Lubeznik Center for the Arts is hosting a curator talk for its new free exhibition, “LIT! Site-Specific Installations by Maria Burundarena and Luftwerk,” at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at its gallery space at 101 W. 2nd St. along the lakefront in Michigan City. The public is invited to join LCA’s curator, Whitney Bradshaw, as she takes guests through installations that challenge viewers’ sense of space and place by experimenting with light, color and materials while learning about the artists, their artwork, inspirations and processes. The installations range from glowing sculptures to neon-lit rooms and are both ethereal and precise, requiring active sensory engagement and inviting viewers to see and experience space in new ways. The exhibit continues through Feb. 15, 2026, with gallery hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, closed Tuesdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call 219-874-4900 or visit www.lubeznikcenter.org.
Dunes doings
Under the banner of the American Theatre Organization’s Fall of Freedom, the Dunes Arts Foundation is presenting a concert reading of Tom Stoppard’s “Dogg’s Hamlet” and “Cahoot’s Macbeth” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Holdcraft Performing Arts Center, 1200 Spring Street, Michigan City. Admission is “pay-what-you-can” at the door, with a suggested donation of $5. Stoppard’s signature humor will be showcased for this inventive double bill exploring how language can both liberate or imprison as well as how art speaks truth to power, while laughter can be a form of rebellion. Audiences will witness the art of “quick changes,” with sharp comedy and a thought-provoking finale that will leave audiences talking long after the curtain falls. In “Dogg’s Hamlet,” students perform Shakespeare — with a twist because they’re speaking “Dogg,” a language that sounds like English but isn’t. Cast members include Region actors and actors from the Chicago premiere of the play presented by the Commons Theatre in 1985. For more information, visit www.dunesARTS.org or call 219-879-7509.
Entertainer Shaggy headlines an exclusive New Year’s Eve concert celebration at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana on Dec. 31, 2025. (Image courtesy of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana)
Shaggy 2026
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has open sales for its New Year’s Eve concert celebration starring Grammy Award-winning entertainer Shaggy Wednesday, Dec. 31, performing his top hits. Doors open at 10 p.m. Orville Richard Burrell CD, better known by his stage name Shaggy, is an acclaimed Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist, producer and songwriter who now boasts actor credits. He has scored with hit songs like “It Wasn’t Me,” “Boombastic,” “In the Summertime,” “Oh Carolina” and “Angel.” He has received two Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album with “Boombastic” in 1996 and “44/876” with Sting in 2019, and won the Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist in 2002. On the same night, ringing in the 2026 new year will be rock band Lit performing a free concert on the Hard Rock Cafe stage at 11 p.m. Tickets for Shaggy are $144.35, inclusive of an open bar with cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks included with entry. Options include hybrid seating, standing room only on the floor, and riser seating. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, directly adjacent to the I-80/94 Burr Street Interchange. For more information, call 219-228-2383 or visit www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.
Tribute artist Marrakesh Express brings a powerhouse concert salute to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at Hobart Art Theater. (Image courtesy of Marrakesh Express)
Art’s Crosby concert
The music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is known for its intricate harmonies, timeless lyrics, and a sound that defined a generation. Marrakesh Express captures all of the trademark attributes of CSNY with stunning accuracy and energy, harnessing the essence of CSNY with soaring three- and four-part vocal harmonies that are rarely heard live. Marrakesh Express has one concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the Hobart Art Theater to deliver audiences back to the golden age of folk rock. Featuring four powerhouse vocalists backed by a superb band, Marrakesh Express creates a concert experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh. Tickets range from $25 to $177 at 219-942-1670 or www.brickartlive.com.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.