It has been a decade since Beatniks on Conkey was established and the coffeehouse and black box theater continues to grow in Hammond.
“Beatniks Celebrates 10 Years!” on Jan. 13 marks that milestone.
“It’s amazing and surprising. We never had any idea when we started this thing that it would be such a long-lived endeavor,” said Rip Johnson, who created Beatniks on Conkey with his wife, Bonnie.
“We started Beatniks in January 2008, the reason being that Hammond Community Theatre didn’t have a stable place to perform. It grew out of a need. Then what we wanted to do with Beatniks was to make a joint where anyone could come and pitch an idea.
“That’s how Variety Theatre Company happened. Robert Hill came to us early on. He was a sophomore in high school. He came in with his mom and said, ‘I’ve got a theater company. I wrote a play and I want to put it on.’ It was anything to bring people in at that time so we let Robert put on his play.”
Robert Miles Hill, of Hammond, is also part of the Hammond Community Theatre board, which includes the Johnsons as founding members and Griffith residents Valerie Wotkun as president and her husband, John, who handles all things technical.
Productions at Beatniks on Conkey have featured directors including Showtime Theatre Productions’ Khyel Sherman Roberson, of Calumet City, Illinois; Don Taylor, of Hammond; and Andy Leahy, of Chicago Heights, Illinois.
“We have some great actors. We have directors with vision. We have lots of different directors, not just one view,” said Johnson, of Dyer.
“It’s just a place for people to come and exercise their creativity. We had no idea how long it would last. There’s really not a whole lot of profit in theater. On a wing and a prayer we’ve made it.
Beatniks on Conkey remains focused on community, allowing patrons to donate what they can to attend “Beatniks Celebrates 10 Years!”
“It’s our celebration of our previous year and looking forward to this year,” Johnson said.
“We’re going to open with a song. We’re going to have some music and skits. We’re going to have a look back at some of the shows we did this past season and previous seasons. We’re going to have a preview of our coming year for Beatniks, Variety and Hammond Community Theatre.”
Upcoming shows include Night of Music with Vintage Postcard Band featuring Amy O’Brien and Jeff Otto on Jan. 27, the DJayma Show celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 and Beatnik Entertainment presenting “Funny Little Thing Called Love” from June 1-10.
Beatniks on Conkey also provides improv classes with Ron Harlow, host of WJOB-AM (1230)’s “Afternoon Fix,” and belly dancing and tap classes with Krystal Quagliara, of Hammond.
“We always try to keep a full schedule because we’ve got to pay the bills. It’s a lot of work but it’s still a lot of fun,” said Johnson, noting that Hammond Community Theatre stages “The Unexpected Guest” from Feb. 9-18 and “Camping with Henry and Tom” from April 6-15.
“We want Beatniks to be a mecca for new ideas, thoughts and experiences and the arts. We love it that the place is so full. It’s a fountain of youth. It keeps you young. We’ve met so many people, young and old, over the years that have enriched our lives.
“If people come to Beatniks, they can see and be part of that magic.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Beatniks Celebrates 10 Years!
When: 8 p.m. Jan. 13
Where: Beatniks on Conkey, 418/420 Conkey St., Hammond
Admission: Donations accepted
Information: 219-852-0848; www.beatniksonconkey.com
