Northern Showcase launches annual membership drive

Montana State University-Northern Showcase is conducting its membership drive in an effort to continue bringing arts and entertainment to the university campus and the community.

"We do this every year. We carry it on," Delores "Dee" Heltne, chairwoman of the Showcase board, said today.

Northern Showcase brings a variety of musical groups, comedians and other performers to Havre each year. This year, it is also bringing some benefit shows. One of them, a concert by the von Trapp Children, raised $1,841 for the new Boys and Girls Club of Havre, which opened in the former Devlin School building Monday.

"We decided to give back to the community this year," Heltne said. "We're bringing in two shows for the community."

As a benefit for Northern Showcase, the a capella group The Standards is returning to Havre.

"We've had so many requests to bring them back," Heltne said.

Pianist and composer Scott Kirby starts the season on Oct. 7 in the Havre High School auditorium. Musical comedian Norman Foote follows on Nov. 7.

The Montana Mandolin Society will perform Feb. 23. Chuck Pyle, Western guitarist, poet and humorist, closes the season April 10.

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $7.50 for students at the door for each show, but series passes offer savings of more than 50 percent. The series passes cost $25 for each adult, $15 for students or $50 for a family pass.

Northern students receive free admission with a validated student ID card.

Donations to the Showcase, which also receives funding from the Montana Arts Council and Western States Arts Federation, can also earn a season pass for the donor.

A donor giving $100 will receive one series pass, $200 two series passes, and a donor giving $250 or more receives a family pass.