It’s not opening with a fancy black-tie soiree or a high-dollar concert, but with a recital by some of the county’s youngest residents. Stephanie’s Dancers will be the first performers at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center on May 15.
“Some of the local youth are performing, and I think that worked out well,” said Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson, at a press conference and tour of the facility May 12.
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The theater is the end-result of what people who live in the county said they wanted, he said. It started out as a cultural arts center, but as officials listened to residents’ requests, it grew into a performing arts venue with a price tag just under $40 million, paid for by a special purpose local option sales tax and a general obligation bond.
One of the things Evans doesn’t have is a museum. That was slated for the original design, and the building has a space that can be used for some historical exhibits as well as art exhibits, he said. It can also double as a reception area. The facility has a catering kitchen.
Construction began on the facility in the spring of 2018 in an area considered to be the heart of downtown Evans, Johnson said.
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Even the performing arts center’s website reflects that feeling. It’s thecenterofcc.com.
While COVID-19 caused some delays, they were minor in the grand scheme of things.
Johnson said they originally hoped the facility would be open by January 2021.
Matt Jameson, the theater’s general manager, said the first few groups to book the center are dancers, and the stage floor is perfect for those types of shows.
After that, he’s tight-lipped about the other entertainment that might be on the calendar. He said he expects to have multiple events in the fall, including a Broadway national tour starting in October. The full Broadway tour schedule will be announced in July.
Broadway officials recently announced a September return to the New York stage, resulting in a “hiring frenzy,” said Jameson as both the New York shows and the national touring companies are gearing up for auditions, rehearsals and performances.
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Jameson said the venue is perfect for a variety of different types of entertainment, from musical theater to dance performances to concerts.
The 2,100-seat theater is unique to the area, and it has a great design, Johnson said.
Every seat has a sight line to the stage with no obstructed views.
“There’s not a bad seat in the house,” he said.
When considering the theater’s design, county officials looked at other theaters such as the Peace Center in Greenville, S.C. and The Classic Center in Athens, Ga. The balconies have a similar feel to those in the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The stage is equivalent to the Gershwin Theatre in New York, and anything that could be performed there could be performed in Evans, Johnson said.
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Outside the theater is ample parking and a parking deck. Space is available nearby for the construction of additional restaurants, and Johnson said he believes those are on the way. Already, Your Pie and Stay. Social Tap & Table are within walking distance of the theater, making the space a community hub.
A ribbon-cutting will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 14.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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