SOPAC - Michael Bollinger Presents
Posted by Janice Teetsell
on Dec 14, 2010
Michael Bollinger, Executive Director for the South Orange Performing Arts Center, took center stage at the December 9th meeting. His presentation was like having an old friend over for lunch as he recounted his journey from college to Artistic Producing Director of Missouri’s Lyceum Theatre and Founding Director of Mainstage Theatre Company. A recipient of two Missouri Arts Awards, he has presented over 100 eclectic performances ranging from orchestra to family to Grammy Award-winning artists.
Michael gave us an insight as to his views on the importance of SOPAC to the South Orange Community and how we can all work together. Suggestions were also made as to how SOPAC can take advantage of the marvelous resources in South Orange, including the massive auditorium in South Orange Middle School. SOPAC, for all its splendor, seats just more than 400 patrons in its theater and has only one room that can be used for educational purposes and local fund-raisers – the Loft.
Yet there is no argument that the 2010-2011 SOPAC season is nothing short of marvelous. Michael described each coming event with personal pleasure. We just missed the Nutcracker performed by the New York Theatre Ballet, but still have time for a “Tribute to Red Skelton” starring Tom Mullica on March 19-20; the McCoy Tyner Trio on December 18 (get your tickets NOW), “If You Give A Cat a Cupcake” presented by the Omaha Theater Company on February 6, 2011; and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars on May 21, 2011.