David Chudzynski

The South Bend Civic Theatre's production of On Golden Pond opened this past weekend with a surprising amount of seats sold for a show that I assumed wasn't well known. The house in the theatre's Wilson Auditorium was almost completely filled with eagerly awaiting audience members admiring yet another beautiful set by Jeff Barrick that emphasized a nostalgic and charming tone even before the show began.

For a performance run that spans multiple weekends, the first weekend is often accepted as a wrinkly weekend...acknowledging some things still need to be ironed out. Recognizing that this is the first production to open at 403 N. Main Street since Aaron Nichols stepped in as Executive Director (different from the previous alignment of a tag team Managing and Artistic Directors) also deems it necessary to say that this season was selected before Nichols took charge. He was indeed actively involved before, but to accurately evaluate his effectiveness, he would need to stay in this role through the beginning of the 2020 season (ironic, yet fitting, for a target of hindsight evaluation).

The South Bend Civic Theatre recently opened their new show, It's a Wonderful Life, for the holiday season under the direction of Jewel Abram-Copenhaver. Being one of the most classic stories of all time, SBCT really put on all the bells and whistles to make this show a spectacular piece of Christmas theatre. There were a few details that were outstandingly done in this rendition of an ageless show; these few things really made SBCT's version of It's a Wonderful Life one of the better ones I've seen.

If you're looking for a hilarious comedy that makes you feel borderline guilty for laughing, look no further than The Cripple of Inishmaan, which opened this weekend at the South Bend Civic Theatre.

From August 12th through the 21st, the South Bend Civic Theatre will feature the tradition of Irish storytelling in the Wilson Theatre with Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan. Director Jim Geisel takes the audience to an island off the western coast of Ireland in 1934. Robert Flaherty, a Hollywood director, arrives on the island of Inishmore to film 'Man of Aran.' As the word gets around, the young Cripple Billy aspires to be in the film as a way to escape his daily struggles.

In this year of the presidential election and the bicentennial celebration of the Hoosier state, the South Bend Civic Theatre is presenting 1776 in the Wilson Theatre. The original, Broadway production of this musical depiction of the birth of our nation won the Tony Award for Best Musical and now this theatrical, historical journey comes to South Bend for three weekends between April 15th and May 1st. A wonderful cast of volunteer actors illuminate the story of the Second Continental Congress for a unique perspective of this iconic event in our nation's history: with men that are emotional, proud, uncertain, charming, and irritable humans wanting the best for their families.

When you hear the title A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, it is hard to not instantly recall the timeless story of Ebenezer Scrooge and the Christmas Spirits that visit him to try and turn him from his wretched ways. However, sitting in the audience of the sold out opening show for South Bend Civic Theatre's A Christmas Carol, I realized that I would not be watching that classic Christmas story with a 'South Bend adaptation' that was touted to patrons. Rather, don't expect the original story to take place in South Bend, but instead become a story within a story about… South Bend? Confusing, right? I know I was confused for the better portion of the show because while I'm sure there were good intentions, the pieces just did not come together to make a cohesive and understandable performance.

When the weather outside is frightful, South Bend Civic Theatre will serve an artistic Christmastime feast, wrapping their 2015 season with a unique adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. Director Kevin Dreyer lights the candles of this timeless, holiday piece adapted by SBCT's own David Chudzynski.

When the weather outside is frightful, South Bend Civic Theatre will serve an artistic Christmastime feast, wrapping their 2015 season with a unique adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. Director Kevin Dreyer lights the candles of this timeless, holiday piece adapted by SBCT's own David Chudzynski.

South Bend Civic Theatre presents the frantic comedy The Explorers Club, today, June 12-28, 2015 in the Warner Theatre, 403 N. Main Street, in South Bend. Set in 1879 London, the prestigious Explorers Club members face an imminent crisis: their bartender is nowhere to be found. Well, that and their acting president wants to admit a woman to their distinguished membership of scientists. The candidate is beautiful, smart and the discoverer of a lost tribe, having brought back a member of the tribe for display. The decision to accept her could shake the foundations of the British Empire and worse, threaten cigars and brandy time at the club! What will the members do at this most difficult crisis in their three-hundred year history? Why, order more drinks, of course! An inspired, uproarious farce by Nell Benjamin.

South Bend Civic Theatre presents the frantic comedy The Explorers Club, June 12-28, 2015 in the Warner Theatre, 403 N. Main Street, in South Bend. Set in 1879 London, the prestigious Explorers Club members face an imminent crisis: their bartender is nowhere to be found. Well, that and their acting president wants to admit a woman to their distinguished membership of scientists. The candidate is beautiful, smart and the discoverer of a lost tribe, having brought back a member of the tribe for display. The decision to accept her could shake the foundations of the British Empire and worse, threaten cigars and brandy time at the club! What will the members do at this most difficult crisis in their three-hundred year history? Why, order more drinks, of course! An inspired, uproarious farce by Nell Benjamin.

South Bend Civic Theatre in association with LampkinMagic productions presents a special staged reading of an original play by local playwright Matt Benedict, A False Lie, tonight, February 19, at 7:30 PM, at the Firehouse Theatre, 701 N. Portage Ave. in South Bend.

South Bend Civic Theatre in association with LampkinMagic productions presents a special staged reading of an original play by local playwright Matt Benedict, A False Lie, Wednesday February 19, at 7:30 PM, at the Firehouse Theatre, 701 N. Portage Ave. in South Bend.

South Bend Civic Theatre bets on fun with Guys and Dolls tonight, March 1-17.

South Bend Civic Theatre will present a special performance of songs from the upcoming musical Guys and Dolls at halftime of the Notre Dame Women's Basketball game against Louisville. Game time is 9:00 PM Monday February 11, at the Purcell Pavilion on the campus of Notre Dame.

South Bend Civic Theatre bets on fun with Guys and Dolls March 1-17.

Superior Donuts will be in the Warner Studio Theatre at 403 N. Main Street from tonight, June 1 through Sunday June 10. See photos of the cast on stage below!