Stealing the Show: Stage veterans paired with 11-year-old for Drury Lane's 'Oliver!'

Actress Heidi Kettenring is enjoying being part of the stage family for favorite family-friendly audience productions.

Lynwood lauds boy who alerted family to fire

LYNWOOD | With a shrug of his shoulders and a shout of “No!” 4-year-old Ronon Thomas offered his thoughts on whether he’s a hero for alerting his family to a fire that destroyed their mobile home at the Alpine Village complex Saturday.

Junior superheroes, bathing beauties star

Lillyann Johnson, 5, competes Saturday in the Cedar Lake Summerfest Bathing Beauty Contest.

Junior superheroes, bathing beauties star

McKenzie Fortner, 16 months, is assisted by her grandmother, Karen Fortner, at the Cedar Lake Summerfest Bathing Beauty Contest.

Junior superheroes, bathing beauties star

CEDAR LAKE | Four-year-old Joshua Hejnowski, of Lansing, competes Saturday in the Cedar Lake Summerfest Super Hero Contest.

Heidi Kettenring (left) as Jane with Erich Bergen in the title role in "Hero" at Marriott Theatre

Heidi Kettenring (left) plays Jane with Erich Bergen in the title role as Hero Batowski in the world premiere of "Hero" running through Aug. 19 at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Alex Goodrich (behind) plays Kirk and Dara Cameron is Susan.

OFFBEAT: World premiere 'Hero' at Marriott Theatre stage both strong and weak

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Creators Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler of the New Stage Musical "Hero"

Aaron Thielen and Michael Mahler, sporting their "Clark Kent glasses," are the imaginations and creative forces behind the new stage musical "Hero," having its world premiere run at Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire June 20 to Aug. 19, 2012.

A stage 'Hero': World premiere stage musical at Marriott explores life's 'super' moments

When Aaron Thielen and Munster's Theatre at the Center acting favorite Michael Mahler decided to team up to create a new stage musical dedicated to the panel by panel artistic and creative world of comic books, they both agreed the production should "feel and look" like stepping inside an ac…

Erich Bergen Stars as lead character Hero Batowski in the new Musical "Hero"

Erich Bergen stars as the lead character Hero Batowski in the world premiere new stage musical "Hero" opening Wednesday and running through Aug. 19 at Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire.

Hobart officials honor rescuers from two tragedies

Michelle Yates hugs Hobart Fire Chief Brian Taylor after giving him a plaque during a ceremony Wednesday to pay tribute to several heroes at Hobart City Hall. Yates is the aunt of Jennifer Teel, 29, who died of smoke inhalation and severe burns in a Dec. 10 house fire in Lake Station. Teel's…

Hobart officials honor rescuers from two tragedies

Michelle Yates, right, thanks emergency personnel during a ceremony to pay tribute to several heroes Wednesday at Hobart City Hall. Yates is the great aunt of two boys who were rescued from a fire in Lake Station.

Mike Daisey turns his wit on Apple's Steve Jobs

Mike Daisey is shown in a scene from 'The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,' running at The Public Theater in New York now through Nov. 13.

OFFBEAT: 'Dreamgirls,' 'Hero' among offerings for 2012 Marriott season

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Off-duty Valpo firefighter saves residents in apartment blaze

Tracy Millard, a Valparaiso firefighter and emergency medical technician, was praised for his off-duty efforts to rouse residents of an apartment building in Valparaiso in December 2009 after he spotted a fire there. He comes from a family of firefighters. His father was a St. John volunteer…

Off-duty Valpo firefighter saves residents in apartment blaze

Tracy Millard is an eight-year veteran of the Valparaiso Fire Department. The city and the local firefighters union praised him for his part in saving residents from a blaze at an apartment building in December 2009. "He's very dedicated to his chosen profession," Valparaiso Fire Chief David…

Off-duty Valpo firefighter saves residents in apartment blaze

Valparaiso firefighter and emergency medical technician Tracy Millard discovered a fire at Valparaiso's View Pointe Apartments in December 2009 while he was coming home from work. Millard said he kicked in the doors of all 12 units in the building, checking each one to make sure no one was i…

Off-duty Valpo firefighter saves residents in apartment blaze

Tracy Millard, a Valparaiso firefighter, received recognition last December for his quickness in responding to a fire that month at an apartment building while off-duty. He evacuated four people. But Millard, an eight-year veteran of the force, said any of his fellow firefighters would've do…