Submitted
Season tickets are presently being sold by Western Plains Arts Association board members. Business sponsors have only until Aug. 5 to be included in the annual season program. Benefactor levels are $1,500 and above; Sustaining begins at $750; Patron begins at $350; and Sponsor at $200 to $359. Family memberships are $110; adult $50; and student $15.
Considering the standard “door price” to enter just one program is $20 for adults and $10 for students, all WPAA season tickets should be considered as the “hottest ticket in northwest Kansas.” With nearly 20 programs scheduled, anyone who attends three or more season programs has landed a bargain.
Right after celebrating WPAA’s 50th Anniversary Program in February 2020, the COVID lockdown began and several of our scheduled programs had to be either cancelled or postponed into 2021 or even 2022. Even so, the show mostly went on for much of the last season. Board members are hopeful that nearly all our scheduled performers will be able to commit as scheduled for the upcoming season.
WPAA’s 52nd season officially begins Sept 12 and runs through early May. Confirmed programs for the upcoming season:
Sunday, Sept. 12, Dave and Daphne, Nashville duo, Colby.
Sunday, Sept. 19, Quebe Sisters, Texas, triple threat fiddle and Country vocal champions, Oakley.
Sunday, Oct. 3, Jukebox Saturday Night, ‘30s and ‘40s swing era, Oakley.
Sunday, Oct. 17, “How Sweet It Is,” a Steve Leslie vocal tribute to the music of James Taylor, location TBA.
Oct. 18-20, Wichita Children’s Theatre, “Alice in Wonderland” in area schools, Atwood, Colby, Goodland, St. Francis, Sharon Springs and Winona.
Sunday, Oct. 24, Swearingen & Kelli, outlaw country music, Hoxie.
Saturday, Oct. 30, United States Navy Commodores & United States Navy Band Cruisers, Colby.
Sunday, Oct. 31, Kevin & Heidi Cheng, violin and piano, St. Francis.
Sunday, Nov. 14, After Midnight, Colorado’s premier swing band, Colby.
Sunday, Dec. 5, Christmas in Killarney, an Irish Christmas celebration, Oakley.
Sunday, Jan. 23, R.P. Smith, cowboy poetry and country commentary, Atwood.
Sunday, Feb. 20, The New Odyssey Guy, master of 10 instruments, Sharon Springs.
Sunday, Feb. 6, Pippa White pioneer history program “As Far as the eye can see,” Quinter.
Sunday, March 6, Hawley Magic, America’s Got Talent finalist, Colby.
Sunday, March 13, Ball in the House, a cappella group, Colby.
Sunday, March 27, Nashville Legacy, nostalgic show of the music of County Greats Chet Adkins and Floyd Kramer, Oakley.
Tuesday, April 12, Church Basement Ladies theatre production, “You Smell Barn,” Oakley.
Sunday, April 24, Cubanisms, Carribian music styles of Cuba and beyond, Hoxie.
Sunday, May 1, Pride of the Prairie Orchestra, location to be announced.
Exact venues will be listed in the official season program and in releases to local media approximately two weeks prior to each show. Most shows begin at 3 p.m. Central (2 p.m. Mountain) Sundays. Occasional evening shows at 7:30 p.m Central (6:30 p.m. Mountain).
At this time, local precautions against the transmission of COVID-19 are not relevant. WPAA will work throughout the season with venues to follow community, state or federal recommendations or temporary mandates. Winter storms may cause a program postponement or cancellation.
Board members for area host counties are as follows:
Cheyenne County
St. Francis; Althea Lebow, Helene Ladenberger, Marsha Magley
Bird City; Beth Klepper
Gove County
Grainfield; Denise Packard
Grinnell; Leona Dickman
Quinter; Denise Wittman
Logan County
Oakley; Donna Albers, Shane Stephenson , Connie Singer, Betty Hockersmith
Winona; Ruth Smith
Rawlins County
Atwood; Millie Fisher, Charles Peckham, Chelsea Schmitt
Sheridan County
Hoxie; Marilyn Meier
Sherman County
Goodland; Eric & Roxie Yonkey, Curtis Duncan
Thomas County
Brewster; Lesa Juenemann
Colby; Jan Barnum, Katina Brenn, Amie Kendrick, Sandy Wilks
CCC; Pat Ziegelmeier, Executive Director
Rexford; Jolene Hansen
Wallace County
Sharon Springs; Bill and Wilma Mai
Wallace; Cecil & Jayne Humphrey Pearce
Weskan; Vernon and Mary Beth Akers