Fort Wayne’s South Side High School is celebrating its 100th Anniversary with a special multigenerational production of Meredith Wilson’s play, The Music Man, which opens this Friday evening. Drawing on his own memories of the school’s focus on the fine arts, theater teacher Kirby Volz (South Side graduating class of 1976) wanted to find, “as many people who could participate in the show as possible.” To that end, he connected with other alumni and recruited younger students from the system’s feeder schools, to fill the nearly 70 positions on stage, back stage and in the orchestra pit. Here WBOI’s Julia Meek speaks with Volz, and Gaby Gonzalez, a sophomore student playing the role of Marian “The Librarian” Paroo, about the shape their presentation of this iconic story will take and the spirit it carries with it. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

WBOI's Julia Meek has contributed to 89.1 WBOI on- and off-air for over thirty years. Now, her arts and culture reporting can be heard for the first time as a podcast available wherever podcasts are found. Look for WBOI Artcentric.

Julia Meek's arts and culture interviews heard on 89.1 WBOI.

WBOI Artcentric

Past, present & future South Side Archers celebrate 100th Anniversary with iconic musical

Fort Wayne Youtheatre’s legendary Harvey Cocks Jr. died March 31. He was 96. He served the organization for over forty years as executive director and later as artist-in-residence.

Cocks was born on April 3, 1925 in Glen Cove, Long Island. In 1958, he married Jean Hansen, and the pair had two children together, Ann and Christopher. His father, Harvey Sr., was a promoter for Paramount Pictures who later managed the Emboyd Theatre, now the Embassy, and once owned Quimby Village, including the Clyde Theatre.

Early exposure to performances by Al Jolson and Bing Crosby and a family connected to show business led Hervey Cocks Jr. to Broadway, where he performed for more than three years. Touring, radio, and television roles would follow. His family had previously moved to Fort Wayne twice and when his father later passed away, Jean convinced Harvey it would be better to raise their children in Fort Wayne than New York.

 

When a call in 1977 led Cocks to the Fort Wayne Youtheatre, he would go on to stay in the director role until 2010. According to the organization, Cocks taught thousands of students in over 800 acting classes. He also directed hundreds of plays and musicals, many of which he wrote himself. Fort Wayne Youtheatre Executive Director Todd Espeland reflected on the impact Cocks made in the community, “Harvey was the heart and soul of Youtheatre for over 40 years, passionately believing in and promoting the social and educational value of theatre arts in the lives of young people…They say success is achieved by standing on the shoulders of giants. Harvey Cocks was truly one of those giants. Youtheatre owes so much of who we are to him. He will be missed.”

WBOI’s Julia Meek interviewed Cocks twice in 2014. The first conversation, in which Cocks reflected on his life in theater, was in June of that year. 

The second conversation Julia recorded with Harvey Cocks aired in December of 2014, in the time leading up to the Fort Wayne Youtheatre’s 80th anniversary performance of Cocks’s adaptation of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” which was the company’s very first performance. Cocks was joined by then-Youtheatre Director Leslie Hormann.

WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne Youtheatre&rsquo;s legendary Harvey Cocks Jr. died March 31. He was 96. He served the organization for over forty years as executive director and later as artist-in-residence.
Cocks was born on April 3, 1925 in Glen Cove, Long Island. In 1958, he married Jean Hansen, and the pair had two children together, Ann and Christopher. His father, Harvey Sr., was a promoter for Paramount Pictures who later managed the Emboyd Theatre, now the Embassy, and once owned Quimby Village, including the Clyde Theatre.
Early exposure to performances by Al Jolson and Bing Crosby and a family connected to show business led Hervey Cocks Jr. to Broadway, where he performed for more than three years. Touring, radio, and television roles would follow. His family had previously moved to Fort Wayne twice and when his father later passed away, Jean convinced Harvey it would be better to raise their children in Fort Wayne than New York.
&nbsp;
When a call in 1977 led Cocks to the Fort Wayne Youtheatre, he would go on to stay in the director role until 2010. According to the organization, Cocks taught thousands of students in over 800 acting classes. He also directed hundreds of plays and musicals, many of which he wrote himself. Fort Wayne Youtheatre Executive Director Todd Espeland reflected on the impact Cocks made in the community, &ldquo;Harvey was the heart and soul of Youtheatre for over 40 years, passionately believing in and promoting the social and educational value of theatre arts in the lives of young people&hellip;They say success is achieved by standing on the shoulders of giants. Harvey Cocks was truly one of those giants. Youtheatre owes so much of who we are to him. He will be missed.&rdquo;
WBOI&rsquo;s Julia Meek interviewed Cocks twice in 2014. The first conversation, in which Cocks reflected on his life in theater, was in June of that year.&nbsp;
The second conversation Julia recorded with Harvey Cocks aired in December of 2014, in the time leading up to the Fort Wayne Youtheatre&rsquo;s 80th anniversary performance of Cocks&rsquo;s adaptation of &ldquo;The Steadfast Tin Soldier,&rdquo; which was the company&rsquo;s very first performance. Cocks was joined by then-Youtheatre Director Leslie Hormann.
WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI&rsquo;s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is &ldquo;Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Fort Wayne Theatre Legend Harvey Cocks Has Died at Age 96

Creative Women of the World is celebrating Women’s History Month with a special photo exhibit called “Women Are…” The body of work features 39 portraits of women and their stories, showcasing their challenges, passion and achievements plus the diversity they bring to the community. WBOI’s Julia Meek spoke with project photographer, Jenni Vorderman, and Mary Encabo-Bischoff, an educator and one of the featured subjects, about the scope and message of the exhibit and how it reflects the organization's mission to empower and transform lives. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Photo Exhibit puts inspiring Fort Wayne women & their stories in focus

Fort Wayne Philharmonic violinist & Associate Concertmaster, Yana Bourkova-Morunov, and pianist Alexander Klepach share a special friendship and deep musical passion through their Russian and Ukrainian roots. For their reflections on the brewing situation in their motherlands and the special concerts they are preparing to perform that feature the music of Sergei Prokofiev, a Russian composer, born in Ukraine, WBOI’s Julia Meek talks with them about how this powerful connection provides hope for all in these troubled times. WBOI Artcentric is brought to you by WBOI’s own Julia Meek and Ben Clemmer. Our theme music is “Me voy pal campo'' by KelsiCote. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Past, present & future South Side Archers celebrate 100th Anniversary with iconic musical

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