The 8th Annual Bonaparte Music Bonanza is set for Saturday, April 11th, in the gymnasium of the historic Bonaparte School Building.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door, and there will be no reserved seating. A soup supper will also be served in the cafeteria for a freewill donation.
According to organizers, all proceeds from the event will go toward the upkeep of the historic school building, which is owned and operated by the nonprofit Bonaparte Community Improvement Association. The building serves as a center for a variety of community events and activities throughout the year.
This year’s Music Bonanza will be the first event in Van Buren County centered on celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial. Organizers say the show will feature musical selections from across different eras of American history, performed by a cast of volunteer musicians and entertainers.
Director Bonnie Cass said the event continues to offer a family-friendly evening of music and entertainment.
“This is a fun family experience every year,” Cass said. “The audience has the opportunity to hear some of the most talented individuals in Southeast Iowa perform a variety of genres of music. The cast has a lot of fun together and it truly shows when they are on the stage performing.”
Cass also noted that the show continues to evolve each year with a changing lineup of performers, including younger additions that help keep the production going strong.
Among those returning after making their first appearances last year are Amber Ekle, Nicholas Denning, Isaiah Warth and Maybelle Munford.
“Every year the list of performers changes, and some younger performers have come on board which keeps the show sustainable for years to come,” Cass said.
Audience favorites are also expected to return, including gospel singer Debbie Frank, who has performed since the very first Bonaparte Music Bonanza. Donnellson native Kathy Dye, known for her strong local following, will also be back on stage. Singer-songwriter Shannon Shephard, who has performed throughout eastern Iowa over the past year, is also part of this year’s lineup.
Several cast members are also involved with the Van Buren County theater group, including Jackson Meek, Tom Allen, Taylynne Hocker, and sisters Melanie Norton and Emily McIntyre. In addition to their musical talents, they are expected to contribute to the show’s comedy segments along with Melvin Green.
Organizers say the annual show is known not only for its music, but also for its humor and community atmosphere, making it a popular tradition in Bonaparte.
Information and photography courtesy of Bonnie Cass.
