December 31, 2025
The City of South Bend will celebrate the grand opening of the Raclin Murphy Encore Center, a 20,000-square-foot expansion of The Morris Performing Arts Center,
with Grand Opening Series events starting on January 10 through February 7, 2026.
The Grand Opening Series events are as follows:
- Saturday, January 10 from 1-4 p.m. at the Morris Performing Arts Center: Black ash-community basketweaving experience led by Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Nation members. This event is free to the public, but limited spots are available.
- Thursday, January 22 from 6-8 p.m. at the St. Joseph County Public Library Auditorium and Ballroom: Guest speaker Gary Edwin Robinson presentation and reception. Admission is free to the public.
- Friday January 23 at 11 a.m. in the Raclin Murphy Encore Center lobby: High school and college student open forum and presentation with Gary Edwin Robinson.
- Saturday, January 24 at 12 p.m. at the Morris Performing Arts Equity in the Arts Center: Gary Edwin Robinson and art leaders to host symposium focusing on the topic “Representation in the Arts… Is What you See What You Get.” Admission is free to the public.
- Saturday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Morris Performing Arts Center: The Morris will host a concert with Grammy Award winner and local resident, October London, and international artist and local resident Micki Miller.
The City will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the Raclin Murphy Encore Center’s grand opening on Friday, February 6 at 11 a.m. A Community Open House will take place later that afternoon beginning at 5 p.m. at the Morris’s Equity in the Arts Center, which will feature 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 information on the Raclin Murphy Encore Center grand opening events and to register, please click here.
For tickets to the October London and Micki Miller concert at the Morris Performing Arts Center, please visit morriscenter.com/event or visit the Morris box office.
Additional information
Gary Edwin Robinson, a New York native, heads the Theatre Arts Program at Boys and Girls High School in is the winner of the 2025 Excellence in Theatre Education Award (EITEA), presented jointly by Carnegie Mellon University and The Tony Awards. Robinson received his award at The Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Music Hall. The annual Excellence in Theatre Education Award bestowed by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University recognizes U.S. educators who have “demonstrated exemplary impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession.” He is the first New Yorker to win the prize. Educated in New York Public Schools, Robinson went on to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem chorus and continued his journey at Howard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Education. As an educator and creative, Robinson engages in all facets of the stage. He is a writer, producer, actor, and director. Actively teaching for over a decade, Robinson’s students have gone on to act in productions and write for television.
October London is an American singer-songwriter from South Bend, Indiana, who is signed to Death Row Records. Known for his soulful vocals reminiscent of artists like Marvin Gaye, he has collaborated with Snoop Dogg since 2016, appearing on his projects and co-writing. London’s notable works include the album The Rebirth of Marvin (2023) and singles like “Back to Your Place”. He won a Grammy award in early 2025.
Micki Miller is a multi – talented singer, songwriter, producer, and musician from South Bend, Indiana, known for her soulful blend of gospel, R&B, jazz, and hip hop. With early roots in church music and mentorship through her brother’s gospel collective FVC, Micki launched her solo career in 2013 with the release of Love Letters, quickly gaining attention for her rich alto tone, raw lyricism, and musical depth. She’s since released a wide catalog of original projects and collaborations, garnering praise from industry icons like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Questlove, and Ledisi. Her music has taken her around the globe, from the Philippines to London, and earned placements on major platforms like Amazon Prime’s Harlem. Whether performing at Coachella, backing Ari Lennox on The Tonight Show, or being honored at Berklee College of Music, Micki continues to expand her influence as an artist and leader through her nonprofit, Profound Entertainment, assisting the next generation of creatives.