Center Stage at Holmes Center for the Arts is nearly complete
The new stage at HCA will open plenty of doors to those wishing to pursue their passion for the entertainment arts including musicals like this performance of “Beauty and the Beast,” which was part of the grand opening ceremony.
The Beatles sang about “The Long and Winding Road.”
That describes the experience of those who have been pursuing the creation of the Holmes Center for the Arts and the development of a multipurpose performance space that will allow performers to perfect their craft right here in Holmes County.
A lot of hard work and diligence paid off Friday, Jan. 10 when the HCA invited the public to celebrate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 4,000-square-foot, 200-seat multipurpose event space that will bring high-quality shows and other events to the center.
Center Stage is now officially part of the HCA home.
“I can’t take credit for this vision,” HCA Executive Director Holley Johnson said. “It was a group of people 10 years ago, and I was just the one who said I would be the executive director. Here we are 10 years later, and it’s beautiful. It was truly a community effort.”
The Center Stage offers state-of-the-art lighting, modern sound equipment, movable wings, a sprung stage floor and padded movable seating, and the organization is nearing the point where it can financially purchase and install an LED video wall that will offer various uses including digital backdrops for shows, films, movie nights, presentations and more.
Johnson said they will utilize the space for performances, concerts, art galleries, conferences, classes, workshops and eventually show films once the new LED wall is in place.
Johnson invited patrons to explore the center as a whole and to enjoy the new complex, where they presented snippets from a variety of different performers including a performance from pianist Sebastian Schlabach, a violin solo from Faith Kandel, several dance routines and an act from the musical “Beauty and the Beast.”
“I hope everybody is excited about it,” Johnson said. “It’s a great addition to the community. Having a space to perform that isn’t tied to tourism and the school system that we don’t have to work around, we can have shows any time we want and continually produce.”
That alone makes this project worthwhile because it will afford actors, dancers and musicians with the opportunity to perform in front of live audiences, something Johnson said will only give them more confidence.
The path to where it is now has been an arduous one for the HCA board and those who have invested so much into it. According to Johnson, they have raised upward of $3 million in gifts and grants.
The final piece of the puzzle has been patiently waiting to build this new performance space, and she said the final few dollars are always the most difficult to raise.
She said they are now down to the final push to raise the necessary funds for the screen, which she said will push the live performances over the top because of how inventive and beautiful the backdrops will be.
For the area performers who can now practice and perform their trade at the HCA, this presents a golden new era that will benefit all who enjoy performing and creating.
Matthew Havener said the new complex was perfect for a growing contingent of people who enjoy the arts.
“We have a very dedicated group of performing arts people who love theater and want to see it succeed, and having a theater here that we can practice and perform in regularly and grow the programs is amazing,” Havener said. “Who knows where this will take us down the road? We couldn’t be happier.”
One main way the board has raised funds is through selling naming rights to the seats, which have the names of donors on the arm rests. As the board makes the push for the final funds, Johnson said they still have several seats to sell, so anyone interested should contact the HCA if they would like to do so.
The arm rest nameplates are $2,000 each, and Johnson said if they could sell 10 arm rests, they would have enough to purchase the screen.
Johnson said the community has been incredible in its support and expressed gratitude on behalf of the board for the support they’ve shown.
“We’re blown away by (the support),” Johnson said, noting it is a huge step from envisioning something and actually seeing it come to fruition. “You go out into the community and share that vision, and the giving spirit of the people of this community is remarkable — what people are able to do when they use their gifts. Some people can give money, and that’s huge. Some people have the gift of leadership and organization. Then there’s all these artistic people. People use their gifts, and it has come together, and we have an amazing community that knows how to get things done.”
Anyone interested in donating is welcome to email Johnson at holley@holmescenterforthearts.org or mail a check to Holmes Center for the Arts, 5200 state Route 39, Millersburg, OH 44654.
The Center Stage already has a terrific lineup of productions including “Matilda Jr.” Feb. 21-23, “Giselle” April 11-13, the Spring Dance Celebration April 24-25 and “Newsies” June 26-29.
Winter classes in theater, art, music and dance began Jan. 13. Enroll online. Holmes Center for the Arts is online at www.holmescenterforthearts.org and on Facebook and Instagram.