Bologna Performing Arts Center (BPAC) executive director Laura Howell shared with members some upcoming productions to look forward to as well as educational opportunities the center offers during Thursday’s Greenville Rotary Club meeting.
“We’re really excited to be celebrating 25 years at the BPAC,” Howell said, noting a celebratory party and concert will be held to commemorate the milestone in the spring.
The BPAC is halfway through its season and, according to Howell, the season always runs concurrent with the academic school year — starting in August and ending in May.
Not only that, Howell gave members somewhat of a glimpse into what a production, musical concert or an otherwise theater production, entails — nothing short of a great deal of work and effort from production teams.
BPAC most recently wrapped up “Finding Neverland” and Howell credited her staff for the productions going as smoothly as they do.
“Finding Neverland travelled with three big trucks and trailers that carries all of the lights and sets and props and curtains and everything, it’s amazing … I wish you all could see what our backstage looks like when those Broadway shows come in,” she said.
Howell explained how her staff started in the early hours of the morning to unload those trucks and made sure everything was in its proper place.
On March 28, the BPAC will present “BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical” — a jukebox musical which means the Broadway musical will use all the music from the artist’s career.
Howell said before she saw the play on Broadway in New York City, she had not realized what a prolific songwriter King was and the realization is one of the reasons she chose the production to be presented at the BPAC. Tickets for the production are already nearly sold out.
The next show following is “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical” and will be the last show of the season. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the BPAC, 1003 W. Sunflower Road, Cleveland.
Howell said she saw the musical on Broadway as well and decided to book it.
“This is going to be the biggest show we’ve ever had,” Howell said, in terms of the sets. “It’s just really a visual dream.”
Howell also mentioned BPAC’s upcoming concert event called “An Acoustic Evening with Mark Chestnutt and Joe Diffie at the BPAC.”
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. March 5, Chestnutt and Diffie are set to render some of their most popular, sultry selections and possibly covers in an intimate acoustic style performance.
Tickets are currently on sale for $40 each at the BPAC Ticket Office, by phone at 662-846-4626 or online at bolognapac.com.
