PAC 2023-24 season announced
Puddles Pity Party
The new 2023-24 season at the Kent State University at Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center was unveiled recently with some famous Broadway shows on the schedule. The season was announced at a special event for PAC members at the theater, and this year’s lineup of shows included the musicals “Annie,” “On Your Feet — The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan,” and the 50th anniversary tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Last season Broadway shows were a casualty of a still-uncertain pandemic environment.
“One of the things we heard was ‘we want Broadway back,’” Dean Bradley Bielski said. “And we talked and decided to go big or go home this year.”
Bielski complimented the PAC staff.
“When a show comes in, there is not an eight-hour day; it’s an 18-hour day,” Bielski said.
Other shows announced included Scotty McCreery, Diamond Rio, The Simon & Garfunkel Story, Garrison Keiller Tonight, Puddles Pity Party and Mickey Dolenz: Voice of the Monkees. Tribute shows include Boy Band Review and Bruce in the USA.
The show scheduling process begins in the fall, with some shows committing last minute.
“I usually start the process in October. In the fall is usually when there’s conferences that I’ll attend and talk to artists and agents,” said David Mitchell, general manager at the PAC. “So we start the process. Then I would say the first show was booked in January, and the last one, that came in two or three weeks ago. The discussion didn’t start happening three weeks ago. We’ve been talking about a date for months and months, but that final confirmation came in about three weeks ago.”
There is no problem finding a variety of shows to book, and that was the case even when the pandemic created issues and required health and safety measures to be taken.
“The entertainment industry of the arts, it’s a business. People that produce and create the art, the artists, the shows, they still need to work for a living. So they never really went away. There might have been some that came out a little bit sooner than others, a little bit of hesitancy, but there’s plenty of shows to choose from,” Mitchell said.
That hesitancy added to the challenge in putting together this year’s schedule.
“I think that is one of the lasting impacts. I don’t know how long it’s going to last. Just everybody’s calendar is a little bit more fluid nowadays,” Mitchell said.
The PAC will again produce its own shows with the success of two events it did last season: Una Sera Italiana, an event featuring Italian food and music, and Sounds of the Season, a free event that featured local high school choirs and entertainers volunteering their time.
“Both of those events went fantastic. I did not hear anything bad about them,” Mitchell said.
This year German cuisine and music will be featured. The Sounds of the Season date will be announced later.
The PAC’s educational series of shows has proven successful.
“The school shows went fantastic this year, and we are absolutely going to continue doing them,” Mitchell said. “I think it is so important to work with our local students, either taking artists to them or artists providing workshops for high school students, performance opportunities for high school students. To have those life experiences are so important.”
In another move to support students, a new initiative called Pack the PAC will offer every seat at $15 for shows where students will perform with professional musicians.
“We’d love nothing more than to enhance that experience with 1,000 audience members adding energy and excitement to their performance,” Mitchell said.
Clare Cannizzaro, executive director of the Tuscarawas Philharmonic Orchestra, joined Mitchell on stage to announce a closer partnership with the PAC.
Philharmonic shows are now listed in the 2023-24 season brochure. The philharmonic now has several new pricing discounts to bring its concerts to more listeners: a family package for $50, child pricing at $15 and a discount on the first two rows of the orchestra section for $15.
Mitchell called the support of their donors and members vital.
“We wouldn’t be able to exist without them. Ticket sales alone only cover about 62% of our operating budget. The rest is comprised of sponsorships, member support, grants and then support from the university itself,” Mitchell said.
New sponsors are always welcome. Businesses or individuals can contact Mitchell. Sponsorship can be tailored to the donor’s needs and is completely customizable.
With the variety of shows available this season, there will be something for everyone.
“I encourage everyone to come see a show,” Mitchell said. “Every show that comes is a performance that is going to provide extraordinary moments and opportunities to create lifelong memories.”
A complete list of performances and ticket prices is available online at www.kent.edu/tuscpac. PAC members will be able to purchase tickets to the 2023-24 season from June 12-21. Discounted tickets are available through presale packages of four shows or more and can be purchased beginning June 22. Single-show ticket sales will begin June 26. Tickets can be purchased in person at the PAC box office, by calling 330-308-6400 or online at www.kent.edu/tuscpac. The box office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free parking is available for all shows. The Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas is located at 330 University Drive NE in New Philadelphia.
The 2023-24 season includes Bruce in the USA on Sept. 9, The Foolers on Sept. 26, Tuscarawas Philharmonic: A Musical World Tour on Oct. 7, Micky Dolenz - Voice of The Monkees on Oct. 10, Octoberfest on Oct. 14, Dry Bar Comedy Tour LIVE on Nov. 4, Blessid Union of Souls on Nov. 17, Scotty McCreery on Nov. 19, Daniel O’Donnell on Nov. 21, Tuscarawas Philharmonic: Home for the Holidays on Dec. 9, Christmas In Killarney, An Irish Christmas Celebration on Dec. 12, Diamond Rio: Holiday & Hits on Dec. 17, Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas on Dec. 19, Boy Band Review on Jan. 19, Buckets N Boards on Jan. 21, The Simon & Garfunkel Story on Jan. 23, Joe Gatto on Jan. 27, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra on Jan. 30, “Annie” on Feb. 13, “On Your Feet” on Feb. 27, Good Shot Judy on Feb. 29, Tuscarawas Philharmonic: Mystical Impressions on March 2, Christie Lenée on March 9, Beyond Babel on March 15, “Jesus Christ Superstar” on March 25, Garrison Keillor Tonight on April 2, The Texas Tenors with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic on April 5, Puddles Pity Party on April 25, and the Tuscarawas Philharmonic: The Three B’s on June 1.