Who’s ready for a little Christmas in (almost) July? Purdue Fort Wayne is bringing in a pretty big name for a big time Christmas show.

Popular pianist Jim Brickman will visit the Auer Performance Hall for a one-night only family-friendly Christmas show on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Sharing the stage with special guests, Brickman puts on a great show and will be sure to get the holiday season off to a great start. Unless, thanks to Hallmark, your holiday celebration has already begun in which case he’s sure to help you sustain it for those last few crazy weeks.

Assigned seating tickets can be purchased online at pfw.edu/tickets or by phone at (260) 481-6555.

Voices of Unity

Also coming up at the Rhinehart Music Center — this time actually in July — is the season ending performance of the Voices of Unity choir.

Under the direction of Marshall White, the season close will be A Tribute to the Music of the Movies. With the phenomenal talents of those young performers, those familiar movie classics are sure to soar in new and remarkable ways. The work done with those choir performers is nothing short of amazing.

Ticket prices are adults $16, seniors (65+) and students $11, and children (12 & under) $6. They can be purchased by calling (260) 481-6719.

Niswonger’s 2019-20 season

If seeing Jim Brickman just once in the coming year isn’t enough for you, then there’s good news from the Niswonger in Van Wert. Brickman, along with special guest Melissa Manchester, will be performing love songs on Sunday, Feb. 23, making it a pretty nice Valentine’s Day present. Manchester, who got her start as one of Bette Midler’s famed Harlettes, has a nice catalog of her own love songs, chief among them “Midnight Blue.” But you can be sure with her voice and Brickman’s piano chops, there will be plenty to make fans swoon at that show.

Also coming to the Niswonger in the 2019-20 season will be Wynonna Judd and the Big Noise (Sept. 15), the Guess Who (Sept.22), 38 Special (Oct. 20), Roots & Boots with Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw, and Colin Raye (Oct. 26), humorist Jeanne Robertson (Jan. 26), Little Texas (Feb. 29), En Vogue (Mar. 7), the Issacs with Terry Bradshaw (yep, that Terry Bradshaw—Apr. 17) and Here Come the Mummies (Apr. 25).

Tribute acts include Janis Joplin (Sept. 28), Whitney Houston (Feb. 14), and Neil Diamond (Mar. 21).

Broadway-style performances include Catapult (Oct. 12), Bandstand (Jan. 23), Finding Neverland (Mar. 14) and An American in Paris (May 2).

Family fun can be had at Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure on Sunday, May 3, at 3 p.m.

Niswonger also has plenty to offer once the holidays roll around.

Christmas with the Swingles takes the Niswonger stage on Sunday, Dec. 1, while Ken Ludwig’s Twas the Night Before Christmas visits on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The Midtown Men, stars of the original Broadway hit, Jersey Boys, bring their holiday show on Sunday, Dec. 15, and David Phelps, referred to as “the voice of an angel,” comes to Van Wert on Friday, Dec. 20. And finally, on Saturday, Dec. 21, Lonestar and Phil Vasser bring The Not So Silent Night Tour to town. There’s little chance to escape the holiday spirit with that lineup which is now only five months away.

Tickets are available at npacvw.org or by calling (419) 238-6722.

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