Performing arts series coming to Washington

The Washington Performing Arts & Events Center is teaming with the Washington Concert Association to coordinate a series of performances over the next year, which they’ve dubbed the Washington Performing Arts Series.

“We thought it would be smart for us to collaborate instead of sometimes even competing for entertainment or competing for dates,” performing arts center committee member Jan Gallagher said. “Working together has really helped that. This is our first year, we had planned to do it last year, but we couldn’t really do anything last year.”

Gallagher said the collaboration took a lot of work but was well-handled by both parties.

“There was some hesitancy from people on either group, but we spent a lot of time sitting down together talking about how to make this work financially,” she said. “We have sort of an executive board that has three people from the concert association and three people from our group, and we meet together fairly regularly.”

Although the performances are held at the Washington High School Auditorium, Gallagher said the programming was essential to the facility’s funding.

“I was on the committee that raised $7.6 million to build the auditorium at the high school,” she said. “We received money from Vision Iowa, which is now called (Enhance Iowa,) but in order to do that, to get the $800,000 that we got, we had to pledge to bring in outside entertainment to show that it wasn’t just a high school auditorium, it was a community auditorium.”

The venue has an impressive lineup for the season, including national-touring performers like professional a cappella group Ball in the House and the LA-based Vieness Piano Duo, as well as more local acts, like the Evening of Improv Theater, which will feature several Washington alumni and guest stars from Penguins Comedy Club of Cedar Rapids.

An information packet provided by organizers said individual tickets were $18 for adults, $10 for college students and $5 for K-12 students. Alternatively, patrons can purchase a five-show season ticket for $50, granting free admission for themselves and school-age children at any five shows. Season tickets are good for shows from nearby concert series in Fairfield, Keokuk, Ottumwa and Centerville.

Gallagher said the events were community-focused, with revenue from tickets devoted to future performance seasons.

“We try to raise money one year so that we have enough to pay for next year,” she said. “We hate having to ask for money, but that’s the only way we can do it. We find out that other theaters have to do the same thing. One of the advantages of the collaboration, though, is that there’s not two organizations out there asking the same people for money, and that’s good.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com