OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- While circumstances outside of their control forced the cancellation of their local annual holiday concert series, the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band has announced they will perform on base in a venue built exactly for this type of an event more than 80 years ago.
The HOAB will perform a series of holiday concerts for Department of Defense ID card holders and their guests at the original Fort Crook theater adjacent to the historic parade grounds Dec. 17, 18 and 19.
“While we’re incredibly disappointed we aren’t able to perform our local holiday concert series at Bellevue East High School, we’re extremely excited for this opportunity to perform for Team Offutt,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Remley, HOAB senior enlisted leader. “We think we have a production that’ll be very entertaining, and we look forward to sharing some holiday spirit with everyone.”
The HOAB announced on Dec. 7 that due to Department of Defense guidance and COVID-19 concerns they would no longer be able to perform their local holiday concert series as scheduled.
However, after months of planning, preparing their music and rehearsing, the HOAB decided they didn’t want all their hard work to go to waste and came up with the idea to host a series of shows at the old theater.
“Words cannot describe how disappointed we were to have to cancel our local holiday concert series,” Remley said. “We do not take the support of the American people for granted, and while we plan on hosting local holiday concerts again next year as we have done for 33 years, we felt we needed to do something this year.”
Remley met with band members and discussed a few options and offering performances at the old theater, which now serves as the HOAB’s rehearsal space, seemed like a perfect match.
“In a way, we’re bringing this whole thing full circle,” he said. “Years ago, military personnel at Fort Crook would gather at the theater for shows and so for us to have that same opportunity to do that is really unique.”
The HOAB will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19.
“We’re very excited that we can offer these shows,” Remley said. “We hope everyone who wants to attend has the opportunity. I know our band is looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the four shows will be available at ITT starting at 9 a.m. Dec. 10.