Kelly Updike, president and CEO of Embassy Theatre, has been recognized by Greater Fort Wayne Inc. with this year’s Barb Smith GFW Inc. Service Award.
The award is given in honor of former GFW board member and community advocate Barb Smith.
“In addition to her work as president and CEO of the Embassy Theatre, Kelly Updike has served nine years on the GFW Inc. board of directors,” GFW said in a statement. “She is the current chair of the Governance Committee, has served on the Executive Committee, led GFW Inc.’s Diversity Task Force, and was instrumental in developing GFW Inc.’s diversity and inclusion pledge and member expectations.”
During her 17-year tenure at the Embassy, Updike has developed community festivals like Spring Forward Fest and large gatherings like Fright Night. She has created and championed annual events to celebrate local artists such as Down the Line and Summer Nights at the Embassy.
Urban League distributing banned books
The Fort Wayne Urban League is joining the National Urban League to support the “Freedom to Learn” campaign.
The local Urban League is to passing out 500 books it says have been banned. The first 100 books were passed out June 1, at McMillen Park
Books will also be available 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday –Thursday at the Fort Wayne Urban League office, 2135 S. Hanna St., to Urban League STEM Camp participants July 10-July 20, at tutoring sessions, and during free reading hours.
Turnstone hosting goalball national finals
The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes has announced the 2023 USABA Goalball National Championships are returning to the Turnstone Center in Fort Wayne, Sept. 21-24.
Turnstone Center, a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, is also the training base for the USA Goalball resident program.
It is supported by a community of goalball enthusiasts and volunteers who will once again bring a high level of excitement to this annual event.
“This is an exciting year for the sport of goalball across the country,” USABA CEO Molly Quinn said. “Our USA goalball men’s and women’s teams are in qualification mode for next year’s Paralympic Games in Paris, and this year’s national championships falls between the two big qualification events of the year: the IBSA World Games in August and the Parapan American Games in November.”
Registration for the event will open June 22 and close Aug. 1, or when registration is full.
“Bringing the excitement of goalball to Fort Wayne and Indiana is a highlight of our partnership with USABA as a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site,” said Mike Mushett, Turnstone Center CEO. “The annual Championships are a great opportunity to feature the Paralympic Movement through the intensity of goalball and celebrate the top athletes from throughout the country.”
Beyond Van Gogh arrives at Coliseum
Beyond Van Gogh: An Immersive Experience will be at Memorial Coliseum on June 24-Aug. 10.
Witness more than 300 of the greatest works of post-Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh in a three-dimensional experience, including “The Starry Night” and “Sunflowers.”
Theaters announce 2023-24 seasons
The summer theatre season has arrived, with several local theaters announcing their 2023-24 seasons, including:
Fort Wayne Youtheatre
The House: Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023; directed by Morgan Montgomery; Auditions, Aug. 21-22
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Dec. 8-17; directed by Christopher J. Murphy; auditions, Oct. 9-10)
The Prom: March 1-17; directed by Christopher J. Murphy; auditions, Dec. 10
Ruby Bridges: April 19-21; written/directed by Gregory Stieber; auditions, Feb. 26-27
Go, Dog, Go: April 25-28; directed by Todd Espland; auditions, Feb. 26-27
Arena Dinner Theatre
Ripcord: August 4-19; directed by Jordan Plohr
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express: Oct. 27- Nov. 11; directed by Chance Parker
One Christmas Eve at Evergreen Mall: Dec. 1-13; directed by Gary Lanier
Funny Money: March 1-16; directed by David Belew
A Delightful Quarantine: April 19-May 4; directed by Gloria Minnich
The Drowsy Chaperone: June 14-29, 2024; directed by Reuben Albaugh
PFW Department of Theatre
The Bald Soprano: Sept. 22-24 and 28-30; directed by Bev Redman
Urinetown: Nov. 10-12 and 16-18; directed by John O’Connell
The Tempest: Feb. 16-18 and 22-24; directed by Jeff Casazza
Black Snow: April 19-2; directed by Austin M. Rausch
Short Fiction Saturday at the Ruin
The Ruin will hold Short Fiction Saturday on Saturday, June 24, from 3-5 p.m.
This event invites writers to come together to share short pieces of their own work as well as to hear and discuss the work of other local writers.
Take survey for cohesive community
Amani Family Services, Downtown Fort Wayne, and Greater Fort Wayne Inc. are collaborating on a road map for building a more cohesive and equitable community that fosters connections between newer immigrants and longtime residents.
Survey participants must be 18 or older to take the six-minute survey. All responses will be anonymous.
The survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FortWayneGateway.
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