Holmes Center for the Arts shines with patriotic “Star Spangled Spectacular” variety show

Holmes Center for the Arts is bringing all the excitement, grandeur and dazzle of dancers, singers, actors and musicians together to be part of the 2025 Star Spangled Spectacular Variety Show, currently taking place at HCA.

The HCA sought out plenty of professional-level individuals to perform patriotic selections and present a variety of artistic talents and also added a flair of community by inviting both the Hiland Varsity Singers and West Holmes Choir to add their own talent to this patriotic show.

“This project has been a labor of love, and the spirit of collaboration has been incredible,” said Shannon Olsen, HCA executive director. “We’ve had so much fun working on the show, partnering with local school districts, Boy Scout Troop 358, and especially our heroes, our veterans who served our country so faithfully.”

Olsen said the production has fostered connections with new local talent, people with whom the HCA had not previously worked. She said the effort to broaden HCA’s artistic partnerships is a key part of what makes the Star Spangled Spectacular truly special to both performers and guests of the show.

“We’ve never done anything like this where we’ve had a long string of shows,” Olsen said. “We brought in some artists who didn’t have anything to do with our center, which is exciting because it gives them a taste of what we can offer and what we mean to the community. Hopefully, this will entice them to continue to participate in other things.”

The SSS Variety Show is a patriotic throwback to the days when television would host variety shows featuring loads of talent, with one performance following the next. The format provides an avenue for performers of all kinds to entertain the crowd.

According to Olsen, the show is high-energy, family-friendly theater that ushers the audience on a journey through the heart of American history, combining culture, music, dance, comedy and multimedia in a blend of entertainment.

“I’ve had numerous people ask me what a variety show is,” Olsen said. “It’s kind of a throwback. We have a live band that plays throughout the performance, there’s a storyteller who shares some really important historical things about our country, we have dancers, singers and we were able to bring in Troop 358 to do a flag presentation.”

Something else that excited Olsen was the opportunity to invite all veterans to the show free of charge.

Olsen said she was given the opportunity to sit down with local veterans and had a great time conversing with several of them for a video that is part of the show.

“That was one of the most meaningful parts to me,” Olsen said, “because it gave them an opportunity to share from their hearts.”

The Holmes County Veterans Society stepped up to pay for any veteran who would like to see the show. All they have to do is call the center at 330-473-2879 and provide their name.

Remaining show dates for the event are Sunday, Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.

Additional funding for the grant came courtesy of a bed tax grant from the Holmes County Commissioners, something Olsen said helped invite tourists to the area to visit Holmes County while seeing the show.

For more information about other opportunities at HCA or to order tickets to the Star Spangled Spectacular Variety Show, visit www.holmescenterforthearts.org.

Holmes Center for the Arts is located at 5200 state Route 39, just behind Burger King.