DARLENE HAMPTON
Theatre helped Darlene process her son’s autism diagnosis — and discover her own.
“the Civic has put some beautiful art into the community, I mean art that deals with some really difficult and timely issues: gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, racism. The Civic is tackling a lot of these things, and in a way that makes it accessible to everyday people. “
ABOUT DARLENE
Darlene Hampton moved to the South Bend area from Oregon. She is the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies at Notre Dame. Her teaching areas of interest include Film/Television Studies, Media Studies, Writing/Composition, Adaptation Studies, Popular Culture, and Literature. Darlene attributes finding a “home” in South Bend to the CIVIC.
Performance Credits:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time- SBCT 2019
- The River- Michiana Playmakers, Inc. 2019
- Michiana Monologues: perSISTERS- Michiana Monologues 2019
- Communicating Doors- The Acting Ensemble 2017
- Vindication- Michiana Playmakers, Inc. 2017
- Legs: A Spider Story- Michiana Playmakers, Inc. 2016
- Stop Kiss- SBCT 2016
- Guys and Dolls- University Theatre 1998
HELP US CELEBRATE OUR HOMECOMING
Will you consider a donation to the CIVIC so that people like Darlene can return home?
ABOUT THE HOMECOMING PROJECT
The CIVIC has always pledged to be a light to illuminate the darkness.
But in March, our stage went dark due to the pandemic. We are counting down the days until it is safe to open our doors once more and bring the lights back up on live theatre in our community. There are so many people counting on us to make it happen -- from our patrons to the many people behind the scenes who have found a home at the South Bend Civic Theatre.
The pandemic may have changed theatre temporarily, but we have discovered that the South Bend Civic Theatre has changed lives forever.
Through our HOMECOMING project, we will share the true stories of the many people who have discovered a home at the CIVIC. They've also found acceptance, inclusion, and family -- both on the stage, in the audience, and behind the curtain.
With your help, I hope the South Bend Civic Theatre can celebrate a true HOMECOMING in just a few months.
LEAH TIRADO
"Aaron, and the CIVIC, took a chance on me. I don’t know if he knew that he was giving me a second chance at life. I don’t know if he knew he was giving me this opportunity to continue to create. I don’t know if he knew that I thought all of my theatre dreams were over at that point."
ALEX PEEK
"There are so many ways the CIVIC touches the lives of those in the community and to those who take part in any form. And in my case, they really show how much they care about musicians and helping us to raise to the the next level of our talents and commitment to the theatre."
MARIE BLUNT
CONNIE CHALKO
“At that moment, my whole life changed. I can say it was a miracle, being on stage... there was this whole comraderie. It was a lightbulb that went on. All of the sudden, my grades went to honor roll. ”
DARLENE HAMPTON
"Theatre offered these beautiful opportunities to talk about not only autism but also it’s representation, about what community really means, about the difference between awareness and acceptance; to undermine stereotypes and increase understanding."
WYATT GAUTHIER
“The CIVIC makes you feel welcomed, even when you feel like you don't deserve it. And to let yourself know that there's a community out there who accepts you for who you are, no matter how much dissatisfied you are with yourself."
BILL LORING
“Being here in the CIVIC, being here in the building, it just made me happy. It made me feel like this is the place I need to be. This is what I want to be when I grow up."
JOHN FOEGLEY
"It's place where people can express themselves. And I think that, you tell good stories, it'll change people for the better. If you don't have theatre, you're going to silence a lot of voices."
SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY RE-ENTRY CENTER
"I don't even want to think about how my life could have gone if it weren't for the CIVIC. For years, I'd stay bottled up. I kept these walls up and I had this me-against-the-world mentality. The CIVIC knocked down those walls and made me feel like it was OK to open up, to embrace, and to love."
THREE GENERATIONS OF MORANS
"Theatre is what I love, and I love being with a group of people who love what I love. And when we go on stage after months of rehearsals, on opening night – it’s so great to be with those people. And we all’ve been on this journey together. And we’ve seen each other at our height, and sometimes at our lows, and we all come together to make something beautiful."
DÉ BRYANT
"The work that we do with the arts and in the theatre doesn’t just go away. It becomes a part of how we think about the world. I like being one of those people in the dark clothing dashing back and forth and making sure everything is running okay – and, I get the opportunity to work with these amazing people and watch them apply their craft."
WE'RE LISTENING
CONTACT
BOX OFFICE
Monday-Friday: 10-5 p.m.
574-234-1112
403 N. Main St., South Bend, IN 46601