The Villages - September 2019 - 46

The Sharon L. Morse
Performing
Arts Center
Production house versus roadhouse - this is the primary difference between the quaint Studio Theatre and
The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, named for
the matriarch of the Morse family. "We seat 1,022 people," Elizabeth said. What was once a staff of four has
grown to more than 30 creative key members."The staff
growth has been wonderful," she said. "These theater
professionals truly make an amazing Performing Arts
Center run. We tour approximately 125 performances
per year, but some shows are popular so they run for four
shows, and that means we're hosting 80 to 90 productions."
There's much to love about the venue, with its highbeamed ceilings, arched doorways, rich tapestries and
polished wood fixtures and accents. But The Sharon is
not just a regal space - state-of-the art audio, visual and
theatrical rigging systems create an ambience for exceptional entertainment. From rock icons to comedy geniuses, operatic performers and cutting-edge magicians of illusion, the venue hosts it all. See Oliver Twist or Ballroom
with a Twist. See a cabaret-style show or a contemporary
Chinese circus act - each season brings a range of artistic disciplines.
"My favorite aspect is the pit - the first two rows in
the auditorium," Elizabeth said. At house level, the pit
adds 26 more seats to the room. When raised to stage
height, it creates a deeper stage for performances. "We
can lower it too - about 10 feet to host the orchestra for
plays or musicals."
Aiding the acoustics are specially made curtains that
keep sound from bouncing off the walls. "For a rock show
or musicals, we want the curtains to absorb the sound so
we don't get echoes in the room," Kenny explained. "But
all the walls are curved, built for orchestral pieces. For an
orchestra, we pull away the curtains to get that bounce
and echo - a maestro would call the sound 'wet.'"
Patrons and performers appreciate the intricacies supporting the sound. "A lot of the touring orchestras really
like our space," Elizabeth said.
Outside of the auditorium, the lobby is a cabaret hot
spot, seating 140 people for "Don't Tell Nonnie" performers. "It's an elevated open-mic event." Elizabeth said.
"We bring in all our furniture; The audience brings their
sheet music and it's a blast."
46

SEPTEMBER 2019

The Villages - September 2019

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