Shakespeare in spring, 'Steel Magnolias' on stage, two anniversaries end and more to do
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This weekend's for the dogs — and the beauty salon, Shakespeare, classic cars and the conclusion of two milestone seasons. With so much going on, six events get the spotlight this week. Also, don't forget to read Joseph Dits' suggestions for bird activities or The Tribune's online events calendar for more things to do.
Benton Harbor's GhostLight Theatre opens season with Shakespeare's ‘Much Ado About Nothing'
BENTON HARBOR — GhostLight Theatre opens its season with “Much Ado About Nothing” from May 11 to 21 at 101 Hinkley St.
Written between 1598 and 1599 and one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, “Much Ado About Nothing” concerns the plight of two sets of would-be lovers, Benedick and Beatrice and Claudio and Hero.
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Armed with some of the theater’s finest lines of repartee, Benedick and Beatrice resist the possibility of love, while Claudio and Hero embrace it until complications arise.
Mistaken identities, misheard conversations and a deception cooked up by the character of Don John — he convinces the other characters that Hero has been unfaithful to Claudio — threaten their happiness.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. May 11-13 and 18-20 and at 3 p.m. May 14 and 21.
Tickets $28-$12.
The season also includes the musicals “Cabaret” from June 15 to 25 and “Once” from Aug. 10 to 20.
For more information, call 269-252-5222 or visit ghostlightbh.com.
Make an appointment at Truvy's salon: Elkhart Civic opens ‘Steel Magnolias’ at the Bristol Opera House
BRISTOL — “Steel Magnolias” opens May 12 and continues through May 21 at Elkhart Civic Theatre’s Bristol Opera House, 210 E. Vistula St.
In Chinquapin, La., all the upper crust ladies go to Truvy’s salon to have their hair done in Robert Harling’s 1987 comedy-drama that later became a hit 1989 movie starring an ensemble cast of Hollywood leading ladies, including Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and newcomer Julia Roberts.
Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle (who may be still married), the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to her patrons: rich curmudgeon Ouiser; eccentric millionaire Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter Shelby is about to marry a “good ole boy.”
Harling based the play on his family’s experience with the death of his sister, Susan Harling-Robinson, from diabetic complications.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. May 12-13 and 19-20 and at 3 p.m. May 14 and 21.
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Tickets are $25-$19.
For more information, call 574-848-4116 or visit elkhartcivictheatre.org.
Caffeinated rides: 'Cars and Coffee' returns to Studebaker National Museum for the season
SOUTH BEND — The Studebaker National Museum presents “Cars and Coffee” from 8 to 10 a.m. May 13 at 201 Chapin St.
Bring your classic car to exhibit.
Coffee and doughnuts will be provided while supplies last.
This month’s featured club is the Crossroad Casket Cruisers.
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This event is free and open to the public and includes free admission to both the Studebaker National Museum and The History Museum galleries throughout the event.
This is a rain or shine event.
This year’s other “Cars and Coffee” events take place on the second Saturday of June, August, September and October.
For more information, call 574-235-9714 or visit studebakermuseum.org.
SBSO concludes 90th season with Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky
SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Symphony Orchestra concludes its 90th season with a concert at 7:30 p.m. May 13 at the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.
The concert features pianist Päivi Ekroth as the guest soloist for Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
The program also includes Paul Dukas’ “La Peri,” featuring the SBSO’s brass section, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, an exploration of Fate as an inescapable force.
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Ekroth is a Finnish-born classical pianist who has worked as a collaborative pianist at the University of Notre Dame since 2004.
She has called South Bend her home since 1996, when she joined the Alexander Toradze Piano Studio at Indiana University South Bend. While studying there, she earned a master’s degree and an artist diploma in piano performance and also served on the piano faculty.
Ekroth also holds a master’s degree from Notre Dame as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Sibelius-Academy, Finland.
Tickets are $84-$12.
For more information, call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org.
'Dogapalooza'
GOSHEN — Elkhart County Parks presents its annual “Dogapalooza” event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13 at in the lower field in Ox Bow County Park, 23033 County Road 45.
The dog- and people-friendly event features a police K9 demonstration, doggy yoga, dog (and people) food, local pet rescues and organizations, an off-leash doggy play area, and more.
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Arrive early to register and participate in the Humane Society of Elkhart County’s sixth annual Paws for a Cause race and walk.
Registration for the Paws for a Cause race is located on the Humane Society’s website.
All dog attendees must be kept on a 6-foot leash unless in the designated off-leash area.
The park reserves the right to remove any attendee not following park policy as well as any aggressive dog(s).
There will be no park entrance fee during both Dogapalooza and Paws for a Cause.
For more information, visit elkhartcountyparks.org.
Elkhart County Symphony celebrates 'Music of Our Home' to end 75th season
ELKHART — The Elkhart County Symphony concludes its 75th anniversary season at 4 p.m. May 14 at The Lerner Theatre, 410 S. Main St.
Titled “Music of Our Home” and under the direction of Music Director Soo Han, the program features Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, “To the New World,” and, in honor of Mother’s Day, Fannie Mendelssohn-Hensel’s Overture in C.
As an added local twist, singer-songwriter Abbie Thomas — a resident of Elkhart County — performs some of her original compositions with the orchestra and some as a solo performer.
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Dvořák was the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America when he composed “To the New World” in 1893 as a celebration of the United States. The symphony incorporates African-American and Native-American themes and melodies and ultimately helped spread Dvořák's reputation as a composer across the globe.
Mendelssohn-Hensel, the older sister of renowned German composer Felix Mendelssohn, produced more than 460 pieces of music for piano during her short life. She faced pressure from her family, and society at large, to assume a role more traditional for women at that time, and as a result she published very little of her work during her lifetime.
Overture in C — written around 1830 — is the only work Mendelssohn-Hensel ever wrote for orchestra alone.
Thomas mixes pop melodies with soulful vocals and hints of R&B and jazz in her original songs.
Tickets are $35-$14.
For more information, call 574-293-4469 or visit thelerner.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Steel Magnolias, two orchestras, a dog fest, Shakespeare and more
