Barbershop in Colby on November 2nd

Wanted. Northwest Kansas men and women, boys and girls, to travel to Colby, Thursday, Nov. 2, to join in a night of barbershop singing. 

The Colby United Methodist Church, 950 S. Franklin, is the location of this special guest night from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Central. Sponsored by the Tumbleweed men’s Barbershop Chorus and the women’s Prairie Rose Harmony Chorus, members of both groups will be on hand to lead guests in the joys of signing harmony. Guest night means there is no obligation to join either sponsoring group.  Refreshments provided.

Thomas Annis, Oakley, is the music director for both groups. This is a special weekly rehearsal, not a show.  Plans are to have a large number of men from the Hays Chorus present in Colby, in addition to all present and many past Tumbleweed and PRH chorus members.

Eighty-five years ago, the founders of The Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) stumbled onto something quite profound: The joy and transformation that comes with four voices singing together. The BHS wants more people to have the opportunity to experience the joy of singing.

Alferd Packer Memorial String Band in Quinter

The Alferd Packer Memorial String Band is five multi-instrumentalists, dressed in old time costumes, singing and playing fiddles, banjo, guitars, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, accordion, bass, and creative percussion.

Based in Lawrence, Kansas, the band has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and in a documentary called “Overlooked” which aired on KTKA-TV. They were the focus of articles in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Readers’ Digest. Their music has been used in a national broadcast on NPR. Their infectious good humor and high energy leave no toe untapped. Last year the Band was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. Visit www.alferdpackerband.com. The band has produced three compact discs in their more than 25-year history.

Magician Joshua Lozoff presents "Life is Magic" in Colby

Joshua Lozoff has been studying and sharing magic around the world for more than 20 years. The magician will present “Life is Magic,” with amazing, mesmerizing and mind-boggling magic and mentalist magnificence. Sponsored by the Western Plains Arts Association, he will perform at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 22 at Colby Community College’s Cultural Arts Center.

“The most beautiful thing about magic is how it appeals to everyone,” he said. “Everyone has a few moments in time which transcend our ordinary reality; moments of awe, of astonishment, and just a flat-out fun time.”

Performances combine his love for the art of magic, with his fascination with psychology, the powers of observation, and influence. In one moment, he makes a drawing come to life just by pointing; in the next, he predicts an audience member’s choices even before she knows them herself.

To encourage families to attend, admission is just $10 adults, $5 students at the door, or by WPAA season ticket. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation, with grants for Thomas and Logan counties, have provided major funding for this show.

Wichita Children's Theatre in Area Schools

Wichita Children’s Theatre will present “The Ugly Duckling” for the area elementary schools listed below. Sponsored by the Western Plains Arts Association in cooperation with each of the school districts, major funding has been provided by the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation (GNWKCF) for Logan & Thomas Counties, Bird City, and the Dane G Hansen Foundation, Lenora.

Anyone outside the public elementary school system desiring to attend one of the free performances should contact the local school office staff ahead of time to make arrangements.

Monday, Oct. 16

9 a.m. CT Atwood Elementary School, 205 North 4th Street, 785-626-3217.                                                      1:30 p.m. CT St. Francis Elementary School, 307 N Webster, 785-332-8143.

Glen Miller Orchestra in Colby

 Spend an evening with the Glenn Miller Orchestra Oct. 7

One of the greatest Big Bands of all time, the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, is coming to Colby on Saturday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. CDT, at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center. 

The Western Plains Arts Association is sponsor of the special evening performance. Admission is by WPAA season ticket or at the door: adults, $20 and students $10. 

Major contributors for the Glenn Miller Orchestra include: The Dane Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kan., the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation —Dane Hansen Community Grant for Thomas County, Bird City. A large number of businesses and individuals across the area make these live programs possible.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra has been swinging in his memory ever since 1954. Miller started his orchestra in March 1938. After touring with Benny Goodman, the Dorseys, and other greats, Miller began recording under his own name for Columbia records in 1935. During his professional career, the Glenn Miller Orchestra produced an average of more than ten Top 10 hits every year from 1939 through 1944.

Just a few of his career hits include: Moonlight Serenade, Tuxedo Junction, Pennsylvania 6-5000, In the Mood, A String of Pearls, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Chattanooga Choo-Choo and That Old Black Magic.

R.J. Vandygriff in Sharon Springs

 R.J. Vandygriff is an award winning singer/songwriter, playwright and actor not to mention a pretty darn good cowboy. Sponsored by the Western Plains Arts Association, Vandygriff will appear at 2 p.m. MDT (3 p.m. CDT), Sunday, Sept. 24 at Wallace County High School in Sharon Springs.
Admission is by WPAA season ticket or $10 adults, $5 students at the door.
This program is made possible through the generous support of area businesses and individual sponsors including a major gift by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kan.
He’s at home on stage, in front of a camera or horseback in the big pasture.  Vandygriff grew up ridin’ horses and strumming an ol’ guitar, competed in saddlebronc and bareback as well as working as a rodeo clown and bullfighter. Whether he’s performing as a solo artist or starring in the highly acclaimed musical "The
Cowboy Ain’t Dead Yet!" he has the talent to walk on a stage in front of any audience and connect with them.
Vandygriff worked or appeared in more than 100 episodes of the television series "Walker, Texas Ranger." He has appeared on stage with George Strait, Garth Brooks, Alabama, The Judds, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Moe Bandy. Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Andy Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Sons of the Pioneers, Red Steagall, and Michael Martin Murphy.

Rockland Road in Oakley

Western Plains Arts Association opens their 54th season Sunday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. CDT with Rockland Road, six musicians of the Martin family representing four generations of musical heritage. All members of this Nashville family sing and play a combined 23 different instruments. Oakley High School auditorium will be the venue for the first program. 

Admission is by WPAA season ticket or single program tickets, adults $20, students $10 at the door. Season tickets may be purchased from any board member or at the venue. This program is made possible by generous business and individual sponsors, including major grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, and the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation- community Grant for Logan County and Thomas County, Bird City.
Rockland Road is a street just outside Nashville. It’s a studio where countless hit records have been recorded. It’s a crossroads where country, gospel, pop, R&B and Americana music has coexisted and thrived for years. It is also a vocal- driven, melodic band with a signature sound as rich and authentic as its namesake.
 
Rockland Road is a powerhouse group featuring soulful vocals imbued with a pure, exuberant joy worthy of the talented blood that flows through this family’s veins. As they prepared to enter the studio, the Martin family was pitched songs from some of the top writers in Nashville. One song in particular, "Mountains Up
Ahead," was brought to them by their producer Greg Bieck, and they felt an immediate connection and knew they had to record it.