Mama Harper’s coming to Van Wert!

Thelma Harper will be visiting Van Wert this Friday … so look out!  Ms. Harper, aka Mama, has an opinion about most everything, and you’re going to hear it!  Vicki Lawrence is giving two shows at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Van Wert on Friday.  We started with the typical evening show at 7:30 p.m., but sold the house out a couple months ago. Since Ms. Lawrence was going to be here all day, we mutually decided to offer a second show as a matinee at 2 p.m.  I really thought we might attract a couple hundred for the second show, but at this point, we may sell the matinee out also! If you want to see Mama, don’t delay. Call the box office or go online now at www.npacvw.org.

As an 18-year-old girl, Lawrence sent Carol Burnett a letter that included a local newspaper article mentioning their resemblance. When Carol was looking for an actress to join her on her show as a kid sister, she sought out this young lady and the rest became history.  Not only did Vicki join the hilarious cast of the Carol Burnett Show, she soon created a personality that would advance her career even further. The Carol Burnett Show closed in 1978 and it wasn’t but five years later that Lawrence brought Thelma Harper back on TV with Mama’s Family, which would run from 1983-1990.  Today it can still be seen in TV syndication all over the world.

A few things you may not have know about Vicki Lawrence: Did you know she got her start as a singer with the music group, The Young Americans?  Did you also know that she is the one who sang and made famous the song, “The Night the Lights went out in Georgia”?  Did you also remember that she hosted the TV game show, “Win, Lose or Draw”?  There are many other interesting facts for you to learn about this famous comedienne, actress and singer.  If you come to one of her shows on Friday, you can read the whole story about her.

I believe we are all in need of a good laugh today.  They say that laughing is good medicine.  I agree.  I don’t think we laugh enough.  Come to the Niswonger this Friday and get ready to take your medicine … from Mama!

The Van Wert High School production of the Wizard of Oz is also keeping our box office hopping. There are three performances of the Wizard of Oz: April 18-20.  Directors Chad Kraner and Matt Alessandrini and a crew of students and volunteers have been working feverishly for a few months to create a spectacular production of this beloved musical.  You can get your tickets now at the NPAC box office.

And if beautiful and magnificent photography and entertaining stories about encounters with wildlife is your cup of tea, then don’t miss award-winning National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore. He will be at the Niswonger on Sunday, April 21, at 3 p.m.  It sounds like an excellent Sunday afternoon activity to take in for the springtime!

And speaking of springtime, it won’t be long before the concerts in Fountain Park start up. An exciting lineup will be announced to the public this week. Watch your favorite news media!

FINÉ.