JULY 9-15, 2015 IPFW Dept. of Theatre: Best Theatrical Production IPFW’s Just-the-Right-Size Program When it comes to university theater programs, as long, was recently accredited by the National As- size matters. If it’s too big, students get swallowed sociation of Schools of Theater. Department Chair and whole. If it’s too small, there’s no room to get com- Professor Beverly Redman, M.F.A., Ph.D., said the fortable. But when it’s just right, recognition is helping an already good things happen. It’s the the- strong program become even bet- ater department variant of the ter. Goldilocks Principle. The department offers bach- Goldilocks would feel right elor degrees in musical theater, at home in the IPFW theater pro- directing, acting, and design and gram. But it was another set of technology, with many students fairy tales that boosted IPFW to doubling up, Redman said. With the land of Whammy winners. a current enrollment of about 50 The IPFW production of Into the theater majors and nearly a dozen Woods earned the program its first minors, the IPFW theater program Whammy in the Best Theatrical is, in Humphrey’s estimation the, Production category, topping a perfect size. strong list of nominees. “Students get to do pretty Directed by Craig Humphrey, much anything that they set out associate professor of costume to do,” said Humphrey, who is in design, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods stitches his 24th year at IPFW. “We have students acting as together four Brothers Grimm fairy tales into a musi- incoming freshmen on stage. They don’t have to wait cal with twists and turns. It was the second time Hum- until they’re a sophomore. And if they want to experi- phrey has directed the musical at IPFW. ment in the various areas they have the ability to do “It’s a show that lots of people like because of the that because we are as small as we are. mixing for the fairy tales,” he said. “I did it here in “I wanted to move to a place just like this because 1998, and last year I felt it was time to do it again. Had I wanted to be where all of the students in the program the right group of students.” would have the chance to be working on the produc- Having the right group of students in the right tions, but where the resources would be large enough numbers has become a habit for IPFW. And not only that the department had a strong infrastructure. Hon- is the campus celebrating its 50th anniversary this estly, it’s what I’ve been looking for for a long time. year, the theater program, which has been around just It’s a perfect fit for our students.” (Mark Hunter) Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island: Best Casual Restaurant The Fort’s Hundred-Year Tradition No two words stir up memories and appetites like I caught up with Todoran on a recent Monday the words Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island. Okay. morning to talk about Coney Island’s second Wham- That’s five words, but all you need is the last two. You my win for Best Casual Restaurant. He was chopping AIRING THIS WEEKEND • JULY 12 can say hot dog, but it doesn’t do the same thing to onions at a small table in the tiny kitchen that every- your brain. one at one time or another has walked through. To explain the effect of those two words, Coney “It reassures us that everything we are doing Island, on the synapses, Jim Todoran, who co-owns is right,” he said of the win. “It’s nice to be recog- the restaurant with his wife Kathy nized.” Pink Droyd Choka, needs three bullet points. Coney Island celebrated its 100th 1. It’s a good product – Yes, birthday in 2014 and, as far as any- it is. Grilled hot dog, yellow mus- one can tell, not much has changed tard, coney sauce, chopped onions, over the years. (Part Two) steamed bun. Simple, consistent, de- “We’re constantly trying to fight licious. change,” Todoran said. “That’s what 2. Good service – Again, yes. people relate to. When they come The employees of Coney Island are back after 20 years, Fort Wayne is big AIRING NEXT WEEKEND • JULY 19 like family (many really are family) and built up and changing, but we’re and are as loyal as the customers. still the same.” They memorize your order, transmit A few years ago, PBS aired a it to the prep line with varying de- special on the vast number of local Jake Shimabukuro grees of vocal thrust, depending on hot dog joints around the country, the ambient noise level in the place, each with it’s own twist on the sim- then deliver it on familiar plates. ple frank. But they screwed up and They move like bees in a hive, helping out as needed missed Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island. & Shawn Phillips and never letting a customer dangle for too long. “They never contacted us,” Todoran said with a 3. The history of the place – The ultimate yes. quiet shrug. “As far as I know we’re the oldest one in It’s the steam on the front window and the little Coke the country. I think there’s another one in Michigan bottles. It’s the stools, the tables, the stack of paper on that might be 101. But people in their home towns, the file cabinet near the roll top desk. If you grew up they love those hot dogs. It’s their place.” in Fort Wayne, the history of Coney Island is part of Yes, and Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island is your history. It is our shared history. our place. (Mark Hunter) 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com -------------------------------------------------------------------July 9, 2015 whatzup UPCOMING EVENTS Volume 19, Number 45 July 31 | 8pm Proudly presents in Fort Wayne, Indiana ou might want to start knocking on wood because, as we go to press, the ON “The little ol’ band from Texas!” TICKETS forecast is calling for more wet weather over the next week or so. That’s DANCING WITH SALE GOING FAST! bad news for a lot of folks who still haven’t fully recovered from last THE STAR S LIVE ! NOW! Ymonth’s storms as well as for the folks at Three Rivers Festival who have This week’s whatzup includes already had to cancel some events, the official program guide for including the Raft Race, because of the 47th annual Three Rivers recent flooding. This week’s whatzup includes the official festival guide and, Festival. You can also find a as is usually the case, focuses on the complete listing of the day’s festival’s major concerts (Loverboy, Three Rivers Festival events on the Summerland Tour and KC & the the whatzup.com home page Sunshine Band). The festival counts on proceeds from these national concerts each day during the festival. to keep things going from one year to the next, so we encourage you to get out and support the shows, even if you have August 4 | 7:30pm to take along an umbrella. DIANA KRA ll Weather notwithstanding, there’s lots to see and do inside this week’s whatzup, so Wallflower World Tour SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 • 7:30 PM read on, have yourself some fun and tell ’em we sent you. Upcoming Movies & Events Bill Maher .....................................Sept. 19 inside the issue The Illusionists ...............................Oct. 11 Great Russian Nutcracker .............Nov. 8 • readers poll winners FLIX ................................................ 15 Jackson Browne ...........................Nov. 17 Jurassic World Straight No Chaser ......................... Dec. 9 SCREEN TIME ...............................15 IPFW DEPT. OF THEATRE ........................... 2 Jurassic World, Inside Out Dominate Box Embassy Theatre ON SALE NOW! Best National Concert Venue ROAD NOTEZ ................................. 16 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. FT. WAYNE’S FAMOUS CONEY ISLAND ........2 WEDNESDAY JULY 15, 2015 • 7:30 PM Best National Concert CURTAIN CALL ...............................18 Fort Wayne, Indiana Bye Bye Birdie • features ticketmaster.com • calendars HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS .......................4 The Heart Is Still Beating LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ................10 LOVERBOY ....................................................... 6 MUSIC/ON THE ROAD ...................16 Free Movies Rockin’ for the Weekend ROAD TRIPZ ..................................17 Tickets The Nut Job Wed June 15 9:00 pm WITH SPECIAL GUEST On-lineTICKETS STILLBy Phone AT WOODENSurly, a curmudgeon, NICKELindependent squirrel is banished RECORDS! from his Free Movies SUMMERLAND TOUR .................................. 7 park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles STAGE & DANCE ...........................18 www.foellingertheatre.org (260) 427-6000 Tickets The Nut Job Wed June 15 9:00 pm on the one thing that may be able to save his life, and the rest of IN 46805 Wayne, Fort Blvd. 705 E. State Bringing Back the 90s THE TEMPTATIONS Surly, a curmudgeon, independent squirrel is banished from his park community, as they gear up for winter. PG On-line By Phone In Person Foellinger park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles www.foellingertheatre.org (260) 427-6000 KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND ...................... 8 ART & ARTIFACTS .........................18 Fort Wayne ParksSUNDAY & Recreation Department JULY 12,Frozen 2015 • Wed 7:30 July 2 9:00 pm PM SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015 • 7:30 PM on the one thing that may be able to save his life, and the rest of IN 46805 Wayne, Fort Blvd. 705 E. State The Dancing Never Stops 705 E. State Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN Sisters Elsa and Anna enjoy an idyllic life in the enchanted park community, as they gear up for winter.