The year 2017 has ended with a flourish at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.\u00a0Four of the final six concerts were sell-outs, and those that weren\u2019t, nearly were.\u00a0We now enter a new year and the second half of our season.\u00a0\u00a0There will be 11 concerts and shows for you to enjoy, and that doesn\u2019t include rentals such as the OMEA District 3 Band & Choir Festival in January, \u201cOhio Has Talent\u201d in February, and three big dance recitals during May and June.<\/p>\n
In addition to the busy Niswonger schedule, The Van Wert County Foundation will be sponsoring for a 15th consecutive year, its Young Artist Recital on February 4 at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church.<\/p>\n
The Van Wert Civic Theater has three productions for you to enjoy in January, March, and May.\u00a0Included in there is a musical — The Great American Trailer Park Musical<\/em> — which will run weekends beginning March 8 through 18.<\/p>\n While you are enjoying the many performing arts attractions during this first half of 2018, we will be working on putting together a whole new season we hope will rival the very successful season we currently are enjoying at the Niswonger.\u00a0Also, later this winter, I will be announcing the line-up for the 2018 Fountain Park Summer Music Series.\u00a0\u00a0And don\u2019t forget, you will get to try out the newly designed landscape in Fountain Park this summer.<\/p>\n I know many wonder how the upcoming shows and concerts are selling at the Niswonger.\u00a0Our first concert of 2018 features Country music\u2019s popular band, Lonestar.\u00a0Their popularity continues as they are 60 seats away from being sold out.\u00a0\u00a0Lonestar had many popular hit songs during the 1990s and 2000s, in addition to being named CMA\u2019s Vocal Group of the Year in 2001.\u00a0Their live concerts continue to be in great demand.<\/p>\n There are two big performances of the kids\u2019 show \u201cDinosaur Zoo\u201d on February 3.\u00a0Both are during the day as they are scheduled for 1 and 4:30 p.m.\u00a0This is a popular PBS kids\u2019 show that will be brought to life on stage at the Niswonger.\u00a0With two shows, there are still tickets remaining for you to get your child or grandchild for this amazing experience!<\/p>\n The Michael Jackson Tribute Show, MJ Live!, will come to town on February 10.\u00a0This show is also nearly sold-out.\u00a0Thirty seats remain for this one as I write this article.\u00a0This amazing concert will be followed by a Sunday afternoon matinee on February 18 with Cirque Zuma Zuma.\u00a0This show has been sold-out for some time.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s been some time since we had a cirque show at the Niswonger, but this one should be unique to any of the others we have had.\u00a0This troupe is from Africa whereas the others have been mainly Asian acrobats.\u00a0The music will be authentic African style and drumming.<\/p>\n Big-time Broadway takes the Niswonger stage in March as Rogers & Hammerstein\u2019s Cinderella comes for two big shows on Saturday, March 3.\u00a0\u00a0We already have nearly 1,800 seats filled between the two shows, but some good seats are still available for either one right now.\u00a0My wife and I saw this show in New York a couple years ago and it was a tremendous production with beautiful music and scenery.<\/p>\n I recently saw some advertising of Celtic Women which reminded me that we have our own show on St. Patrick\u2019s Day- March 17 featuring one of the original and most recognizable Celtic Women, Chloe Agnew with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra.\u00a0\u00a0This is a Founder\u2019s Choice concert as Scott Niswonger enjoyed it so much down in Greenville, Tennessee that he put his stamp of recommendation on it for his hometown to present.\u00a0\u00a0I am really looking forward to this one!\u00a0\u00a0Wear your green and celebrate St. Patty\u2019s Day in style at the Niswonger.\u00a0\u00a0We\u2019ll make it a very entertaining and fun night for everyone.<\/p>\n We finish the season with the popular saxophonist, Kenny G, on March 24, speaker Theresa Flores on March 27 and then our finale with Bostyx, featuring that great music from the iconic rock bands, Boston and Styx.\u00a0Look for Kenny G and Bostyx to sell-out soon in the New Year.<\/p>\n With the words of Bing Crosby in my favorite holiday movie, White Christmas<\/em>, \u201cWell, that about wraps it up.\u00a0We just happen to have a slam, bang finish!\u201d\u00a0Don\u2019t miss the upcoming presentations at the Niswonger this New Year.\u00a0They will be the talk of the town.\u00a0Our box office will be closed January 1 and 2, but you can always order online at any time at\u00a0NPACVW.ORG<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s to a wonderful 2018.\u00a0\u00a0May it be filled with peace, prosperity and lots of great music!<\/p>\n FIN\u00c9.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The year 2017 has ended with a flourish at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center.\u00a0Four of the final six concerts were sell-outs, and those that weren\u2019t, nearly were.\u00a0We now enter a new year and the second half of our season.\u00a0\u00a0There will be 11 concerts and shows for you to enjoy, and that doesn\u2019t include rentals such […]<\/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-97172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-27 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