The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

Wrapping up a season at the Niswonger

It is amazing to think we have just one more concert remaining in our 11th season at the Niswonger!  After a busy last couple of weeks, we are down to one concert: Bostyx on April 21. It has been a memorable season with many successful events and concerts. Many of them have been sold while others have left some seats empty, only to have people wishing they had attended.  

At any rate, a big “thank you” once again is due to all of you who have been loyal supporters with your attendance and interest. We have seen such tremendous growth since our inception. Each year I think we have hit our limits we seem to surpass them, with more and more interest. Although we still pick up some locals who have never been to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, we see our impact stretching further and further away. We now have over 18,000 people on our mailing list, with patrons coming from several states and quite often from Canada — and even recently, Germany.  Go figure!

As we prepare for another new season starting in September, I want to encourage you to consider two last things as part of this season. As I mentioned, Bostyx is coming on April 21. If you are a fan of classic rock, and especially the music of the bands Boston and Styx, then this is a night for you. I had Bostyx in Fountain Park a few years back when they got started and I still remember the crowd reaction. It’s always fun to watch the audience at Fountain Park toward the end of a concert. The sun starts to set and the band plays on into the night and the crowd really starts enjoying themselves. This was certainly the case with Bostyx; so much so that I thought people would pay to see and hear them again indoors. I guess I am right because we have sold nearly 1,000 tickets for their April 21 concert at the Niswonger. A few seats remain, but hurry!

David Victor is the headline lead singer and adds a lot of credibility to the group as he is a recent lead singer for Boston on their national tours. So, if you have always liked listening to the vocals of the great Boston hit songs, you will love hearing Victor and the backup singers in Bostyx. They really capture the authentic sound of both Boston and Styx.

If classic rock isn’t your favorite, and even if it is, I encourage you to come to a free event at the Niswonger on April 15. We are teaming with the Van Wert County Ministerial Association to bring in former New York Mets Hall of Famer and MLB All-Star Darryl Strawberry and his wife, Tracey, to the area. Darryl and his wife will be speaking about how he has overcome drug, legal, and marital problems since his retirement from baseball. He credits his faith in Jesus Christ for saving his life in so many ways.

The opioid problem in our area, as well as throughout the country is just rampant.  The Strawberry’s feel they can help young kids today with their problems with a program they call “Hope Worth Finding.”  There will be a free event for youth where Darryl and Tracey Strawberry will be speaking in the Niswonger Music Hall at 4 p.m. on April 15.  Then an open to the public event will be at 7 p.m.  Free tickets may be obtained at the Niswonger box office and some participating churches.

The Ohio Attorney General’s office is helping bring this event to our area, as well as some caring organizations and churches throughout our area of Van Wert, Mercer, and Paulding counties. I encourage you to attend this inspiring event and especially encourage youths to attend. We are very pleased to be teaming with the ministerial association, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, and other partners to help make our communities better.

This is the last call for non-profit organizations to get their names to The Van Wert County Foundation if they wish to be included in the drawing for food vendors at Fountain Park Summer Music concerts. The drawing will be held Monday, April 2. There will be much more on the summer concerts to come.

Happy Easter to all of you!  If you are a believer, you know that He is risen indeed.  

FINÉ.

POSTED: 03/29/18 at 7:58 am. FILED UNDER: News