The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre announced the passing of Robert D. Sandmaier, who served as the theater’s scenic designer for 30 years from 1970 to 2000. 

“Our longtime Scenic Designer Robert D. Sandmaier has passed away,” Civic Theatre Executive Director Phillip Colglzaier said in a Facebook post. “He was incredible as a scenic designer and artist. He left us a wonderful legacy of theatrical productions that our community remembers now and forever in their hearts. Applause and gratitude to Bob, his family, and his work. The Civic is forever better because of Bob.”

Sandmaier designed more than 200 productions, and his sets often drew audience applause when the curtain opened at the top of a show.

Fort Wayne Civic names Anthony nominees

The Fort Wayne Civic Theatre has announced its nominees for the 2021-22 Anthony Awards, which include: 

Dance Performance: Heather Closson, Jessica Butler, Mandie Kolkman, Jessica Trubey, Capri Parrish Williams, Gavin Drew, Daniel Meredith, Chris Rasor, and Aaron Robertson

Juvenile Performance: Tegal Dostal, Evelyn Wedler, and Henry Wedler

Ensemble (Musical): Mandie Kolkman, Bethany Schmitt, Capri Parrish Williams, Dustin Hornbeak, Daniel Meredity, and Chris Rasor

Supporting (Musical): Heather Closson, Jessica Butler Garrison, Capri Parrish Williams, Gavin Drew, Todd Frymier, and AJ Lorenzini

Supporting (Play): Carissa Brown, Emily Arata-Grillo, Maggie Kole Hunter, Brooke O’Mara, Joe Collins, Brock Graham, Joel Grillo, Scott Hess, and Aaron Mann

Lead (Musical): Anya Smea, Brad Beauchamp, AJ Lorenzini, and Scott McMeen

Lead (Play): Todd Frymier 

Excellence in Technical Theatre: Shawna Roberts and Emma Humbarger. 

The winners will be announced later this summer.

Superhero Art Camp at Painting with a Twist

Painting with a Twist will hold an art camp June 6-9 from 1-2:30 p.m. for those from 7 to 16 years old.

Kids can sign up for an optional extended session from 3-4 p.m. to paint themselves as a superhero throughout the week. 

Snacks and beverages will be provided between sessions. 

Registration is $150 per child. For more information, go to paintingwithatwist.com.

Association Garage Sales across city

Garage sale season is upon us! 

The Historic Foster Park Neighborhood hosted its annual garage sale Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Historic South Wayne Neighborhood’s sale will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Other nearby neighborhoods will host their sales the same day. 

Shoppers are reminded to drive slowly and safely due to additional foot traffic in the neighborhoods during sale days.

Museum of Art hosting open skate

At 6 p.m. Saturday, June 4, Fort Wayne Museum of Art will host a Kids Open Skate Night to coincide with their “The Art of the Skateboard” exhibit. 

Kids 13 and under can skate in a custom-designed skate park currently in the museum, created by Slam City Skatepark and Dead End Skateboards, with art by Dennis McNett. 

Tickets are $10 per child and are available online at fwmoa.org.

Playground 630 presents The Unseen

Playground 630 will be presenting the Craig Wright play The Unseen on June 3-12 at the PFW Studio Theatre inside Kettler Hall. 

Directed by Chance Parker and starring Chase Francis, Austin Berger, and Mike Adams, the darkly humorous play explores themes of faith in an uncertain world. It focuses on two men imprisoned by a totalitarian regime next to each other for a decade without having seen each other’s faces. A third prisoner arrives communicating in code, and the men develop new relationships to each other. 

The play is rated R for graphic descriptions of intense violence and is not suitable for children. 

For tickets, email playground630@gmail.com or call (260) 416-4461.