HOW TO GO
What: “Be About It Concert” featuring John Legend and Vaughn Anthony
Where: Clark State Performing Arts Center, Kuss Auditorium, 300 South Fountain Ave., Springfield
When: Saturday, March 1, 7 p.m.
Admission: SOLD OUT
More info: 937-328-3874 or go to http://pac.clarkstate.edu/john_legend.php
A grade of “B” is considered above average. The “Be About It” concert is about A-list entertainment and a “C” for community.
“Be About It,” featuring Springfield native and nine-time Grammy Award-winning performer John Legend, his younger brother Vaughn Anthony and the Springfield High School Chamber Choir, will perform for a sellout audience Saturday at the Clark State Performing Arts Center.
“This is more than just a concert,” said Corey Holliday, director of community outreach for Clark State Community College. “This is an event for Springfield.”
Anthony called it a rallying cry for Springfield. The concert is a fundraiser for his nonprofit Be About It Movement.
His goal is to raise funds to eventually open a community center to promote families, education and self-defense training.
The evening will begin with Springfield High’s Chamber Choir, followed by the jazzy rhythm and blues stylings of Anthony. Legend and his band will then perform for the hometown crowd for the first time since 2012.
“Springfield is his home, where he wants to hang out and sit back with family and friends,” said Holliday. “He’s paying for his appearance out of his pocket.”
It’s been a busy season for Legend, appearing at high-profile events such as the recent Grammy Awards and Beatles tribute. He’s also about to kick off his own tour but emphasized this appearance was to be for this community, according to Holliday.
“He was insistent the tickets would cost $20 so people could have a chance to see him.”
With an emphasis on education as well as the show, Holliday invites everybody to attend a college fair 4-6 p.m. Saturday in the performing arts center lobby prior to the show.
Area colleges will have representatives offering opportunities and advice. The highlights will include individual scholarships from Wittenberg and Clark State to be awarded.
Holiday teased this first “Be About It” show may not be it. He said Clark State President Dr. Jo Alice Blondin is interested in a sustainable program with talent to build community support in the future.
For more information on the Be About It Movement, go to http://beaboutit365.org.
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