What’s in your Niswonger package?

Packages come wrapped in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors.  Musical packages can also come in all kinds of musical flavors, sizes and styles. When it comes to the Tenth Season of Wow! at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, you can create your very own musical package.  It will give you something to look forward to as we enter the season of autumn and even, dare we say, winter!

Allow me to suggest a few packages that might tempt your musical entertainment taste buds.  If you like the variety pack, you might like the Community Concert Series which offers five concerts for one very economical price, starting at just $75 for all five. Your package price has been made available to you at such an economical price in part by Okuley Unverferth Dentistry, which is the Presenting Sponsor.

In this package you will enjoy Guy & Ralna, who many enjoyed (and still do) from “The Lawrence Welk Show”, appearing from 1970 to 1982. They will present a wonderful America-inspired concert on September 18, accompanied by an 11-piece band.

And speaking of bands, you just can’t miss the opportunity to hear one of the finest big bands of all time and its flashy entertainer and leader: trumpeter extraordinaire Doc Severinsen. His big band and vocalist will be in town October 23.

We then move to musical friends of mine, J. Mark McVey and the Heartland Singers, in a show developed just for our Niswonger audience. It’s called “Broadway & Beyond” and will premiere on March 18.

Following a recent popular appearance on ABC TV’s “The View”, Mutts Gone Nuts will bring its zany cast of critters and be joined by comedian Robert Post to perform April 30 of next year.

The package ends with one of the top selling shows of our season, The Hit Men.  It should not be surprising this concert is leading most others because of the talented cast of musicians and the music they perform. From the golden era of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, The Hit Men are the ones who actually made the music of Frankie Valli, Tommy James, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Barry Manilow, and many others so popular. They conclude this package by performing on May 6 of 2017.

Now, if you need/want more, then you might want to consider a package of Country music that includes Diamond Rio, The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill, and why not throw in a little Rock with REO Speedwagon?  If you love the theater and want some Broadway right here in Van Wert, then choose the package of “Elf: The Broadway Musical”, 42nd Street, and “RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles”. This package has a lot of glitter and sparkle to it, and is so big it will fill the entire stage!

If you enjoy big bands with the excitement and power of the horns and voices with songs you really enjoy, I suggest “Happy Days Live!”, which features Ralph and Potsie not only singing great songs with a big band, but also lots of laughs from the famous TV show they co-starred in. Also in this big band package would be Doc Severinsen and his big band, along with John Tesh’s “Big Band Christmas”.

If you want an inspirational package, we have a super one for you consisting of Sandi Patty’s “Christmas Blessings Tour”, along with super-tenor David Phelps for a Good Friday concert. Your third part of this package could be anything from Christian Contemporary artist Colton Dixon to Guy & Ralna, and/or Andy Williams’ Christmas Extravaganza, which is selling real well.

Don’t forget to be inspired and entertained by our speaker series, consisting of Jon Gordon, Sam Quinones, and Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame announcer, Marty Brennaman.

Gordon is an exceptional speaker of inspiration, while Sam Quinones will talk about a topic that affects our community very deeply — heroin addiction — and Marty will tell us why this one has belonged to the Reds for so many years.

Every Christmas party has a package that no one knows exactly what to expect of it. Then someone selects it and you wish you had, because it’s filled with something you would have really enjoyed. That’s what I’ll call this last package. In it you’ll find jazz greats Jonathan Butler and Gerald Albright, Vocalosity, and “Artrageous”. You may not know what’s in the package, but I guarantee you, you’ll be glad you selected it once you see and hear it

So, there you have it; a number of packages to select from.  Package your own creation and receive discounts. Call the Niswonger box office at 419.238.NPAC (6722) Tuesday through Fridays, noon-4 p.m., and let them help you select a package you will be happy with the whole year through!

There will not be a concert in Fountain Park this Friday, but we’ll look forward to seeing you the following week on August 12 as we finish another great season off with the “McCartney Years”. It’s a show I know you’ll love because you will know nearly every song from one of the greatest pop composers of all time — Paul McCartney.

FINÉ.