‘As long as you put the effort into it, it can be achieved’

Logan Allen has loved Barry Manilow’s music his entire life.

Allen’s mother was a huge Manilow fan.

“When she had me, she passed along all of her favorite artists to me, and Barry Manilow was the one that stuck with me the most,” Allen said.

That love of Manilow’s music inspired Allen to create “Could it be magic,” a Barry Manilow tribute concert.

Allen will perform on at 7 p.m. on July 20 at St. Joseph-Ogden High School with an 11 piece band.
The concert is a fundraiser for the SJO Fine Arts Boosters.

Tickets are free but donations are encouraged.

“The boosters are always looking for new and exciting ways to raise funds for their program, so when I approached them with this crazy idea, they were totally welcoming and fully willing to help however they could,” Allen said.

The concert has been a labor of love for Allen, who started working on it in February of 2023.

“I wrote out every single piece of music for all eleven musicians and singers, which was approximately 150 charts total,” he said.

In December of 2023 Allen and his backup vocalists, Lydia Campbell and Suzy Goben, held their first rehearsal.

“We looked through maybe three or four of the charts, and even though it was the first time, we could tell there was something special happening,” he said.

That spring Allen held mini-rehearsals with other members of the band.

As the concert approaches they have spent more and more time working together to polish the performance.

“I’ve spent nearly every day and night of the past few weeks in the auditorium putting the light show and choreography together,” Allen said. “My band has taken it all in stride and we are producing a fantastic event.”

Allen said the biggest challenge he faced was learning how to write out all the music. While he plays a handful of instruments, writing out specific sheet music for two keyboards, a three piece horn section, two percussionists, guitar, bass, and two singers was the most daunting task he had ever taken on.

“The biggest challenge overall is pulling everything together,” Allen said. “It’s hard when rehearsing with four people who have never played together, but when there’s eleven musicians behind you, it’s terrifying.”

Allen said the best part of the experience is seeing his vision come together.

“I’ve hired the absolute best of the best for this concert, and every night we rehearse they prove why they were hired in the first place,” he said. “They are all open to slight changes I may make and they are all great human beings and the nicest people I could have asked to work with.”

Allen, who graduated in May, said his experience with the SJO Fine Arts program has helped shape him into who he is and once he saw the newly-remodeled auditorium at SJO, he knew he had to make this concert happen.

“Joining the drama department was the best decision I could have made,” he said. “It meant I could still have connections to music and performing because this was before I really started performing on my own.”

Allen was in the marching and pep band, sang with the choir and was in every drama production offered during his time at SJO.

“Going into high school can be scary, but going in love with a love for the arts and having outlets to express those interests was so important to me,” he said. “The main reason I am doing this concert is to help keep these programs going so future students can have those experiences too.”

Allen said he hopes the concert shows people that it is possible for a high school student to put on an event of this caliber.

“I hope this show opens the door for other students, present and future, to chase after what it is they want to do in life,” he said. “As long as you put the effort into it, it can be achieved. Having loved his music since I was literally in diapers, nothing could bring me more joy than being able to produce a concert that features his music. Being seventeen years old and having a stellar band and an amazing production crew working to make my visions come to life is the most surreal experience I’ve had up to this point. It means the world to me that I am able to pay tribute to my favorite artist of all time and do it in such a grandiose way.”

Things to know:
– There are no physical tickets for this event. If you have signed up for tickets beforehand, your name and group will be on the list waiting to be checked in.

– Walk-ups are totally welcome.

– Parking will take place in the big lot on the NORTH side of the building. The doors will be unlocked and ready for entry.

– Doors open to the auditorium at 6:15pm. The show is general admission seating, so if you are coming with a large group, arrive early to guarantee you all sit together.

– There will be NO intermission. The show will not exceed 90 minutes, so plan accordingly.

– This will not be the loudest event ever, however, it is still a concert. If you are sensitive to louder noises, please bring ear plugs/headphones.

– You will all be given a neon glowstick upon entry into the auditorium. Break these at the start of the show and wave them around so the performers can see you.

– This is a high energy show. You are strongly encouraged to show your appreciation for the people on and off stage and dance to your heart’s content. You will not be asked to sit down. Please stay at your seat if you do decide to stand.

– Unlike other productions at SJO, there will be no meet and greet with the performers after the show.

– Please refrain from entering the east hallway off of the commons. This will be where the band is preparing to give you a one of a kind performance!

– If someone you are coming with is in a wheelchair, please reach out to the producers at allende770@gmail.com and accommodations will be made.