‘Thursday Night Noir’

The popular film and lecture series “Thursday Night Noir,” hosted by Peter Aglinskas, returns to the Brauer Museum of Art on the campus of Valparaiso University for its sixth season in 2020. Aglinskas, creator of the lecture series “The Noir Style in Image, Word, and Sound,” reveals a world of crooked cops and jive-crazy hep cats, sinister sirens and high-class heists, B-girls and bagmen, even a zombie gangster who gets the last laugh. Four iconic movies will be featured in this year’s series: “Decoy” (1946) on Jan. 16; “D.O.A.” (1950) on Feb. 20; “Private Hell 36” (1954) on March 19; and “The Burglar” (1951) on April 16. A lecture and discussion follow each screening, which begins at 7 p.m. These events are free and open to the public. (219) 464-5365 or www.valpo.edu.

‘Motown & More’

Theatre at the Center kicks off 2020 with a fresh series of special events. Ring in the New Year with the sounds of “Motown & More,” brought to you by Sheryl Youngblood. This special one-night event will be a trip down memory lane with two shows at 6 and 10 p.m. Dec. 31. “Kashmir: The Led Zeppelin Show” follows on Jan. 11, with Zachary Stevenson appearing in “A Tribute to Buddy Holly” on Jan. 18. “Echoes of Pompeii,” a Pink Floyd tribute, rounds out the month with a performance Jan. 24. (219) 836-3255 or www.theatreatthecenter.com.

‘Living Architecture’

Evidence of immigrant labor can be seen throughout the built environment of the Region in “Living Architecture,” an exhibit curated by Tricia Van Eck with Nathan Abhalter Smith and Lora Fosberg. It continues through Jan. 4 at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts in Michigan City. “Living Architecture” invites viewers to consider the ongoing impact and influence that immigrants have on art, design, labor, innovation and contemporary thought. The exhibit features the work of more than two dozen artists. (219) 874-4900 or www.lubeznikcenter.org.

Surprise Greetings!

Andy has a sweet Catholic mother, a sour Catholic father and an intellectually disabled younger brother named Mickey. When he brings his Jewish atheist fiancée to meet the folks on Christmas Eve, his worst fears about family blow-ups become reality. But when Mickey, whose entire vocabulary has previously been limited to “oh boy” and “wow,” suddenly spouts the word “greetings” the family’s belief system is turned upside down. Say what? Well, you might ask. Wouldn’t you know that an ancient, wise and witty spirit, set upon healing the family’s wounds, has borrowed Mickey’s body! Cynics may scoff at Tom Dudzick’s comedy “Greetings!,” but the rest of us can find a warm, hilarious, touching and endearing visit to a family blessed by a miracle. The show is presented by Hammond Community Theatre at Beatniks on Conkey through Dec. 15. (219) 852-0848 or www.hammondcommunitytheatre.org.

Tony Award-winning play

Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain: he is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road. He detests being touched and distrusts strangers. Now it’s seven minutes after midnight, and Christopher stands beside Wellington, his neighbor’s dead dog, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery of who killed Wellington, and he carefully records each fact of the crime. His detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world. “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” starts Jan. 24 through Feb. 2 at Chicago Street Theatre. (219) 464-1636 or chicagostreet.org.

Visit the South Shore Arts Regional Calendar for more information on current exhibits, concerts, plays and other arts events at SouthShoreArtsOnline.org.

Click here to read more from the Dec-Jan 2019 issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.