The Notre Dame film festival, an opera and a winter fest in and near South Bend

Tribune Staff Report
·5 min read

Grab some popcorn: A Notre Dame tradition turns 34 this weekend. Meanwhile, other options include an original opera, an explosive dark comedy, jazz with an Old West twist and a winter festival. Joseph Dits also has other activities in his Outdoor Adventures column. And don't forget to check The Tribune's online events calendar.

This image shows a scene from "Waiting For Buffalo," a film by University of Notre Dame students Aidan O'Malley and Grace Beutter that examines the efforts of Native American tribes to relocate herds of buffalo back to the reservations. Filmed in Allen, S.D., it is part of the 34th annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival from Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Notre Dame screens 34th annual student film festival

SOUTH BEND —The University of Notre Dame’s film, television and theater department presents its 34th annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival from Jan. 27 to 29 at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

The festival screens short films that were made by undergraduate students during the past year as class projects.

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Student directors filmed throughout the United States, from California to the Blue Ridge mountains, as well as in South Bend.

Made up of narrative and documentary films, some of the subjects include a California couple’s desperate search for a cure for their daughter’s illness, observing the Oglala Sioux Tribe awaits a shipment of American bison on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, “film noir meets today’s Tinder” and a sewing machine that serves as the common thread that unites a community of women in South Bend.

Metal sculpture artist Ivan Iler is the subject of the documentary "Silent Steel," directed by senior Michael Simon and featured in the 34th annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival from Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
Metal sculpture artist Ivan Iler is the subject of the documentary "Silent Steel," directed by senior Michael Simon and featured in the 34th annual Notre Dame Student Film Festival from Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Many films from past festivals have been selected for national and international film festivals.

After each screening, audience members will be invited to vote for their favorite film via text message. The Audience Choice Award will be presented to the student director(s) of the winning film after the final screening.

Screenings are at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 and at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 and last approximately 120 minutes.

Some films contain mature content.

Tickets are $7-$4.

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

As the mayor, William Powell leads the townspeople lighting the Christmas tree in the town square during Act 1 of "The Gift," an opera written by local composer Paul Herman that South Bend Lyric Opera presents Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.
As the mayor, William Powell leads the townspeople lighting the Christmas tree in the town square during Act 1 of "The Gift," an opera written by local composer Paul Herman that South Bend Lyric Opera presents Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.

South Bend Lyric Opera stages ‘The Gift’

SOUTH BEND — South Bend Lyric Opera presents “The Gift” on Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.

Written by local composer Paul Herman, “The Gift” is a full-scale, English-language opera production that gives a modern re-telling of O. Henry’s “Gift of the Magi.”

Bradyn Debysingh rehearses a scene from "The Gift," an opera written by local composer Paul Herman that South Bend Lyric Opera presents Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.
Bradyn Debysingh rehearses a scene from "The Gift," an opera written by local composer Paul Herman that South Bend Lyric Opera presents Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.

It tells the story of two young lovers struggling with an uncertain future, whose unfailing commitment to each other inevitably wins the approval of her father and reminds everyone about the importance of unconditional love and the warmth of our common connections.

Herman currently resides in Chicago but has studied composition at IUSB in recent years.

The cast includes Bradyn Debysingh, Victoria Schemenauer, Eleni Taluzek and Emily Sullivan (double-cast as “mother”), and Shayne Piles.

Victoria Schemenauer rehearses a scene from "The Gift," an opera written by local composer Paul Herman that South Bend Lyric Opera presents Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.
Victoria Schemenauer rehearses a scene from "The Gift," an opera written by local composer Paul Herman that South Bend Lyric Opera presents Jan. 27 and 28 at Indiana University South Bend’s Northside Hall.

The performers will be accompanied by local orchestra Ensemble Concept/21, conducted by Juan-Carlos Alarcon.

Carlee Baldwin directs.

Tickets are $40; $20 for students with an ID at the door.

For more information, visit southbendlyricopera.org.

Carol Sizer, left, and Bill Downey rehearse a scene from Twin City Players' production of "The Velocity of Autumn" that runs Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the theater in St. Joseph.
Carol Sizer, left, and Bill Downey rehearse a scene from Twin City Players' production of "The Velocity of Autumn" that runs Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the theater in St. Joseph.

Twin City Players presents ‘The Velocity of Autumn’

ST. JOSEPH — “The Velocity of Autumn” opens Jan. 27 for one weekend at Twin City Players, 600 W. Glenlord Road.

Written by Eric Coble, “The Velocity of Autumn” swirls around Alexandra, an 80-year-old artist in a showdown with her family over where she’ll spend her remaining years.

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In Alexandra’s corner are her wit, her volcanic passion, and the fact that she’s barricaded herself in her Brooklyn brownstone with enough Molotov cocktails to take out the block. But her children have their own secret weapon: estranged son Chris, who returns after 20 years, crawls through Alexandra’s second-floor window and becomes the family’s unlikely mediator.

No sooner are the words “Hi, Mom” uttered than the emotional bombs start detonating in this dark comedy.

Carol Sizer, left, and Bill Downey rehearse a scene from Twin City Players' production of "The Velocity of Autumn" that runs Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the theater in St. Joseph.
Carol Sizer, left, and Bill Downey rehearse a scene from Twin City Players' production of "The Velocity of Autumn" that runs Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at the theater in St. Joseph.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and 28 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 29.

Tickets are $15-$10.

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

The Chicago area-based jazz trio Alta Vista performs Jan. 28, 2023, at Merrimans’ Playhouse in South Bend.
The Chicago area-based jazz trio Alta Vista performs Jan. 28, 2023, at Merrimans’ Playhouse in South Bend.

Alta Vista explores century-old the music of the American West, but concert canceled

SOUTH BEND — The jazz trio Alta Vista has canceled its Jan. 28 concert at Merrimans’ Playhouse, 401 E. Colfax Ave, because of COVID.

Based in the Chicago area, Alta Vista explores and transforms the music of the American West, unearthing songs from a near century-old book of obscure and mostly unrecorded folk tunes, plus other covers and originals.

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The trio — guitarist Chet Zenor, drummer Andy Danstrom and upright bassist Jakob Heinemann — remains rooted in the timeless themes and emotions found in the music, while adapting it to the contemporary world.

The group’s debut album is in post-production and scheduled for release this year.

Tickets are $10-$5.

For more information, call 574-310-9977 or visit merrimansplayhouse.org.

LaPorte's WinterFest takes place Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at various locations in the city.
LaPorte's WinterFest takes place Jan. 27 to 29, 2023, at various locations in the city.

LaPorte’s WinterFest offers a bike ride, skating, wagon rides and hot chocolate

LAPORTE — LaPorte city parks’ annual WinterFest takes place Jan. 27 to 29 at a variety of locations.

It gets underway with ice sculpting demonstrations in downtown's Plaza 618 on the afternoon of Jan. 27. Other highlights include the following:

■ The Snowball Softball Coed Tourney at 9 a.m. CST Jan. 28 at Lions Field.

■ A one-hour bike ride at 1 p.m. CST Jan. 28, followed by snacks and hot chocolate. Meet at the Cummings Lodge in Soldiers Memorial Park.

■ Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt from 5 to 7 p.m. CST at Fox Park Amphitheater. Comb the park for glow-in-the-dark clues to complete an assigned riddle. Free.

■ Free ice skating on the rink at Monroe and State streets in downtown LaPorte from 1 to 8 p.m. CST Jan. 29; reserve spots at laporteparkandrec.com by entering the discount code WINTERFEST. Skates can be rented for $3.

■ Free horse-drawn wagon rides from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. CST Jan. 29 at Cummings Lodge.

■ Snow Art from 2 to 4 p.m. CST Jan. 29 at Luhr Park Nature Center. Join Ranger Laura for snow art (weather dependent), create a craft and have a snack at the Luhr County Park Nature Center. All ages are welcome and no pre-registration is required. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free.

Details on these and other parts of WinterFest are at laporteparkandrec.com/winterfest.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: The Notre Dame Student Film Festival, South Bend Lyric Opera and more