The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra (NISO) invites the public to "Happy Holidays," a performance and celebration by the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus and Dr. Nancy Menk, Director, at the Star Plaza Theatre on Thursday, December 8, 2005 with a 2:00 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. evening performance.

There’s always a new twist on this festive concert that heralds in the holidays. Our orchestra and chorus help you celebrate the season with new sounds and traditional favorites.  They invite you to sing along as they play a medley of holiday songs that is sure to please. Santa will make his annual appearance (checking up on the maestro!), and there will be enough schtick to make you laugh. Share this joyous experience with your friends!

The orchestra is a group of 75 rostered professional musicians and is under the leadership of Music Director and Conductor, Kirk Muspratt.  For more information, please call (219) 836-0525. info@nwisymphony.org

Kirk Muspratt is the Musical Director and Conductor for the NW Indiana Symphony Orchestra.  Kirk Muspratt begins his fourth highly acclaimed season as Music Director of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.  In his first four seasons, he has instituted several new commended programs that include an extremely successful Family Series, a pilot High School Side-by-Side project, and a popular Solo Competition for Elementary Children that results in a child performing at every concert of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.

For more information, call (219) 836-0525, or visit the NISO web site at http://www.nwisymphony.org.

Once again, CTG's Chicago Street Theatre presents the favorite holiday comedy, A Christmas Story, now playing at CTG's Chicago Street Theatre, 154 W. Chicago Street in Valparaiso.  

The play was written by Phil Grecian, and is based on a popular motion picture written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark; and on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd.  Directed by Sheri Nash and Doc Kuhn.

The Story: Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself, at Goldblatt's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out." All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family's temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys' experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie's father winning a lamp shaped like a woman's leg in a net stocking; Ralphie's fantasy scenarios and more.

Dan Matern, Matt Gerhardt, Patty Bird and Maximillian Schaefer in a scene from CTG's "A Christmas Story"

The CTG holiday favorite is back! It’s all there -- the leg lamp, the Department Store Santa, Scut Farkas, and above all, young Ralphie, whose longing for a genuine Red Ryder BB gun reminds us of the elusive magic of Christmas. Don’t shoot your eye out – just call early to reserve your seats for this timeless family production.

Reservations can be made by calling the Chicago Street Theatre box office at 219-464-1636 or by email at boxoffice@ctgonline.org or you may visit the website at www.ctgonline.org 

Performances

Fri, Nov 25 at 8:00 pm
Sat, Nov 26 at 2:30 pm
Sat, Nov 26 at 8:00 pm
Sun, Nov 27 at 2:30 pm
Fri, Dec 2 at 8:00 pm
Sat, Dec 3 at 2:30 pm
Sat, Dec 3 at 8:00 pm
Sun, Dec 4 at 2:30 pm
Fri, Dec 9 at 8:00 pm
Sat, Dec 10 at 2:30 pm
Sat, Dec 10 at 8:00 pm
Sun. Dec 11 at 2:30 pm
Fr, Dec 16 at 8:00 pm
Sat, Dec 17 at 2:30 pm
Sat, Dec 17 at 8:00 pm
Sun, Dec 18 at 2:30 pm

Cast

Paul Braun as Ralph

Matt Gerhardt as Ralphie

Patty Bird as Mother

Dan Matern as The Old Man

Eric Brant as The Old Man (Saturday matinees only)

Maximillian Schaefer as Randy

Kevin Kuhn as Flick

Keenan Young as Schwartz

Amy Bannister as Miss Shields

Natalie Bleza as Esther Jane

C. J. Allen as Scut Farkas / Black Bart

Shaun Perez as Desperado #2

Blake Spillers as Scut's Toady

Gabriel Hinding as Helen

Classmates: Liz Barnett, Madison Beckman, Cydney Young

Santa Claus as Himself

CTG’s 51st Season is made possible through the generous support of:
Urschel Laboratories
Thrivent Financial
1st Source
NIPSCO
First National Bank
Anderson's
Family Express
Centier Bank
Comcast

CTG is supported, in part, by a grant from Northern Indiana Arts Association, the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Prices

Adults $15
Students (21 & under w/ ID) $10
Seniors (62 & over w/ ID) $12
Groups (10 or more) $12 

November 25 - December 21st, 2005
Madison, Indiana

Host Of Angels

"Rejoice in the Season" at Lanthier Winery. The Midwest's largest holiday angels exhibit. Angels, wine and holiday shopping, Christmas cheer abound! Host of Angels heralds the holiday season in the historic downtown shopping village with a splendid gathering of traditional holiday angels, celestial creatures and cherubs. Meander more than 200 individual peaces selected from a private collection loaned only once a year and displayed only in Madison, Indiana. All-inclusive weekend packages available. Lantier Winery "a far away feeling close enough to taste". For more info call 1-800-41-WINES or visit www.lanthierwinery.com 

December 2nd, 2005
Valparaiso, Indiana

Holy Days & Live Nativity

Be in the Courthouse Square for this special night with Santa, Carolers, "Goodie Station", Live Nativity vignette, Indiana 105 Live Broadcast and Carriage rides. Don't miss out on the fun!  For more info call: Glennas Kueck. 219-464-8332.

December 3-4th, 2005
Kouts, Indiana

Kouts Christmas Open House

Annual town-wide arts & crafts, baked goods and luncheons.  8:30 - 4:30.  This event features handcrafted items displayed in each participant’s home. Every visitor receives a map, then travels to each home for treats and treasures.  Admission is free. For more info call: Ruth Jarnecke: 219-766-3791.

February 4th, 2006
Bloomington, Indiana

Chocolate Fest

The 8th annual Chocolate fest will be held at the Bloomington / Monroe County Convention Center from 5 to 8pm join us for all the chocolate you can possibly eat from local, regional and national chocolate vendors as well as delicious chocolate creations from armature and professional chefs. While enjoying the delicious chocolate you can bid on various silent auction items, observe the cooking demonstration, or choose between two different types of music to listen to. we even have a children's area with movies shown and their very own silent auction as well as children entertainers. All proceeds benefit people with disabilities in south central Indiana. For more info contact Veronica Amarant at 800-875-9615 e-mail or visit www.optionsfbl.com

February 11th, 2006
Madison, Indiana

Schocalade Celebration

"Taste the sweet life." Sample sumptuous chocolates and hand crafted wines. Surrender to romance during Lanthier Winery's annual sweet indulgence event. Select a scheduled table amidst the "Sweet Indulgence" gallery exhibit. Laugh love and rekindle romance during this day long chocolate extravaganza in scenic vantage Madison. Satisfy your chocolate cravings with chocolate deserts and hand dipped delights. Just in time for Valentines day, Lanthier Winery's Schocalade celebration is the perfect setting for a romantic weekend getaway.  (Always the Saturday before Valentines Day) All inclusive weekend packages available. "Lanthier Winery, A far away feeling close enough to taste." For more info call 1-800-41-WINES, or visit www.lanthierwinery.com 

February 25-26th, 2006
Rockville, Indiana

Parke County Maple Fair

Parke County Maple Syrup Fair is held annually the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March. Parke County showcases Maple syrup producers of the county and their camps, primitive to modern. Taste the Maple syrup with pancakes and sausage at the Parke county fair grounds North of Rockville. At the head quarters find Maple syrup producers, crafters and the covered bridge art association. Visit our maple camps, Historic mills, Billie creek village and covered bridges. For more info contact Parke County CVB at
765-569-5226 e-mail or visit www.coveredbridges.com

February 25-26th, 2006
Salem, Indiana

Maple Syrup Festival

Come visit Indiana's largest maple syrup producer and enjoy delicious food, historical demonstrations, modern syrup making tours, kids activities and more. This is a great family festival with something for all ages. Everyone will enjoy our all-you-can-eat pancake and waffle breakfast, served all day. We also have a lunch menu of maple BBQ chicken or pork chops with several sides. Children will enjoy our children's games and maple syrup related activity center. Teens and adults will enjoy the cross cut saw and tomahawk throwing. All ages will enjoy browsing though the sugar store and our other craft booths. For more info contact Leane Goering at 877-841-8851 e-mail or visit www.lmsugarbush.com.

Theatre at the Center offers "The Sound of Music" Nov. 3 - Dec. 18, 2005

The Ridgewood Arts Foundations presents Theatre at the Center and “The Sound of Music,” based on the book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse, opening November 3 and running through December 18, 2005. The play features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. 

This holiday season, share with your family the magical, heartwarming, true-life story that has become the most popular American musical of all time - Rodgers and Hammerstein’s masterpiece, The Sound of Music. The story of Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves the convent to become governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, this classic features some of the best loved songs: My Favorite Things, Climb Every Mountain, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and The Sound of Music.

Theatre at the Center continues their 2005-2006 season after the Christrmas-New Year's break with “Baby,” a movcing and funny musical for all generations, based on the book by Sybille Pearson, opening January 26 and running through March 5, 2006. The play features music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. 

Based upon a Story developed with Susan Yankowitz, The New Yorker Magazine says Baby is "...“A smart & sexy production filled with a great message about family, love & children.”

Baby tells the story of three university campus couples as they deal with the painful, rewarding and agonizingly funny consequences of this universal experience. There are the college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; the thirtysomethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and the middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate when a night of passion lands them back where they started.

All performances are at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road in Munster.  For tickets call the box office at (219) 836-3255.  For more information visit their website: www.theatreatthecenter.com.

Crown Point Garden Club meets on first Friday