THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 35, Number 17 Thursday, May 2, 2019 Home Sweet Home by Andrew Tallackson The measure of suc- cess, it seems, for many a recent high school or college graduate is a life forged far from home. Never mind the nurtur- ing presence of one’s hometown. If at all pos- sible, get the hell out of Dodge. Joe Stewart, refresh- ingly, bucks that trend. Strike up a conversa- tion with him, and he comes across as humble, thoughtful, quietly re- fl ective. Watch him per- form, and a star emerges. LaPorte County born and bred, with extraor- dinary talents, Stewart quickly realized how precious Midwest life was, making Michigan City his home and dis- covering bountiful op- portunities to embellish his creative side. For income, he is a server at Joe Stewart performs during a meeting Galveston Steakhouse. of Monday Musicale members. Performance-wise, his Photo by Bob Wellinski. resume is ever-expand- ing: Monday Musicale member; Hoosier Star Continued on Page 2 candidate; Footlight THE Page 2 May 2, 2019 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 %HDFKHU&RPSDQ\'LUHFWRU\ e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] 'RQDQG7RP0RQWJRPHU\ 2ZQHUV email: Classifieds - [email protected] $QGUHZ7DOODFNVRQ (GLWRU http://www.thebeacher.com/ 'UHZ:KLWH 3ULQW6DOHVPDQ PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by -DQHW%DLQHV ,QVLGH6DOHV&XVWRPHU6HUYLFH T %HFN\:LUHEDXJK 7\SHVHWWHU'HVLJQHU T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 5DQG\.D\VHU 3UHVVPDQ 'RUD.D\VHU %LQGHU\ Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is 0LNH%RUDZVNL+RSH&RVWHOOR&KHU\O-RSSHN 3URGXFWLRQ also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. -RKQ%DLQHV.DUHQ*HKU&KULV.D\VHU'HQQLV0D\EHUU\ 'HOLYHU\ of expression was not only super Home Sweet Home Continued from Page 1 important to who you are as a person, but it was a way to prac- Theatre solo show; concert version of “Man of La tice excellence.” Mancha” at Dunes Summer Theatre. Toss into the Coe not only has fond memo- mix, too, singing at church, weddings and senior liv- ries of Stewart, but also calls him ing communities. one of his favorite students. “I wasn’t really surprised there are all these op- “He not only had a terrifi c voice, tions in Michigan City,” the 31-year-old says. “One but he understood the process of of the things I’ve always loved about Michigan City, putting together a performance, fi rst, was the amount of community theater here. as well as building the skills to make a better performer,” Coe In such a small location, all these things are able to Tom Coe supply enough entertainment and keep themselves said. “He had a great attitude in afl oat.” everything we did, and I appreciated him even more Stewart was born and raised in LaPorte, the old- in the times when I could see he was understand- est sibling to a younger brother and sister. His par- ing the process on a different level than most of the ents sang in the choir at First Baptist Church of other students. Kingsbury. At 5, he appeared in a Missoula Chil- “In addition to his piano playing and singing dren’s Theatre performance of “The Wizard of Oz.” abilities, I liked that he could do different character That was the touchstone moment that introduced voices,” Coe continued. “He reminded me very much him to a love of theater. of myself at his age. In “It was fun, and it never fact, one time, my elderly occurred to me that it was grandma was in the au- something people hated to dience at a performance do because there was this where he was singing thing called stage fright,” and accompanying him- he said. “I thought, why self and she stood up and wouldn’t you want to do cheered for him, thinking it?” it was me.” From there, he became As Stewart was hon- involved in any singing ing his craft through Coe, or theater offerings avail- he was also appearing able, fi rst at Crichfi eld in productions by Michi- Elementary School, then gan City’s Young People’s Boston Middle School Theatre Co. Roles such as and fi nally LaPorte High Monsieur D’Arque, who School. It was there his runs the insane asylum confi dence, his stirring in “Disney’s Beauty and vocal prowess, fl ourished the Beast,” Pharaoh in under the tutelage of be- “Joseph and the Amazing loved choir director Tom Technicolor Dreamcoat” Coe. and The Cowardly Lion “He is a fantastic edu- in “The Wizard of Oz.” For cator,” Stewart said of those who recall the later Coe. “He is really dedi- production, when Stewart cated to his students. He leapt onto the stage as the took it to a place where Lion, he commanded it. you really believed that it Joe appears as Pharaoh in a YPTC production of “Joseph You could hear the pro- mattered, that this kind and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Photo by Scott Allen. verbial pin drop in the THE May 2, 2019 Page 3 theater. And when he paused for a sly nod to “The Lion King,” the audience each time erupted with laughter that lasted several minutes. Stan Holdcraft, who directed the YPTC produc- tions in which Stewart appeared, says he was im- pressed by his talent and professionalism. “Joe was one of the easiest kids I have worked with over the years,” Holdcraft said. “He was a dream to work with. He would do whatever you asked him to do. He was always on top of the character he was portraying. Very creative, and eager to please.” So with that level of talent, one might assume Stewart was gunning for a future life elsewhere. Yes and no. After graduating from LaPorte High School in 2006, Stewart attended St. Joseph’s College in Rens- selaer, where he focused on an English degree, but took advantage of performing opportunities there. He graduated in 2010 and returned home for a year to secure enough money to attend graduate school. In 2011, Stewart headed to New Jersey to earn a master’s degree in English at Seton Hall University. He fi nished everything but his thesis. What hap- pened? You could say it was an unexpected lesson in culture shock. “I loved the school, but I did not like New Jersey. It was super stressful,” he said. “It would have been much different had I not been a born-and-bred Mid- westener, but it was different out there. There is an incredible social nuance in the Midwest in general that I did not realize existed until I got out there and it was all gone. “I do plan on fi nishing the degree. I am so close. Basically, there is 50 pages separating me from a degree.” Upon returning home, Stewart quickly found work: one position at a former job at Lighthouse Place-Premium Outlets, the second waiting tables at Galveston Steakhouse. Stewart has the North End restaurant to thank for a bit of serendipity. He waited on a table occu- pied by members of First United Methodist Church, 121 E. Seventh St. One of those people was longtime Continued on Page 4 Joe (right) appears with members of Trilogy: Felicia Thomas (left) and Sue Cassler THE Page 4 May 2, 2019 al “American Idol”-like fundraiser. He competed in Home Sweet Home Continued from Page 3 2017, did not win, but again will vie for the grand prize this fall. congregation member Lew Timberlake who, upon “Singing live and having a live orchestra, that was learning Stewart could sing, invited him to join the just incredible,” he said. “And, it’s pretty remark- church choir. And it was through that choir that he able that you know what you’re doing is, again, a met Sue Cassler and Felicia Thomas. They subse- type of self expression on a personal level, and it’s quently formed a musical trio called Trilogy, which also a fundraiser for the orchestra.” then performed at Monday Musicale, a non-profi t In 2017, Stewart performed in a “Holiday Memo- group where musicians encourage each other’s tal- ries” show at Footlight Theatre. Last year, he sang ents, while also increasing awareness of musical as part of a concert version of “Man of La Mancha” styles, periods and genres. The group adopts a year- at Dunes Summer Theatre. ly theme, then breaks it down to monthly topics. “That was great,” he said. “(Artistic Director) Jef- Stewart has been a Monday Musicale member frey Baumgartner— he really knows his stuff. He for about three years, savoring the camaraderie be- has done great things for The Dunes.” tween fellow performers. Stewart stresses he could not pursue his pas- “There are so many experienced musicians in it,” sion without the support of the Fegaras family and he said. “They are all there for a common purpose, Galveston Steakhouse. The restaurant, in fact, is which is to perform and appreciate music. sponsoring him for this year’s Hoosier Star. Cassler says Stewart is one of a handful of Monday Musicale members younger than 40, and their presence is key to the club’s longevity. As for Trilogy, Cassler said she, Thomas and Stewart make for an unconventional trio: two Baby Boomers and a Millennial. Stew- art, however, fi t right in. “Joe is a gifted vocalist — pitch per- fect, with a beautiful, rich tone and an incredible range,” she said.