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 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, that 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 if not for 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 the 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 just showed up for these performances, we will likely have the Lied

return to McCook in the future with more talented musicians and performers.

And 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 take effort to be social. It requires you to shut off your TV and make it a priority to be around

others. It takes will power 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.