'Little Women,' Fischoff, a music fest and more await the weekend in and near South Bend

Tribune Staff Report
·7 min read

Benton Harbor's GhostLight Theatre puts a new spin — and war — on the classic story "Little Women," Fischoff returns to in-person performances, and scientists — and future scientists — take the spotlight this weekend. There's also a music fest and a play about the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana in and near South Bend. For more events, go to southbendtribune.com.

Tiemen Godwalt plays 1920s Indianapolis Times editor Boyd Gurley in “Kluckers: Indiana and the 1920’s Ku Klux Klan,” an original play by James Geisel produced by The Acting Ensemble and The History Museum with performances May 19 to June 4, 2022, at both organizations.
Tiemen Godwalt plays 1920s Indianapolis Times editor Boyd Gurley in “Kluckers: Indiana and the 1920’s Ku Klux Klan,” an original play by James Geisel produced by The Acting Ensemble and The History Museum with performances May 19 to June 4, 2022, at both organizations.

Play about Ku Klux Klan in Indiana premieres at The Acting Ensemble

MISHAWAKA — The Acting Ensemble and The History Museum present the world premiere of “Kluckers: Indiana and the 1920’s Ku Klux Klan” from May 19 to June 4.

Conceived, written, and directed by James Geisel, “Kluckers” tells the story of Boyd Gurley, editor of the Indianapolis Times during the 1920s, and is performed by Tiemen Godwalt.

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Gurley, an editor with the South Bend News-Times from 1921 to 1926, wrote a series of editorials that resulted in the Indianapolis Times receiving a Pulitzer Prize in 1928. Under his leadership, the newspaper exposed the corruption and political influence of the Ku Klux Klan, which led to the decline of the KKK in the state and nationally.

The play mirrors the Living Newspaper techniques of the Works Progress Administration when plays were used to inform groups about current events.  A lobby display will travel with the play. Following each performance, the audience will be led in discussion about the role of the news media, parallels in today’s world, and what individual citizens can do.

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The project is supported by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and the Indiana Historical Society, made possible by the Lilly Endowment.

Tiemen Godwalt plays 1920s Indianapolis Times editor Boyd Gurley in “Kluckers: Indiana and the 1920’s Ku Klux Klan,” an original play by James Geisel produced by The Acting Ensemble and The History Museum with performances May 19 to June 4, 2022, at both organizations.
Tiemen Godwalt plays 1920s Indianapolis Times editor Boyd Gurley in “Kluckers: Indiana and the 1920’s Ku Klux Klan,” an original play by James Geisel produced by The Acting Ensemble and The History Museum with performances May 19 to June 4, 2022, at both organizations.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. May 19 to 21 and 2 p.m. May 22 at The Acting Ensemble, 602 E. Mishawaka Ave., and at 7:30 p.m. June 3 and 4 at The History Museum, 808 W. Washington St., South Bend.

The show will continue to tour the region through September.

Tickets are $15.

For more information, call 574-217-8873, visit actingensemble.com or email info@actingensemble.com.

The actors who play the March sisters in GhostLight Theatre's production of "Little Women" -- Sofia Pate, left, as Beth, Kelly Collins as Jo, Skyler Scott as Meg, Cecilia Petrush as Amy -- walk along the beach at Lake Michigan in this publicity photo. The production opens May 19 and continues through May 29, 2022, at the theater in Benton Harbor.
The actors who play the March sisters in GhostLight Theatre's production of "Little Women" -- Sofia Pate, left, as Beth, Kelly Collins as Jo, Skyler Scott as Meg, Cecilia Petrush as Amy -- walk along the beach at Lake Michigan in this publicity photo. The production opens May 19 and continues through May 29, 2022, at the theater in Benton Harbor.

GhostLight Theatre opens season with ‘Little Women’

BENTON HARBOR — GhostLight Theatre opens its 2022 season with “Little Women” from May 19 to 29 at 101 Hinkley St.

Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, the adaptation features a book by Allan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

Originally written to chronicle the lives of one family in the aftermath of the Civil War, the story has been reset by director David Ferrell to during the Vietnam War era in the wake of the Women’s Right’s Movement in America.

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The story focuses on the four March sisters — traditional Meg; wild, aspiring writer Jo; timid Beth; and romantic Amy — and their beloved mother, Marmee, at home in Concord, Mass., while their father is away serving in the military. Intercut with the vignettes in which their lives unfold are several recreations of the melodramatic short stories Jo writes in her attic studio.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $28-$12.

For more information, call 269-252-5222 or visit ghostlightbh.com.

The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Competition takes place May 20-22 at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Granger-based sculptor Tuck Langland designed the grand prize medal that will be awarded at the end of the Grand Prize Concert on May 22.
The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Competition takes place May 20-22 at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Granger-based sculptor Tuck Langland designed the grand prize medal that will be awarded at the end of the Grand Prize Concert on May 22.

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition returns to in-person performances at Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND — The 49th annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition takes place May 20-22 at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. It's the first time in two years with in-person performances after the competition shifted to digital-only because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Junior Division Quarterfinals begin with the Junior Wind Division at 8:45 a.m. May 20, followed by the Junior String Division at 10:30 a.m., the Junior Winds at 2:05 p.m. and the Junior Strings at 4:10 p.m.

The schedule for the Senior Division Quarterfinals is the Senior Wind Division at 9 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. and the Senior String Division at 11:50 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The Senior Division Semifinals are at 8:30 a.m. May 21 for the Senior Wind Division and 11:15 a.m. for the Senior String Division.

The Junior Wind Division begins the Junior Division Semifinals at 1:50 p.m. May 21, followed by the Junior String Division at 2:20 p.m. May 21.

The Senior Division Finals begin at 10 a.m. May 22, followed by the Junior Division Finals at 12:50 p.m. May 22.

The Awards Ceremony & Gold Medal Concert takes place at 3:30 p.m. May 22. Tickets for in-person attendance are $10-$5.

In addition, the Fischoff Competition Lift Every Voice Finalists Concert premieres at noon May 20 at fischoff.org.

The contest features ensembles performing works by historically underrepresented composers in the chamber music world. This inaugural prize focuses on works by Black, Latino or Latina composers.

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Except for the awards ceremony and Gold Medal concert, admission is free to all events.

The Saturday and Sunday rounds of the competition, including the awards ceremony and Gold Medal contest, will stream for free at fischoff.org.

Founded in 1973, the Fischoff Competition is the largest and longest-running chamber music competition in the nation.

For more information, call 574-631-0984 or visit fischoff.org.

JP Saxe will headline the Compass Music Fest on May 21, 2022, at Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph.
JP Saxe will headline the Compass Music Fest on May 21, 2022, at Whirlpool Centennial Park in St. Joseph.

Compass Music Fest features JP Saxe, breweries, food

ST. JOSEPH — St. Joseph Today presents the Compass Music Fest from noon to 8 p.m. May 21 at Whirlpool Centennial Park, 200 Broad St.

JP Saxe headlines the event and performs at 6:45 p.m. A native of Toronto, he has released two EPs, "Both Can Be True: Part 1" and "Hold It Together," as well as the 2021 album "Dangerous Levels of Introspection." In 2021, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his collaboration with Julia Michaels, "If the World Was Ending."

The rest of the lineup includes The Backups and the Get Downs at 12:20 p.m.; Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, 1:40 p.m.; Mary Lambert, 3:15 p.m.; and Morningsiders, 4:50 p.m.

Some of the brewery options include Blake’s Hard Cider Co., Golden Road, Round Barn Brewery, Saugatuck Brewing Co., Silver Harbor Brewing Co. and Sister Lakes Brewing Co., among others.

Wine will be available from Lazy Ballerina Winery.

A soda stand will feature a variety of non-alcoholic soda flavors as well as bottled water for purchase.

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Food vendors include Forté Coffee, Larks BBQ, Nola Roux, Silver Beach Pizza, Twisted Dawg, and Water & Wheat.

Bring a chair and/or blankets. Limited seating will be available.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of the event for the all-day festival, with an additional charge for drink tickets on site. Food will be available for cash purchase. Free admission for ages 10 and younger.

Tickets are available by phone at 269-927 8700 or in person at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor; and the St. Joe Today Welcome Center, 301 State St., St. Joseph.

For more information, visit stjoetoday.com.

The 30th annual Science Alive takes place May 21 at the Main Branch of the St. Joseph County Public Library in downtown South Bend. (South Bend Tribune, Greg Swiercz)
The 30th annual Science Alive takes place May 21 at the Main Branch of the St. Joseph County Public Library in downtown South Bend. (South Bend Tribune, Greg Swiercz)

Science Alive features interactive exhibits and activities

SOUTH BEND — The 30th annual Science Alive takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. May 21 at the Main Branch of the St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Main St.

The event features interactive exhibits and activities with local science-related organizations, some of which include Bubbles And Friends Mini Pig Sanctuary, Michiana Astronomical Society, the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), the Chemistry Graduate Student Organization (CGSO) and the St. Joseph County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Special presentations include an urban bird walk led by the South Bend/Elkhart Audubon Society at 2 p.m. in the library’s courtyard and “Making Waves: What Do You Do with a Sound?” at 3 p.m. in the auditorium.

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In “Making Waves,” Jay Brockman, the director for the Center of Civic Innovation in the College of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, explores the science of sound.

The presentation also includes the opportunity to make a log drum and jam with it. Supplies are limited and available in the auditorium lobby on a first come, first serve basis beginning at 1 p.m.

Admission is free.

For more information, call 574-282-4646 or visit sjcpl.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Little Women, Fischoff, KKK play, a music fest and Science Alive await