Join us this summer for our 43rd Lubeznik Arts Festival (LAF)! LAF is one of the highlights of summer in Northwest Indiana! Taking place on LCA’s grounds, just steps away from Lake Michigan, LAF connects festival-goers to our dynamic programming and exhibitions. During this year’s festival, we’ll have 80+ artists, food vendors, indoor exhibitions, family activities and live demos. LCA's summer blockbuster exhibition, Women to the Front, will also be on display inside LCA.

Time: 10am–5pm (Central)

August 15–17

Friday and Saturday, 7pm CST (8pm EST), Sunday 2pm CST (3pm EST)

Directed by Steve Scott, music direction by Katelyn Leonard-White

A tuneful exploration of love in all.

DUNES ARTS SUMMER THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2025 SEASON

Dunes Arts Summer Theatre announces its highly anticipated 74th summer season, including five productions “She Loves Me,” “Outside Mullingar,” and—kicking things off on May 30—“Misery.” Individual tickets ($35), senior/student tickets ($30), group sales ($25 for four or more) and season subscriptions ($150) can be purchased at dunesARTS.org or by calling (219) 879-7509.

Nestled within the woodsy dunes of Michiana Shores, Dunes Summer Theatre, located at 288 Shady Oak Dr, Michigan City, Ind., has brought professional performances to Harbor Country for more than seven decades and is northwest Indiana’s longest-running summer theater program.

Artistic Director Steve Scott, who joined Dunes Summer Theatre in 2021 after producing more than 200 productions at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre for more than three decades, is especially excited about this year’s offerings to southwest Lake Michigan’s performing arts community. “Our theme this year is ‘Opposites Attract,’” said Scott. “Our audiences will delight—and in some cases be terrified by—the results when very different people are forced together in highly emotional circumstances. It’s the essence of theater, and I’m very excited to see the results.”

Basic Upholstery Skills

Two Sessions

August 12, 11AM – 2 PM, $50,   Register here

August 14, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, $50,  Register here

This class teaches students the fundamental techniques and skills necessary to reupholster a simple dining chair. Learn to deconstruct and re-cover a slip seat, and see demos on webbing, piping, and other techniques you can use at home!

Suitable for beginners with little to no upholstery experience, as well as those looking to refresh their skills. Practice chairs, tools, and fabric will be provided.

66th Annual Chesterton Art Fair

Chesterton Art Fair is a premier juried art festival with a deep history of providing a stellar experience for both participating artists and visitors. In its 66th year, Chesterton Art Fair drew artists and patrons from all over the Midwest and beyond. The Fair featured 90+ artists, live music, family activities, food vendors and free parking for our almost four thousand visitors.

Always the first full weekend in August, this year’s dates are August 2 & 3, 2025, and fair hours are 10am to 5pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Chesterton Art Fair is held in beautiful Dogwood Park, a municipal park with plenty of shade trees and amenities.

In 2025, three artists will receive prizes! $500.00 for best in show, $300.00 for 1st prize, and $200.00 for 2nd prize.

Proceeds from the fair support Chesterton Art Center (CAC), a non-profit arts organization providing high-quality educational and outreach programs that serve hundreds of students of all ages, a calendar of exhibitions that showcase local and regional artists, and various community events and partnerships that bring the arts to the Duneland community and beyond.

General Information

All applicants must be artists who create original work in 2D, 3D, fiber, glass, leather, metal, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, or wood. Each artist must pay a non-refundable $35.00 jury fee. Artists may apply in more than one media category but will need to the pay the $35.00 fee for each application. There is a limit of three applications per artist. The application deadline is April 30, 2025. Accepted artists will be notified by May 9, 2025.

The venue, Dogwood Park, is a municipal park featuring shade trees, pavilions, restroom facilities, and other amenities. It is located close to Interstate I-80 (Indiana Toll Road) and I-94. Plenty of ample, free parking is provided for fair visitors, who pay a $5 entry fee to attend.

Art Exhibition:  Through the Needle’s Eye

at the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts

Exhibition Dates: July 25 – August 29, 2025

Associated Events

Opening Reception.  Friday, July 25, 6 pm – 8 pm. Includes cash bar and light refreshments.

Curator’s Talk. Sunday, August 24, 2 pm

X the x: Embroidery beyond Cross-stitch workshop. Saturday, August 23, 11 am – 1 pm,  $25.  Register at millerbeacharts.org

EXHIBITION SUMMARY

The Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts’ upcoming exhibition “Through the Needle’s Eye” celebrates the vision of eight individual artists and two collective groups, expressed through piecing, appliqué, fiber collage, quilting, and embroidery.

Jane Sassaman develops arresting pieced quilts on themes around nature and plant life. Melissa Leandro also draws on nature using weaving as well as stitching to create rich surfaces. Local artist Bobbie Burns combines fabric collage and felting in a mix of abstract and inventive images. Heidi Parkes’ abstract quilts explore ideas and personal experiences through appliqué and extensive hand stitching. Donna Katz’s painted, pieced quilts deconstruct landforms, as do Deb Dyer’s embroidered aviation maps. Krystle Lemonias and Deidre Scherer both focus closely-detailed fabric collages on the representation of human experience. And the artists who gathered to assemble two large quilts for the Maryland Institute of Creative Arts under the direction of artist Susie Brandt, offer an array of responses to the theme of Endangered Planet.

This exhibit, curated by Miller Beach resident and textile artist Jane Whedbee, explores the extraordinary and tremendously varied practices at work in the contemporary fiber world. In a movement that historically struggled to be recognized as significant “Art,” these artists display how engaging and meaningful art is possible through these means.

The exhibition opens with a reception on Friday, July 25, at 6 pm. Curator Jane Whedbee will lead a talk on the exhibit on Sunday, August 24, at 2 pm. Both events are free and open to the public.

An associated workshop, "X the x: Embroidery Beyond Cross Stitch," scheduled for August 23, invites participants to explore the creative use of traditional embroidery forms. Registration required.

New Exhibit!

Through the Needle’s Eye

July 25 – August 26

Opening Reception: Friday, July 25, 6 pm - 8 pm

Celebrating the vision of seven individual artists and two collective groups, expressed through piecing, appliqué, fiber collage, quilting, and embroidery, this exhibit, curated by Miller Beach resident and textile artist Jane Whedbee, explores the extraordinary and tremendously varied practices at work in the contemporary fiber world. In a movement that historically struggled to be recognized as significant “Art,” these artists display how engaging and meaningful art is possible through these means.

Book by Joe Maseroff, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

July 25–August 10

Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm CST (8pm EST), Sundays 2pm CST (3pm EST)

Directed by Steve Scott, music direction by Katelyn Leonard-WhiteBased on the classic film “The Shop Around the Corner” (later remade as “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan), a Hungarian perfume shop becomes the site for mistaken identity and glorious romance in a musical dubbed “one of the dozen.

DUNES ARTS SUMMER THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2025 SEASON

Dunes Arts Summer Theatre announces its highly anticipated 74th summer season, including five productions “She Loves Me,” “Outside Mullingar,” and—kicking things off on May 30—“Misery.” Individual tickets ($35), senior/student tickets ($30), group sales ($25 for four or more) and season subscriptions ($150) can be purchased at dunesARTS.org or by calling (219) 879-7509.

Nestled within the woodsy dunes of Michiana Shores, Dunes Summer Theatre, located at 288 Shady Oak Dr, Michigan City, Ind., has brought professional performances to Harbor Country for more than seven decades and is northwest Indiana’s longest-running summer theater program.

Artistic Director Steve Scott, who joined Dunes Summer Theatre in 2021 after producing more than 200 productions at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre for more than three decades, is especially excited about this year’s offerings to southwest Lake Michigan’s performing arts community. “Our theme this year is ‘Opposites Attract,’” said Scott. “Our audiences will delight—and in some cases be terrified by—the results when very different people are forced together in highly emotional circumstances. It’s the essence of theater, and I’m very excited to see the results.”

Brush Up on Your Trivia! Trivia Night Fundraiser for Art Barn

Saturday, July 19 from 6-9pm | 21+
Tickets $30, Tables of 8 $225 PURCHASE HERE
Peddlers Pizza Pub, 5 Lincolnway, Valparaiso, IN 46383

Join us for a lively evening of trivia, community, and a healthy dose of competition at Peddlers Pizza Pub in support of Art Barn School of Art! Whether you're a pop culture pro, art aficionado, history buff, nature lover, sports fan or just in it for the complimentary charcuterie and camaraderie, this event is a chance to challenge your mind and spark your imagination. Use your noggin, not your cellphone! No phones allowed.

Trivia Rounds include Art, Pop Culture, History, Sports, Science/Nature, with all rounds featuring a bonus Art Barn question!

Emceed by Joe Markovich President & CEO of JCMA Inc.

Superhero
Musical

Book by John Logan Music and Lyrics by Tom Kitt

JULY 18–20, 25–27 2025
FRI 7:30pm, SAT & Sun 2pm
Dates & Times subject to change

Superhero is a deeply human new musical about a fractured family .The story follows Simon, a teenage comic book fan who retreats into an imaginary world after witnessing his father's death in an accident two years earlier. Simon's mother, Charlotte, is an English lit professor who struggles to process her grief while also worrying about her son. The two are joined by a mysterious neighbor and an unexpected hero who helps them on their journey. Before we can save the world, we have to save each other.

SUPERHERO is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.

Sound the Alarm: A Solo Exhibition by Juan Carlos Rodriguez

Munster, Indiana — July 18 – August 30, 2025 South Shore Arts is proud to present Sound the Alarm, a solo exhibition by Juan Carlos Rodriguez. Merging the rich cultural traditions of Mexico with the bold energy of Chicago’s streets, artist Juan Carlos Rodriguez presents over 18 recent paintings in this striking solo exhibition exploring the intersections of identity, community, and political consciousness through vibrant, movement-driven works.

The show will open on June 18 with an artist reception on Friday, July 18 from 6-8pm at South Shore Arts Atrium gallery, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN. All South Shore Arts exhibitions are free and open to the public.

In Sound the Alarm, Rodriguez uses color not only as a tool of personal expression, but as a form of protest and healing. “I developed a profound appreciation for the way color can breathe life into any space. This fascination has fueled my commitment to infuse every stroke with a burst of energy, evoking emotions that resonate with the observer,” says the artist. Each piece in this collection transforms the canvas into a space where joy, struggle, resistance, and resilience coexist.

Sound the Alarm dives deep into themes such as displacement, identity politics, cultural erasure, and the power of collective memory. The exhibition is both intimate and universal—a visual manifesto where lived experience meets social commentary.

About South Shore Arts Atrium gallery

South Shore Arts Atrium gallery is an contemporary art gallery dedicated to showcasing innovative works created by both emerging and established artists in Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicagoland area. The gallery’s mission is to help transform and represent the South Shore through the arts. The gallery has a focus on inclusivity and diversity, South Shore Arts stives to connect with audiences of all backgrounds and interests through its exhibitions and arts programming.

Exhibition Dates: July 18 – August 30, 2025 Opening Reception: Friday, July 18, 2025 from 6-8pm Gallery Hours: Mondays, Wednesday, Friday from 10am – 5pm

Thursdays from 12 – 7pm

Saturday from 10am – 4pm

Sunday from 12 – 4pm Location: South Shore Arts Atrium gallery, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN

Right Here: Vin + Hazel Hannell and Their Continued Influence

• Exhibition Dates: July 1–August 30, 2025

• Third Fridays Artists' Reception: Friday, July 18, 2025

• Vin + Hazel Hannell Historical Presentation by Serena Ard: Thursday, July 24, 2025 

Dunes Summer Arts Theatre continues its 2025 season with the exhilarating Irish romance “Outside Mullingar,” opening Friday, June 27, and running through Sunday, July 13. 

Written by John Patrick Shanley, “Outside Mullingar” and directed by (Dunes' set designer) Michaal Laswell, this softhearted comedy features actors Peter Briceño Gertas, Danielle Bilderback, Morgan McCabe and Robert Reidy. 

The second in the theatre’s summer lineup — and with four productions still to come, including the musical “She Loves Me,” the Broadway cabaret “Opposites Attract,” and “Voices From the Heartland: The Third Annual New Plays Festival” — season subscriptions are now available for $120.

All shows take place at the theatre at 288 Shady Oak Dr, Michigan City, Ind. Showtimes are 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST), Sundays 2 p.m. CST (3 p.m. EST). Tickets and full season information can be found here.

JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY’S “OUTSIDE MULLINGAR” OPENS AT DUNES SUMMER ARTS THEATRE FRIDAY, JUNE 27
Season Subscriptions Now $120 as Summer Lineup Continues

MICHIGAN CITY, IND.- Dunes Arts Summer Theatre continues its 2025 season with the exhilarating Irish romance “Outside Mullingar,” opening Friday, June 27, and running through Sunday, July 13. The show is the second in the theatre’s summer lineup — and with four productions still to come, including the musical “She Loves Me,” the Broadway cabaret “Opposites Attract,” and “Voices From the Heartland: The Third Annual New Plays Festival” — season subscriptions are now available for $120.

Written by John Patrick Shanley (who also wrote the award-winning play “Doubt: A Parable,” as well as Oscar winner “Moonstruck”), “Outside Mullingar” features actors Peter Briceño Gertas, Danielle Bilderback, Morgan McCabe and Robert Reidy. Resident set designer Michael Lasswell is also directing the play and has been scouring local estate sales for rural Irish props and scenery. The set will feature rolling Irish hills that stretch to the back wall of the theatre.

Set in the Midlands of Ireland, the production centers on the fiery relationship between two 40-something neighbor farmers: shy and reclusive Anthony and hopeful and headstrong Rosemary, who (unknown to Anthony) has been romantically interested in him since both were children. The deaths of Anthony's father and Rosemary's mother set the stage for "a softhearted comedy freckled with dark reflections on the unsatisfactory nature of life and the thorns of love," wrote The New York Times.

“This has long been one of my favorite plays, at times heartbreaking, often riotously funny and ultimately deeply moving” say artistic director, Steve Scott. “It's the perfect embodiment of our ‘Opposites Attract’ season, and I can't wait for Dunes audiences to join in the fun.” Adds Laswell, “I think of it as a peppery romance for people who don’t want to get mushy. We’ve been laughing out loud in rehearsals a lot and occasionally crying. It’s a very smart, witty romance about learning to live your truth. If you loved the iconic ‘Snap out of it!’ moment in Shanley’s ‘Moonstruck,’ this is the show for you.”

Performances take place at Dunes Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michiana Shores, Indiana. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST), and Sundays at 2 p.m. CST (3 p.m. EST). Please note: There is no performance on Friday, July 4, but an additional performance will be held Thursday, July 3. Individual tickets are $35; senior/student tickets are $30; group tickets are $25 for four or more. Season subscriptions, which include exclusive invites to special events and parties, are now $120. For more information or to purchase, visit dunesARTS.org or call 219-879-7509.

ABOUT THE ACTORS
Danielle Bilderback (Rosemary Muldoon) appeared in last year’s production of “Blithe Spirit” (as Ruth) and is an instructor with the Dunes Youth Theatre. Other credits include “The Music Man” and “Spamalot” at La Porte Little Theatre, as well as choreography for “Jerry’s Girls” and “The Sound of Music” at Footlight Players.

Peter Briceño Gertas (Anthony Reilly) is a graduate of Roosevelt University with a BFA in acting and has worked with a range of Chicago companies. Recent credits include “A Christmas Carol” and “Cinderella” at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre; “Native Gardens” at Williams Street Rep; “Out of Love” at Interrobang Theatre; “Emma” at Lifeline Theatre; “In to America” at Griffin Theatre; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Citadel Theatre; and “Mi Latinidad” at The Den Theatre.

Morgan McCabe (Aoife Muldoon) directed last year’s production of “Talley’s Folly.” She is a performer, director, dramaturg and arts educator, with regional credits including Marian Theatre Guild and Indiana Repertory Theatre. She is also a founding member of the Gary Shakespeare Festival. McCabe has performed with numerous Chicago theaters, including Steppenwolf, City Lit, The Gift Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Court Theatre and Victory Gardens. Other credits include work with Ursa Major Theatre Company and SITI Company Associates in New York City; Opera House Arts in Deer Isle, Maine; and Vienna English Theatre in Austria.

Robert Reidy (Tony Reilly) has appeared in numerous Irish-themed productions in the Chicago area, including “Dancing at Lughnasa,” “Shadow of a Gunman,” “The Muesli Belt,” “Castle Corner Jukebox,” “Da,” and “Juno and the Paycock.” Additional credits include “Death of a Salesman” and “A Christmas Carol” at the Beverly Arts Center; “Proof” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in the southwest suburbs; and “The Fantasticks” and “The Gin Game” in Hammond, Ind. Since 1999, he has been a reader at annual James Joyce Bloomsday celebrations and is the founder of the New Irish Literary Theatre.

ABOUT DUNES ARTS SUMMER THEATRE
The Dunes Arts Foundation, which operates Dunes Arts Summer Theatre and education programs, was incorporated in the state of Indiana in 1951 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nestled within the woodsy dunes of Michiana Shores, Dunes Summer Theatre is located about a half mile from the Indiana Dunes and the Lake Michigan shoreline, at 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michigan City, Ind. As northwest Indiana’s longest-running summer theater program, Dunes Summer Theatre has provided professional productions for more than seven decades. This one-of-a-kind experience is a highlight of Harbor Country’s cultural fabric, promoting community spirit and embracing inclusivity, diversity and accessibility in all areas of operation.

For more information or to purchase individual tickets ($35), senior/student tickets ($30), group tickets ($25 for four or more), or season subscriptions (now $120), visit dunesARTS.org or call 219-879-7509. Follow along on social media @dunesartsfoundation.

Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley

June 27–July 13

Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm CST (8pm EST), Sundays 2pm CST (3pm EST)

NO PERFORMANCE ON JULY 4. Extra performance added on Thursday, July 3, 7pm CST

Directed by Michael Lasswell

Set in rural Ireland, Shanley’s clever comedy focuses on the unlikely romance between Anthony and Rosemary, longtime neighbors who slowly discover their reaction to each other—in a romantic battle of wits that is poetic, uplifting, sometimes dark, and funny as hell.

DUNES ARTS SUMMER THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2025 SEASON

Dunes Arts Summer Theatre announces its highly anticipated 74th summer season, including five productions “She Loves Me,” “Outside Mullingar,” and—kicking things off on May 30—“Misery.” Individual tickets ($35), senior/student tickets ($30), group sales ($25 for four or more) and season subscriptions ($150) can be purchased at dunesARTS.org or by calling (219) 879-7509.

Nestled within the woodsy dunes of Michiana Shores, Dunes Summer Theatre, located at 288 Shady Oak Dr, Michigan City, Ind., has brought professional performances to Harbor Country for more than seven decades and is northwest Indiana’s longest-running summer theater program.

Artistic Director Steve Scott, who joined Dunes Summer Theatre in 2021 after producing more than 200 productions at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre for more than three decades, is especially excited about this year’s offerings to southwest Lake Michigan’s performing arts community. “Our theme this year is ‘Opposites Attract,’” said Scott. “Our audiences will delight—and in some cases be terrified by—the results when very different people are forced together in highly emotional circumstances. It’s the essence of theater, and I’m very excited to see the results.”

JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY’S “OUTSIDE MULLINGAR” OPENS AT DUNES SUMMER ARTS THEATRE FRIDAY, JUNE 27

Season Subscriptions Now $120 as Summer Lineup Continues MICHIGAN CITY, IND.-

Dunes Arts Summer Theatre continues its 2025 season with the exhilarating Irish romance “Outside Mullingar,” opening Friday, June 27, and running through Sunday, July 13. The show is the second in the theatre’s summer lineup — and with four productions still to come, including the musical “She Loves Me,” the Broadway cabaret “Opposites Attract,” and “Voices From the Heartland: The Third Annual New Plays Festival” — season subscriptions are now available for $120.

Written by John Patrick Shanley (who also wrote the award-winning play “Doubt: A Parable,” as well as Oscar winner “Moonstruck”), “Outside Mullingar” features actors Peter Briceño Gertas, Danielle Bilderback, Morgan McCabe and Robert Reidy. Resident set designer Michael Lasswell is also directing the play and has been scouring local estate sales for rural Irish props and scenery.

The set will feature rolling Irish hills that stretch to the back wall of the theatre. Set in the Midlands of Ireland, the production centers on the fiery relationship between two 40- something neighbor farmers: shy and reclusive Anthony and hopeful and headstrong Rosemary, who (unknown to Anthony) has been romantically interested in him since both were children.

The deaths of Anthony's father and Rosemary's mother set the stage for "a softhearted comedy freckled with dark reflections on the unsatisfactory nature of life and the thorns of love," wrote The New York Times. “This has long been one of my favorite plays, at times heartbreaking, often riotously funny and ultimately deeply moving” say artistic director, Steve Scott.

“It's the perfect embodiment of our ‘Opposites Attract’ season, and I can't wait for Dunes audiences to join in the fun.” Adds Laswell, “I think of it as a peppery romance for people who don’t want to get mushy. We’ve been laughing out loud in rehearsals a lot and occasionally crying. It’s a very smart, witty romance about learning to live your truth.

If you loved the iconic ‘Snap out of it!’ moment in Shanley’s ‘Moonstruck,’ this is the show for you.” Performances take place at Dunes Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michiana Shores, Indiana. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST), and Sundays at 2 p.m. CST (3 p.m. EST). Please note:

There is no performance on Friday, July 4, but an additional performance will be held Thursday, July 3. Individual tickets are $35; senior/student tickets are $30; group tickets are $25 for four or more. Season subscriptions, which include exclusive invites to special events and parties, are now $120. For more information or to purchase, visit dunesARTS.org or call 219-879-7509. -more-

ABOUT THE ACTORS Danielle Bilderback (Rosemary Muldoon) appeared in last year’s production of “Blithe Spirit” (as Ruth) and is an instructor with the Dunes Youth Theatre. Other credits include “The Music Man” and “Spamalot” at La Porte Little Theatre, as well as choreography for “Jerry’s Girls” and “The Sound of Music” at Footlight Players.

Peter Briceño Gertas (Anthony Reilly) is a graduate of Roosevelt University with a BFA in acting and has worked with a range of Chicago companies. Recent credits include “A Christmas Carol” and “Cinderella” at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre; “Native Gardens” at Williams Street Rep; “Out of Love” at Interrobang Theatre; “Emma” at Lifeline Theatre; “In to America” at Griffin Theatre; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at Citadel Theatre; and “Mi Latinidad” at The Den Theatre.

Morgan McCabe (Aoife Muldoon) directed last year’s production of “Talley’s Folly.” She is a performer, director, dramaturg and arts educator, with regional credits including Marian Theatre Guild and Indiana Repertory Theatre. She is also a founding member of the Gary Shakespeare Festival. McCabe has performed with numerous Chicago theaters, including Steppenwolf, City Lit, The Gift Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Court Theatre and Victory Gardens.

Other credits include work with Ursa Major Theatre Company and SITI Company Associates in New York City; Opera House Arts in Deer Isle, Maine; and Vienna English Theatre in Austria. Robert Reidy (Tony Reilly) has appeared in numerous Irish-themed productions in the Chicago area, including “Dancing at Lughnasa,” “Shadow of a Gunman,” “The Muesli Belt,” “Castle Corner Jukebox,” “Da,” and “Juno and the Paycock.” Additional credits include “Death of a Salesman” and “A Christmas Carol” at the Beverly Arts Center; “Proof” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in the southwest suburbs; and “The Fantasticks” and “The Gin Game” in Hammond, Ind. Since 1999, he has been a reader at annual James Joyce Bloomsday celebrations and is the founder of the New Irish Literary Theatre.

ABOUT DUNES ARTS SUMMER THEATRE The Dunes Arts Foundation, which operates Dunes Arts Summer Theatre and education programs, was incorporated in the state of Indiana in 1951 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nestled within the woodsy dunes of Michiana Shores, Dunes Summer Theatre is located about a half mile from the Indiana Dunes and the Lake Michigan shoreline, at 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michigan City, Ind.

As northwest Indiana’s longest-running summer theater program, Dunes Summer Theatre has provided professional productions for more than seven decades. This one-of-a-kind experience is a highlight of Harbor Country’s cultural fabric, promoting community spirit and embracing inclusivity, diversity and accessibility in all areas of operation. For more information or to purchase individual tickets ($35), senior/student tickets ($30), group tickets ($25 for four or more), or season subscriptions (now $120), visit dunesARTS.org or call 219-879-7509. Follow along on social media @dunesartsfoundation.

Call for Artists: 82nd Annual Salon Show Now Accepting Submissions

Munster, Indiana South Shore Arts proudly announces a call for entries for the 82nd Annual Salon Show, one of the region’s most anticipated juried art exhibitions. Artists are invited to submit their work for a chance to be featured in this prestigious showcase and compete for over $15,000 in cash awards. The Exhibition will run from September 5 through November 9, and will highlight the breadth and talent of artists connected to Indiana and the greater Chicagoland Area.

Deadline for submissions will be Friday, August 7, 2025 by 5:00pm. Eligible artists must be 18 years or older and meet the following criteria. Artists must either reside or have been born in the state of Indiana; be a current member of South Shore Arts; or reside or work in Cook County, Illinois. South Shore Arts accepts all fine art mediums including: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, fiber, glass, digital art, mixed media, ceramics, video, multimedia, and more. All work must be original and completed within the last two years. If you are unsure about submitting your media, please contact Exhibitions Manager, Brandon Johnson.

For full prospectus, entry form, and more information, please visit: southshoreartsonline.org or contact Exhibits Manager, Brandon Johnson at brandon@southshoreartsonline.org

Exhibition Dates: September 5 – November 9, 2025 Deadline for Submissions: Friday, August 7, 2025 by 5:00pm Gallery Hours: Mondays, 5-8pm and Saturdays 10 – 1pm Location: Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN

Acton Creative Summer Weaving Camp 2025

Designed for the curious crafter, the Summer Weaving Camp is an online, 5-day event all about weaving. It’s a perfect mash-up of Weaving 101 and Summer Camp that will bring you a great understanding of what you can do with weaving, and how to do it. 

Camp will be held from June 23-27, and registration is $29 (tinyurl.com/weavingcamp). Campers will receive access to a short educational video & pdf each day, along with games and activities. An End of Camp Party will be held on Friday so all the campers can celebrate their week together. 

Potential Questions about Summer Weaving Camp:

• Who is the camp designed for? 

• What will campers learn during the 5 days?

• What fun activities will be included in camp?

• What happens after camp is over?   

• How did you (Chris) get into weaving? 

Acton Creative

At Acton Creative, weaving is our passion and beginners are our people. Through online education and community, we support and encourage everyone to give weaving a try. 

Chris Acton jumped ship from the corporate world in 2008 to follow her passion - throwing a shuttle all day long. After many years of selling her work at markets and art fairs, she found her groove as an online teacher, working with beginning weavers from all over the world. These days, she looks forward to hosting Live at the Loom every Thursday morning, and teaching her signature course, the Dress Your Loom Course, multiple times a year. 

You’re invited to check out Acton Creative at the following locations:

Website - https://www.actoncreative.net/

YouTube - https://youtube.com/@ActonCreative

Acton Creative Insiders (membership) - https://www.patreon.com/actoncreative

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ActonCreative/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/actoncreative/