What’s recently happened?
La Porte kicked off the summer fun with its fourth annual Friday Night Live series starting with the ‘50s Cruise In on June 7.
People cruised the streets of downtown La Porte to enjoy classic cars and automobiles, local vendors, food trucks, artisan booths, and live music performed by Midwest band Chronic Flannel.
The ‘50s Cruise In and Friday Night Live are a collaborative effort that debuted in 2021 thanks to Community Planner Tom Casey, the Urban Enterprise Association, and community members. The goal was to drive more activity into downtown La Porte and support local businesses and restaurants.
“We have drawn crowds of more than 1,500 for several of these events over the last few years. These events provide a great opportunity to enjoy our downtown, listen to great music, and enjoy the company of others. Many of our local restaurants in the proximity of these events post record sales on the nights they are held. These events help our local restaurants as well,” Brett Binversie, La Porte Civic Auditorium and La Porte Events director, said.
Local sponsors supporting the events were Arnett Construction, Big Comedy La Porte, and La Porte Seamless Gutter. The Urban Enterprise Association and various City of La Porte departments, such as the street and park departments, provided financial assistance.
The Friday Night Live event series will include two more summer events: Taco Fest on July 5 and Cheeseburger in Paradise on August 9. A special event called Night on the Ave is in mid-September.
All Friday Night Live events are free and are located at 600 Monroe Street between State Street and Lincolnway.
What’s coming up?
Lakeside Lavender and Herbs is blooming into the season with its upcoming annual Lavender Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 29 and June 30.
Admission is free. Customers can grace the lavender fields and enjoy picking bundles for $11 or purchase homemade, quality items in the gift shop. Scissors will be provided, and outside items are prohibited to prevent any pathogens from inadvertently affecting the lavender.
“I love that our festival is a gathering place for friends and family. We often have generations that come and enjoy the field together. That fills me up,” co-Owner Doreen King said.
King and her husband, Mike, established Lakeside Lavender in 2015 after growing lavender in different trials. They initially planted lavender in their backyard and expanded the business by adding more plots, constructing a patio, and building a tiny shop in their barn.
Regular summer hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. The address is 273 W. Johnson Road, La Porte. For more information about their services, please visit their website at lakesidelavenderandherbs.com or call 219-324-4930.
Community member spotlight:
Developing and mastering a craft is a formidable journey marked by unwavering commitment, untold hours of hard work, and dedication. It is a journey fueled by a spark that one day will emerge in the spotlight, impacting countless lives.
La Porte Little Theatre Club’s own Bonnie Quigley embodies this belief.
Quigley has been a beloved veteran of the theater group since 1983. From acting on stage, directing shows, and sewing costumes to working as a stage manager and being a board member, her devotion on and off the stage empowers her cast and crew to follow their aspirations confidently and gracefully.
“Bonnie has kindness in her – from the ability to work with kids and her patience to the direction she gives. She sets the stage for how we do things. Bonnie has confidence in what she does, and her volunteerism at the theater has been fantastic,” Tim Gartland, Bonnie Quigley’s son-in-law and longtime La Porte Little Theatre volunteer, said.
Bonnie Quigley has directed numerous shows at the theater: “The Foreigner,” “The Passion of Dracula,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” “Over The River and Through the Woods,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “The Princess and the Pea” and “Anne of Green Gables.” She works with her actors to develop characterization through repetition and expression that connects with the audience.
“I like to do straight plays with small casts. You can develop characters so that the audience feels like they know them at the end, and you can play with backstories so the actors can almost have their history made up in their head and tell it to the audience,” Bonnie Quigley said. “I like working on characterization with my casts.”
Bonnie Quigley helps run the kids summer camp, a one-week experience introducing young children to theater. She gives a costume presentation and explains their importance in plays. She allows the children to dress up in costumes and makes them act out various skits, which is a fulfilling experience for her and the children.
“Seeing the kids be quiet and shy on Monday and then, in just a week, having new friends and confidence and working together to put on a show on Friday is incredible,” Bonnie Quigley said. “It is also inspiring that we have kids coming back year after year.”
Quigley is from Chicago and grew up in the South Side neighborhood of Beverly. She was introduced to theater in high school and acted in a production of “Bye Bye Birdie” during her junior year.
“The play made me realize that I love doing this, and I had friends interested in theater,” she said. “They did another play the next year, but I didn't get a part. Instead, I got interested in backstage work. I wanted everything to be right, so I felt comfortable back there making sure everything ran well.”
Bonnie Quigley postponed pursuing her love for theater and enrolled at the City Colleges of Chicago to study English. However, she did not complete her degree because she married her husband, Dan, with whom she’s celebrating their 54th anniversary in August. Together, they raised their four children: Joe, Rose, Katy, and Kevin. The family moved to La Porte in 1975 for her husband’s job.
Bonnie Quigley held various jobs before volunteering at the theater: nurse’s aide, florist shop employee, waitress, utility payroll at golf courses, and city employee. A friend asked her to help sew costumes for “The Pirates of Penzance” in 1983, and Bonnie Quigley began volunteering at the theater. She helped clean the bathrooms, managed reservations for upcoming shows, and brought her children after school when her husband worked.
“Katy Gartland wanted to try out for ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’ I was in the lobby signing people up for auditions. I heard this little voice from the stage singing. It was Katy, and she can sing. I had tears in my eyes,” Bonnie Quigley said. “It was amazing just hearing my daughter having this talent, and she got the bug. She was not afraid to go up there, and that is when I knew that theater was in her blood.”
Theater has become a family tradition. Bonnie Quigley has acted alongside her children and grandchildren in many productions, and her daughter acts, directs, and choreographs many plays herself. This has brought the family closer together, and she spends her dinners and evenings alongside her family at the theater.
“My mom has shown me her love of theater throughout the years. The theater offers a fun outlet for her to help on stage and off,” Katy Quigley said. “It is people like my mom who have helped the theater reach the 100-year mark of entertaining our community. I am beyond blessed that my mom raised me as a theater kid.”
Bonnie Quigley spends time with her four children and 11 grandchildren. She enjoys sewing, cooking, and working on word and crossword puzzles. She also takes her talents outside of La Porte Little Theatre, directing plays at Footlight Theatre in Michigan City, and is a Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation judge.
Wherever Bonnie Quigley shares her talents, her dedication and passion for her craft have created a journey that continues to inspire the lives of people who have worked alongside her, one play at a time.
“Go down and audition. You might not get the part, or you might get the part,” Bonnie Quigley said. “If you don't get the part and the next time auditions are being held, go and audition. The more you audition, the better you get at auditioning. When people see you’re dependable, you will be rewarded.”