'Season of Legends' awaits auditorium audiences

• Beatles tribute

“Revolution: Salute to the Beatles” will perform Nov. 21 at Worthington’s Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center. The 2009-2010 season at the auditorium is being billed as “A Season of Legends.”

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WORTHINGTON — For a season that wasn’t supposed to happen, it’s shaping up to look like a winner.

“We were originally scheduled to be under construction and out of commission for performances the better part of this year,” explained Margaret Hurlbut Vosburgh, manager of Worthington’s Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center (MAPAC).

But when construction bids last spring came in much higher than expected, plans for the renovation and addition to MAPAC were put on hold. That turn of events left Vosburgh with the charge to assemble a season of shows as appealing as ever in record time.

“Usually, we have everything booked nearly a year in advance,” admitted Vosburgh.

“We scrambled, and thanks to some really good contacts with artists’ management people and the fact that we’d considered these performers in the past, we have a full season of first-class shows to offer.”

Dubbed “A Season of Legends,” the 2009-10 Great Entertainer series features artist Jason Petty in “Hank and My Hometown Heroes” on Oct. 24, “Revolution: Salute to the Beatles” on Nov. 21 and Travis LeDoyt in “The World’s Best Young Elvis” on Feb. 12.

“These are some phenomenal musicians and entertainers,” professed Vosburgh.

“Plus, we have the Hometown Showcase series in place, which kicks off in late September with ‘Corn off the Cob 17: Camping Capers at Olson Park,’” added Vosburgh.

Vosburgh was even able to include one student show, “Henny Penny: The Story of Chicken Little,” suitable for kindergarteners through third-graders, on Oct. 21.

“Henny Penny is done by the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, which is an excellent production company we’re very excited to host,” shared Vosburgh.

Actors/directors from the Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) will come in early January to produce “King Arthur’s Quest,” using about 60 youth from Worthington and the surrounding area as performers.

“MCT provides a great tradition of bringing a professional theater experience to area youth, from kindergarteners through 12th-graders,” noted Vosburgh.

“The thing we like best about MCT is that kids not only learn lines and songs but they also learn great lessons during the week about self-esteem, dignity, respect for each other and respect for the facility.”

The facility, of course, is the classic art deco structure on Worthington’s 13th Street built in 1931 and first used as part of Worthington’s high school.

Since Vosburgh came on board in June 1995 as MAPAC’s manager, the city-owned building has regularly buzzed with a variety of cultural and performing arts events, aided by the active Friends of the Auditorium volunteer group.

The latter’s fundraising efforts have enabled improvements such as new stage curtains, new seats, a refurbished grand piano, new lights and sound system and more, but the need for expanded restroom facilities and a sheltered lobby/reception area was larger in scope and quite obvious — and that was what was going to be addressed by the city-sponsored construction project that is now delayed.

“New project bids will be let in January,” detailed Vosburgh, “and they’re rescheduled to start construction by June 1, with the plan to be ready to re-open on April 1, 2011.”

Vosburgh is confident the city of Worthington did the right thing by stepping back on the construction schedule when the price wasn’t right, even while she knows the improvements are sorely needed and will be much appreciated once they are in place.

“The City Council and Memorial Auditorium Advisory Board are being fiscally responsible, which is extremely important,” opined Vosburgh. “We need to make sure all of the elements that will create a spectacular addition will be in place.”

Through Sept. 4, last year’s MAPAC series ticket subscribers may purchase tickets for the upcoming season in advance of the general public, allowing them to get first choice of seats and benefit from a roughly 10 percent ticket discount.

When 2009-10 tickets go on sale to the general public Sept. 8, those opting to be series subscribers will still receive the discounted price — and will, in turn, be among those getting to make advance seating selections when the auditorium reopens in 2011.

“It’s thrilling to think that Worthington could soon have the premier cultural performance facility in the region,” said Vosburgh. “People will love being here.”

For ticket sales or more information about the upcoming season of shows at Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center, call 507-376-9101 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, e-mail to fota@frontiernet.net, or visit the box office at 714 13th St., Worthington, during business hours. Series tickets are available to the general public beginning Sept. 8.

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