Grammy winner tops arts group's series

NEW BREMEN - Grammy Award winner Maureen McGovern, who topped the charts in 1973 with "The Morning After," will be among the performers in the Lock One Community Arts series for 2017-2018.

"Delightful Afternoons" is the title of the Lock One Community Arts' 17th annual entertainment series. All shows will begin at 3 p.m. in the James E. Dicke Auditorium at New Bremen High School.

McGovern, accompanied by pianist Michael Shirtz, will open the series with an Oct. 8 performance.

"I would say she's the biggest star we have had come to New Bremen," said Bev Poppe, Lock One Community Arts board chairperson. She also noted that Shirtz not only accompanies McGovern on the piano, but "he has a wonderful voice, too."

A Youngstown native, McGovern sang the Oscar winning "The Morning After" from the blockbuster movie "The Poseidon Adventure." McGovern also won a Grammy for the Best New Artist.

Her list of hits also includes the Oscar winning "We May Never Love Like This Again" from the disaster movie "Towering Inferno."

In addition to her Oct. 8 performance, Poppe said McGovern will stay overnight before participating in a workshop the following day.

"On Monday, she will give a presentation at Elmwood (Assisted Living of New Bremen) to help caregivers use music therapy," Poppe said. Area nursing homes and assisted living centers will be advised of the workshop, she said.

In addition to McGovern, another act to perform on a Sunday afternoon and stick around for added service will be Cadence, an a cappella group from Canada. The group will perform Nov. 12, the second of five shows presented by the local arts organization.

"They will be staying for Monday and Tuesday to give performances for 10 area schools," Poppe said, noting the weekday shows will be presented at no cost to the schools in Auglaize, Mercer and Shelby counties. She said normally school districts must pay for such educational performances.

Poppe said Cadence, which performs a variety of music, will be teaching students how to sing a cappella as part of their performance.

The entertainment series will provide a variety of acts, including comedy. The Christmas season show will be a comedy, "The Mystery of the Magi Gold" presented by the theater group Late Night Catechism. The show is set for Dec. 3.

The last two shows of the season will be Moanin' Frogs, a saxophone sextet made up of college professors who play saxophones ranging from small to very large. The show is set for March 11. The series wraps up on April 6 when the 85-member strong Indianapolis Children's Choir takes the stage.

Poppe said the Lock One group not only brings entertainment to the community, but it also uses funds generated by the shows to upgrade the facilities at the auditorium. She noted the most recent improvement was the installation of an energy-saving LED lighting system, and a few years ago a new sound system was purchased.

Serving as chairperson for about a decade, Poppe gave her fellow board members credit for making the organization a success.

"I wouldn't be able to do it if I didn't have such a good board," she said.

People who have purchased series tickets in the past are eligible to buy them again for the new shows, Poppe noted. Season tickets will be offered to the public starting June 16. Single-show tickets will go on sale Aug. 15.

For more information about ticket sales, visit www.lockone.org.

The lineup includes:

• Oct. 8 - Maureen McGovern and Michael Shirtz.

• Nov. 12 - Cadence, an a cappella group from Canada.

• Dec. 3 - Theater troupe Late Night Catechism performing "The Mystery of the Magi Gold."

• March 11 - Moanin' Frogs, a saxophone sextet.

• April 8 - Indianapolis Children's Choir.