The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center

[graciegirl]

Paige Boone, Gary Morse's granddaughter, shows us what's happening inside the newly enlarged building.

The Villages Vmail - September 2014 - Home (http://www.thevillages.com/newsletter/201409g6qxAa/?code=VE1409&acct=2772047&auth=617632)

[slipcovers]

I saw the video of the inside last night...all I can say is AMAZING, AWESOME..the Morse Family have outdone themselves once again. Three cheers for the Morse Family.

[bandsdavis]

Paige Boone, Gary Morse's granddaughter, shows us what's happening inside the newly enlarged building.

The Villages Vmail - September 2014 - Home (http://www.thevillages.com/newsletter/201409g6qxAa/?code=VE1409&acct=2772047&auth=617632)

This looks like a wonderful facility. Can't wait to learn more about it, like the stage size, what the usage plans are, etc. From a performers perspective, I really hope our Village Resident groups will have a chance to perform there. And I hope it's affordable to do so.

[RErmer]

Watched the video and was amazed by all they are doing. I hope they open it up for tours when it's finished. Can't wait!

[graciegirl]

This looks like a wonderful facility. Can't wait to learn more about it, like the stage size, what the usage plans are, etc. From a performers perspective, I really hope our Village Resident groups will have a chance to perform there. And I hope it's affordable to do so.


That question is the same all over the U.S.for Civic Theatre Groups and local Choral Groups and Musical Groups cannot find affordable venues. And Performing Art Centers can't stay afloat financially.

Someone has to pay for the air conditioning and the clean up and the lights and janitorial services and the insurance..so...it can't be free.

So it comes down to the is it a right or is it a privilege issue. Someone has to pay the cost of things. The rec centers can be used for no fee as long as all participants are residents including the audience(?) and no money is charged, is that correct? That would be tough for groups because they use material and music with fees and costuming isn't free.

How much do they charge for the use of the stage and hall in Regional Rec Centers?

Wonder who decides what groups can perform? I have seen some NOT GREAT performances at The Savannah Center as well as awesome performances there.

On the other hand, The Village Voices were absolutely wonderful and had performed many times at the old Church on the Square for a nominal ticket price. Maybe the Presbyterian church where they performed when they could not use the Chuch on the Square will continue to be the site they use.

[rubicon]

It seems every acting/entertaining group in TV is asking the same thing. Who will be invited to perform? What will the costs be? How will this new venue affect their organizations?

In my view this new venue is targeted for attracting outside professionals and they command large fees.

[Bubble Gum]

That question is the same all over the U.S. Civic Theatre Groups and local Choral Groups and Musical Groups cannot find affordable venues. And Performing Art Centers can't stay afloat financially.

Someone has to pay for the air conditioning and the clean up and the lights and janitorial services and the insurance..so...it can't be free.

So it comes down to the is it a right or is it a privilege issue. Someone has to pay the cost of things. How exactly were you hoping it would work for Villages Resident groups? The rec centers can be used for no fee as long as all participants are residents and no money is charged, is that correct?

How much do they charge for the use of the stage and hall in Regional Rec Centers?

Wonder who decides what groups can perform? I have seen some NOT GREAT performances at The Savannah Center.

On the other hand, The Village Voices were absolutely wonderful and had performed many times at the old Church on the Square for a nominal ticket price.

My guess is that it's the Entertaiment Department (or whatever it's called) who will be responsible for whom they get. I'm sure they have contacts with agents all over the country. I think it will all boil down to price to try to make it more affordable.

[Kahuna32162]

Do we think that the facility could support something like a Broadway Across America series?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

It seems every acting/entertaining group in TV is asking the same thing. Who will be invited to perform? What will the costs be? How will this new venue affect their organizations?

In my view this new venue is targeted for attracting outside professionals and they command large fees.

Not with seating for only a little over a thousand. I'm really surprised. I thought they were going to make something where they could have nationally know performers. It's only slightly larger than the Savannah Center.

A nice 10,000 seat venue would be nice.

[sunnyatlast]

Not with seating for only a little over a thousand. I'm really surprised. I thought they were going to make something where they could have nationally know performers. It's only slightly larger than the Savannah Center.

A nice 10,000 seat venue would be nice.

Huh?? 10,000 seats in a Villages concert venue, when The Kennedy Center Concert Hall seats 2,442???

Or… 10,000 seats for over $25 in a Villages concert venue, when people scream about a split plate charge of $2 at a restaurant there on the square, because the people are too cheap to buy 2 dinners for 2 people?

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts)

[Matzy]

A great step forward building a facility that can bring us more cultural events to The Villages. The new building is equipped with high tech electronics (maybe the first one in USA) which can/will make this place very popular. Can't wait to see one of the first performances there.

[jblum315]

I'm guessing that tickets will have to be at least $50 and up and that's just for road shows, not Broadway tours.

[redwitch]

I'm hoping for real performers. As much as Villagers enjoy performing, I have problems seeing a 70-year-old ingenue. The stage looks like it will be large enough to do an entire Broadway play and the seating size is certainly satisfactory for Broadway to come here, not just showing condensed versions of a musical or just singing some of the songs, as is presently done at Savannah. If we get real Broadway and name performers (think Willy Nelson), I imagine the ticket prices will be pretty high but well worth it.

[Chi-Town]

Paige Boone, Gary Morse's granddaughter, shows us what's happening inside the newly enlarged building.

The Villages Vmail - September 2014 - Home (http://www.thevillages.com/newsletter/201409g6qxAa/?code=VE1409&acct=2772047&auth=617632)
Thanks, the video was most impressive. I can see this venue being a draw for both talent and theater patrons. I will miss the local talent that was there before on a regular basis, and I assume there will still be those nights set aside. But this gives us the opportunity to attend performances that used to require a trip to Orlando or Tampa. And Spanish Springs should do well as a lot of people like the idea of a dinner and show night.

[graciegirl]

My guess is that it's the Entertaiment Department (or whatever it's called) who will be responsible for whom they get. I'm sure they have contacts with agents all over the country. I think it will all boil down to price to try to make it more affordable.


The building is owned by the Morses. The entertainment department is no longer owned by the Morses. We will have to wait and see who does what.

[2BNTV]

We will have to wait and see what performers come to The Sharon Morse Performing Arts Center.

I'm sure the same acts the The Savannah Center will charge a slightly higher fee as someone has the defray the cost of this upgrade. As usual, it will be the ticket buyers.

Bigger names will charge top dollar, but it's everyone choice as to what they will pay for a specific entertainer.

Plan on spending more, rather than less.

[Bizdoc]

We have to come up with a shorter name than "The Sharon L. Morse Performaing Arts Center" How about ShaLMoPAC?

I seem to faintly recall that the announcement of the plans for ShaLMoPAC included a statement that it would allow Savannah Center to focus on resident productions.

And for those who care, Silver Springs is returning to the mix as a concert venue. Cheap Trick is there on Oct 11th and Travis Tritt on Oct 18th.

As to price, I have to problem paying more if the entertainment is good.

[rubicon]

Not with seating for only a little over a thousand. I'm really surprised. I thought they were going to make something where they could have nationally know performers. It's only slightly larger than the Savannah Center.

A nice 10,000 seat venue would be nice.

Doc: I was told seating was 1500? As to space another issue is parking as to space. As for price I agree with one poster TV sometimes can't fill a venue at the Savannah Center with top names.

Frankly its not my cup of tea too tight seats not comfortable perhaps the new art center has corrected that deficiency

[zonerboy]

I'm sure they won't spend mega-bucks on acoustics, electronics, sound systems, and other appurtenances and then decide to save a few bucks and install uncomfortable cheap chairs (definitely won't be Savannah Center style folding chairs). But expensive equipment and furnishings means increased overhead. So don't expect increased capacity to mean cheaper tickets.

[aln]

I see nothing in the video to find fault with. It looks like a beautiful state of the art facility.
As for the entertainment we'll just have to wait and see. Anything we say is speculation.
My speculation is... you might see Kathleen Kane, Cathy Merkel & Clark Barrios doing a Christmas special as in the past. The price might be $25.
But after that you might see the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Show. However the cost will likely be $150 or more.
The theater I saw them at in Milwaukee was just over 1300 so I think it's possible here.
As for a 10,000 seat facility.... I don't think so. Even the Bob Carr Performing arts center just out of Orlando is only 2500.

[Serenoa]

We have to come up with a shorter name than "The Sharon L. Morse Performaing Arts Center" How about ShaLMoPAC?

I seem to faintly recall that the announcement of the plans for ShaLMoPAC included a statement that it would allow Savannah Center to focus on resident productions.

Folks in Atlanta call Turner Field where the Braves play "The Ted".

So why not just "The Sharon"?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Huh?? 10,000 seats in a Villages concert venue, when The Kennedy Center Concert Hall seats 2,442???

Or… 10,000 seats for over $25 in a Villages concert venue, when people scream about a split plate charge of $2 at a restaurant there on the square, because the people are too cheap to buy 2 dinners for 2 people?

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts)

People paid $125 per seat for Willie Nelson at the 800 seat Savannah Center. I would think that someone like Kenny Chesney, Adele, Paul McCartney, Toby Keith, LeAnn Hrimes, Lady Antebellum, Michael Buble, or any one of the many top stars today would sell 10,000 seats if we had that kind of facility.

The Kennedy Center is not really a full time performance venue. They hold that one concert every year and a number of small events.

Din't forget, we're community of over 100,000 people. If you look at the population around us from her to Ocala and here to Mt Dora there's well over 200,000 people. Seats for the big name entertainers range from $35.00 for balcony seats up to hundreds of dollars to sit up front. There would plenty of people here that would love to go and see some of these people without having to drive to Orlando.

[Stdole]

For several years I booked National Country Music Entertainment for mostly 1200 to 1400 seat auditoriums. Entertainment e.g.. Statler Bros. Mandrel Sisters... George Jones... Marty Robbins... Alabama... Oakridge Boys.. Tammy Wynette... Glen Campbell ... on and on... and I had personal contact with everyone of them... before and after the shows... I held the paychecks..

I can tell you this even though we had the top #1 acts of the day onf the National Billboards (sometimes you hit number 1 just when they were at
your engagement) and you still have people that wanted Elvis.. Bob Hope
etc.. in the 1980's acts went between $12,000 and $25,000... so you gear your total seats on what the public is willing to pay.. not hard math to figure... except a number of commissions come out of the totals.. and the sponcer or club needs to make money.. so one has to know the total overhead to begin the charging process.. and you would be surprised how hard sometimes it is to move 1200 to 1400 tickets.. At that time the
breaking top price was about $19.00 per ticket... Now once your name gets around to the entertainment others the major bookers or personal managers or if the act was with 100 miles of our facility.. they like to make all they can while in town! They like cash and road money... so we deal on the asking price.. this takes practice... and experience and if I dealt with them before or one of their acts... many things go into the mix.. and most times the contracts are very very weighted to their sides... a lot of strike outs are required.

We found there is definitely a threshold of a price that most (1000) were will to pay... there are alway 100 to 200 that will pay unlimited amounts. But this will not pay your way nor fill the seats (which is most important for all concerned the entertainers and the promotions)

So this facility will have to experiment and find that threshold and stay in the sweet spot... this will be the only way the facility will pay its way and
be a total success.. we should know pretty close within the year depending on singing acts, plays... broadway type shows...

By the way this theory also works for almost anything... including restaurants... department stores... etc... and this is fact after 15 yrs of experience in the entertainment business.

I love the looks of this facility and I would like to wish the VERY VERY BEST TO THE VILLAGES AND THE DEVELOPERS.. GREAT ADDITION IF AFFORDABLE FOR MOST OF US.

[bluedog103]

Doc, Carnegie Hall main auditorium holds 2804. Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln center holds around 3800 people. I doubt if TV will ever have a performance center which seats 10,000 unless they build a stadium and use it for that purpose.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Doc, Carnegie Hall main auditorium holds 2804. Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln center holds around 3800 people. I doubt if TV will ever have a performance center which seats 10,000 unless they build a stadium and use it for that purpose.

The Comcast Center in Norton, MA about 25 miles south of Boston seats 10,000. I've seen Eric Clapton, BB King, Jeff Beck, Elton John, James Taylor, R.E.M and a host of others there.

I don't know why a venue like that wouldn't be successful here.

[Indydealmaker]

Huh?? 10,000 seats in a Villages concert venue, when The Kennedy Center Concert Hall seats 2,442???

Or… 10,000 seats for over $25 in a Villages concert venue, when people scream about a split plate charge of $2 at a restaurant there on the square, because the people are too cheap to buy 2 dinners for 2 people?

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts)

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Bizdoc]

Venues over 6,000 seats are usually sports facilities or outdoor ones (like Comcast Center). The LDS conference center in Utah does 21,000. But, it isn't really a performing arts center.

By way of contrast, Radio City seats a touch over 6,005. I know because the Hall of Music at Purdue seats 6,005 and they have a long standing agreement to have a few seats less than Radio City.

The problem with mega-venues is that you need to have it busy all of the time. I don't think that we're likely to sell 10,000 seats 4 or 5 nights per week. And the weather here makes it unlikely that we could do much during the rainy season outdoors. I'm sure that the complaints would rain in with a loud sound system in an outdoor facility.

Of course, if we moved the Orlando Magic to The Villages (and renamed them The Villages Greybeards), we might be able to have a venue of that size.

[Cedwards38]

Do we think that the facility could support something like a Broadway Across America series?

Now you're talking! I'd pay for that. But we'd still get to wear shorts and sandals and stuff........... right?

[JoMar]

Now that's funny.....true, but funny

[coffeebean]

Do we think that the facility could support something like a Broadway Across America series?

Is this series similar to actual Broadway show tour companies? This new performing arts center is state of the art and I'm hoping Broadway touring companies will be booked for this venue.

[coffeebean]

....... If we get real Broadway and name performers (think Willy Nelson), I imagine the ticket prices will be pretty high but well worth it.

Broadway shows are reaching upwards of $150 for an orchestra seat. I'm hoping Villagers would be willing to pay a decent price for Broadway calibre productions with the touring companies.