Listen to Your Mother, Big Band sounds and ‘Lost in Yonkers’

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Cast members Alexandra Shloss, left to right, and Mary Lu Cowley of “Listen to Your Mother 2025” joined director and producer Carrie Bedwell on host Phil Potempa’s Of Notoriety radio show on Thursdayto promote this year’s moving monologue stage series presented at 3 p.m. April 27 at The Art Theater in Hobart. Adrianna Alvarez

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Director and Producer Carrie Bedwell is ready for her seventh annual Northwest Indiana staged presentation of “Listen to Your Mother,” a 90-minute plus one 20-minute intermission journey of diverse true stories about motherhood. “Listen to Your Mother” launched 15 years ago in Northwest Indiana and it continues to entertain, energize and bring communities together with heart, humor and the heroics of motherhood. This year’s event is at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, on the mainstage of Hobart Art Theater at 230 Main St. Tickets are $25 available at the door or call 219-942-1670 or www.brickartlive.com. A portion of funds raised this year benefits Meal on Wheels Northwest Indiana.

This year’s themes include parenting the parent, the many roles moms play, generational trauma, leaving a legacy, domestic violence, not being sure about motherhood, not letting family move on, a mother’s unconditional love, adoption, losing one’s mom, being a pet mom, gaining a daughter via marriage, suicide/don’t always listen to your mother, and grandparenting a spirited 8-year-old-teenager.

In addition to poet Nancy Hejna, other presenters this year are Buffy Adams, who works for IYG, North America’s longest-running LGBTQ+ youth organization, Mary Lu Cowley, a grandmother and recent widow, Bennett Gallivan, a financial aid advisor at Ivy Tech, Erin Higy, a behavioral therapist, Eunice Jarrett, a retired elementary teacher, Chris Kamstra, an underground singer/songwriter, Amy Lavalley, a lifelong journalist and editor for The Post-Tribune and Chicago Tribune Media, Leena Meisberger, the founder of Light The Way, Gloria “GoGo” Morris, a technologist and social cause advocate, Alexandra Shloss, a high school teacher and mental health counselor, Marquita Tigner, owner of Super Scholars Learning Academy Childcare Center and Heidi Van Howe, blogger at Pizza-For-Breakfast.com.

Ryan Elinkowski, CEO of Meal on Wheels of NWI, will serve as the afternoon emcee.

Big Band concert

Enjoy an afternoon of Big Band music of the 20s, 30s and 40s with the tunes that once defined the sound of American culture throughout the eras, including some of the greatest love songs on the charts.

From the crooning of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack to the unforgettable sounds from radio days and ballroom orchestra showrooms of yesteryear, the audience will enjoy the return of concert favorite Jim Bulanda backed by the 18-piece Midwest Big Band on the Theatre at the Center stage at The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27. The afternoon includes a salute to great band leaders of yesteryear – Duke Ellington, Desi Arnaz, Count Basie, Harry James, Artie Shaw, Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller. These iconic maestros drew crowds and bridged racial divides through the love language of swing. For more than 80 years, Midwest Big Band has been a Chicagoland favorite. Sinatra tribute favorite Jim Bulanda is in the spotlight as lead vocalist during this celebration of big band music. Bulanda and Midwest Big Band’s last visit in March 2024 was a concert sellout. Tickets are $40 at www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com or call 219-836-3255.

Brothers in ‘Yonkers’

Marian Theatre Guild’s Spring 2025 production is Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers,” winner of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Play. Directed by Jayma Kay Emerson, it opens this weekend with a Saturday, April 26, dinner performance with a 5:30 p.m. meal, followed by a 7:30 p.m. curtain and a Sunday matinee performance only without meal option at 3 p.m. It is the same schedule the following weekend with a dinner theatre option on Saturday, May 3 with dining starting at 5:30 p.m. and show curtain at 7:30 p.m., and final closing performance 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4. Set against the backdrop of 1942, “Lost in Yonkers” unfolds in Grandma Kurnitz’s apartment, with Grandma played by Leslie A. Evans. The family home is perched above their family-owned candy store in Yonkers, New York. At its heart, the play explores family dynamics through the lives and eyes of two young boys, Jay and Arty, played by real-life stage actor brothers Julian and Gabriel Solis of St. John, who find themselves living with this formidable grandmother as their father Eddie, played by Tony Vivacqua, is forced to leave them to repay debts. The boys must navigate the challenges of their new environment and living with both stern grandmother and loopy Aunt Bella played by Olivia Rhodehamel, with an occasional visit by gangster Uncle Louie played by Ray Huntington and an excitable Aunt Gert played by Susan Bobos. Dinner and performance hosted at Marian Memorial Auditorium, 119th Street and Lincoln Avenue in Whiting. All seats are general admission with tickets priced at $20 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. Visit www.mariantheatreguild.com/tickets or call 219-473-0713 for required dinner reservation and an additional payment of $38 for “family style” served menu of fried chicken, roast beef, green beans, potatoes, dinner rolls, salad, drinks and all the sides and dessert included.

Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and weekly radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.