyslansing.com STEVEN C . PESANT / AUTHENTIC HEN
Brad Whitford, guitarist for Aerosmith is photographed during his performances on the 2008 Experience Hendrix Tribute Tour in Seattle, WA.
on his fourth “Experience Hendrix” tour. “Jimi is someone who impacted and influenced everyone who has picked up a guitar since the late ‘60s, whether they realize it or not. We may all have different styles and different backgrounds, but Hendrix is a common ‘bond’ between everyone on this tour.” Kenny Wayne Shepherd has been a mainstay of the “Experience Hendrix” tour since it began and wholeheartedly agrees with Whitford on Jimi’s influence. “I was turned on to Hendrix basically from the git-go,” revealed Shepherd, who since the age of 15 has ended every one of his concerts with Jimi’s “Voodoo Child” a tune he will again perform on Saturday at Star Plaza. Cox is clearly proud to be a cornerstone of the “Experience Hendrix” tour which is a
older). $15-$18
FIRST MIDWEST BANK AMPHITHEATRE Livenation.com
THE CHICAGO THEATRE Thechicagotheatre. com
Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, 7:30pm June 14. $31-$91.65
“Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration” featuring Warren Haynes, 7:30pm May 20. $38.50-$103.50
DOUBLE DOOR Doubledoor.com Peter Murphy, 8:30pm June 20 (21 and older). $25-$100
Rodriguez, 7:30pm May 14. $35-$100
Amy Ray, 9pm May 3 (21 and older). $17
SCHUBAS Schubas.com
Blu and Exile, Alex Wiley, DJ Rude One, 10pm May 2 (21 and
Lydia Loveless, 8pm April 27 (18 and older). $12
Send information on upcoming concerts to nwitickets@gmail.com.
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GO! OUT
Jessy Lanza, 9pm May 8 (21 and older). $13
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Young and Sick, 9pm June 10 (18 and older). $12 Sango, 9pm May 23 (18 and older). $15 Caught a Ghost, 8pm May 18 (21 and older). $10 FIRST MERIT BANK PAVILION AT NORTHERLY ISLAND Livenation.com Phish, 7pm July 18-20. $75.75 LINCOLN HALL lincolnhallchicago.com The Felice Brothers, Robert Ellis, 9pm June 25 (21 and older). $20
Stan Skibby — a former region resident who once bent his guitar strings in tirbute to Jimi Hendrix at local haunts like LaRosa’s Pizzeria, J.J. Kelly’s and Club Dimension before moving to France a few years ago — and like Hendrix has returned from Europe as a guitar star on the U.S. leg of the “Experience Hendrix” 2014 tour.
living and breathing memorial to the talent, music and legacy of his old friend. “Jimi’s spirit is with us every night on that stage,” he concluded. Email Tom Lounges at beatboss@aol.com WHAT: “EXPERIENCE HENDRIX 2014 TOUR” WHO: Billy Cox, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Brad Whitford, Dweezil Zappa, Robby Krieger, Taj Mahal, Rich Robinson, Doyle Bramhall II, Chris Layton, Mato Naji, Eric Johnson, Dani Robinson and Stan Skibby. WHEN: Friday, April 5 @ 7:30pm / All Ages WHERE: Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville, IN HOW MUCH: $45, $57 & $67 MORE: (219) 464-1636 or www.chicagostreet.org
Swans, 8pm June 22 (21 and older). $25 ROSEMONT THEATRE Rosemont.com/theatre Johnny Mathis, 8pm Dec 6. $88.70-$109.20 Mannheim Steamroller, 8pm Dec 20. $82.55-$109.20 PARK WEST Jamusa.com Dark Star Orchestra, 8pm June 27 (18 and older). $25
$45-$65
older). $12-$15
Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin, 8pm July 24. $24-$32
HOUSE OF BLUES Hob.com
Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, 8pm June 28. $22-$30 Joseph Arthur, 8pm May 6. $25-$32 REGGIE’S ROCK CLUB Reggieslive.com Black Flag, 7pm June 17 (17 and older). $20-$25
CITY WINERY Citywinery.com
Aesthetic Perfection, 7:30pm May 29 (17 and older). $12-$15
Burton Cummings, 8pm May 28-29.
Hanzel Und Gretyl, 8pm May 30 (17 and
Tesla, 9pm Aug 23 (17 and older). $52.10 Presidents of the United States of America, 8pm June 17 (17 and older). $36.55 SOLD OUT “Lollapalooza 2014,” featuring Eminem, Outkast, Artic Monkeys and others, 11am Aug 1-3. For more information, go to Lollapalooza.com
MEYERS CASTLE LOUNGE 1370 Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311; 219.865.8452; meyerscastlelounge.com LONGSHOTS SPORTS BAR 2251 US HWY 41, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.322.0080 WHITE RHINO 101 Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311; 219.864.9200; whiterhinoonline.com STADIUM 1480 Joliet Street, Dyer, IN 46311 ZODIAC 113 N. Main St., Crown Point, IN 46307; 219.663.0303; zodiaccafelounge.com WOODHOLLOW AFTER DARK 200 U.S. Hwy 41, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.864.8862 BULLPEN BAR & GRILL 1013 W. U.S Hwy 30, Schererville, IN 46375; 219.322.7788; gotobullpenbar.com GOODFELLAS 11200 W. 129th Ave, Cedar Lake, IN 46303; 219.374.6700; Goodfellascedarlake.com SOCIAL 219 2350 Cline Ave., Schererville, IN 46375: 219.322.3060: socialtwoonenine.com DANNY Z’S 1860 45th St., Munster, IN 46321; 219.924.3500: dzpubngrub.com BEER GEEKS 3030 45th St., Highland, IN 46322: 219.513.9795: Beergeekspub.com
LOCAL SCENE
The Rockin’ WESTIES make debut
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a thematic turn and then took a different musical approach, I just felt they deserved a name other than Michael McDermott on them.” More info: ChicagoStreet.org or (219) 464-1636.
TOM LOUNGES / BEATBOSS@AOL.COM
or their first concert in Northwest Indiana, Chicago rockers The Westies will make a “soft debut” by performing in an acoustic format at 7:30 p.m. this Sunday at Chicago Street Theatre (154 W. Chicago Street) in Valparaiso. Tickets: $25 with VIP Couch seats $50. The idea to form The Westies came about after a casual Nashville recording session by well known Chicago singer/ songwriter Michael McDermott with some friends and producer/session player Lex Price (K.D. Lang, Mindy Smith). McDermott so enjoyed the “band” format of the sessions, The Westies were formed to bring those recorded songs to the concert stage. The band introduced themselves and their Americana-flavored sound to Chicago hometown audiences via back to back sold out shows at City Winery, an appearance at American Music Festival at FitzGerald’s and a few other local gigs. The reaction was so strong McDermott decided to make it more than a side project. “The music Michael has written with The Westies is very much McDermott music, but much more raw, stripped down and rootsy. The fact we get to have them play our stage thrills me,” said Valparaiso resident and “One Night Jam” series producer, Paul Braun. Since the late 2013 release of the EP “West Side Stories,” a full album has been recorded by the band for a late May release both digitally and as a physical CD. Five songs from the “West Side Stories” EP are currently posted for listening on the group’s website, westiesmusic.com. The songs can be downloaded via iTunes. McDermott explained the forthcoming album is comprised of a song cycle inspired by the real life Westies – a ruthless gang of Irish mob punks that ruled Hell’s Kitchen in the 1960’s – and by McDermott’s own life experiences. “I write what I know, and much
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WILL BYINGTON
Chicago rockers THE WESTIES bring their rootsy Americana Rock sound to Valparaiso’s Chicago Street Theatre for an acoustic 7:30pm concert on Sunday, April 6. The relatively new ensemble group is anchored by singer/songwriter Michael McDermott and his wife/collaborator Heather Horton. The group’s 5-song EP is avaialbe for listening and downloading — thewestiesmusic. com — and their full length album is due for release in late-May/early-June.
of what I know, isn’t pretty,” said McDermott. “All I ever wanted to do was to write songs and tell stories, like my grandparents and parents did from a long Irish lineage. With that lineage came a proclivity for drink, for mayhem, and a wee bit of crime. It’s a fire that took some time to temper. The gangsters serve as a metaphor for the dark side that lurks inside of all of us; the unexplained forces that cause internal struggles, destroy relationships and leave us clinging to love as just a memory.” “The Westies differ from my solo
stuff particularly in its presentation,” said McDermott of the differences in performing with the band verses on his own or as a duo with wife/ collaborator Heather Horton. “Songs are songs but it’s the way we try and communicate them that is different,” he continued. “Thematically there are songs that are Michael McDermott songs and songs that are definitely Westies songs. With the Westies things organically develop, evolve and breathe in a much different way than with the solo stuff, so when the songs took
MUSIC NOTES: • Every Tuesday night Redneck Sushi is now being served up fresh at the He Ain’t Here Saloon (2661 Decatur Street) in Lake Station from 8-11 p.m. Redneck Sushi is the name of a new trio comprised of local music mainstays – Travis Fugate (of Jebco Black), Marty Carr (of Shuddup & Drive) and Robbie Stains (of 2 Daze Gone). The trio performs a set of tunes to start things off each week and then open up the stage for area musicians who want to stop in and jam. More info: (219) 962-2074. • Valparaiso University hosts its 2014 Jazz Fest from April 7 to 12 featuring a lineup of local, regional and international jazz artists, including Grammy Award-winning vocal group New York Voices. “Our commitment to presenting the highest quality professional musicians in concert as well as extraordinary performance and clinical opportunities for students of all ages continues with the 29th anniversary of the festival,” Jeff Brown, V.U.’s jazz studies coordinator and festival organizer. Music begins at 6 p.m. nightly. Tickets available at the Harre Union Welcome Desk. More info: (219) 464-5414 or valpo. edu/union. • The annual “Beatles in the Barn” fundraiser for The Northwest Indiana Food Bank takes place in the big barn at The County Line Orchard (200 S. County Line Road) in Hobart on April 12 from 6-9 p.m. with performances by the full Chris & Lou Band, The Crawpuppies and The Mega-Beatles musical collective. Tickets for the family-friendly, all-ages event are on sale now at the Barn, online at countylineorchard. com and will also be available at the door. Email Tom Lounges at beatboss@aol.com
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Monroe Crossing will perform with The Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus on April 4 in Crown Point. PROVIDED
Symphony chorus and bluegrass musicians blend talents in concert LOISE MARIE VALADEZ / E ELOISE.VALADEZ@NWI.COM
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orthwest Indiana Symphony Chorus director Nancy Menk is looking forward to working with bluegrass group Monroe Crossing and The Southlake Children’s Choir this week. The chorus will perform with Monroe Crossing and the children’s choir April 4 when they present the program “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass & More” at The Auditorium at Bethel Church in Crown Point. Menk said chorus fans attending the concert will no doubt applaud the work of Monroe Crossing and its rich and folksy bluegrass sound.
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Even if attendees are unfamiliar with the genre of bluegrass, Menk said they’ll enjoy the diverse works on the program. “I have a new appreciation for bluegrass music,” Menk said, after working with Monroe Crossing last year during a Carnegie Hall concert. Members of the symphony chorus also participated in that show. Menk commented chorus members encouraged her to bring the show to Northwest Indiana. The choral director said “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” program, by Carol Barnett, offers a “modern” take on the traditional Latin mass. “It’s also written in a poetic American style. It’s not your standard mass text,” she said.
Monroe Crossing, which is named after “the father of bluegrass music” Bill Monroe, is comprised of Derek Johnson, Lisa Fuglie, Matt Thompson, Mark Anderson and David Robinson. “They engage the audience,” Menk said about the band. In addition to the bluegrass performance, the concert will also star other tunes including “The Merry, Merry Heart (Some Foks)” by Stephen Foster; “Cripple Creek” by Emily Crocker and “Oh! Susanna” by Foster. Menk said rehearsal for the choral concert began in February after the symphony’s “Tosca” show. “And they’ll get a chance to rehearse with the band one time before the show,” she said. According to Menk, the appeal of
bluegrass revolves around “the color (sound) of the instruments such as the fiddle, bass, mandolin and banjo. Menk, who has directed the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus for the last 16 years, said the group is made up of 110 members. Age range for the chorus is from 18 to 70 years old. About the concert, Menk said “There’s something for everyone. Younger kids and older people will enjoy it. They’ll be glad they did come to see the show.” FYI: Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus, Monroe Crossing and The Southlake Children’s Choir will perform the program “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass & More” at 7:30pm April 4 at The Auditorium at Bethel Church, 10202 Broadway, Crown Point. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $10 for students and children. Visit nisorchestra.org
THEATER NOW SHOWING
VENUES Indiana
productions of dramas, comedies and musicals.
all aspects of theatrical production.
season every year with an occasional third musical.
APR 4-12
Chicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. chicagostreet.org. Now in its 58th season of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the greater Northwest Indiana region, the CST presents a variety of plays and musicals each season, in addition to regularly scheduled theater classes for both adults and children.
Fourth Street Theater, 125 N 4th St, Chesterton. 219.926.7875. 4thstreetncca.org. Originally founded in 1990 as the North Coast Cultural Association and was located in the former St. Patrick’s Catholic Church until a fire burned the church down in 1998. The second location, now the Fourth Street Theater, opened its doors in the fall of 1999. In the summer of 2002, Fourth Street Theater joined the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation, or NIETF, from whom they have since received over 120 nominations and 40 awards for excellence in
Marian Theatre Auditorium, 119th and Lincoln Avenue, Whiting. 219.659.3776. The Marian Theatre Guild, founded in 1928, is the oldest continuous community theatre group in Indiana. The guild is committed to providing audiences with riveting dramas, lighthearted comedies and wonderful musicals with local Northwest Indiana premieres. Productions are shows in April and November with dinner shows on Saturdays. Season ticket plans are available. April 26-27, May 3-4: The Guys. Nov 1-2, 8-9, 15-16: Shrek the Musical.
Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. With 3,400 seats arranged in two intimate seating levels, the theater consistently hosts premier performers year-round. With its convenient location in the heart of Northwest Indiana’s shopping and dining district and its proximity to the adjoining Radisson Hotel, the Star Plaza offers a total entertainment package to area theatergoers.
Laughter on the 23rd Floor 8-10pm, Beatniks On Conkey, 418 Conkey St, Hammond. 888.928.6648 or 219.852.0848. hammondcommunitytheatre.org. This comedy by Neil Simon was inspired by the playwright’s youthful experience as a staff writer on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows.
APR 4-6, 10-13 Lost in Yonkers Footlight Players 1705 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.874.4035. footlightplayers.org. This comedy-drama opens as two young teenage brothers are left by their widower father to live with their stern, intimidating grandmother and mentally challenged aunt. This humorous and bittersweet story explores themes of illness, health, love and family as the boys navigate a new, strange world called Yonkers.
APR 4-19 Play It Again, Sam Chicago Street Theater, 154 W Chicago St, Valparaiso. 219.464.1636. chicagostreet.org. Told in Woody Allen’s classic neurotic style, this romantic comedy follows writer of film commentary Allan Felix as he begins dating again after his recent divorce. Bookish and insecure with women, Allan seeks dating advice
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Provided
An Ideal Husband from his hero, Humphrey Bogart, who appears to him in hilarious fantasy sequences.
APR 5-6, 11 An Ideal Husband Festival Players Guild, Mainstreet Theatre, 807 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.874.4269. festivalplayersguild.org. Written by Oscar Wilde, this stage play explores the life of a respected politician who is threatened by scandal when an old acquaintance plots to reveal a dark secret from his past.
APR 5-6, 10-13 Towle Youth Theater Ensemble—Romeo and Juliet Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. The Towle Youth Theatre Ensemble—comprised of students in grades 6-12—present this Shakespearean classic.
APR 6 Harriet Tubman 2-4pm, Lake Etta, 4801 W 29th Ave, Gary. 219.769.7275. Pamela Welcome performs an emotionpacked characterization of the trials and tribulations of Harriet Tubman, leader of the Underground Railroad, from her time as a slave to freedom.
THROUGH APR 6 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sundays at 3pm, all others at 8pm, 4th Street Theatre, 125 N 4th St, Chesterton. 219.926.7875. 4thstreetncca.org. Set in 19th century England, the musicals tells the story of Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after 15 years’ exile on trumped-up charges. When he finds out that his wife poisoned herself after being raped by the judge who transported him, he vows revenge on the judge, and later, the whole world. He teams up with a pie
maker, Mrs. Lovett, and opens a barbershop in which he slits the throats of the customers and has them baked into pies.
THROUGH APR 12 Time Stands Still Friday & Saturday performances at 8pm, Sunday performances at 3pm, Crown Point Community Theatre, 1125 Merrillville Road, Crown Point. 219.805.4255. After surviving a bomb blast in Iraq, photojournalist Sarah Goodwin is forced to examine her high-risk career path. Returning home into the care of her long-time lover James, Sarah is caught off-guard by James’ desire for family and by the simple domestic life pursued by Richard, her editor, and his much younger girlfriend, Mandy.
Footlight Players, 1705 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.874.4035. footlightplayers.org. This community theater group has been entertaining audiences in Michigan City for more than 50 years with its
The Memorial Opera House, 104 E Indiana Ave, Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. mohlive. com. This renovated, 364-seat building—with red, white and blue stained-glass windows—was built as a living memorial to the Civil War veterans of Porter County. Built in 1893, the theater has a rich history as a venue for musical and dramatic performances.
M a ry D ’Al o i s i o
Play It Again, Sam
Ross Music Theater, 227 Center Street, Hobart. m-mproductions.com. Ross Music Theatre is a community theater group whose goal is to involve everyone who wants to in the magic known as theater. Ross Music Theatre in association with M & M Productions puts on a two musical show
The Theatre at the Center, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.3255. theatreatthecenter. com. This theater, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, has the distinction of being the only professional equity theater in Northwest Indiana, and showcases the artistry of professional actors, musicians and designers from throughout the Midwest. Towle Community Theater, 5205 Hohman Ave, Hammond. 219.937.8780. towletheater.org. To honor its mission of nurturing and celebrating local talent in the arts, the Towle Community Theater presents exhibitions, theatrical productions and musical performances in the heart of downtown Hammond.
04.03.2014 / The Times Media Co. / Go!
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CELEB BIRTHDAYS APRIL 3: Actor Alec Baldwin is 56. Actor David Hyde Pierce is 55. Comedian-actor Eddie Murphy is 53. Singer-guitarist Mike Ness of Social Distortion is 52. Singer Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) is 46. Actress Jennie Garth is 42. Actress Cobie Smulders is 32. Singer Leona Lewis is 29. Actress Amanda Bynes is 28. APRIL 4: Actor Robert Downey Jr. is 49. Magician David Blaine is 41. Singer Kelly Price is 41. Singer Andre Dalyrimple of Soul for Real is 40. Actor James Roday (“Psych”) is 38. Actress Natasha Lyonne (“Slums of Beverly Hills,” ‘’American Pie”) is 35. Actress Jamie Lynn Spears (“Zoey 101”) is 23. Actress Daniela Bobadilla (“Anger Management”) is 21. APRIL 5: Rapper-producer Pharrell Williams is 41. Rapper Juicy J (Three 6 Mafia) is 39.
Hooked ON IT
New Broadway tour of ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ is prequel to ‘Pan’ story PHILIP POTEMPA / PHILIP.POTEMPA@NWI.COM
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here’s a reason Peter Pan’s arch nemesis Captain Hook became the dapper pirate villain of the lagoons of Neverland, even before the infamous sea crocodile chomped off his left hand. Broadway In Chicago is hosting an exclusive run this month for the new national tour of the five-time Tony Award winning “Peter and the Starcatcher,” written by Tony Award nominee Rick Elice and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nominee Alex Timbers. It opened Tuesday, April 2 and continues until April 13 at Bank of America Theatre, 18 West Monroe St. in Chicago. “Peter and the Starcatcher” is billed as “a grown up’s prequel to Peter Pan,” staged as what producers describe as “an innovative and imaginative musical play based on the best-selling novel by newspaper columnist Dave Barry with Ridley Pearson.” It stars a company of a dozen actors playing more than a hundred characters, all on a journey to answer the century-old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Never Grew Up? Along the way, audiences are introduced to Captain Hook “before the hook,” the Lost Boys, Mr. Smee and other noted names of Neverland.
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Chicago actor Joey deBettencourt, a Northwestern University graduate who stars in the title role of the boy who becomes the spirited Peter Pan, said his casting good fortune still feels like a moment of audition magic. “At the time this show was being developed for the national tour last year, I was auditioning for the Broadway tour of ‘Once,’ “ said deBettencourt, during a telephone interview last week. “But producers saw something from my audition that made them think I was a better fit for the cast of this tour for ‘Peter and the Starcatcher.’ “ He said his mother, who teaches second grade reading, gave him her personal copy of “Peter and the Starcatcher” to study as he prepared for his role. “We had three weeks in New York last summer to get the production ready before a week of tech and preview performances in Denver and then opening in August playing runs in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio,” he said. “This is a very carefully choreographed show, from the slapstick moments with the Lost Boys to the stunts we perform and the big opening scene of Act 2.” The play provides a backstory for the character Peter Pan, and serves
ABOVE: Joey deBettencourt and Megan Stern star in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” the new national tour playing a two-week run through April 13 at Bank of America Theatre in Chicago. LEFT: Pirate Black Stache, played by John Sanders (center), leads a band of stage pirates. PHOTOS BY JENNY ANDERSON
as a prequel to J. M. Barrie’s “Peter and Wendy.” After a premiere in California, the play transferred to Off-Broadway in 2011 and opened on Broadway on April 15, 2012. The show ended its Broadway run on January 20, 2013, and reopened Off-Broadway once again at New World Stages in March 2013 and then ending in January 2014. The two-and-a-half hour production is produced by Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes
and Disney Theatrical Productions. “Peter and the Starcatcher” is suitable for younger audiences, but most enjoyable for those ages 10 and older. WHAT: “Peter and the Starcatcher” • WHERE: Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago • WHEN: Now through April 13 with performances 7:30pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (with a 2pm Thursday matinee performance today, April 3) and Fridays, 2 and 8pm Saturdays and 2 and 7:30pm Sundays (but no evening performance April 13) • HOW MUCH: $18 to $85 • FYI: (800) 775-2000 or BroadwayInChicago. com or peterandthestarcatcher.com.
COVER STORY
VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY JAZZ FEST
JAZZ IN THE PUBLIC EYE
T
he 22 members of the Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble are stacked three rows deep up into an alcove at Duffy’s Place on U.S. 30 in Valpo. It is smoky and toes throughout the bar, filled with college kids and regulars, are lively tapping. The student holding the upright bass in the corner is decked out in a black and white fedora
N W I .CO M /G O
and a t-shirt with a print that resembles a tuxedo front, other musicians are clad in Mountain Dew shirts or Abercrombie rugbies. As one of the five saxophonists stands up to solo, he is no longer reading the music from his black metal stand in front of him. His eyes are closed, his head twitches back and forth to staccato the note. He glances up to
hear the conductor, Jeff Brown, signal the end of his improvisation and cue the next soloist. “You got it? Ready!” Brown calls over the euphony of brass as he points to the trumpeter and three patrons sitting at the bar erupt into applause. Performing at Duffy’s Place is a labor of love for Jeff Brown, instructor of percussion and Coordinator of Jazz
Studies at Valparaiso University who also directs the VU Jazz Ensemble. For the past six years, this gig has given his students a chance to perform for the public, outside of the academic arena. Many of his students in the ensemble may not be music majors but they have a passion for jazz music just the same. “I really like being able to express my creative side. It’s old music, but it’s
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COVER STORY rich music and I love being able to play it,” says Brandon McCartney, a junior Spanish major who plays guitar for the ensemble. He adds that he looks forward to performing at the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival and is excited about the selections on tap. “We have a variety of genres this year including a funky bossa nova and traditional jazz,” he says. Micaela Johnston, a senior Spanish and public relations double major, performs trumpet for the VU Jazz Ensemble. “This is my fourth year performing in the ensemble and I’ve been doing jazz since I was in middle school. I like jazz because it allows for a lot of interpretation and creation and our group is really strong. I’m excited to work with our guest artist John Fedchock and the fact that we all had a chance to talk about what we wanted to go into his commissioned piece and I appreciate that we all have a chance to show our personality with the solos,” Johnston says. Nick McIntyre is a music major, or more specifically a saxophone performance major, and he says that he seeks out the jazz genre because he feels he needs to hone in on the skills that jazz requires. “I know that jazz is somewhere I struggle. There are a lot of different styles of playing, when it comes to jazz—scales, modes, improvisation. But I love playing with signature artists like we have at the Jazz Festival which is another reason I’ve been part of the festival for the past three years and I have high expectations for this year,” he says. Among the dozens of people packing Duffy’s Place on the last Tuesday of March to hear the Jazz Ensemble perform before their
Jazz Festival extravaganza, was Joe Bognar, chair of the music department at Valparaiso University. He says that he too looks forward to the guest performances and the commissioned pieces, but he is perhaps most excited about the work that his own faculty have put into not only the festival, but the community and in impacting the lives of future musicians. Bognar says, “Honoring the work of Billy Foster on Wednesday April 9th is a real highlight and appreciating the work he has done with the faculty trio. It is also very commendable, the dedication and passion of Jeff Brown. He has been the driving force behind it, but the festival is all about education, not about competition, and getting jazz out to the wider community. It is world-class jazz in our back yard and people should take advantage of it!” Richard Watson, adjunct professor of low brass, says he is pleased to play a large role in this year’s festival and take to the trombone on a tune or two. “I will be participating in helping the jazz band get prepared and playing in Billy Foster’s band. I don’t get to play jazz much and it’s just great. I’m looking forward to seeing John Fedchock again. I met him about 20 years ago and I would like to talk to him, pick his brain a little, and there are lots of things to do and accomplish at this year’s festival,” says Watson. For both student and faculty alike the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival promises to be a fruitful experience. Over 300 high school students will participate on Monday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 8 and the entire community comes together to pay witness to the talent of the region.
SHARING JAZZ ACROSS GENERATIONS
T O N Y V. M A R T I N P H O T O S
LEFT: Senior Nick McIntyre of The Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble. RIGHT: Sophomore Patrick Jansen plays with The Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble. ON THE COVER Prof. Richard Watson plays with The Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble at Duffy’s.
Taking the Jazz Ensemble through a piece called “Skylight” on Tuesday night at Duffy’s Place, Brown snaps his fingers, punches the air to cue the trumpet section and claps like a little kid at a ballgame. “Yeah!” he says, the heel of his right foot tapping out the beat as his hands flip through the pages of the score.
He leans forward to cue the soloist, a trombonist in a yellow Coors shirt who stands and slides effortlessly from one note to the next, mellow and smooth like the whiskey they serve at the bar. The song ends and the next one kicks in. “One, two, a one, two three!” This is jazz, and it grooves, baby can you dig it?
VU JAZZ FEST
WINA SWEEPSTAKES Enter today at nwi.com/cruze The lucky winner will be drawn on Thursday, May 1, 2014 Contest ends 5:00pm on 4/26/14. For official rules go to nwi.com/cruze.
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COVER STORY
ORIGINS, EVOLUTION OF A MUSICAL SENSATION
T
H EATHER AUGUSTYN
his year marks the 29th anniversary of the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival which has grown from modest beginnings into a nationally-recognized six-day extravaganza of sound. The festival was the vision of Jeff Brown, instructor of percussion and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Valparaiso University. “I was given this jazz program at Valparaiso University when I came to teach here and one of the only ways I saw logically for the program to grow was to offer students and faculty more performance opportunities. I saw a strong need for something like this in the community, but that was a challenge. This was an era where jazz was just entering into the curriculum at high schools and universities. It was in its infancy. And in this region, there was no vehicle for jazz to be exposed to the community, and not just in a pedagogic scenario, but in a performance idiom,” Brown says. Jazz as a genre has gained popularity over the last decade, and Brown says that this acceptance has only benefitted the students and faculty who see the festival as an outlet for their talent. “One of the truly unique aspects of this festival is that it is one of the only performance vehicles the university in general appeals to the entire region. It’s very multicultural, as is jazz in general, and it appeals to all age levels. In many ways, especially over the last 10 years, it has been interesting to see the crossover genres that are intrinsic to jazz. Whenever people can’t categorize a specific kind of music they think it has to be jazz, which is cool with me. I’m game for all of it, bring it on and let the people decide what they want. But parallel to that growth is the growth and maturity of jazz education in general. It’s has a much more prominent role in various sized universities, like Valparaiso University and DePaul University and Indiana University, where it a staple
On Monday, April 7 and Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. the festival kicks off with local high school bands performing free. On Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. the festival continues with a performance from the Windiana ensemble and the special premiere of “When the Moon Looks Down,” a piece specially commissioned for the festival written by Dave Rivello. This evening’s performance also includes An Evening with Billy Foster, A Musical Retrospective. Faculty, staff, and students are free and public tickets are $10. On Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. the VU Jazz Ensemble performs with special guest artist and John Fedchock on trombone who will perform the Fedchock’s commissioned piece “Like It Is” as well as other selections. Faculty, staff, and students are free, alumni are $8, and public tickets are $10. On Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. the VU Faculty Jazz Trio performs with special guest artist John Fedchock on trombone. Faculty, staff, and students are free, seniors and alumni at $8, and public tickets are $10. The festival wraps up on Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m. with a performance by New York Voices, the Grammy award-winning jazz vocal ensemble. Faculty, staff, and students are $10, seniors and alumni are $15, and public tickets are $25.
of the program,” says Brown. But the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival is unique, especially because it is a showcase of talent, not a competition, and it also features a wide range of jazz forms. Brown explains, “I think in the programming aspect of this festival, one thing I’ve always been very proud of is that we are non-categorical. If you wanted to
look at 20 prominent jazz festivals, many of them are thematic, like smooth jazz festivals or traditional jazz festivals, and I truly think because no one could pin us down into one of those categories, that is the key to its success. Another thing is when we involved the high schools, which happened about two to three years into this, I chose to make it non-competitive. There have been jazz ensemble competitions run by groups like ISSMA and they are adjudicated, but this festival not and I got away from that at the very beginning. My vision was to put these groups in a professional environment where they perform under excellent conditions, make it simple for them, such as supplying the piano the drums the sound system so they don’t have to travel with large equipment, and that way the schools can just participate. The kids go away feeling really proud of their performance and the interaction with the audience is totally different.” Bethany Borgo, a graduate of Munster High School is a senior music education major at Valparaiso University and plays the violin and trombone, serves as an intern for the festival and she is in charge of helping to organize and coordinate those high school students, in addition to coordinating other aspects of the event. She says, “I’ve always Jeff Brown, instructor of percussion and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Valparaiso University and the founder of the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival. T O N Y V. M A R T I N
loved being behind the scenes and I get to talk directly to the artists and help make their arrangements. I am working with the high school band directors which helps me since I want to be a music teacher, and it gives me insight into the position. We have about 300 students participating and we are providing them with the equipment they need to perform and I’m helping to make sure they get to where they need to be and encouraging them to watch the other bands. It’s my first time working the festival but I’ve attended every year. I’m really excited about the New York Voices which is a vocal group and we’ve never had that before. I perform in and am music director of an a capella group called Hooked on Tonics, so I’m looking forward to seeing the vocal performance.” The other intern, Benjamin Busald of Indianapolis, is a sophomore marketing major who enjoys working in the music industry. “We handle everything for the festival that is delegated to us—setting up the shows, working with the artists, marketing, printing, and ensuring every detail is set. I have always worked in the music industry and have been taking a lot of music business classes so this helps me with what I want to do in life. I am really looking forward to hearing John Fedchock perform. He is really amazing, and the New York Voices because they are an interesting addition to the festival,” Busald says. How will the festival grow in the future? Brown says he is hoping to just continue with a good thing. “With success, a lot of options are put on the table for you. You really have to stay true to what it is you want to accomplish. I can see this festival growing and continually upgrading and perfecting the performances that it offers. Since it has the longevity, it does have recognition within the jazz community. Musicians that have been playing this festival close to 30 years have started a dialogue about it with other musicians and the growth process has helped that. But I want to make sure to keep it a family festival. A lot of jazz festivals are like Ravinia, but not this one. The more kids the better because that’s the future of this music,” Brown says.
VU JAZZ FEST N W I .CO M /G O
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cover story
World Premier VU Jazz Fest to host debut of two new compositions Heather Augustyn
T
he Valparaiso University Jazz Festival will feature two pieces commissioned by renowned jazz composers, written solely for the festival and performed for the first time at the festival. These two pieces seek to demonstrate that jazz can be performed by as few as three pieces or as many as 40, and they show that jazz can come in many styles but should have room for improvisation. The first composition is titled “When the Moon Looks Down” and is written by Dave Rivello. It will be performed on Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Harre Union by the Windiana ensemble. Rivello directs the award winning New Jazz Ensemble at the Eastman School of Music and he is a composer, arranger and bandleader based in Upstate New York. He has served as composer-in-residence at a number of schools and he has written for and been commissioned by The Smithsonian Institute, Bobby McFerrin, and many others. His music has been widely performed throughout the U.S. as well as in Germany and Spain. “When the Moon Looks Down” will be conducted by Jeff Doebler who is director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University who describes Rivello’s piece as written in the smooth jazz genre. Jeff Brown, instructor of percussion and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Valparaiso University and founder of the Valparaiso University Jazz Festival says, “When we commissioned this we didn’t know what this was going to be, and that’s another aspect of the creative process because you know the composer and their ability levels but Jeff didn’t know what he
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was going to be dealing with until he got the music about a week ago.” Doebler agrees that the opportunity to work with a commissioned piece is thrilling for him, and for his students. “Any time you commission an artist, that’s part of the creative process and to be the group that brings that piece to life is exciting. The soprano saxophone and trumpet solo in the piece and there are times when they have a unison line, so it’s interesting with reed and brass color. And there are times when the saxophone and trumpet are improvising separately,” says Doebler. Brown describes the piece as “very pleasing and gorgeous. It’s very easy to listen to, very creative and harmonically it borders on a modal tonality. It’s extremely creative in how Rivello blends harmonic structures and the rhythmic phrasing he uses is extraordinarily effective.” The Windiana performance will also feature selections that explore different jazz styles such as a ballad, rock, funk, and a Duke Ellington medley that will appeal to a wide audience. Billy Foster, whos “Musical Retrospective” is the second part of the double billing, will guest solo on piano with Windiana on a selection. Doebler says that Rivello has been hands-on with the piece after it was delivered. “I love premiering works. It’s one of my favorite things to do. This particular composer emails me frequently to see how the rehearsals are going and that’s part of the creative process too, to make sure it’s an important work,” Doebler says. The second commissioned piece is titled “Like It Is” and was composed by John Fedchock who is also guest performer on Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harre Union. The VU
T o n y V. M a r t i n p h o t o s
(L to R) Professors Jeff Doebler and Jeff Brown will conduct performances of commissioned works.
Score sheet for “Like It Is,” one of the commissioned works.
Jazz Ensemble will perform the piece that Brown describes as a “funky bossa nova.” Fedchock emerged on the scene in 1980 and he has established himself as a world-class trombone soloist, a heralded bandleader, and a Grammynominated arranger. An in-demand performer and writer in New York City for over twenty years, his multifaceted talents have led him to become one of NYC’s premiere jazz artists. His critically acclaimed John Fedchock New York Big Band has become a marquee group, showcasing Fedchock’s trombone and arranging as well as the band’s all-star soloists. Brown says that the students who comprise the VU Jazz Ensemble were asked for their input on selecting a style for the commissioned piece. He says, “I asked the ensemble what they
wanted to do and I engaged them in the process. They said that it would be nice to have a rock tune or a funk tune or a bossa nova, so he composed a funky bossa nova and it’s an interesting piece. Groove wise it combines aspects of fusion, funk and rock all with some unique Latin phrasing. It frees up a lot of the musicians in the ensemble to solo within an idiom they’re fairly acquainted with (harmonically it is very blues oriented). In an ensemble of 22 we have seven musicians soloing. This is just a fun piece.” The VU Jazz Ensemble is comprised of students from different backgrounds, and even different futures. Brown explains, “We work with students who are engineering majors, nursing majors, and every conceivable component of a liberal arts education. So for them to be able to look at a sheet of paper that says, “Commissioned for the Valparaiso University Jazz Ensemble,” and to have two commissions at the same festival is really exciting. I enjoy watching the kids be involved in the creative process. And it’s brand new music. It’s never been done before. To be engaged in that, to me that’s not only a special part of jazz, but a special part of music performance in general. And to have Fedchock, a Grammy-nominated composer and arranger, solo as the guest artist while the students are playing the original composition with the composer and arranger—it doesn’t get that much more reciprocal.”
our Home Team Schedules April 3rd➙ Blackhawks vs. Wild 7pm, White Sox vs. Twins 1:10pm, Y Cubs @ Pirates 11:35 AM. April 4th➙ Blackhawks @ Blue Jackets 6pm, Bulls vs. Bucks 7pm, White Sox @ Royals 3:10pm, Cubs vs. Phillies 1:20pm. April 5th➙ Bulls @ Wizards 6pm, White Sox @ Royals 1:10pm, Cubs vs. Phillies 1:20pm. April 6th➙ Blackhawks vs. Blues 11:30am, White Sox @ Royals 1:10pm, Cubs vs. Phillies 1:20pm.
cASINO SCENE
Majestic Star’s poker champ deals tips
O
John G. Brokopp / jbrokopp@comcast.net
ne big advantage that tribal casinos have over state-regulated properties in the Chicago-area market is the presence of widearea progressive slot machines that are capable of awarding jackpots in the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. This happy fact of casino life in the Midwest hit home for a lucky player from St. Joseph, Mich. to the tune of $509,036 in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 22, at Four Winds New Buffalo. The headline-busting jackpot is really nothing new at Four Winds New Buffalo.
There was a $211,698 check awarded on Feb. 14. Last year someone scored a $1,038,265 jackpot on June 9. Another lucky player started 2013 off on the right foot with $744,966 on New Year’s Day. Something important has to be taken into account if you’re playing for top-award progressives. The maximum credits per spin must be played in order to become eligible to claim the prize. Some people who make the ill-advised decision to play less than max coins on progressives are just as likely to line up the jackpot symbols as anybody. When that happens, there’s a payout but only a fraction of what it would have been with the full
amount of play. When a player beats the millions to one odds for a MegaJackpot but isn’t eligible for the prize, mathematical probability remains consistent but the jackpot carries on.
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Fandango Top 10 Presales 1 . Noah 2. Divergent 3. Sabotage 4. God’s Not Dead 5. Muppets Most Wanted 6. The Grand Budapest Hotel 7. Mr. Peabody & Sherman 3D 8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier 9. Bad Words 10. Non-Stop
IN THEATERS THIS WEEKEND
COURTESY THE STUDIOS
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER 2 hr 8 min | PG-13 | Released March 4
Director: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier. This blockbuster is the latest in the Marvel Universe series of movies, including “The Avengers”, the Iron Man Series, the Thor movies, and the television show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”. The events of this film are set two years after the disaster portrayed in “The Avengers.”
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NOAH
CESAR CHAVEZ
SABOTAGE
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Director: Diego Luna
Director: David Ayer
From the inspirational story of courage, sacrifice, hope and redemption, Darren Aronofsky brings to the screen “Noah.” Academy Award winner Russell Crowe portrays the man chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission of rescue before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world. Noah suffers visions of an apocalyptic deluge and takes measures to protect his family from the coming flood.
Chronicling the birth of a modern American movement, “Cesar Chavez” tells the story of the famed civil rights leader and labor organizer torn between his duties as a husband and father and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers. Chavez inspired millions of Americans from all walks of life who never worked on a farm to fight for social justice. His triumphant journey is a remarkable testament to the power of one individual’s ability to change the world.
In “Sabotage”, Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite DEA task force that takes on the world’s deadliest drug cartels. When the team successfully executes a highstakes raid on a cartel safe house, they think their work is done — until, one-by-one, the team members mysteriously start to be eliminated. As the body count rises, everyone is a suspect.
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1 hr 38 min | PG-13 | Released March 28
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2 hr 23 min | PG-13 | Released March 21
Director: Neil Burger “Divergent” is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late.
MUPPETS MOST WANTED
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Director: James Bobin
Director: Rob Thomas
The entire Muppets gang goes on a global tour, selling out theaters in some of Europe’s most exciting destinations. But mayhem follows the Muppets overseas, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper headed by Constantine—the World’s Number One Criminal and a dead ringer for Kermit—and his dastardly sidekick Dominic, aka Number Two, portrayed by Ricky Gervais.
On the eve of graduating law school, Veronica Mars has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her. While interviewing at high-end law firms, Veronica Mars gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica soon finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind.
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THE SINGLE MOMS CLUB
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Director: Tyler Perry
Director: Scott Waugh
Director: Noam Murro
Brought together by an incident at their children’s school, a group of single mothers from different walks of life bond, and create a support group that helps them find comedy in the obstacles of life, inner strength to overcome their personal challenges and inspiration and laughter in their new sisterhood.
Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul), a blue-collar mechanic who races muscle cars on the side in an unsanctioned street-racing circuit. Struggling to keep his family-owned garage afloat, he reluctantly partners with the wealthy and arrogant ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper).
This new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war.
THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN
NON-STOP
Director: Wes Anderson
Director: Rob Minkoff
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
The Grand Budapest Hotel tells of a legendary concierge, Gustave H, at a famous European hotel between the wars and his friendship with a young employee, Zero Moustafa. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting, the battle for an enormous family fortune.
Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell), the most accomplished canine in the world, and his boy, Sherman (Max Charles), use a time machine to embark on outrageous adventures. However, when Sherman takes the Wabac without permission to impress his friend Penny (Ariel Winter), he accidentally rips a hole in the universe.
The film takes place on an international flight from New York to London. Bill Marks is a vet of the Air Marshals service. Shortly into the journey from New York to London, he receives a series of mysterious text messages ordering him to have the government send $150 million or a passenger will die every 20 minutes.
| PG-13 | Released March 14
1 hr 39 min | R | Released March 7
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2 hr 4 min | PG-13 | Released March 14
1 hr 31 min | PG | Released March 7
300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE 1 hr 43 min | R | Released March 7
1 hr 22 min | PG-13 | Released Feb. 28
CAPTAIN AMERICA DOUBLE FEATURE [PG-13] [REALD 3D] 5:30PM CAPTAIN AMERICA: ThE wINTER sOLDIER [PG-13] 800 1110 1205AM [REALD 3D] 800 1110 1210AM NOAh [PG-13] 1125AM 1220 245 340 605 700 1020 DIVERGENT [PG-13] 1135AM 1240 250 355 605 710 920 1025 MUPPETs MOsT wANTED [PG] 1115AM 1245 200 335 445 625 915
sABOTAGE [NR] 1115AM 200 445 NEED FOR sPEED [PG-13] [REALD 3D] 1240PM 300: RIsE OF AN EMPIRE [R] 1135AM 215 450 735 1015 MR. PEABODY & shERMAN [PG] 1120AM 155 435 710 NON-sTOP [PG-13] 1125AM 210 450 735 1020 ThE LEGO MOVIE [PG] 1130AM 210 725 [REALD 3D] 450 1010
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HAPPENINGS APR 3
APR 3
Barbara Jean’s Grand Opening 5-7pm, Barbara Jean’s Gifts and Gourmet, 105 S Court St, Crown Point. 219.661.1900. bjgiftsandgourmet.com. Barbara Jean’s Gifts and Gourmet celebrates its grand opening with a ribbon cutting, food, drinks and gifts for everyone. APR 4
Crawpuppies 10:30pm, Blue Chip Casino, 777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City. 219.879.7711. bluechipcasino.com. Local favorites the Crawpuppies play music ranging from the Rolling Stones to The Black Crowes.
EAT UP WINE DOWN 5-10pm, Lincolnway, downtown Valparaiso. 219.464.8332. valparaisoevents.com. The first Thursday of every month, Valpodining.com restaurants—Bistro 157, Bon Femme Café, Don Quijote, Margarita’s, Tommy B’s, Pikk’s Tavern, The Silver Spoon and Valley—offer five of their most popular drinks and/or dishes for $5 apiece.
APR 4 FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK 5-8pm, 1st Fri of each month, Uptown Arts District, Michigan City. 219.331.5517. uptownartsdistrict. org. The Uptown Arts District stores, galleries and venues come alive the first Friday of every month for an evening of culture, art and networking. Various locations throughout the district feature works of arts by local artists, refreshments,
entertainment and more.
APR 4 CHORUS CONCERT 7:30pm, The Auditorium at Bethel Church, 10202 Broadway, Crown Point. 219.836.052 5. nwisymphony.org. This concert blends the classical mass, modern choral sophistication, touching poetry and traditional bluegrass instrumentation into an exhilarating musical experience.
APR 4 JEFFERY OSBORNE & AVERAGE WHITE BAND 8pm, Horseshoe Casino Hammond, 777 Casino Center Dr, Hammond. 866.711.7463. horseshoehammond. com. Jeffery Osborne performs his top 40 hits—“Don’t You Get So Mad,” “Stay With Me Tonight,” and “Love Power,” a duet with Dionne Warwick.
APR 5
Easter Bake Sale 9am-noon, St. Iakovos Church, 36 W 700 N, Valparaiso. 219.462.4052. The bake sale features appetizer-size spinach/cheese pies, cheese pies, baklava, Easter bread and a variety of Greek delicacies.
APR 4 ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO The Memorial Opera House, 104 E Indiana Ave, Valparaiso. 219.548.9137. mohlive.com. Hailed as a poet, storyteller and one of
✔ the most important musicians of the last quarter century, Alejandro Escovedo blends rock, folk, blues and classically influenced music into a boundary-defining style that has won him a devoted following all over the world. PROVIDED
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APR 5 WOODCARVING SHOW 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, Woodland Park Pavilion, 2100 Willowcreek Rd, Portage.duneland woodcarvers.com. The Duneland Woodcarvers present their 38th Annual Woodcarving Show— featuring carving exhibitors, carving demonstrations, carving supplies, food booths, hourly door prizes, free parking, bowl turning, scrollsawing, intarsia and marquetry, woodworking and gourd carving.
APR 5 EXPERIENCE HENDRIX Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 & US 30, Merrillville. 219.769.6600. starplazatheatre.com. This concert celebrates the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix.
APR 5 FRANC D’AMBROSIO 7:30pm, Munster High School Auditorium, 8808 Columbia Ave, Munster. 219.923.2078. munsterconcerts.org. Best known for his decade-long portrayal of the lead role in the Tony Award-winning musical The Phantom of the Opera,Franc D’Ambrosio has earned two Grammy Considerations for Best Male Vocalist (1999) and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (2005).
APR 5
APR 4-27
MET OPERA LIVE 2014—LA BOHÈME 11:55am Sat, 5:30pm Wed, Portage 16 IMAX, 6550 American Way, Portage. 219.764.7469. gqti.com. Theatergoers can experience The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of La Bohèmeon the big screen. The most performed opera in Met history, Puccini’s moving story of young love stars Anita Hartig as frail Mimì with Vittorio Grigolo as her passionate lover, Rodolfo.
THE BANQUET Southern Shore Art Association, 724 Franklin St, Michigan City. 219.369.9028. southernshoreartassociation. During the month of April, long custom tables will feature “tableware” from a multitude of artists in a variety of media. Table arrangements will include plates, bowls and goblets created from wood, ceramics, alabaster, textile and glass, by gallery and regional artists, with small paintings and photographs as placemats.
APR 6 THE SWEET LIFE noon-4pm, Avalon Manor, 3550 US 30, Merrillville. 219.789.2961. christianhomes.org. This fashion show and silent auction is the annual fundraiser for Chicagoland Christian Village Nursing Home and Senior Living Facility.
TRUCKS—RECENT WORKS BY JOHN HIMMELFARB Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University Center
ANIMAL BABY SHOWER 5-7pm, Humane Society Calumet Area, 421 45th St, Munster. 219.513.8911. hscalumet.org. Guests can meet the baby animals of Humane
✔ Society Calumet Area, enjoy light snacks and enter to win raffle prizes. Guests are asked to bring a gift from the baby wish list—which features kitten and puppy formula, puppy nursing bottles, heating pads and more.
KYLE TELECHAN, THE TIMES
for the Arts, 1709 Chapel Dr, Valparaiso. 219.464.5365. valpo. edu/artmuseum. Chicago-based artist John Himmelfarb showcase his whimsical representations of trucks at this exhibit. His works are executed in a wide variety of media—including sculpture, painting and
APR 9 RONNY COX LIVE 6:30pm doors open; 7pm performance, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W 2nd St, Ste 100, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. Best known for his dueling banjo performance in Deliverance, this actor turned musician has acted in 125 films and television shows and debuted his first album self-titledRonny Cox. Ronny in 1993.
at White Hawk Country Club
printmaking—and an outdoor sculpture made out of an actual truck accompanies the exhibit.
THROUGH APR 6 MODERN VISION— JAPANESE PRINTS FROM THE RUTH A. RUEGE COLLECTION Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University Center for the Arts, 1709 Chapel Dr, Valparaiso. 219.464.5365. valpo. edu/artmuseum. Donated and loaned by long-time collector Ruth A. Ruege, this collection features Japanese prints from all periods.
THROUGH APR 20
EXHIBITIONS INDIANA
River Rock Restaurant N W I .CO M /G O
THROUGH APR 6
APR 8
PROVIDED
Ronny Cox Live
SOUTH SHORE ARTS PRESENTS WILLIAM DAWSON Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 11am-4pm, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. Cost: $2. 219.836.1839. Several dozen carved wood sculptures, totems and works on
219-661-2327
paper will be included in this extraordinary show of works created by a man raised on his grandfather’s farm in Huntsville, Alabama, who made his way north to Chicago and didn’t begin creating art until he was in his sixties. Organized by the Montgomery Museum of Art, Montgomery, Alabama, with additional selections from Chicagoarea collections.
THROUGH APR 27 BEYOND THE OBVIOUS— PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHLEEN HOCKER Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1839. southshoreartsonline.org. As a former teacher of chemistry and physics, artist Kathleen Hocker is drawn to the natural world and her work explores botanicals using a telephoto lens. She concentrates on the intricate detail found in nature and transforms everyday plant life into beautiful compositions of abstract color.
THROUGH APR 30
THROUGH MAY 11
REGION UNITED, NATION DIVIDED— FOLLOWING LINCOLN 8am-5pm, Indiana Welcome Center, 7770 Corinne Dr, Hammond. 219.989.7770. southshorecva.com. Photos, artifacts and reproductions of Northwest Indiana Civil war regimental battle flags tell the story of the Lake, Porter and LaPorte County men who fought to preserve the Union and end slavery.
WHAT IS LEFT UNSPOKEN Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W Second St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. This exhibit feature 2-D and 3-D conceptual pieces by artists Barbara Hashimoto—displaying installation pieces create by turning everyday junk mail into art—and Doug Fogleson—displaying “overlapped” imagery. Also, through MAY 11: Embroidered Archetypes
THROUGH MAY 10
ILLINOIS
SENTINELS South Shore Arts, 123 N Main St, Crown Point. southshoreartsonline. org. Chicago-based artist and member of Union Street Gallery, Eve Jensen presents a series of drawings and paintings exploring the mythological and metaphorical meaning of trees. Her personal connection to the subject matter is reflected in her delicate handling of pastel, graphite and oil paint.
THROUGH APR 14
✔
UGO RONDINONE The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago. 312.629.6635. artic. edu/aic. These works, completed in 2013, are part of a series that the artist began in 2007 known as Scholar Rocks, a reference to stones found in China’s Tai Lake region that were traditionally collected by scholars and used as ornaments for reflection.
These events are Editor’s Picks
Open Seven Days a Week l Delicious Weekend Food Specials als Live Entertainment on Friday & Saturday Night Great Menu Choices, Full Selection of Beer, Wine and Liquors rs! 04.03.2014 / THE TIMES MEDIA CO. / GO!
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From nwi.com/go ➼New chef Bulldog Brewing Co., 1409 119th St., Whiting, recently appointed Jillian Flathers as their new chef. For more information on the brewery’s menu, visit bulldogbrewingco.com. ➼ Brewfest on Tap The 4th annual Blue Chip Brewfest will be held April 12 at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City. Visit bluechipcasino. com for more information. ➼ Still time to enjoy March Hoopla The Game at Blue Chip Casino, Michigan City, will feature special “March Hoopla” items through April 7. Among items are the Free Throw hot dog ($2); The Three Pointer featuring three hot dogs ($4.75) and the 100-Oz. Beer Tower ($12). Visit bluechipcasino.com ➼ Dinner Packages Star Plaza Theatre offers various dinner/theater packages for all their shows. Visit starplazatheatre.com for more information.
Visit Little Italy for authentic, family style food loise Marie Valadez / Eloise.Valadez@ E nwi.com
A P h o t o s b y E l o i s e M a r i e Va l a d e z
Pictured is the interior of Little Italy in Dyer.
LENT SPECIALS Waleye, Salmon, Crabcakes, Oysters, Perch, Variety of Shrimp Available Daily
Look on our website for special deals!
Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off Discounted dinner must be of equal or lesser value. Tax & Tip excluded. Expires 4/18/14. With Purchase of 2 Beverages. One coupon per table/party. Not Valid on defined holidays. Not valid with any other offers or promotions.
216 South Broad St. Griffith, IN | 219-934-0400 Kitchen Open Mon.-Sat. 4pm-10pm
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www.nikosteakandseafood.com
warm, friendly setting combined with ample, flavorful recipes make a visit to Little Italy a pleasant experience. Little Italy, in Dyer, was established by chef/owner Andrew Easterday in November 2013. Easterday, a resident of Oak Lawn, Ill., said he wanted to offer Northwest Indiana residents a quality dining experience with his restaurant. “What we wanted to do is, first of all, bring great food, and great atmosphere, great wines and great value to people,” Easterday said. “This is something this area was screaming for.” Easterday, who mans the kitchen in the role of executive chef as well as owner, said he got started in the
restaurant business as a teen washing dishes at a local Mexican restaurant in central Illinois. The chef hails from Charleston, Ill. and also honed his craft in restaurants in Carbondale, Ill. and later in various restaurants throughout Chicago. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago, Easterday also worked as a chef for Fornetto Mei at Chicago’s Whitehall Hotel. “I’ve always had plans to work for myself and see what that was like,” said Easterday. While he oversees the kitchen, his wife helps run the front of the house and other aspects of the business. The chef’s cooking philosophy, he said, is rooted in the classics and the use of fresh, quality ingredients. “I want to add a little flair to the recipes,” he said. Easterday said the “Warm Your Soul” Gnocchi is one of the featured dishes at Little Italy.
full service Bar & restaurant menu at Little Italy will pretty much always have certain signature items but he plans on changing offerings seasonally. He also occasionally adds various specials. During a recent visit to Little Italy for a Thursday night dinner, my friend and I enjoyed choosing items from the menu which featured some recipes that sounded appetizing just from their descriptions. For example, a rustic fondue ($8) sounded like a good item to start with as it featured a delicious blending of Fontina and Reggiano cheeses and was served with croutons and apples. For entrees, we ordered the Crispy Pork Shoulder ($15 for the Little Italy small portion or $26 for the Big Italy larger portion); and the “Warm Your Soul” Gnocchi ($14 and $25). We also ordered a Caprese salad ($6 and $11) to share. All of the offerings at Little Italy come in small and large sizes. The smaller sizes, which we ordered, were ample portions. We had more than enough to take home for seconds. The Crispy Pork Shoulder entree received raves at our table as well as from other diners that evening who were enjoying it for their dinner. The pork serving was large and the meat proved to be extremely tender. It was served in a flavorful natural juice with roasted portabella. Other items on Little Italy’s menu are rigatoni ($12 and $20); chicken Parmesan ($15 and $27); Caprese
No One Under 21 Admitted
6110 KENNEDY AVE. • HAMMOND, IN • 219-844-9812 • OpEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • WWW.CHUCKANDIRENES.COM
Fridays only - All you can eat
Bring in This Coupon on Fridays
No coupons or any discounts will apply. Dine in only. All food consumed on premise only!
a ticket of $800 or more
BONELESS OCEAN PERCH - $10.00 $3.00off
Tax & Tip Not Included. Limited to one coupon per table, per visit. • We have a wide variety of Seafood on Fridays • No carry outs. Dine-in only. Valid Fridays only. • Lamb Roast April 5 and April 26 $15/order starting at 11am • • Homemade Soups • Tacos monDay Special SaturDay & SunDay SpecialS • Daily Specials
1.75
$
Domestic Bottles
2.00
$
Daily lunch SpecialS
23 oz. Footballs
MON tHRu tHuRS. 10 AM tO 6 PM FOR $5.75 FiSh SpecialS EvERy FRIDAy, 10AM tO 9 PM
One of the specialty salads on Little Italy’s menu is a Caprese version with fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes.
salad ($6 and $11) and brick oven pizza ($10 to $13) which comes in various renditions from Wiseguy and Lombardy to Margherita. During our visit, chef Easterday visited guests at their tables to ask about everyone’s dining experience. “I try to touch every table,” he said, adding he likes to find out what people are enjoying and what they think about the food. Diners bringing young family members to Little Italy will find that the restaurant has a “kids eat free” special from 4 to 6 p.m. everyday.
AppETIzERS ARE HALF pRICE, MON - THURS. FROM 3 pM TO 6 pM Come watch all your favorite BIG 10 NETWORK teams on our 9 TVs & two 55" HDTV Widescreens! Smoking DJ David zane every Fri. and Sat. night, from 9 pM to 2 AM
Allowed
FISH FRY EVERY FRIDAY • ADULT DINING • FULL MENU CARRY OUT
• Great Variety of Seafood
FULL MENU OF
Sandwiches, Steaks & Fried Chicken
Blackhawks Game Day Special When the Blackhawks are playing, we will have Labatt Blue Import Draft on Special Pints for $1.50 on Game Day
FYI: Little Italy is located at 1155 Joliet St., Dyer. Hours are 4-10pm Mondays through Thursdays; 4-11pm Fridays;11am-11pm Saturdays and 11am-8pm Sundays. Call (219) 865-3040 or visit dyerlittleitaly.com. Reservations are accepted on Fridays and Saturdays.
Valid Thru 4/11/14
The Crispy Pork Shoulder at Little Italy is a tender cut of meat that’s charred and crispy on top.
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