This Sunday, September 11, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio will open its brand new season.\u00a0 Technically, this is our fourth complete season and we can\u2019t wait to welcome new faces as well as loyal patrons to a season of exciting performances.<\/p>\n
The season begins on a rather solemn, but most appropriate note.\u00a0 The 9\/11 tributes and documentaries are now springing up on TV seemingly each night.\u00a0The news is filled this week with special broadcasts of 9\/11 remembrances.\u00a0 They are heart warming and breaking at the same time.<\/p>\n
We at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center are doing our part to provide what we do best- live entertainment while honoring and remembering this anniversary.\u00a0 Those of you who read my column weekly have heard me talk about the opening concert: \u201cA 9\/11 Musical Memorial and Celebration\u201d featuring the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and guests.\u00a0 It is so much more than just a concert; it is a uniquely professional production that can be experienced only at the NPAC in Van Wert.\u00a0 Some tickets remain and can be purchased at the box office or at the door.\u00a0 The program starts at 7 p.m. with lobby doors opening at 6 p.m.\u00a0 Bring the kids; they also need to remember.\u00a0 I know of one church youth group who is bringing their youth to the event.\u00a0 What a great idea!<\/p>\n
We do not stop our memorial and celebration on 9\/11 however.\u00a0 World Trade Center survivor and now inspirational speaker, Michael Hingson will be sharing his incredible experiences with us on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m.\u00a0\u201cTurning the Tables on Terrorism\u201d is the title of his talk.\u00a0 As a blind man, he shares the incredible story of how his guide dog, \u201cRoselle,\u201d led him and many others safely from the top floors of the collapsing World Trade Center.\u00a0 If you watch the morning television shows, you will likely see him interviewed this week.\u00a0 He told me he was heading to New York this week to appear on several shows.\u00a0His book, Thunder Dog<\/em>, is quickly rising in the bestseller charts and is already the No. 1 selling book at Barnes & Noble nationally.\u00a0 He will have autographed books available at the NPAC.\u00a0Tickets are available for this event at the box office.<\/p>\n By the time the 10th anniversary of 9\/11 passes, we will have offered two events we hope will lift the hearts of Americans and especially those fortunate enough to attend.\u00a0 Let your friends know about these very special events at the NPAC in Van Wert.\u00a0 It will be a cleansing experience of triumph over evil you won\u2019t want to miss!<\/p>\n Other experiences you will want to take in before the programs begin are the Upper Lobby display our Visual Arts Committee created.\u00a0 Among the moving display is an actual piece from the World Trade Center, which is now the proud property of our Van Wert City Fire Department.\u00a0 Other elements in the display pay a moving tribute to those who lost their lives on 9\/11.<\/p>\n In the Grand Lobby, another tribute is on display.\u00a0 A creation by Swan Memorial of Van Wert can be seen.\u00a0 It was on display at the Van Wert County Fair and now will reside for patrons and visitors to see at the NPAC.\u00a0 Thank you Connie Swander for thinking of us!<\/p>\n The last piece to see is our newest permanent piece of art that was created especially for the southeast wall of the Grand Lobby.\u00a0Window Creations and owner Reggie Buehrer have created an artwork of wrought iron and beautiful glass, which is titled \u201cThe Arts in Motion.\u201d\u00a0 It is a beautiful addition, which celebrates what the NPAC is all about.\u00a0 I think you will enjoy it.\u00a0 You will need to study it a few minutes to see everything it encapsulates.\u00a0 We thank Reggie for his donation and also Linda Ridenour who saw fit to use funds given by her parents, Merle and Helen Knittle, respected Van Wert County citizens and lovers of the arts, to pay for the installation.\u00a0 The Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation appreciates these gifts that will add to the grace and beauty of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.<\/p>\n Sunday starts a brand new season and we look forward to sharing many magical moments with you again at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio!<\/p>\n FIN\u00c9.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This Sunday, September 11, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio will open its brand new season.\u00a0 Technically, this is our fourth complete season and we can\u2019t wait to welcome new faces as well as loyal patrons to a season of exciting performances. The season begins on a rather solemn, but most appropriate note.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-05 14:35:13","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13074\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}