Over the years, a number of community performances have sold out at Spring Lake Park High School's Fine Arts Center, and many people have expressed an interest in seeing more shows at the school.

Ryan Julien, who supervises the Fine Arts Center, said he heard over and over that "People wanted something more sustainable and ongoing."

In response, last year Julien pulled together a group of 15 community volunteers to develop the North Metro Performing Arts Series (NMPAS) that's starting this fall at the Fine Arts Center.

Working with the Plymouth-based Allied Concerts, which organizes artist tours throughout the Midwest, the volunteers sifted through audio and video samples from various entertainers and "They picked the best ones for our community, that they felt people would enjoy most," Julien said.

The result is a family-friendly, energetic and diverse mix of concerts that offers everything from Broadway hits to Kenyan acrobatics. "We're trying to provide world-class entertainment in the north metro," he said.

Usually, catching a show of this caliber means heading to the big theaters in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul, Julien said. But between the cost of parking, dinner and tickets, it can get expensive.

For NMPAS, the group tried to keep the ticket prices down, and parking is free. "We want to eliminate as many barriers as possible," he said. "We're trying to keep it affordable and accessible."

On a deeper level, "It builds community when people go to concerts, sit next to their neighbor and enjoy wonderful intimate performances together" away from the TV, he added.

A diverse mix

Blaine resident Sue Stroebel, a volunteer who helped plan the series, says that each of her four children, who range from elementary to high school age, will enjoy the lineup.

The season will kick off on Oct. 28 with a "Tribute to Frankie Valli and Broadway," featuring The Unexpected Boys. The group will perform a mix of oldies from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons along with familiar Broadway show tunes from such musicals as "Wicked," "Guys and Dolls" and "Phantom of the Opera."

Stroebel says the group is fun because it's "glitzy, and it has a big sound." "They'll do songs that everyone knows."

Next will be the John Jorgenson Quintet on Nov. 7. This group specializes in gypsy jazz tunes. John Jorgenson, a Grammy Award-winning guitar player, has worked alongside such pop icons as Elton John, Sting and Billy Joel, according to show information. "He's well known in the guitar world," Stroebel said.

Then the Trio Voronezh will take the stage on Feb. 14. They play Vivaldi, Gershwin and gypsy dance music on traditional folk instruments from their homeland of Russia. "I think that one is going to be phenomenal," Stroebel said. "It definitely exposes people to things they wouldn't normally see."

On March 7, the Kenya Safari Acrobats: Lost in Africa show will combine music and physical feats on stage. Their so-called "death-defying" stunts include everything from surviving a "bed of nails" to building human pyramids. "The strength and flexibility of this group is awe-inspiring," Stroebel said. "People will be holding their breath saying, 'how do they do that?'"

Another volunteer, Blaine resident Vicki Burns, who often takes photos for the school's plays and yearbook, hopes the series will inspire some people to get involved in the arts or to pursue their own passion.

"We're trying to broaden people's exposure to different kinds of arts and styles of performing arts," she said.

Anna Pratt is a Minneapolis free-lance writer.