Parkway 2nd Graders Rock The Niswonger

Over 70 Rockstars-In-Training made the Niswonger stage their destination for learning and lively fun on Wednesday, March 8. The Van Wert Live Team presented a Niswonger Behind The Scenes Experience that transformed the students into Rockstars for the day. Tour Guides, Gary Taylor, Bill Clifton, Greg Blackmore, and Amy Lyons led the students to four stations (Box Office - Amy McGovern and Jerry Beard, Marketing + Creatives - Quincy Thompson and Weston Thompson, Greenroom (Michelle Agler), and Stage - Hugh Saunier and Matt Saunier) that provided insights on how artists are selected, contracted, and marketed before the big show takes place.

Parkway 2nd Grade Teacher Zachary Bates shares, "Students got a taste of all the different pieces that make a production successful. This hands-on behind-the-scenes experience was awesome for our students and really excited them about what  The Niswonger has to offer to our community. The Van Wert Live team is top-notch!"

The two-hour experience is an opportunity for the Van Wert Live Team to introduce The Niswonger as a resource for young leaders to experience cultural events. The facility has enabled the arts to flourish for families throughout the region with the average Niswonger customer traveling from 32 miles for a show.  

Van Wert Live events are presented by The Van Wert Areas Performing Arts Foundation, a supporting 501c3 of The Van Wert County Foundation. The organization's vision is to make Van Wert an entertainment destination by providing experiences that are so good they demand a return. The Behind The Scenes Experience aligns with that mission and supports cultivating arts enthusiasts.

The enthusiasm was evident from Parkway 2nd Grade student, Lily Caffee. "It was really fun. It was my favorite field trip that I have ever been on," shared Lilly.

More information about Van Wert Live events can be found at vanwertlive.com or by contacting the Box Office at 419-238-6722.