Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Releases the 2010/11 Annual Report
The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center released its Annual Report to the Community today titled "The Four Seasons in Review," recapping the nonprofit's accomplishments during the 2010/11 Season.
The 2010/11 Season was most notable for its blockbuster Broadway engagements including the Wisconsin premiere of Jersey Boys and the return of WICKED. Other performance highlights included Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Barter Theatre's The Diary of Anne Frank, African American dance company Ailey II and a community production of Handel's Messiah. A total of 166,870 ticketed patrons attended a performance at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center last season.
"The 2010/11 Season stands out as one of the Center's best," said Susan Stockton, president of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. "We presented two multi-week Broadway blockbusters, and we accomplished some key initiatives including attracting new audiences to the Center and highlighting the Fox Cities' wealth of talent with a community production of Handel's Messiah. Looking back, the 2010/11 Season was remarkable in so many ways."
One of the most popular titles during the 2010/11 Season was the Wisconsin premiere of Jersey Boys which depicts the true-story of pop sensation Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Over a three-week run in June 2011, Jersey Boys attracted nearly 40,000 ticket buyers, including 9,338 first time attendees. Based on statistics from The Economic Impact for Touring Broadway 2008-2009 by The Broadway League, Jersey Boys alone generated an impressive $9,078,777 of economic activity in the Fox Cities.
In December 2010, the Center took on the role of producer in Handel's Messiah, bringing together its resident partner the Fox Valley Symphony, more than a 100 member community choir and four featured soloists to perform the holiday classic under the artistic direction of the Fox Valley Symphony's music director Brian Groner. Stockton considers the performance one of the 2010/11 Season's greatest accomplishments saying, "Since the beginning, there's been talk of producing a community holiday performance, and it was amazing to see all of the pieces come together to highlight the depth of talent that we have in the Fox Cities and join together in celebrating the holiday season."
Throughout the 2010/11 Season, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center was a hub of activity, drawing visitors to 302 events. Forty-seven percent of the events hosted by the Center involved community organizations, businesses and groups utilizing the Center's world-class facilities. Community use events ranged from fundraisers and business meetings to public performances and even the Appleton Area School District's combined high school prom.
Engaging the community in the performing arts remained a priority for the Fox Cities P.A.C. in the 2010/11 Season, and the Annual Report to the Community outlines many avenues in which people became involved in the arts. The Center continued community outreach collaborations including Family First Nights® with the Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley and an at-risk student program known as Performing Arts Touch the Hearts of Students or P.A.T.H.S. with Kaukauna High School's "School Within a School." Additionally the Center welcomed 4,859 ticket holders and community members to participate in Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities throughout the season. The Center also welcomed 21,615 students in grades preK-12 to 20 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series performances.
The full 2010/11 Annual Report to the Community is available online by visiting foxcitiespac.com. A limited number of printed copies are available to the general public, by request at (920) 730-3782. The Center's audited financial statements are also available for viewing online at foxcitiespac.com.
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