Greenville Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 17)

opposite top: valerie Sledge as Harriet Powers in the 2007 world premiere production of Grace cavalieri’s Quilting the Sun. opposite bottom: Executive Director BJ Koonce as Edith Wharton in the 2006 production of Erwin Palley’s The Edith Whartons. Left: centre Stage kicked off its 25th anniversary season in october of 2007 with The Fantasticks. (From left) Brady Smith, Jim Davis and Anna Beth Bonney (Rick connor behind) sing “This Plum Is Too Ripe.” is vital to the cultural and economic health of the community,” explains BJ. “It’s very important for the community to provide the support necessary to sustain each of these organizations.” Centre Stage is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year and despite being a part of Greenville for a quarter of a century, BJ still hears from people who never knew the theater existed. “It’s amazing how many people come through the door and say, ‘we’ve never been here,’” she says. But she’s working to change that through marketing. Since taking over in 2004, BJ says season membership sales have doubled, single ticket sales have increased more than thirty percent and the staff has tripled. And the growing continues. This fall Greenville Technical College will hold classes at Centre Stage. The school has a new theater department, but no theater facilities. “I think it’s very important for arts and cultural organizations to work together as much as we can,” explains BJ. Centre Stage has also formed partnerships with the Greenville Symphony and the Metropolitan Arts Council. In both cases, the organizations have access to the facilities at Centre Stage, and BJ hopes in exchange she’ll get opportunities to introduce the theater to a new audience. “We get people in here to see the art and hear the music that might not know we have a theater here.” Even though BJ is constantly surrounded by the theater, she admits there’s one thing about it she misses. “I do miss being onstage,” she says. But, BJ’s work behind the scenes of Centre Stage still make her the star of the show. n L O WCO U N T R Y M AG I C S E R V E D DA I LY Dinner Nightly. Sunday Brunch. Live Entertainment. Private Group Dining Anytime. High Cotton is Full-Spirited and Livin’ Large. CALL FOR RESERVATIONS: 864.335.4200. 550 SOUTH MAIN STREET AT RIVERPLACE | HIGH-COTTON.NET may/june 2008 mk_a_211_hc_gv_mag_ad_june_00.indd 1 | Greenville maGazine 17 5/13/08 2:33:01 PM http://HIGH-COTTON.NET

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Greenville Magazine - June 2008

Greenville Magazine - June 2008 Contents From the Publisher My Greenville Everyday Heroes Tackling Diversity Greenville’s Gone Global In The Lead From the Pros Anderson Suburban Sprawl Wellness The REAL State of Real Estate Something to Bark About Minority-owned Business A Look Back 1-Tank Trips Private School Resource Guide After Hours The Bulletin Around Town Viewpoints

Greenville Magazine - June 2008

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