Plus, a program on black history in Henry County.
MUNCIE — Families can enjoy Classical Kids LIVE! Gershwin’s Magic Key with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at Emens Auditorium.
The kid-friendly concert will offer «all of George Gershwin’s greatest hits in a unique story format with professional actors,” MSO Artistic Director and Conductor Douglas Droste said in a release.
Gershwin’s Magic Key is an entertaining theatrical symphony concert about the extraordinary life and musical masterpieces of one of the greatest American composers of all time. The story tells of a chance meeting on the streets of New York City between a poor newspaper boy and the great American composer, George Gershwin. The orchestra weaves Gershwin’s greatest hits into the drama as the composer shares historical anecdotes about his life and musical passion.
Tickets for youth (K-12) are $5, Ball State student tickets are free in advance with student ID or $10 at the door. Adult single tickets start at $25. To purchase tickets, contact Emens Box Office at 765-285-1539 or visit MuncieSymphony.org .
Refreshments and an Instrument Petting Zoo will be offered in the George and Frances Ball Foundation Lobby after the performance.
NEW CASTLE — When Rick Cottman first started researching his family’s history, he discovered many fascinating stories about black families in Henry County. Cottman will share some of his research during a program entitled “Black History of Henry County» at 6 p.m. Feb. 27, in the auditorium at New Castle-Henry County Public Library.
“The key people I will be sharing about include the Winslow family, the first Black family to purchase land and settle near Straughn in 1827,” Cottman said in a release. “My own family, the Cottmans, were freed slaves brought to the Springport area in 1831.”
Cottman will also share about the Bailey families, Edward and Reuben, the Archey family from the Beech Settlement, the Boatright family, the Trail/ Fears families, the Dean family, the Meridith/Merida /Ross families, the Brandy family of Spiceland, the Dempsey family, the Modlin family, the Poindexter family, the Criss family, the Hill family, the Hansard family, the Turner family, the Thurman family, the Boyd family, and the Fonzer family.
Cottman is in the process of compiling a book, «In Colored Circles: The Black American History of Henry County,» which he hopes to have the book ready for publication later this year.
