News flash – we interrupt this winter for a musical interlude

In my opinion, January and February are the two most boring months of the year. As a cold-blooded person, these are my favorite months to stay inside the house.

Winter sports have never been good to me either. Sled riding left me with a black eye one time and another time a painful tailbone injury that lasted for years. Never went to the doctor, just toughed it out. That’s what we did in the 1960s and 1970s.

I’m too uncoordinated to even try skiing. Although I could move forward only when ice skating and stayed on my feet most of the time.

Now that I’m retired from my real job, I look at the weather forecast and if it’s going to snowy or be icy, I don’t go out.

But what to do? News flash – we interrupt this winter for a musical interlude. And that’s how I found myself at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas for something I never dreamed I’d see.

Yes, hundreds of screaming young girls, probably about 8-12 years of age, and one talented young woman confident enough to take on a tribute show of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

It was the incredibly entertaining “Are You Ready For It? A Taylor Experience” with vocalist Tracy Marie and her wonderful band. Just as the program promised there was a great band, it was full of exciting choreography, stunning multimedia visuals, costume changes and audience participation.

In fact, there were at least a dozen costume changes with outfits I recognized from the one time I saw the actual Eras Tour on television.

I’m a fan of 1970s music, I only knew a few Taylor Swift songs. During Tracy Marie’s costume changes, they sometimes had sing-along lyrics on screen for everyone to follow. As I sang along, I was impressed with Swift’s lyrics, she does have talent.

As an official old person, when you are around some young, excited and totally energetic girls, you can’t help but absorb some of that perpetual energy for yourself. It’s an indestructible force.

I learned how many young Taylor Swift fans there are out there. It was unbelievable. One young girl spoke about her Taylor Swift themed birthday party where she got the Taylor Swift themed T-shirt she wore to the show. Other girls wore Taylor Swift inspired sparkly outfits and they were all so cute.

These were the girls that rushed the stage to give Tracy as Taylor their friendship bracelets. It got a little crazy at times.

Since the show was a tribute show, I was sure they wouldn’t be selling merchandise. But I was wrong. There were all kinds of things for sale at the show that mirrored the official Eras Tour show including apparel, accessories and some kind of giant glow stick type thing that many of the girls waved wildly during the show.

Even more surprising were the lines at the merchandise table. They were much longer than at other shows I’d seen.

After the show, Tracy Marie came out to the lobby for a meet and greet in a sparkly blue sequined number that looked like a one-piece bathing suit with fringe and mid-calf length boots. The girls loved it. You’re not going to get that with the real Taylor Swift.

I was impressed with another fabulous Performing Arts Center show that I had never heard of before but enjoyed immensely. It was a perfect show for Moms and daughters and there were even a few brave Dads there.

So don’t get lulled into a coma this winter, in their 15th season the Performing Arts Center has other great shows coming up for all ages. Treat yourself and get your own musical interlude to liven up your winter. Check out the schedule and get tickets at www.kent.edu/tuscpac.