It takes a team to make a show

Following Monday night’s Broadway show of “In the Heights” at the NPAC, it really hit me just how much effort it takes to put on a show such as this.  For the typical audience member, you purchase the ticket, make arrangements to reserve that date, and come to the show for a good evening of entertainment. This is exactly as it should be.  But I thought it would be interesting to let you know just what goes into the effort to get that show to you so that you may enjoy it.

Monday night’s show was our typical 7:30 p.m. start time.  But before most ever gave any thought to their evening’s plans, work began at the NPAC at 8 that morning.  Over 40 workers, many of them volunteers, brought their coffee and work gloves to the loading dock to start an effort that would last until 1:30 a.m. the next morning.  Four semi trucks needed unloaded, moved in and placed in the right locations.  Then after the unloading, set construction, hanging, lighting, wardrobe, catering, and much more began.  Somewhere around mid-afternoon, the stage was finally ready to go so the performers could run through the show and get used to the performance hall.

Around 6 p.m., another round of volunteer ushers, ticket takers, safety crew and others started gathering for a 6:30 p.m. pre-concert talk in the Lecture Hall.  The show finally began at 7:30 p.m. as the audience had arrived in their seats and was ready to cash in their $16-$46 ticket investment for two plus hours of world-class entertainment right here in little old Van Wert, Ohio.

After the show finished around 9:45 p.m. and the audience was heading out the exits, a crew of 40 plus workers reconvened on stage to start undoing what they had just done at 8 that morning.  By 1:30 a.m., the trucks pulled out of the loading dock and the last worker turned out the lights and headed home with a job well done.  By then, the audience members had certainly packed it in and had visions of “In the Heights” dancing in their heads.

Many of the volunteers who help load in, set up, construct, and load out our shows do it out of community service.  What a blessing they are!  I wish I could name all of them, but they are certainly unsung heroes in our community; many of them you would know and recognize.  It takes a community to deliver the kind of shows we have come to expect at the NPAC.  As we sit back in our comfortable seats and enjoy these wonderful shows, we have little idea of what has gone into making it possible.  I just can’t say enough about those who volunteer their time at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in order to allow us to present big-time professional shows like we have had.

I am certain that those involved in the Van Wert Civic Theater, Wassenberg Arts Center, the Van Wert County Historical Society, and others know exactly what I am saying.  They have existed and continue to exist with a core number of committed volunteers. We are very fortunate in our community to have people who care enough to work and serve for the good of others.  Our community lost a real servant last week when my mother, Katherine Hoverman, passed away.  She did things for others, never ever expecting anything in return.  I can’t tell you how much the condolences and expressions of sympathy meant to my family and me.  It sure is good to live in a community where servant hood and volunteerism is just something we do. God bless us, everyone!

FINÉ.