Philip Potempa – Page 26

LaPorte Little Theatre welcomes March’s arrival with the start of a 100-year anniversary celebration and a new production of “The Music Man” opening Friday and playing weekends through March 9. (LaPorte Little Theatre/provided)

Of Notoriety: LaPorte Little Theatre welcomes 100th year with ‘Music Man,’ Three Dog Night at Hard Rock

February 27, 2025 at 2:49 p.m.

Entertainment and art news from around the region

Audiences in the 120-seat Towle Theater in Hammond now enjoy the added comfort and advantage of plush interlocking steel-reinforced chairs installed in spring 2024, configured in a tiered stadium seating design. (Philip Potempa/for Post-Tribune)

Of Notoriety: Towle Theater launches 22nd season this weekend in Hammond with ‘The Mad Ones’

February 26, 2025 at 3:46 p.m.

The Towle Theater is opening the first show of its 22nd season with the Friday opening night for “The Mad Ones,” billed as “a humorously touching musical" with music direction...

Columnist Philip Potempa displays a two-page layout dedicated to the rhyme “Old Mother Hubbard and her Cupboard” as included in the 1954 edition of Child Craft book volume dedicated to poems and popular rhymes. (Philip Potempa/for Post-Tribune)

From the Farm: Reader looking for waitress Rosie’s navy bean soup recipe

February 21, 2025 at 2:51 p.m.

Last month’s column tribute to Rosie Amidei, a favorite smile in our small town and waitress extraordinaire, prompted kind words from readers along with some recipe requests.

Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas and Valparaiso City Council President Ellen Kapitan, shown listening during the public comment portion of the Jan. 27, 2025, council meeting, issued public apologies at the Feb.10, 2025, council meeting for an angry outburst from Valparaiso School Board President Dr. Robert Behrend during the previous month’s meeting. (Philip Potempa/for Post-Tribune)

Mayor Costas, Valparaiso City Council apologize for angry public exchange in January

February 21, 2025 at 12:18 p.m.

Mayor Jon Costas and Valparaiso City Council President Ellen Kapitan shared public apologies during the Feb. 10 Valparaiso City Council meeting as a mea culpa for the Jan. 27 meeting...

“The Knowing” is one of the independent films featured this weekend Feb. 21-23 at the 14th Annual Black Film Festival hosted at the Glen Theater in Gary, Indiana. (Gary Black Film Festival/provided)

Of Notoriety: Gary Black Film Fest in year 14 and a final stage run for Lowes in Cedar Lake

February 19, 2025 at 3:51 p.m.

Indiana State Rep. Vernon Smith, founder and board president for the African American Achievers, beams with pride about Gary native-turned-Hollywood film star William L. Johnson.

A park patron driving along the main entrance road of Rogers Lakewood Park last week, awaiting the arm to raise at the gatehouse, as one of the parks in Valparaiso to benefit from more than $10 million in upgrades beginning in spring 2025. (Philip Potempa/for Post-Tribune)

Valparaiso Parks announces $10 million for parks upgrades 2025 plan, absorbing former focus for sports complex

February 16, 2025 at 8:17 a.m.

The Valpo Parks Department, aligned with city officials, including Mayor Jon Costas and new council representatives, now finished with their first elected year in office, have announced $10 million in...

An autographed postcard promotes the year 2000 tour dates of Hollywood husband and wife Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows starring on stage in “Love Letters.” (Philip Potempa/for Post-Tribune)

From the Farm: A.R. Gurney’s ‘Love Letters’ play has a long and delicious history

February 14, 2025 at 3:58 p.m.

I have the honor (and fun) as part of the two-person cast to take part in a two-performance Valentine’s Day weekend run of playwright A.R. Gurney’s play “Love Letters.” I’m...

Luis Marquez, in his guise as the John Candy furry outer space parody character “Barf” from the 1987 film comedy “Space Balls” will serve as the comic costume emcee at NWI Comic Con 2025 in Crown Point Saturday, Feb. 15. (NWI Comic Con/provided)

Of Notoriety: NWI Comic Con in Crown Point, Kenny G to the north and ‘Rules for Living’ in Valparaiso for Valentine’s weekend

February 13, 2025 at 3:22 p.m.

Entertainment news from around the region

Pictured (left to right) Caroline Neff, Cliff Chamberlain and Nick Gehlfuss star in Steppenwolf Theatre’s revival of Sam Shepard’s "Fool for Love" through March 23, 2025, in Chicago. (Michael Brosilow/provided)

Of Notoriety: Munster’s Cliff Chamberlain in cast of now-extended ‘Fool for Love’ at Steppenwolf

February 12, 2025 at 3:09 p.m.

Stepping into a character role featured in any of the plays by the late playwright Sam Shepard takes both the chosen actor and theater audiences on travels to the darkest...

Rosie Amidei, center, is surrounded by both grandchildren and great-grandchildren, left to right, Bob Widner and Carrie Widner Hreha, Heather Montgomery Wider and daughter Isabella and Aubrey Hreha, in the side yard of the Potempa Farm in July 2024, when they gathered for Chester Potempa’s 95th birthday party. Columnist Phil Potempa’s oldest sister Carol Potempa is seen walking up behind. (Phil Potempa/Post-Tribune)

Potempa: Waitress Rosie was a treasured family fixture and recipe wiz

February 7, 2025 at 6:20 p.m.

Katherine “Rosie” Rigsby Widner Amidei was a wonder in the kitchen. Over the years, I've shared in my columns and cookbooks Rosie's recipes for her fudge, pecan pie, soups and...

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