Mayor Eddie Melton, the City of Gary, in partnership with the Michael Jackson Estate and the Gary International Black Film Festival, are proud to announce a historic screening of Lionsgate and Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated biopic, MICHAEL, on Monday, April 13, 2026. A monumental tribute to Gary’s hometown hero, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
The exclusive event will take place at the Mark Spencer Auditorium at West Side Leadership Academy, located at 900 Gerry St, Gary, IN 46406, in the historic 2,000-seat West Side Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Attendees of the special screening will include filmmakers, cast, and members of the Jackson family.
“Michael Jackson’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of our city and our world,” said Mayor Eddie Melton. “From humble beginnings at 2300 Jackson Street to the global stage, his journey started right here in Gary, Indiana. Hosting this exclusive screening is a profound honor for our community, allowing us to celebrate our most famous son while investing directly in the next generation of Gary’s creative and athletic talent.”
Mark Spencer, Director of Performing Arts at West Side Leadership Academy, stated, “We are deeply honored to welcome MICHAEL to the Mark Spencer Auditorium. We are especially grateful to Lionsgate for bringing this extraordinary film to Gary, where the story of the Jackson family first began. This moment is more than a screening; it is a powerful homecoming. There is no more fitting place to experience this story than in the very community that helped shape a global legacy.”
“We are grateful to Mayor Melton and the City of Gary for standing with the Gary International Black Film Festival (GIBFF) to bring MICHAEL home, ensuring that this story reaches the people and the place that shaped him,” stated Karen Toering, Founder/Director of the Gary International Black Film Festival.
The screening serves as a major event for the community. While tickets for the screening are free, donations will be accepted by the West Side Theater Guild. All donations will directly benefit the youth programing at West Side Leadership Academy, ensuring that the youth of Gary continue to have access to top-tier artistic and athletic opportunities.
Bringing the film MICHAEL home to Gary underscores the undeniable connection between the city’s rich cultural history and the unparalleled global influence of the Jackson family.
Tickets will be available, while they last, at the following locations on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after 10 a.m. CT, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
