Niswonger Performing Arts Wins Crystal Image Award

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio was honored with the Crystal Image Award presented by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce at their annual banquet on January 26, 2012. The award is presented to a current Chamber member business that has demonstrated leadership within the Van Wert community by its many faceted contributions which include business responsibility, productivity strength, employee empowerment, and service to the community.

What began as a dream in 2001 became a reality in 2007 when the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio opened its doors for the first public concert. The mission set forth by the governing board, the Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation, was, in short, to inspire, educate and entertain residents of Van Wert County and the surrounding region as well as stimulate economic growth.

As the NPAC enters its fifth year, the Center has had a direct impact in all areas of the stated mission. It has offered a variety of programming encompassing all genres of music, shows and speakers. The NPAC has grown from 11 professional shows in 2007 to 27 with the completion of the 2011-2012 season. At the end of 2007, 71% of the ticket buying patrons resided in Van Wert County. That percentage is now 34% of 3100 plus buyers in 2011. The mailing list now exceeds 8500 which includes over 30 states and Canada.  Patrons have come to Van Wert County spending dollars for food, lodging and fuel, all while enjoying the variety of programs at the NPAC.

The NPAC has offered educational opportunities through master classes with professionals, pre-concert lectures with directors, assemblies for students both locally and regionally.  Over 150 student and local volunteers contribute regularly to the success of the organization. The NPAC has also provided the community with a state of the art facility for utilization of receptions, meetings, training sessions, award ceremonies, and more. Partnerships have been established with restaurants, organizations and hotels increasing revenues for additional local businesses. Over the years, through various donations and gifts the center has added a showcase of spectacular art for visual beauty and effect.

The future is bright for the NPAC and its impact on the Van Wert community as it enters its fifth season celebrating the arts in Northwest Ohio.

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio is located at 10700 State Route 118 S., Van Wert, Ohio 45891. Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, Noon – 4PM. For more information about shows, rentals, or the center, call the NPAC at 419.238.NPAC (6722) or visit the website at www.npacvw.org, follow the NPAC on Facebook or Twitter.

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio is pleased to announce that Livingston Taylor will be in concert on Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available for purchase beginning Friday, January 27 at noon. 

Livingston Taylor first played in Van Wert four years ago as part of the Community Concert Series and the show was enjoyed by a packed house.  The brother of legendary singer, James Taylor, Livingston stole the hearts of patrons with his smooth voice and music ability with the guitar and piano. This time he will be joined by the Voices of Unity Choir from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  This World Champion Gold Medalist youth choir is a unique and exciting soulful choral group. The choir has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Heather Headley, Roberta Flack, Josh Groban and with R&B sensation Keyshia Cole on the nationally televised NFL 2007 Kick-Off Celebration for the Indianapolis Colts. It will be an exciting evening of music as Taylor and the Voices of Unity Choir join forces here in Van Wert on April 28. 

Tickets for the 7:30 pm show are $30 and available online at www.npacvw.org, by phone or in person at the box office. The NPAC Box office is located at 10700 SR 118 S., Van Wert, Ohio, phone 419.238.NPAC (6722). Box Office Hours are Monday to Friday, noon to 4:00 PM. The NPAC For more about this show and others, please contact the Box Office, visit us online or find us on Facebook.

Celebrations” is the competition theme in prints and slides when the Wassenberg Camera Club meets Thursday, January 12, at 7 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center.  Members may enter up to 3 images for $1. Another $1 will allow you to enter another 1-3 images. To encourage competition, those not putting pictures in the competition are to put a dollar in the no-show cup.

Business that evening will include the election of a club treasurer. A new Club Directory and an Activity Calendar for 2012 should be available for distribution that evening.

Visitors are encouraged, and may participate in the voting for the best print and slide.

Pictured: Jeff Dolby celebrates his 5th birthday. Photo by:  Rex Dolby

Contact the art center at 419.238.6837, via wassenberg@embarqmail.com or visit our website at: wassenbergartcenter.org. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington Street in Van Wert.

Arts Place will present acoustic blues guitarist Eric Bibb with Grant Dermody in Hall-Moser Theatre at Arts Place, Portland Center on Friday, January 27, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the 2011-12 performance series,Singing the Blues. Advance tickets are $20for adults and $10 for students, or $22 and $11 on the day of the show. Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at 260-726-4809, or toll-free 866-539-9911.

Eric Bibb, already enjoying success in Europe, is becoming a familiar face – and voice – in the U.S. acoustic folk-blues scene. His unique talent continues to draw critical acclaim around the world. Twice nominated for the W.C. Handy Awards and winner of the “Best Newcomer” title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb has been appropriately described as “discreetly awesome” and “a total original.” As his popularity escalates, earlier comparisons to legendary greats Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal are being replaced by quotes that speak to Bibb’s ability to “use standard blues ingredients to cook up something all his own.” Bibb will be joined by Grant Dermody (DER-muh-dee), a harmonica player, singer, songwriter, and teacher from Seattle, Washington. Described as "an understated harmonica virtuoso and a vocalist of subtlety and warmth" by Don McLeese of No Depression magazine, Grant is a highly versatile musician.

"If you were going to build the perfect acoustic bluesman, he'd probably turn out looking and sounding exactly like Eric Bibb." - Chicago Sun-Times

The contest committee urges all interested high school students in Auglaize and Mercer Counties to enter. This award can give your future resumes and college applications extra weight. Enter now!

Happy New Year! We begin the year with the return of Tuesday night ArtNight and our first class, Silk Scarf Painting scheduled to begin today and I can’t wait! This media is quite forgiving and someone who may even consider themselves a non-artist will do very well. Better yet, you're able to wear it when you’re done. 

Beginning Oil Painting for youth and adults, also begins today with Sally Geething and is available in morning and afternoon time slots. Creative use of the brush can achieve many different effects inthis painting technique.  Experiment and have fun with this re-workable paint. On Thursday, January 5, Beginning Ceramics for adults begins and runs for 4 weeks. Whether you have worked with traditional ceramics and pottery before, or you have never touched the stuff, this class will teach you some of the basic principles of working with clay. Slab-work, throwing or a simple coil pot, what you make is up to you.

Animé/Manga returns with a vengeance on Saturday mornings and afternoons. Animé/Manga I in the morning for beginners and Animé/Manga II in the afternoon for those who have taken the first class or those who have some experience in this art genre. Matt will focus on some anatomy and additional color techniques in the second level class.

Next week, Pat Rayman and her Pastel Plus class hit the drawing boards in the morning and Classic Acrylics in the afternoon. In Pastel Plus, additional materials are used in conjunction with soft pastels and the effects will be explored when applied to different surfaces. Classic Acrylics teaches the basics of using acrylic paint.

Our first exhibit of the year on display during the month of February will be "Walk on the Wild Side" and will feature the artists of the Indiana Wildlife Artists Association. The mission of this nationally recognized group of artists is to "encourage appreciation and understanding of wildlife among the general public and assist conservation groups with education for the benefit of wildlife." We are very excited to work with this group and look forward to being surrounded by both paintings and sculptures of flora and fauna.

We hope your holidays were wonderful and we look forward to the long hours that winter offers us to create new and exciting things.

Pictured at left: Beginning Ceramics tray by Matthew Temple
 

Pictured at left: Moonlit Forest by Pat Rayman

Contact the art center at 419.238.6837, via wassenbergdirector@embarqmail.com or visit our website at: wassenbergartcenter.org. The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 South Washington Street in Van Wert.

Washington Comes to Van Wert!

From the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio

"They're the best. There's no one like them, no one in their league."
— Larry King, CNN

"The Capitol Steps make it easier to leave public life."
— Former President George H. W. Bush

Thirty years ago, the Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. In the years that followed, many of the Steps ignored the conventional wisdom ("Don't quit your day job!"), and although not all of the current members of the Steps are former Capitol Hill staffers, taken together the performers have worked in a total of eighteen Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience. On March 24, the Steps come to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio in Van Wert for one great night of laughs.

Since they began, the Capitol Steps have recorded over 30 albums, including their latest, Desperate Housemembers and their special holiday release, Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree. They've been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS, and can be heard 4 times a year on National Public Radio stations nationwide during their Politics Takes a Holiday radio specials.

The Capitol Steps were born in December, 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party. Ronald Reagan was President when the Steps began, so co-founders Elaina Newport, Bill Strauss and Jim Aidala figured that if entertainers could become politicians, then politicians could become entertainers! Their first idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole Congress they couldn't find three wise men or a virgin! So, they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and created song parodies & skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor that was as popular in Peoria as it was on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill; some for Democrats, some for Republicans, and others for politicians who firmly straddle the fence. No matter who holds office, there's never a shortage of material. Says Elaina Newport, "Typically the Republicans goof up, and the Democrats party. Then the Democrats goof up and the Republicans party. That's what we call the two-party system."

Although the Capitol Steps are based in Washington, DC, most of their shows are out-of-town or for out-of-town audiences, whether it's the National Welding Supply Association, a University audience, High Schoolers, or State Legislators. In fact, the Capitol Steps have performed for the last 5 Presidents (6, if you include Hillary). The only complaints the Steps seem to get are from politicians and personalities who are not included in the program!

The material is updated constantly. Current examples include the Tea Party's colorful invasion into the political spectrum ("Fun Fun Fun 'til Obama Takes Our Tea Bags Away") and the Democrats' plan to defeat the deficit ("Return to Spenders"). In addition, we offer our own take on such trending topics as the T.S.A. pat downs, Facebook and illegal immigration according to Arizonians! No matter who or what is in the headlines, you can bet the Capitol Steps will tackle both sides of the political spectrum and all things equally foolish. What more would you expect from the group that puts the "MOCK" in Democracy!

Tickets are now on sale for $30 and available at the box office of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 10700 State Route 118 S, Van Wert, Ohio, by phone at 419.238.NPAC (6722) or online at www.npacvw.org. Box office hours after the New Year Holiday are Monday through Friday, noon to 4PM. For more information about this or other NPAC presentations, please contact the box office, visit the website or find us on facebook.

On December 3, Tschaikovsky’s timeless holiday classic, The Nutcracker comes alive on the stage of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.  The Nutcracker will be presented by the Ballet Theatre of Toledo, under the direction of Mr. Nigel Burgoine, a graduate of the Royal Ballet School and former Principal Dancer with the London Festival Ballet. This classical ballet will thrill audiences of all ages as guest artists from around the country bring the magical holiday classic to life. A live pit orchestra, under the direction of Conductor, Lloyd Butler, currently the Musical Director of the Symphony Orchestra at Ohio Northern University, will present Peter Tschaikovsky’s beautiful music score. Two shows will be presented on December 3 at 2:00 PM and at 7:30 PM.   

Special features to this year’s Nutcracker presentations will include local area dancers, Rachel Verville, Selena Witten, Katelyn Welch, Kylie Hohman, Julianne Roop, and Chelsea Taylor all representing Kim Hohman’s Danceworks of Van Wert, along with Alanis Laudick, Michelle Stayonovich and Caitlyn O’Connor of The Art Center, Lima; Mallory McMurray, Anna Ruckman and Macy Gehle of Upstage Downtown Dance Theatre in Celina and Abbey Acerro representing Dancer by Gina of Lima. All the dancers were selected from over 50 who auditioned with Burgoine in September. They will dance a variety of roles including Chinese, Russian and Cinnamon chefs.  

Another local flavor is added as well when the Van Wert Area Boychoir, under the direction of Mr. Brian Anders and Larry Taylor add the vocals for a selection with the orchestra. Members of the choir are Issac Alvarez, Jacob Forwerck, Kaden Hahn, Dakota Hayes, Dylan Hicks, Michael Joseph, Elliott Lloyd, Korey Oechsle, Haydn & Hutch Ridenour, Aaron Ries, Austin Sheets, Thaddeus Simmerman, Killian Sudduth, Jacob Trejo, Brendan, Brice & Caden Webster.  

Include this ballet in your family traditions this holiday! Tickets are available now at the box office or online for $12-$32 for both the 2 PM and 7:30 PM shows. The box office is open Noon to 4PM, Monday through Friday (it will be closed Nov. 24 & 25 for Thanksgiving) at 10700 SR 118 S., Van Wert, Ohio or by phone 419.238.NPAC (6722). Tickets can be purchased at anytime online at www.npacvw.org.  

The Parkway High School Marching Band presented their 2nd Black Light Concert last Sunday afternoon. As an added bonus, the 6th, 7th and 8th grade bands opened the show before the High School band came on and the lights went out. The band, led by Mr. Twigg gave us a great performance featuring all the songs that were played during this year's football halftime shows. 

 

YouTube link for the 8th grade playing "I like the way you move"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRsK1Tof74w

YouTube link for the High school playing "Come on Feel the Noise"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM5pD8u_7g4

YouTube link for High School playing "Dynamite"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ojOX0kjKY0

YouTube link for High School playing "Raise Your Glass"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S76_9CnFn3U

YouTube link for the High School playing the "Fight Song"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C8X6McNtYU

The Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio is pleased to announce that Jenna Bush Hager will be the second presenter in the newly formed Speaker Series at the NPAC on Tuesday, January 24. Tickets for Hager’s presentation, Making a Difference: How the Power of Compassion Changes Lives are available for purchase beginning Wednesday, October 19 at noon. 

Hager is a contributing correspondent to NBC’s Today where she focuses on telling the inspiring stories of wonderful people doing great things across America. 

In 2006, Hager traveled to Latin America as an intern with UNICEF. During her journey, she was inspired to write Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, a New York Times bestseller based on the life of a 17-year-old single mother living with HIV and determined to shield her child from the abuse and neglect that riddled her own childhood. She is still very involved with UNICEF and is currently the chair of UNICEF’s Next Generation, an initiative dedicated to reducing the number of preventable childhood deaths around the world. 

Hager is a graduate of the University of Texas where she received a degree in English. In addition to Ana’s Story, she is the co-author of Read All About It! 

Hager is the daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and Former First Lady Laura Bush. She is also the grandchild of former President George H. W. Bush and Former First Lady Barbara Bush.  

Tickets for the 7:30 pm show on January 24 are $10-$20 and available online at www.npacvw.org, by phone or in person at the box office. The NPAC Box office is located at 10700 SR 118 S., Van Wert, Ohio, phone 419.238.NPAC (6722). Box Office Hours are Monday to Friday, noon to 4:00 PM. The NPAC Speakers Series is sponsored in part by Paulding Putnam Electric, Wal-Mart, D&D Ag Ingredients, Inc., and the Van Wert Elks. For more about this show and others, please contact the Box Office, visit us online or find us on Facebook.

 A soulful Meghan Linsey and rockstar Joshua Scott Jones’ life changed forever after winning CMT’s “Can You Duet?” and signing a record deal with Big Machine Records. The real-life couple, more widely known as Steel Magnolia, wowed a panel of industry judges and earned fans across the nation with their fresh sound, intermingling distinct voices and unbridled chemistry. From the first few bars of their song “Ohh La La” on that show to their most recent Country Music Association’s Vocal Duo of the Year nomination, Steel Magnolia has been a shooting star on the Country Music fast track. And that fast track brings them from their current REBA “All The Women I Am” Tour to Van Wert on Friday, January 6 for one show only at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio! Tickets go on sale Wednesday, October 12 at noon for Country Music’s hot young superstars.  

Since winning “Can You Duet?”, Steel Magnolia released their first self-titled album on January 11, 2011 to critical acclaim with hits such as “Just By Being You (Halo and Wings)” and “Last Night Again” as well as “Keep On Lovin’ You,” which climbed into the Top 5 on the Billboard Country Songs chart and became the fastest-rising single by a male/female duo in Country music history. Since their national debut, they have garnered over a dozen industry nominations, including CMA, ACM, ACA, CMT, and most recently, a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Music: Country Group. From their first release “Keep On Lovin’ You” through their current chart climbing single, “Bulletproof” Josh and Meghan have shined on the Grand Ole Opry and gotten their stage legs in arena atmospheres. Josh and Meghan spent the 2010 summer touring alongside Brad Paisley on his massively popular H2O Tour.  All of their chemistry and great music comes to Van Wert on January 6. 

Tickets are priced $20-$40 and available online at www.npacvw.org or at the box office from noon to 4PM Monday through Friday at 419.238.NPAC (6722). Tickets can also be purchased in person during box office hours at 10700 State Route 118 S., Van Wert, Ohio.  This show is sponsored in part by T-102fm. For more information on this show and others, visit the website or find us on Facebook.

Thanks to all of the artists and photographers who contributed to the exhibit at the Van Wert County Fair! The art exhibit was judged by, Jens Svendsen of Hamler. Jens has taught art at Bowling Green State University, has a Masters of Art in Fine Art and an R.N. in psychiatric nursing. Originally hailing from Denmark, Jens has a broad appreciation for visual art.

In his juror’s statement, Jens says, “I would like to take some time to thank the Van Wert County Foundation for inviting me as juror for this fine arts show, and to share my reflections about the works presented. An annual County Fair is all about people and the community they belong to -- a place where pride merges with fun and all the best such a community has to offer. This is also the case for a County Fair Fine Arts Show where one can come across the unexpected and the originally vibrant.  As juror of the Van Wert County Fair I was delighted to experience work of such diverse nature. The work awarded had that extra nerve and appeal that makes for a work out of the ordinary.” 

He went on to say that art exhibits can be challenging to jury because of their subjective nature and it should be of little consequence whether or not an award was given, “because the overall presence of affirmation of life and joy was immediate and moving. My own contribution to this show is to encourage everyone to ‘keep at it’ and continue to be the life force at these events.” 

I couldn’t agree more. Van Wert was fortunate to have Jens’ input and we can look forward to an exhibit of work by him and his wife, Mille Guldbeck in 2012. Like Jens, Mille teaches at Bowling Green and is represented many galleries throughout the world.  

Best of Show went to Val Sluterbeck of Van Wert for his watercolor painting, “Eyeball Tree.” Second best of show went to Kylene Murphy of Mendon, with Third Best of Show winner being Danielle Bradford of Van Wert.  Others who placed were: Oil or Acrylic: first place -- Janet Ravas of Scotia, New York; second place --Val Sluterbeck; third place – Kay Sluterbeck of Van Wert.  Watercolor: first place – Val Sluterbeck; second place – Kay Sluterbeck; – third place – Janet Ravas.  Drawing:  first place – Danielle Bradford; second place – Jackie Brandt; third place – Kylene Murphy.  Pastel:  first place – Deborah Steinmetz; second place – Deborah Steinmetz; third place – Kylene Murphy.  Mixed Media:  first place – Pat Rayman of Ohio City; second place – Pat Rayman; third place – Kay Sluterbeck.  Ink:  first place – Kylene Murphy; second place – Kylene Murphy; third place – John Lianez.   New this year was the “Director’s Choice Award”. In painting it went to John Lianez  and for photography, Josh Hattery. 

Tuesday night our art classes began with “Drawing in Your Right Mind.”  I’m writing this Tuesday morning and I can’t wait. Please check out our schedule or give us a call to find out to find out what class interests you! The line-up of classes includes: “Drawing in your Right Mind,” “Landscape Oil Painting with Sally Geething, “Watercolor and Mixed Media,” “Dynamic Acrylic Painting,” “Anime/Manga”, “Beginning Drawing,” “Claymation,” “Medieval Multimedia” and “Initial Line Art.”   Instructor Matt Temple has been working with the art center’s printmaking equipment and bringing it back to life, so stay tuned for more offerings soon! 

Contact the art center at 419.238.6837 or wassenberg@embarqmail.com for further information or to register.  Class size is limited, and preregistration is required.  The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 S. Washington Street in Van Wert, Ohio.  

Rockford to Honor First Responders with a Concert on 9/11
Plan now to attend the 10th anniversary of 9/11,  at Rockford, Ohio where they will commemorate the occasion with a special concert benefit featuring Blair Carman and the Belleview Boys. The personalized tribute event held on Sunday, September 11 at 3:45 – 5:45 p.m. will serve to honor our first responders and raise funds for area all-volunteer fire departments of Chattanooga, Mendon, Ohio City, Rockford, and Willshire. The spectacular event will involve Blair, special patriotic music sung by vocalists, video presentations recognizing members of the fire departments and local veterans, past and present, transitioning to images of the impact of the terror on 9/11, with a finale leading attendees in singing “God Bless the USA,” Lee Greenwood style.

The event will be held at Parkway Local School District auditorium, located at 400 Buckeye Street, Rockford, OH and will be emceed by WCSM Radio Show host Jim Highley with the invocation given by Pastor Jim Kaiser of Mt. Tabor Church of God. A free-will donation will be accepted upon entrance and collected during intermission.

The public is invited to come in celebration and appreciation of the service of our first responders and enjoy Blair Carman and the Belleview Boys, an amazing Roll ‘n’ Roll act out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Blair and his band will perform authentic 1950’s style Rock’n Roll/Rockabilly tunes ranging from a repertoire of original songs to include classics from Elvis Presley to Carl Perkins, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more!

Proceeds from 50/50 ticket sales during the event will be offered from the local firefighters to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in memory of their 343 FDNY brothers who selflessly gave their lives on 9/11 so that others might live.

For anyone interested in making a monetary donation to the fire department, please send a check written out to Rockford Fire Department located at 201 South Main Street, PO Box 357, Rockford, Ohio 45882. Donations will be divided between area fire departments.

Thank you to the many sponsors in the area who helped to make this event a reality.

VAN WERT-The jazz/pop vocal group with the second most honored album in pop history, surpassed only by Michael Jackson’s Thriller.  The Manhattan Transfer will be at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 7:30.  Tickets go on sale July 12. 

The platinum selling, world-wide chart topping quartet, Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel became the first group to win Grammys simultaneously in both the jazz and pop categories and earned a provoking 12 Grammy nominations in 1985 for their album Vocalese.  To date, The Manhattan Transfer has won 10 Grammys and has been nominated for 17.   

Their recent #5 Billboard jazz chart album, The Chick Corea Songbook, was inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea, who contributed and plays an original composition entitled “Free Samba” especially for the album.  

The Manhattan Transfer first hit radio stations in 1975 with their nationally recognized remake of the Friendly Brothers gospel classic “Operator.”  Later that year, they aired their own comedy-variety show on CBS, taking Ed Sullivan’s old time slot. Widely renowned for broadening the musical landscape, the Manhattan Transfer is credited for bringing Brazilian music to American radio and for introducing Bob Marley and The Wailers to American television.   

Their 1979 vocal remake of the Weather Report classic “Birdland” landed them their first two Grammys for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, Vocal or instrumental and Best Arrangement For Voices.  The group won consecutive Grammys in 1982 and 1983 for Best Vocal Jazz performance, Duo or Group category.  Throughout the decade (1980-1990), the Manhattan Transfer held the title of “Best Vocal Group” in both the annual Downbeat and Playboy jazz polls. 

Some famous musicians that have worked with the Manhattan Transfer include Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, James Taylor, B.B. King, Phil Collins, Smokey Robinson and more.  With over 20 hit records, the group remains a major staple within the jazz community and the mainstream music community.  Hits you many know include “Boy From New York City”, “Route 66” and “Until I Met You.” 

Tickets for the September 17 concert range from $18-$41.  Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.npacvw.org and at the NPAC box office at 10700 State Route 118 S., Van Wert, Ohio or by phone at 419.238.NPAC (6722) Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 PM.  For more information about tickets and additional shows at the NPAC, visit our website or find us on Facebook.