[graciegirl]

I will preface this question by saying that once we stay in TV long enough to ask questions of other people, I won't be so annoying to all of you on TOTV.

I saw a picture of the inside of the Savannah Center and it is magnificent. Does it host
The Broadway series? Do symphony orchestras from other cities perform? Does it have banquet facilities too? How frequently does the local civic theatre group perform?

Are tickets hard to get for any or all performances? What is the cost of a ticket for decent seats?

What kind of clothing is worn to the performances. Ties for men I assume and Florida dressy for women?

[villages07]

Ah Gracie...so many questions, so little time. All of these mysteries will be solved once you arrive, get settled in, and get your bearings.

Savannah Center holds maybe 800 people; floor seating on folding chairs; balcony/tiered seating in seats. It is a decent venue, but theatre/arts purists readily admit it is not a Carnegie Hall.

Broadway series is held there; local orchestras and some visiting ones; many rock and roll shows; other types of variety shows;

For non Broadway, tickets are easily obtained online or better yet at the box office....but, for popular shows, you need to get there soon after the event is announced; there is an early window to buy tix for Villages residents only then they open up to general public. The broadway series is sold as a package initially with individual tix open up later on. These sell out.

Ticket prices for non broadway events generally range from 10-20 for residents; most shows last an hour and a half. Broadway series tix are 35 maybe.

No banquet facilities.

Dress is very casual...anything goes; shorts/tshirts/jeans; perhaps the broadway series are dressier.

Some, but not many, theatre/play performances take place at Savannah; Mulberry Grove and Lake Miona occaisionally host local/TV talent putting on plays

ONce you get here and read the daily paper you'll see all the entertainment events. It's also on the main villages website.

[mfp509]

The Savannah Center hosts a variety of shows most of which are pretty casual. There are some dressier events such as opera type performances and others. I attend mostly the 50's - 60's concerts with Rocky and the Rollers, TV "own" rock n' roll band. Upcoming shows are: The Buckinghams, Gary U S Bonds, The Dovells and The Orlons, Herman's Hermits. I have seen Gary Puckett, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Tokens - to name just a few as I can't remember all. It is so much fun to see how they have aged also, but still have their singing voices.
There are many groups in TV who put on performances there also. Just recently I saw Mame. Last year it was Pajama Game.
The Villages Concert Band and The Villages New Horizons Band perform there. I am in the New Horizons Band and it is a thrill to be up on that stage. We usually do 2 nights as does the concert band, and it is a sell out both nights.
Tickets are bought at the box offices and for real popular shows you have to get there early because they sell out fast.
You can look on TV website and click on "entertainment" and then "Savannah Center" to see the schedule. There are other venue choices there also to see who is performing.
I know others will have more to add to this for you.

[redwitch]

Bring a cushion. The seats aren't the most comfortable.

[JohnN]

redwitch, you're right ,the seats are a bit cramped and tight,

good shows though!

[njgranny]

Gracie,

I hope your questions don't stop. The information you get is helpful for all of us wannabe TVer's.

[samhass]

Gracie, I've been lucky enough to get some front row seats at several of the concerts.
I have had a wonderful time on each visit. I wear the same clothes I would wear to the Square.

[graciegirl]

Why do I think I remember seeing the Savannah Center as very "posh" with crystal chandeliers and good seating? Maybe I dreamed it. I am obsessing about TV these days. :dontknow:

[sschuler1]

I have performed most of my life in local civic theatre organizations, and I was particularly interested in seeing the performance venue when we visited. I was a little disappointed with the theatre facility. (I will admit that I am a little spoiled with the theatre I have been performing at for the last six years. It is state of the art and absolutely gorgeous.) I have a friend who's brother works for the Ocala Civic Theatre, and I have been researching that organization. It looks to be top notch. That will be where I will audition when we come down to live.

GO RED WINGS!!!

[Villages Kahuna]

...is why there isn't some movement towards either the expansion and improvement of The Savannah Center or the construction of a new performing arts center somewhere in or near TV? Yes, I know there have petitions circulated and even a committee formed. But I don't get the impression that there's a lot of momentum.

How about this for an idea? The last time I visited Savannah Center, I looked a little more closely at whether the existing auditorium could be expanded. It appears to me that by expanding it to the east, only one row of parking would be lost, but the facility itself could be increased in size by more than 50%. At the same time, more comfortable theatre-type seating, sloped floors, etc. could be added.

I'm assuming that increased capacity and maybe a tweak in ticket prices would pay for the expansion fairly easily. But assuming that the expansion/addition would take the better part of a year, the key question might be...

Would you be willing to do without the Savannah Center and all the performances that are presented there for a year while an addition containing a larger, more comfortable and more professional performing arts facility is being built?

Here's a satellite view of the existing Savannah Center with an overlay in red showing the kind of addition that might be possible...

[sschuler1]

WOW!!! That would be awesome! They not only need to think about increasing the size, but also the quality of the theatre. Pay attention to accoustics, fly space, professional light board and sound board, and back stage space for performers. A good quality theatre is essential to a thriving community like The Villages. They aren't cheap to build though! Most theatres make their revenue by the rent they charge to use the theatre. Some theatres charge a flat rate fee for the stage, and fees for rehearsal space. Some theatres charge a percentage of the ticket take. Some theatres do both flat fee plus percentage. I don't know what TV does with the performing groups that use the Savanah Center, but they are sure to attract more performing groups that want to use that facility if they expand and upgrade!

[Muncle]

About a year ago, there was much talk about establishing a Villages Performing Arts Center, separate from TV, as an independent not-for-profit organization. See https://www.talkofthevillages.com/sm...pic,903.0.html

Don't know what the status is, but there web site seems to have dried up -- http://villagerspaa.org/

I'll ask around to see if I can get more current info.

[Hancle704]

I envision a problem resulting from expansion of The Savannah Center Theater by eliminating a row of parking. I have been there during Winter Resident Season when there were multiple functions scheduled along with a show in main theater and parking was very difficult. This was also a major problem when the early show started late because of delayed arrival of performers. As a result, folks were still at early show when second show ticket holders arrived. There currently are times when parking is a problem and elimination of spaces will make problem worse.

One would hope that as in other matters, the developer learns from mistakes and does not repeat them. The solution in my opinion is the creation a a new state of the art performing arts center close to the new town square that is still in planning stage.

The argument against that might be the cost, and residents would have to come up with the money to build it. I think we learned when the hospital expansion was being planned and the same cost problem was cited with the "only" solution put forth was creation of a hospital taxing district. This was defeated at the polls and the hospital was expanded anyway, without imposing a tax on the Sumter County Residents.

If a class facility is built with comfortable seating and is large enough with modern sound equipment, showgoers will be willing to pay more for tickets to see good shows and entertainers. Since there is no similar venue close to TV it should be a successful venture for someone willing to build it.

Note that there has been no mention of a money problem to build the Oxford Quarterhorse Racing Park and Card Room.

[Muncle]

Originally Posted by Muncle

About a year ago, there was much talk about establishing a Villages Performing Arts Center, separate from TV, as an independent not-for-profit organization. See https://www.talkofthevillages.com/sm...pic,903.0.html

Don't know what the status is, but there web site seems to have dried up -- http://villagerspaa.org/

I'll ask around to see if I can get more current info.

The actual name of the group trying to build the performing arts center is Volunteers Performing Arts Alliance
http://www.vpaa.org/

[sschuler1]

This looks like it is very organized and they are on their way!!!!! Three year fundraising campaign and they are ready to build? Do they have a piece of property in mind already?