(Featured photo: Stomp will be performed at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center Jan. 24. Photo courtesy Stomp’s Facebook page)
The Columbia County Performing Arts Center closed out 2023 with two strong months, and 2024 doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
The venue ended the year hosting 21 events in 44 days including eight sold-out performances in November and December. With a seating capacity of 2,000, that meant more than 20,000 people attended performances in the last two months alone.
“If we book something, we at least have a good feeling that it’s going to be good. But then the point of success – I think has been the most surprising thing – the selling out of the shows to the feedback we’ve gotten from people who’ve come saying the venue is so great,” said Josh Small, general manager. “The county did a great job designing this place.”
Small said the county had a Broadway series in mind when designing the theater, and the performers and technical staff with the touring shows have expressed how much they’ve enjoyed working and performing in the space.
This year’s Broadway season has brought four shows with it including “Mean Girls,” “Stomp” scheduled for Jan. 24, “Come from Away” on Feb. 20 and “To Kill a Mockingbird” on April 30 and May 1.
Not only were there the four main shows planned, but two more shows – “Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas – the Musical” and a cirque Christmas performance – were season add-ons.
The cast of the Grinch used the space for its technical rehearsals for several weeks before taking it on the road, opening in Columbia County. Another area connection to that play was Augusta Players executive director Scott Seidl, who served as associate director of its West Coast tour.
“They set up shop and had their wardrobe there,” said Katie Cason, assistant general manager. “It was neat to see it come to fruition and performed.”
Small said plans are to grow the season, and he hopes for a five-show season in 2023-2024 with possible add-ons.
“We’re building toward getting bigger shows and getting the longer runs,” he said.
With Broadway shows as a foundation, they’ve built to bring in other performances including comedians, tribute shows, charity events and community-based groups such as the Augusta Ballet, which performed a sold-out show of “The Nutcracker” in December.
Small said comedians seem to be a niche they’ve locked into. Matt Rife sold-out two December dates as Nate Bargatze also played to a sold-out audience. Three more comedy shows are on the calendar over the coming months.
Country and Christian artists also have booked the theater with positive results.
“We’ve been trying things just to see,” he said. “And we’ve gotten very good results.”
One show Small is personally looking forward to is Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Search for Life in the Universe” event on Feb. 28.
When Tyson was booked, Small wondered how popular he was and if tickets would sell.
“They are doing extremely well,” he said.
It’s not just national acts that utilize the space.
Community groups such as Stephanie’s Dancers and Augusta West use the theater and bring in a lot of audience members. Small said they work with organization to help make the space affordable.
And several charity events are planned such as the Fake It to Make It lip sync benefit for SAFE Homes of Augusta on Jan. 19 and the 2024 Dancing Stars of Augusta to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association on May 4.
To find out more, visit the website at thecenterofcc.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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