Are you a theatre enthusiast? Do you love to see plays, but not sure where to see them? How about at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne for their 2012-2013 season? There are four wonderful plays this season and you can even buy a Season Subscription!

This season’s shows include:

Don’t miss IPFW Department of Theatre’s performances of The Miser

The Miser: a play about a wealthy man who wants to marry his two children off for profit against their wishes. His children must fight to get away from him and marry the person they love.

The show will be held at the Williams Theatre on the IPFW campus on Sept. 28, 29, Oct. 4, 5, 6 at 8pm and Oct. 7 at 2 pm.

Don’t miss IPFW Department of Theatre’s performances of The Women of Lockerbie

The Women of Lockerbie: a play about a group of women from Lockerbie, Scotland who are fighting the U.S. government to obtain the clothing of the victims found in the crash of Pan Am 103. They want to wash the clothes of the victims and return them to their grieving families.

The show will take place in the Studio Theatre in Kettler Hall on the IPFW campus on Nov. 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 8 pm and Nov 18 at 2 pm.

Don’t miss IPFW Department of Theatre’s performances of Oliver!

Oliver!: the musical adaptation of the Famous Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, is the story of an orphan living on the streets of London. The IPFW Department of Theatre is teaming up with the Fort Wayne Youtheatre.

All performances of this show will be at the Arts United Center in Downtown Fort Wayne on Feb. 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 at 8 pm and Feb. 10, 17 at 2 pm.

Don’t miss IPFW Department of Theatre’s performances of Orlando

Orlando: the adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando, is the story of a noble man who is magically transformed into an immortal woman.

The show will take place in the Williams Theatre on the IPFW Campus on April 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 8 pm and April 21 at 2 pm.

You do not want to miss any of these great performances, so sign up for a Season Subscriptions now! For more information visit the IPFW Department of Theatre website.

• 

Fort Wayne has a few under-rated night-life establishments worth checking out. Here are a few “dive bars” I recommend:

• The Brass Rail:  John Commorato Jr. and Corey Rader have owned this bar/music venue, located at 1121 Broadway, since June 2007.  This 21+ place is a hot spot for music entertainment, especially national acts. There aren’t too many places in town where you can catch a quality out-of-town band on a Tuesday night.  The best part: you can catch bands of all musical genres-from metal, to punk, to bluegrass–all under one roof! Be sure to order their signature drink–a PBR!

• Deer Park Pub: A favorite of University of St. Francis students, the Deer Park Pub boasts more than 52 different import beers. Not a beer fan? They also offer fine wines, ports and dinner specials at reasonable prices. I would describe this pub as “cozy.” The intimate atmosphere also makes for a unique experience. A la “Cheers,” the bar tender comes to know your name. The Deer Park is known for attracting artists from a variety of musical genres, from solo acoustic performances to cabaret style shows hammered out on our 1930′s depression era piano.

• O’Sullivan’s Italian Pub: Don’t be fooled by the name: O’Sullivan’s is not much of an Italian joint as it is a dive bar. (They do serve up a mean pizza, though!) Boasting a full bar, and regular music entertainment, “O’s” as the locals call it, is worth checking out. Oh, and be sure to look on their walls for kitschy memorabilia.

So, there you have it: three ways to see Fort Wayne’s nightlife in a different light. Insider’s Note: Be sure to have plenty of cash on hand, as there is often a minimum purchase requirement to use plastic.

• 

“Early morning. Late evening. Springtime or winter…. I travel country roads. My hope is that the work is a reflection of a more quiet land. Perhaps a land that never was. Sometimes I find it.” – Dayne Bonte

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art, located in Downtown Fort Wayne, welcomed its two newest exhibits on June 30.

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art has two new exhibits that just arrived on Saturday, June 30. The first is a photography exhibit by Dayne Bonte called The Quiet Light. The photographs are so beautiful. It is amazing to see his talent and the beauty that can be captured in Indiana. Many of his pictures are from different counties in Indiana. There are many photos in black and white, while some are full of color. This is definitely not an exhibit that you will want to miss!

The second new exhibit, by Ida Lorentzen, is called Interior Light and Spaces. Lorentzen uses pastels to paint some fantastic paintings. The imaged in the paintings are very simple, like a single night stand in the corner or two off-white chairs in a corner of a white room. What Lorentzen does with the lighting and shadowing within the painting gives these otherwise simple images complexity and life. It is a great exhibit for everyone to enjoy. You will not want to miss it!

Both exhibits run through August 5, 2012.

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is located in Downtown Fort Wayne at 311 E. Main St. Fort Wayne, 46802. It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 11am-6pm, Thursday from 11am-8pm, and Sunday from 12-5pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students (k – college), and $10 for families. Admission is free to members, all military personal and their families, and on Sundays and Thursdays.

• 

Summer is passing us by just as quickly as it came. So what is a better way to start the wrap up of the summer than with a day full of friends, food, fun, and country music? Country Fest ’12 is just around the corner and it is sure to be a day you do not want to miss!

Join Country Fest downtown at Headwaters Park!

Country Fest ’12 is Saturday, August 4 at Headwaters Park in Downtown Fort Wayne! Gates open at 1pm and the show begins at 3 pm. All tickets are general admission and priced at just $17.50 ($18.50 for credit card purchases). If there are any tickets left on the day of the show, they will be $25. Children 3 and under get in for free (one free child per adult). There are even opportunities to win tickets and four Meet & Greet passes to me ALL of the Artists for this year’s show! No coolers, blankets, or lawn chairs will be allowed.

This year’s Country Fest will have performances by Due West, Kana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Colt Ford, Lee Brice, and Montgomery Gentry! It is sure to be a great day with great performances.

Tickets are on sale now! Last year’s show sold out, so hurry to get your tickets now! To order tickets, find out how you can win free tickets, or answer any questions you still have, visit K105’s Country Fest website.

• 

The Botanical Roots concert series returns to the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory every Friday night from July 27th through August 31st.

Summer in Fort Wayne is definitely the season for great music and great concerts! On top of the already great concert series, another one is getting ready to start on July 27^th. That’s right! The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory’s concert series Botanical Roots is back for its 7^th year. You can expect a great concert every Friday night until August 31^st. All performances will be held outside on the Terrace. Rain or Shine, there will be a concert!

Each concert consists of a national touring act with a local band as the opener. These concerts are not something you will want to miss. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Opening act begins at 8:30 pm. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, but not outside food or drink will be allowed. You are allowed to bring your own lawn chair. Admission is $6 for adults. Admission is free for children 12 and under.

This year’s lineup includes:

Friday July 27^th: Kenny Neal, Blues, With the Todd Harrold Band

Friday, August 3^rd: Unknown Hinson, Rockabilly (Satire, not recommended for young audiences), With the Kenny Taylor Trio

Friday, August 10^th: The Aggrolites, Reggae/Ska, With Black Cat Mambo

Friday, August 17^th: The Honeybees, Rockabilly, With Scratch ‘n Sniff

Friday, August 24^th: Gizzae, Reggae, With Dan Dickerson

Friday, August 31^st:The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Cajun, With Old and Dirty

For more information in this great concert series, visit the Botanical Roots website.

•