All we need to do is show up

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of introducing the Lied’s Arts Across Nebraska classical musicians, Take 3, at the historic Fox Theater in McCook. I wasn’t planning on taking to the stage in the shadow of these talented performers, but I guess there just wasn’t anyone else willing to go up onto the stage without any planning or anything written down to say. Where is Cal Siegfried when you need him?

But everything went smoothly. The students at the afternoon matinee all cheered for me, most likely because they know me from driving a bus on a field trip or coaching them in soccer - I’m the fun one most of the time.

The evening performance required not one but two attempts to get a rousing “hello” out of the crowd, probably because they haven’t had the joy of riding on the bus with me or getting snacks after a soccer game.

My impromptu introduction included thanking those who made it happen, including the Lied Theater, which brings the arts to McCook (although a trip to Lincoln is worth it).

There were also the sponsors, whose generous donation made the production free for all who attended. They included the Kimmel Foundation, the Friends of the Lied, the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

Plus, there were the local organizers who made the live musical happen in McCook, including Charlie Coleman and the volunteers at the Fox Theater; the McCook Gazette and KICX Radio for promotion; and the McCook Creative District, of which I belong, hence why I really ended up on the stage.

But without notes, there was one more group which I forgot to recognize and which I neglected to thank from the bright lights of the stage: the audience members who showed up.

These productions would not happen without the people who attend the event. No one wants to perform in front of a bunch of empty chairs. Organizers won’t continue to put on programs if no one attends. Sponsors won’t donate to performances if the public doesn’t support them by patronizing the event.

So I would like to send a hearty thank you to everyone who attended the Arts Across Nebraska performance earlier this week in McCook.

During the afternoon matinee, the main floor of the Fox was filled nearly to capacity with students from St. Patrick Elementary and McCook High School, along with residents from Kinship Point and Hillcrest and individuals from Hands of Heartland and many members of the public. The evening performance saw many of those students returning with their parents, plus people of all ages in the audience.

And I would like to thank Mrs. Donelan, who welcomed Take 3 into her classroom at McCook Elementary to share the performers’ love of violin, bass and piano up-close with her students.

Because of everyone who attended these performances, we will likely have the Lied return to McCook in the future with more talented musicians and performers.

People didn’t turn up just at the Fox Theater. In the midst of the Take 3 performance Monday night, I dashed over to the McCook High School auditorium for senior night, where another good-sized crowd filled the seats for the final performance of the high school drama department’s rendition of “Alice in Wonderland.”

Over the past month, these kids had put hours and hours of practice into their performances, while volunteers had spent countless evenings building sets and perfecting the make-up and hairstyles. And what is the best way for us to say “thank you for your effort?” By simply showing up and being in the audience.

Let’s be honest, the easy button is to just say home and stare at our screens all night and repeat the process day after day, night after night. Studies show that more and more people are finding their “communities” online rather than in their actual hometowns.

It takes effort to be social. It requires you to shut off your TV and make it a priority to be around others. It takes willpower to go home after work and then leave the nice, comfy confines of your house again.

Why is this important? If we want these things in our community, we have to show up: to restaurants and businesses, to museums and art venues, to special events and programs.

That TV or computer screen is still going to be there when you return home, but that performance by Carnegie-trained musicians in our hometowns is a once-a-year, maybe once-in-a-lifetime event…and all we need to do is show up.