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.

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.

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.

Tamar Tyler has brought his superhero comic book character, HQ, to life by way of an animated series called Swaggatrons. His fascination with comics began when he was young, Tamar admits, and has grown into a multi-media passion that has taken on a life of its own. WBOI’s Julia Meek talks with Tyler about the process, and what to expect in the Augmented Reality “multiverse” of Swaggville. You can connect with HQ the producer at the Swaggatrons website. 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.

As social advocate and activist Foundation One continues to engage with his community on the city’s south side, his base of operations has moved down the block. From his unique platform at the Unity Barber Shop, a six-chair business at 921 E. Pontiac Street, Foundation brought a barber’s pole, a single chair and his well-known message of hope and peace to a small space in the nearby Penta C.S. Group Minority Entrepreneurial Center located at 2531 South Calhoun Street. WBOI’s Julia Meek talks with him about the neighborhood he continues to serve, his passion for his work and the new connections this affords his mission. 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.

Ten years have passed since local creatives launched the Fort Wayne 1X1 Community Photo Project. The purpose, explained by two of the project’s coordinators, Cara Lee Wade and Teresa Stephens, was to document our fair city, one square at a time. And now it’s time to see how things have changed. To that end, individuals are invited to join in the photographing of the same randomly picked squares, using their preferred photographic style and medium between now and September. WBOI’s Julia Meek spoke with Wade and Stephens about the history, scope and focus of this momentous initiative, the shape their end game will take and how the community can become involved. The project is open to all Fort Wayne area photographers, ages 16 and up. For complete information visit the Fort Wayne 1x1:10 Facebook page. 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.

Love is in the air world round, this Valentine’s Day weekend, and for many, it's the perfect time to brush off those special songs, dinners and romantic movies that have come to be known as “our favorite.” In the celebratory spirit of the holiday, Arts & Culture reporter Julia Meek sat down with Rob Martinez, host of WBOI’s Movie Music Spotlight to discuss the perennial popularity of the Romance film, the evolution of the genre and its future in the movie industry. 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 administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

With one week on the job completed, WBOI’s new GM, Terra Brantley, is fast building momentum and strengthening community connections. Bringing along an agenda that promises more of a focus on local coverage and engagement, she has produced a series of 30-second vignettes that will air on WBOI at various times daily throughout February in honor of Black History Month. Here WBOI’s Julia Meek discusses this project with Terra, her passion for public radio and what’s in store for the future. 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 administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Northeast Indiana’s HUB260 Day Weekend is happening this Saturday and Sunday, February 5th & 6th, across Northeast Indiana. Like the area code it represents, this family friendly, self-guided event encompasses many small businesses and arts organizations in Fort Wayne and Allen County, and surrounding communities from Angola and Auburn to Huntington and Wabash. This grassroots initiative is designed to encourage and strengthen the sense of place that makes the region special and unique to its members. WBOI’s Julia Meek discusses the event’s origins and offerings with its Ambassador, Fort Wayne’s Councilwoman at large, Michelle Chambers. 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 administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.

Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has unveiled an aggressive 10-year economic development action plan for the entire community. Called “Allen County Together,” the plan challenges us to build a community that’s more high-growth, innovative and inclusive. Each of these characteristics is underpinned by three “bold projects” with high yield goals and initiatives. As the Number One fastest growing metro area in the Great Lakes region, Fort Wayne is ranked in the top 25% of metros nationally. WBOI’s Julia Meek discusses how the plan will impact the area’s long-term growth and what directions this will take with John Urbahns, Greater Fort Wayne’s CEO & Visit Fort Wayne’s Marketing Director, Kristen Guthrie. For more information and to get involved, visit the Greater Fort Wayne Inc. website. WBOI’s Julia Meek spoke with Susan Mendenhall & Dan Ross of Arts United. 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 administrative assistant is Olivia Fletter. Our production assistants are Monica Blankenship, Meihkai Bowers, Steve Mullaney, Kyle Norbeck, Diahmynd Thomas, Mikaela Veltum, and Sydney Wagner.