South Bend: City Announces Raclin Murphy Encore Center Grand Opening Events

~ South Bend, Indiana - The City of South Bend is gearing up for the grand opening of the highly anticipated Raclin Murphy Encore Center, a 20,000-square-foot expansion of The Morris Performing Arts Center. The grand opening series events will kick off on January 10 and run through February 7, 2026.

The series will feature a variety of events, including a black ash-community basketweaving experience led by members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Nation on Saturday, January 10 from 1-4 p.m. at the Morris Performing Arts Center. This event is free to the public but spots are limited.

On Thursday, January 22 from 6-8 p.m., the St. Joseph County Public Library Auditorium and Ballroom will host guest speaker Gary Edwin Robinson for a presentation and reception. Admission is free to the public.

The following day, Friday January 23 at 11 a.m., high school and college students will have the opportunity to participate in an open forum and presentation with Gary Edwin Robinson in the lobby of the Raclin Murphy Encore Center.

Saturday, January 24 will see two events taking place at The Morris Performing Arts Equity in the Arts Center. First, at noon, Gary Edwin Robinson and other art leaders will host a symposium focusing on "Representation in the Arts... Is What You See What You Get." This event is also free to attend. Later that evening at 7:30 p.m., Grammy Award winner October London and international artist Micki Miller, both local residents of South Bend, will perform in concert at The Morris Performing Arts Center.

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The grand opening celebration will culminate on Friday, February 6 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by a Community Open House at The Morris's Equity in the Arts Center starting at 5 p.m. Attendees can enjoy live music, a cash bar, concessions, and an open gallery of art exhibitions presented by local fashion designer Brittany Richey, founder of B. Rich Customs.

For those interested in attending the grand opening events, registration is available on the city's website. Tickets for the October London and Micki Miller concert can be purchased on morriscenter.com or at the Morris box office.

The guest speaker for the January 22 event, Gary Edwin Robinson, is a New York native and head of the Theatre Arts Program at Boys and Girls High School. He was recently awarded the 2025 Excellence in Theatre Education Award (EITEA) jointly presented by Carnegie Mellon University and The Tony Awards. Robinson received his award at The Tony Awards ceremony on June 8, 2025, making him the first New Yorker to win this prestigious prize. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Education from Howard University, Robinson is a writer, producer, actor, and director who has been actively teaching for over a decade. Many of his students have gone on to act in productions and write for television.

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The concert's headliners, October London and Micki Miller, are both South Bend natives who have made a name for themselves in the music industry. October London is signed to Death Row Records and has collaborated with Snoop Dogg since 2016. He won a Grammy award in early 2025 for his soulful vocals reminiscent of artists like Marvin Gaye. Micki Miller is a multi-talented singer-songwriter known for her soulful blend of gospel, R&B, jazz, and hip hop. She has released multiple projects and collaborations and has gained recognition from industry icons like DJ Jazzy Jeff and Questlove.

The Raclin Murphy Encore Center's grand opening is set to be an exciting celebration of art and culture in South Bend. With a diverse range of events planned over several weeks, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the city's newest addition to its thriving arts scene.

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