Earth Day, Record Store Day, plays, music, a film festival and stunt dogs lead the weekend

Saturday sees the rare dual occurrence of Earth Day and Record Store Day. Plus, a local playwright's international award-winning work continues at the University of Notre Dame, the River Bend Film Festival brings The Bergamot and "Rudy" back to the area this weekend. For more activities, see The Tribune's online events calendar, too.

Anton Juan’s ‘TUKO! TUKO!’ continues at Notre Dame through April 23

SOUTH BEND — The University of Notre Dame’s film, television and theater department's production of “TUKO! TUKO! Or Princess of the Lizard Moon” continues April 20 to 23 at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Written and directed by FTT professor Anton Juan, the play won the Alexander Onassis International Award for Playwriting in 1997 and has been performed in Greece, Korea, Philippines and Chile.

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In the play, the ghost of a comfort woman in World War II and the ghost of a tortured murdered sex slave in 1990s Japan meet in the memory of a Butoh actor who embodies them and claims justice for them.

In conjunction with the production, FTT will host a Forum on Asian Theatre and Justice on at 5 p.m. April 20 at DeBartolo. Speakers include Judy Celine Ick (University of the Philippines), Jaesang Rhee of Korea (artistic director of the M.J.T. Atman Theatre Company, the Asia Playwrights Festival and the Asia Theater Circle), Xian Wang (Notre Dame) and Tarryn Chun (Notre Dame).

The panelists will discuss the issues arising from the text and performance of “TUKO! TUKO!” and its relationship to other movements of theater in Asia.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 20 to 22 and 2:30 p.m. April 23.

Tickets are $15-$7.

For more information, call 574-631-2800 or visit performingarts.nd.edu.

River Bend Film Festival opens April 20 at Goshen Theater

GOSHEN — The River Bend Film Festival takes place April 20 to 23 at the Goshen Theater, 216 S. Main St.

The festival includes special events featuring industry guests, independent films, Q&As, workshops and parties.

Highlight events include opening night’s “Well Crafted Local Documentaries,” Friday’s “Rudy” 30th-anniversary screening with director David Anspaugh, Saturday’s “The Bergamot: State of Unity” documentary and concert, an improv workshop conducted by groundlings graduate Madi Goff, and a special screening of “Every Morning” with Mary Chieffo from “Star Trek: Discovery.”

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There are also several free events at this year's festival, including panel discussions on “Women in Filmmaking” and “Indiana Filmmakers.”

Single tickets and various levels of access passes are $225-$12.

Tickets for the “Rudy” screening and Q&A with Anspaugh are $20.

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Tickets for the “State of the Unity” screening and concert by The Bergamot are $25.

For more information, visit riverbendfilmfest.com.

Twin City Players opens Durang’s ‘Vanya and Sonia …’

ST. JOSEPH — “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” opens April 21 and continues through May 7 at Twin City Players, 600 W. Glenlord Road.

Written by Christopher Durang and the winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play, the comedy chronicles a family reunion filled with sibling rivalry, midlife disappointment and regret.

Vanya and his adopted sister, Sonia, live a quiet life in the Bucks County, Penn., farmhouse where they grew up and took care of their ailing parents, while their sister Masha travels the world as a movie star.

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Just as their soothsayer/cleaning woman issues a warning about terrible events in their future, Masha returns for an unannounced visit with her 20-something boy toy, Spike, in tow.

When Masha reveals plans that will upend the family, long-repressed resentments bubble over into a weekend filled with a wild costume party, voodoo dolls and surprise romance.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $15-$10.

For more information, call 269-429-0400 or visit twincityplayers.org.

Sanchez Agency releases EP at Record Store Day/Earth Day concert

GOSHEN — Sanchez Agency, The Charlie Millard Band and V.V. Lightbody perform a combined Record Store Day/Earth Day concert at 8 p.m. April 22 at Ignition Music Garage, 120 E. Washington St.

The show features the release of Sanchez Agency’s new, five-song digital EP, “G.L. Perry," recorded in a basement in Goshen by the local band.

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A percentage of each ticket will benefit Trees of Goshen.

Tickets are $15-$10.

For more information, call 574-971-8282 or visit ignitionmusic.net and fb.me/e/3eqTvm4TQ.

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Founded in 2007, Record Store Day features thousands of exclusive vinyl LP releases available only to independent record stores.

Other area stores participating in the event, which takes place April 22, include Orbit Music and Michiana Used Music and Media, both in Mishawaka; Rumor in Niles; Karma for Your Lifestyle in Plymouth, Karma Music in Warsaw; 3 Pillars Music in Benton Harbor; and Static Age in Michigan City.

Check with each store for what releases they will receive, opening times and other special events associated with Record Store Day.

For more information, visit recordstoreday.com.

LMC presents ‘Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience’ at Mendel Center

BENTON HARBOR — Lake Michigan College presents “The Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience” at 2 and 6 p.m. April 22 at The Mendel Center, 2755 E. Napier Ave.

Chris Perondi is the “Stunt Dog Guy.” He and his famous canine companions deliver a high-energy performance filled with amazing tricks, big air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs and athletic feats.

The show includes interactive crowd participation with chants of “higher” and “doggone fun” while audience applause determines the winner of the trick dog challenge.

The show also features Diggy the Dog, the human-sized canine mascot of the show who is always angling to be part of the action in some silly way as he attempts to convince everyone that he is the real star of the show.

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The cast of professional performers, along with over a dozen talented pound pups, bring pet adoption awareness to the forefront. All the dogs in the performance have been rescued from shelters across the country.

The mission is to promote animal rescue and pet adoption, encourage spaying and neutering, and inspire people to spend more time with their pets.

Tickets are $40-$20.

For more information, call 269-927-8700 or visit themendelcenter.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend and area have stunt dogs, a film fest, concerts and more