NEW CONCORD -- Planning has begun for the Celebrate New Concord (CNC) summer entertainment series, which this year marks its 10th anniversary.
The CNC planning committee has added two new members and named a new chairman. Jeff Harman and Robert Owen Jones are the newest committee members, and Rod Lang has been named chairman. Harman is professor of speech communication at Muskingum University, where he is also broadcast manager of WMCO-TV. Jones is professor of music at Muskingum, where he directs many of the university's vocal groups. Lang is assistant director of public relations at Muskingum and replaces the late Dr. William Schlacks. Lang has served as CNC's publicity chair since the series began in 2001.
Continuing to serve on the committee are New Concord Mayor Greg Adams, Janice Hutchison and Clyta Young.
The committee has begun planning for CNC's 10th anniversary season, which Lang promised will be a special one. "What we're planning is a 'best of' season for our 10th anniversary," he said. "We're going to bring back many of our most popular performers, as a gift to the community for all of their support over the years."
Lang said that a key component of CNC's growth and success has been enrollment in its patronage program, which allows individuals and groups to support the series with monetary donations. This generosity has allowed audiences to enjoy performances in the park free of admission charges.
"Without the patronage program," Lang explained, "there simply would not be a Celebrate New Concord. It's that simple. We have wonderful sponsors, but they can't provide all of what we need to pull this off every year. It's our patrons who make the difference."
Celebrate New Concord is sponsored by the Village of New Concord, the New Concord Board of Trade, RENEW and Muskingum University.
Lang said the growth and support of the patronage program has been remarkable.
"Every year, the funding we receive from the patronage program grows, and that lets the series grow, too," he explained.
Anyone who would like to be a member of the patronage program can join by visiting New Concord Village Hall during regular business hours and filling out an enrollment form, or by calling Lang at 826-8020. Those who have been members in the past will receive their enrollment form in the mail during the first week of February.
"Every single dollar we receive goes to supporting the series, largely by paying for top-quality performances, and we intend to keep it that way," Lang said.
Performances are scheduled for the first and third Tuesdays of June through August, except for the first July performance. Play dates are June 1, June 15, July 9, July 20, Aug. 3 and Aug. 17. The July 9 performance, which takes place on a Friday, will be staged at the New Concord Firemen's Festival.
For information on Celebrate New Concord, call the CNC information line at 826-6392 or log on to www.newconcord-oh.gov.
For questions about the patronage program, call Lang at 826-8020.
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