The north side of Fort Wayne will be a haven for golfers once Back 9 opens in the Villages of Arneo development, along North Clinton Street between Brooks and Wallen roads.

With a location along the White River in Indianapolis, Back 9 is a family entertainment center with 75 climate-controlled golf bays, which can accommodate eight players each. Flite Technology allows players to see flight, spin rate, trajectory, and carry of golf balls, while also allowing players to virtually play at courses such as Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black.

Along with golf, Back 9 will also have food and drinks as well as a biergarten and plenty of space to reserve for meetings or parties.

“With two of our partners being born and raised here, Fort Wayne is like home to us,” said Phil Vorndran, president of sales and marketing at Back 9. “The city’s energy and commitment to creating vibrant, community-focused spaces align perfectly with our vision. We can’t wait to be part of the Villages of Arneo and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of Northeast Indiana.”

Details on construction and an opening dates will be reported in the coming weeks.

Arts United Awards nominees announced

Arts United recently released their list of nominees for the 2025 Arts United Awards, which will be awarded during a ceremony Wednesday, March 19, at PPG ArtsLab.

Nominees are individuals, teams, projects, and organizations that have “made artistic and cultural contributions to one or more communities with the 12-county region of northeast Indiana.”

Categories include Distinguished Artist of the Year, Emerging Artist of the Year, Margaret Ann Keegan Award for Arts Education, Outstanding Artistic Endeavor, and Volunteer of the Year.

This year’s nominees are A Creative Life: The Architecture and Art of Alan Grinsfelder, Michael Banks’ Apple Orchard Knewz, Fort Wayne Dance Collective’s Collective Expressions, David Fenstermacher, Eleanor Marine, Emma Organ, Erin Bean, Johanna Bourkova-Morunov, Katy Gray, Kaylan Buteyn, Lisa Ellis, Maria Tan, Mellissa Depew, Michael Greene, Fort Wayne Philharmonic Family Series, Plein Air Syracuse, Sarah Harber, Seth Green, Stories From Stacks: Theatre for Young Readers, Straw Bale Art Trail, Heartland Sings’ The Peacemakers, First Presbyterian Theater and Fort Wayne Youtheatre’s The Prom, and Vanessa Escobar.

Live local theater offerings

Appearing on stages near you this week are:

  • War of the Worlds: 1938 Radio Script (Senior Production) at Pulse Opera House in Warren, March 7-9 and March 14-16.
  • all for One productions’ Walk Two Moons at Parkview Physicians Group Artslab on March 7-9 and March 14-16.
  • Three Rivers Music Theatre’s Anything Goes!, March 7-9, March 14-16, and March 21-23.
  • Jesters’ Oops! at University of Saint Francis North Campus Auditorium, March 8-9.

Theater companies announce upcoming seasons

Arena Dinner Theatre recently announced their 2025-26 season, which includes:

  • 30 Rock (Hill): Celebrating 30 Years on Rockhill in August.
  • Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Oct. 17-Nov. 1.
  • Scrooge in Rouge, Dec. 5-21.
  • Chicken & Biscuits, Jan. 16-31
  •  In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play – Mar. 13-28, 2026.
  • Cabin Fever: A Texas Tragicomedy, April 24-May 9, 2026.
  • Grand Hotel: The Musical, Jun. 12-27, 2026. 

Fire & Light Academy has announced its 2025-26 season with shows at PPG ArtsLab.

  • Harvey Cocks’ The Mystery of Tom Sawyer, April 4-12
  • Korczak’s Children, May 1-3.
  • 42nd Street, May 16-24

News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.