'Play That Goes Wrong' this weekend

Also, Greater Kokomo nails down $40k grant to 'Level Up' businesses

Broadway’s smash hit farce, “The Play that goes Wrong,” opens Kokomo Civic Theatre’s 2025-26 season on July 11, 12, and 13 at Havens Auditorium, IU Kokomo. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show — an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!

Director Tom Richey has assembled a talented cast of actors to bring this comedy to life, including Steve Bachmann, Reilley Cessna, Dan Dailey, Sarah Ferenc, Scott Foster, Michael Julian, Tucker Metcalf, and Riley Shutt.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is made possible, in part, by NIPSCO, the Howard County Commissioners, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, The Arts Federation, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Ticket prices are $18.00 for adults, $16.00 for senior citizens, $14.00 for students through college, and $12.00 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available online at kokomocivictheatre.org/tickets, by phone by calling 765-454-8800, or in person at the Havens Auditorium box office which will be open on Wednesday and Thursday, July 9 and 10, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and one hour before each performance.

Greater Kokomo nails down $40k grant to 'Level Up' businesses

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance has been awarded a $40,000 grant through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Community Collaboration Fund (CCF) to launch a new marketing and branding initiative for small businesses in Howard County.

Indiana’s Commerce Office awarded a total of $925,107 in grant awards to accelerate entrepreneurial activity and resources statewide through the CCF. These awards will help fuel 28 community-led projects focused on entrepreneurial education, connection and acceleration across Indiana.

“Under Gov. Mike Braun’s leadership, Indiana is more committed than ever to cultivating the growth of Main Street entrepreneurship and celebrating the impact our business owners have on our economy,” said Secretary of Commerce David Adams. “These community projects will ensure that current and future entrepreneurs across the state have access to the programming, resources and support needed to start and scale a business right here in Indiana.”

The new Greater Kokomo Alliance program, called Level Up Business Branding, is a 12-month initiative designed to empower growing local businesses with the professional marketing tools and mentorship they need to scale responsibly and sustainably. Through the program, selected businesses will receive tailored branding support — including business introduction videos, product photography, and brand strategy consultations — delivered in partnership with Vision Studio, a creative firm now joining the Inventrek Tech Park ecosystem as a strategic satellite partner.

Level Up is part of the Alliance’s broader Linked to the Future series, a growing platform of entrepreneur-focused education, support, and resource-building programs aimed at strengthening Kokomo’s small business community.

“Many small businesses have the potential to grow but are held back by a lack of access to affordable, high-quality marketing,” Alliance President and CEO Lori Dukes said. “Through Level Up, we’re helping business owners close that gap and connect with the audiences who need what they offer — while creating a community that supports one another’s success.”

As part of this initiative, the Alliance is proud to welcome Vision Studio as a strategic satellite partner of Inventrek. While not physically located within the park, Vision Studio will work alongside entrepreneurs to provide creative services and consultations as needed.

“In today’s digital economy, tech parks are no longer limited by geography. They are dynamic ecosystems that bring together a wide range of resources — and marketing expertise is an increasingly vital component of what it takes for local businesses to succeed,” Dukes said.

Each month, beginning in July 2025 and continuing through June 2026, one to two businesses will be selected by a review committee to participate in the Level Up program. Participants will meet with the Alliance, Vision Studio, and other support partners to identify their needs and select from a menu of marketing services designed to strengthen their brand and grow their reach.

To be considered, businesses must be based in Howard County, have fewer than 100 employees, and be operational or very near launch. They should demonstrate market potential and a readiness to grow but lack internal marketing staff or resources. Participants must also be involved in local entrepreneurial programming or be willing to become engaged.

Community members may nominate businesses to take part in the program, and businesses are also welcome to nominate themselves through an online form at greaterkokomo.com/levelup.

To kick off the program, the Alliance will host a Business Ideation Panel and Grant Announcement on Tuesday, July 22, in the auditorium at Inventrek, 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo.

Set for 3 to 4 p.m., the event will introduce the new Level Up program and explain how it works, while also providing space for discussion around the broader needs and challenges facing Kokomo’s business community.

The ideation portion of the event is designed to spark connection and idea-sharing among serious, committed entrepreneurs and business owners — individuals who have viable business models or growth-stage plans and are actively pursuing success.

The conversation will help shape future training topics for the Linked to the Future series, ensuring that resources and programming stay aligned with local business needs.

Through this effort, the Alliance hopes to not only strengthen individual businesses but also foster a more supportive, connected, and opportunity-rich environment for entrepreneurs in Kokomo and Howard County.

“When we help business owners define their brand, amplify their story, and connect with the right people, it creates a ripple effect,” said Ahmad McKinnie, founder and CEO of Vision Studio. “Thriving small businesses create jobs, strengthen our economy, and inspire others to act on their potential.”

To learn more about the Level Up Business Branding program or to register for the July 22 kickoff event, visit greaterkokomo.com/levelup.