10TH ANNIVERSARY COBB ENERGY P E R F O R M I N G ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
2007-2017
smallwood reynolds stuart & stuart
THE CUMBERLAND CID CONGRATULATES
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE ON ITS
10TH ANNIVERSARY
CUMBERLANDCID.ORG
10TH ANNIVERSARY COBB ENERGY P E R F O R M I N G ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
Contents
TABLE OF
5 Welcome from Jerry Nix & Michele Swann 6 Anniversary Night Schedule 8 Accolades 10 Gala Committee 12 Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority 14 A Message from Sandie Aaron, Managing Director, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre 16 A Message from Jennifer Dobbs Hill, Executive Director, ArtsBridge Foundation 18 Venue Overview & Programming — A Decade in the Spotlight 22 Great Performances 23 Sponsors, Partners Help Facility Grow and Attract Audiences 24 Company Leads Opera Renaissance in Atlanta 28 Atlanta Ballet Turns Page With New Leadership 32 It Takes a Village to Keep Cobb Energy Centre Clicking 34 Cobb Energy Centre Staff & Volunteers 36 Cobb County Arts & Culture Come of Age 38 ArtsBridge Foundation: Creating the Future Through Arts Education 40 Special Events: Nick Walker, Chef 42 Upcoming Events 44 Venue Sponsors 4
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Jerry Nix Chairman Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority
WELCOME
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rom the very beginning, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre was envisioned as a world-class venue that would present the best and the brightest in a broad range of firstrate programming, performances and educational outreach initiatives. We are proud of this regional asset that, from year one, fulfilled its mission by acting as a catalyst for economic development and providing diverse artistic programming. As for its financial performance, the first 10 years has far exceeded our expectations. The Centre has expanded its footprint in the region’s landscape by hosting an increasing variety of programming. From jazz, rock, pop, folk, country, theater and educational performances — there has been something for everyone. Traditional and innovative performances from our resident companies The Atlanta Opera and the Atlanta Ballet, provided a decade of robust culture and entertainment. Our board’s strong mandate for education gave rise to ArtsBridge Foundation, the arts education outreach arm of the Cobb Energy Centre. Under the direction of President Jack Ward, the ArtsBridge Foundation continues to expand our arts education initiatives through its field trips, master classes, family series and the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Shuler Awards). ArtsBridge collaborates with leading arts organizations and community arts leaders to pave the way for students to experience and benefit from the positive power of the arts. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we hope this book helps you consider what the Centre has become in your life. Realizing our mission would not have been possible without your generous support and that of our visionary leaders, donors and talented staff who work hard daily creating exceptional experiences. Michele Swann General Manager and CEO Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT | 2007-2017
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ANNIVERSARY NIGHT
Schedule
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
10th Anniversary Overture Gala
5:45 p.m. Reception 6:15 p.m. Dinner and Bid-to-Give Auction — Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom 8:00 p.m. Million Dollar Quartet — John A. Williams Theatre
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Master of ceremonies — Paul Milliken, Fox 5 Atlanta
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ACCOLADES “ CEPAC is arguably one of the finest multipurpose theaters in the United States. From the esthetic to the practical, nearly every detail of this great theater has been considered and executed with great care and thoughtfulness. It is equally a delight to work and perform in CEPAC as it is to sit in the audience.” – Arturo Jacobus Atlanta Ballet President & CEO
“ When The Atlanta Opera (2007) and Atlanta Ballet (2008) decided to make Cobb Energy Centre their home it “galvanized us,” says Connell. The opera’s move, in particular, spoke volumes. It meant that Cobb County was a distinct part of metro Atlanta, not a distant suburb,” he says, “and that Cobb Energy Centre was a major player on the arts scene.” Those moves had naysayers but both companies are thriving. “Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre brightened the night,” Connell says. – David Connell President and CEO of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce
“ I present shows in many buildings. Without a doubt your staff is the most professional I have been around. They are true pros. It is rare to find people that care about their jobs these days and take pride in doing the job right.” – Donn Jennings DJ Promotions, Inc. 8
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“ Last night was my first time to play the Cobb Energy Centre. It was another terrific, sold-out audience. The Cobb Energy Centre is a beautiful, modern, 2,700-seat hall, that feels much smaller, which I enjoyed. Vince Gill and I felt close to everyone in the audience. We could easily hear and understand people when they spoke to us during the show, which isn’t always the case. The sound was crystal clear from where we were sitting.” – Lyle Lovett
“ The ArtsBridge Foundation is truly committed to creating the future through arts education and has graciously partnered with us to make the arts affordable for all of our students … Without ArtsBridge’s generous support, our students would not be able to experience the arts at such an extraordinary magnitude.” – Dr. Liss Maynard Principal, Clarkdale Elementary Cobb County School District
THE NEW 2018
E-Class Coupe Congratulations to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on their 10th year anniversary.
Mercedes-Benz of Marietta • 810 Cobb Pkwy S, Marietta, GA . • (770) 783-5171 Test drive one now at Mercedes-Benz of Marietta.
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Committee
GALA
CO-CHAIRS
Joanne Truffelman
Clare Richardson
COMMITTEE Barbarella Diaz
Gold Sponsor
Helen S. Carlos
Valery Voyles
GALA SPONSORS
Genuine Parts Company
Silver Sponsor
Ed Voyles Automotive Group Scicom Infrastructure Services
GALA PARTNERS AAA Parking Alchemy Event Studio Fox 5 Atlanta ONsite National Distributing Company 10
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Bronze Sponsor
Bruce & Sylvia Dick Jimmy & Helen S. Carlos KIA Motors America Morgan Family Fund Synovus
Quartet,” a name that has stuck to this day. It’s fortuitous, then, that Phillips kept the tape running when the newsman left. The four musicians ran through some 40 songs, from gospel spirituals and country standards, to covers of songs by Chuck Berry and bluegrass giant Bill Monroe — most of the ingredients in the stew that became known as rock ’n’ roll. Million Dollar Quartet, the stage musical that retells this story, features 22 songs, from “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Fever” and “Memories Are Made of This,” to “Down by the Riverside,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Peace in the Valley,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Hound Dog.” Million Dollar Quartet ran for 61 weeks on Broadway in the 2010/11 season and earned three Tony Award nominations: best musical, best book of a musical and best featured actor (for Levi Kreis, who played Jerry Lee Lewis). This tour features Gabe Bowling (offBroadway’s My Big Gay Italian Wedding) as Perkins; Colte Julian as Lewis; Scott Moreau as Cash; and Jacob Rowley as Elvis.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
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y all accounts, the morning of Dec. 4, 1956, was a normal one in Memphis. Decent weather. No snow. Thoughts of Christmas in the air. No one knew that a seismic shift in popular music was about to take place. Elvis Presley, then 21, dropped by Sun Studio on downtown’s Union Street to see his pal Carl Perkins. At age 24, Perkins has already had a hit with “Blue Suede Shoes.” He’s there to work on a new track. Jerry Lee Lewis, also 21 and then unknown, has been asked to sit in. Sun artist Johnny Cash stops by, likes what he hears and joins the others. This flurry of chance encounters became one of the greatest jam sessions in music history — the only time that Presley, Perkins, Lewis and Cash ever played together. That moment’s place in history was cemented by Sun owner Sam Phillips, who knew a photo op when he saw one and summoned a local news photographer. As the four musicians gathered around a piano, a shot was snapped. It ran the next day in the Memphis PressScimitar with the caption “Million Dollar
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT | 2007-2017
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COBB-MARIETTA COLISEUM & EXHIBIT HALL AUTHORITY
Bottom row, from left: Robert P. Voyles, R. Steven Tumlin, Mike Boyce. Top row, from left: Jerry Nix, A. Max Bacon, Johnny Gresham. Not pictured: Tricia Pridemore.
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he Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority is a body corporate and politic created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1980 for the purpose of acquiring, constructing and maintaining facilities for the general purpose of promoting cultural growth, education and welfare. Members past and present provided the vision behind this landmark venue and guided the research, funding, construction and its ongoing operation.
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In addition to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, the Authority also operates ArtsBridge Foundation, the arts education and outreach arm of the Cobb Energy Centre, Cobb Galleria Centre, and Galleria Specialty Shops. Public assembly facilities return value to the community in many ways. Whether it is a Broadway performance, a field trip or a convention, the Authority’s operations deliver significant economic and cultural benefits to Cobb County and the State of Georgia.
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A MESSAGE FROM …
SANDIE AARON
Managing Director
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n its decade in the spotlight, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre has had much to celebrate. This venue was conceived and built to serve as an arts beacon for the community; to build bridges among surrounding metro counties, throughout Georgia and the region; and be a gathering place for people of all ages and backgrounds reflecting the diversity of the area. Its mission was — and is — to fuel the region’s economy, to provide a strong program of arts education and to attract top-notch and superstar talent: local, national and international. I am pleased to say that Cobb Energy Centre continues to fulfill its mission and is poised to enter its second decade with a solid foundation on which to build. We have achieved far-reaching recognition every year for the quality of our programs and performances, as well as for the corporate and private events that choose us. The venue is a favorite among artists, many of whom make return visits to our stage. Our resident companies — The Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Ballet — have drawn new audiences, expanding their reach and are thriving. Cobb Energy Centre’s ArtsBridge Foundation is a national leader in arts education for its programming and its acclaimed Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (the Shuler Hensley Awards). We have built strong partnerships and
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collaborations and continue to develop more valuable alliances as we welcome our new neighbors, the Atlanta Braves and The Battery Atlanta. I want to thank our amazing team members who, with their commitment, passion and dedication, make sure guests enjoy a memorable experience at Cobb Energy Centre. Our incredible team of nearly 500 volunteers raises the bar in customer service. Their friendly smiles and assistance to guests are invaluable. We could not function without them; they are truly wonderful ambassadors. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have supported Cobb Energy Centre in making its first decade a success beyond our expectations. Your attendance, your corporate meetings and your generous support of ArtsBridge Foundation have truly made this stunning venue the cultural heart of our community. We look forward to a bright and exciting future. With your help, we will make our second decade better than our first.
HAPPY
TH
ANNIVERSARY Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre You’ve spent the past decade as a premier venue for top musical and comedy acts, and we’re proud to call you a Cobb Chamber member and partner. Congratulations on this milestone and the artistic influence and economic impact you bring to Cobb County and the metro Atlanta region!
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On behalf of the students whose futures are supplemented and created through our arts education programs, ArtsBridge Foundation would like to thank all of our donors, sponsors, friends, and volunteers who have faithfully supported us over the past decade. We look forward to your partnership and support in the coming years!
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A MESSAGE FROM …
JENNIFER DOBBS HILL
Executive Director, ArtsBridge Foundation
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hat an exhilarating decade it has been for the Foundation! We have fulfilled the original key to success – to offer programming and outreach to the young and young at heart, and to educate them about the important role arts play in our daily lives. Since our beginning, ArtsBridge has served hundreds of thousands of students and educators from 57 Georgia counties, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina. And yet, even more is in store for the coming decade. We are continually instituting new educational programs and forms of community outreach; from family-oriented programming to teen-focused arts to Broadway access via the Shuler Awards, there is a plethora of ways to participate in ArtsBridge programs. Our Family Series has introduced a new audience of over 8,000 to the Cobb Energy Centre. Professional Development offerings, such as Director’s Boot Camps, Talk Backs, and Behindthe-Scene Tours, serve over 300 of our region’s educators every year. Masters Classes engage over 200 students with actual Broadway stars
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
who help them hone their performance skills. The free Performing and Visual Arts College Fair hosted by ArtsBridge exposes 1,000 students to the arts educational opportunities that await them after their high school career. Field Trips, which are tied to school curriculum and are frequently funded by our Financial Aid program, expose nearly 1500 homeschoolers, 225 schools, and over 27,000 metro Atlanta students to high quality arts programming. The Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards – The Shuler Awards, the only of its kind in the state, involves 10,000 Georgia students and celebrates excellence in high school theatre, with many receiving awards and scholarships. With your continued support and investment in the Foundation, we can continue our exponential growth. Join us on our next 10-year journey to reach and impact as many lives as possible.
SWEET!
Congratulations on being spot-on for
10 years! Atlanta’s Sweet Spot.
www.travelcobb.org
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VENUE OVERVIEW & PROGRAMMING
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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hen the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre opened in September 2007, it became the first major facility of its kind built in metro Atlanta in 40 years. The 419,202-sq. ft. complex, designed by architects Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates and built by general contractor Hardin Construction, took shape amid clamorous construction that began in 2005 and lasted more than two years. The effort lost less than 10 days to bad weather and ate up 1.1 million work hours, involving everything from clearing land and excavating for a 30-ft. orchestra pit, to installing theatrical rigging and finishing the shiny, chandelier-lit lobby. THE VISION Its cost: $145 million. Now, as Cobb Energy Centre celebrates its 10th When the facility opened, Sam Olens, anniversary year, those who worked to make it then chairman of the Cobb County happen — neighbors, elected officials, business Commission said, “The story really is people, philanthropists — can legitimately ‘we’ — the business community and the reflect on a job well done. In its first decade, the facility has built an public sector coming together, forging an outstanding alliance to bring this project international reputation as a premier, worldforward. It’s a great example of what you class venue. can do when everyone is on the same page.” But let’s go back to the beginning for a moment. It began with a clear vision set by its governing body — the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority — and with high expectations from businesses and potential patrons throughout metro Atlanta. Artists and agents who book entertainment and events around the country had high hopes, too, wondering if, at last, Atlanta would have a venue to serve those living and working in a booming Cobb County.
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on a decade of success!
northside.com
!
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A LOOK INSIDE The facility’s 2,750-seat theater, named for real estate developer John A. Williams, is home to Atlanta Ballet (nine years) and The Atlanta Opera (10 years). Its ArtsBridge Foundation, formerly known as the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Foundation, has become a national model for arts education. The complex includes a stunning lobby (don’t you think?), a 10,000-sq. ft. ballroom, a courtyard, covered parking, and full-service food-and-beverage capabilities (complete with an executive chef and sous chefs). “We knew that Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre’s success would be determined by our programming and our outreach,” says Michele Swann, general manager and CEO of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority, which governs Cobb Energy Centre, the ArtsBridge Foundation and the Cobb Galleria Centre. “We were deliberate,” she says, “in designing the venue to accommodate all facets of performing arts and entertainment — opera, concerts, dance, comedy, Broadway shows, family shows, cultural celebrations, awards events, corporate meetings and social events.” 20
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SETTING, MEETING GOALS Tens of thousands of people from throughout Georgia and neighboring states visit Cobb Energy Centre each year for performances; tens of thousands more attend conferences and special events in the Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom. Statistics help demonstrate the facility’s reach and success: • 2.18 million people attended 2,210 performances or events since day 1. • In 2016 alone, 279,000 people attended 270 performances or events. • Nearly $186 million has been added to Georgia’s economy. • Nearly $132 million has been added to Cobb County’s economy since Cobb Energy Centre opened. “Effective management and a dedicated staff have allowed us to generate an operating profit every year,” Swann says. “Every financial analyst in the performing arts industry will tell you that this is an exceptional accomplishment.”
Congratulations On 10 Years! FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT
www.edvoyles.com
“Our goal for Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre was to present the best and brightest in a broad range of programming and educational outreach initiatives and ensure that our audience was all-inclusive, reflecting the diversity of the community. We are proud of this regional asset that has from year one fulfilled its mission as an economic catalyst and a beacon for the arts.
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MICHELE SWANN General Manager and CEO Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority
GREAT PERFORMANCES Hundreds of artists have played Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in its first decade. Here’s a look at just a few them, more or less in alphabetical order: COMICS: Lewis Black, Carol Burnett, John Cleese & Eric Idle, Jeff Dunham, Craig Ferguson, Jim Gaffigan, Jay Leno, Sinbad, Jon Stewart, Ron White.
SHOWS: Billy Crystal in 700 Sundays, Dancing With the Stars Live, the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular, among others.
VOCALISTS: R&B’s India Arie; Broadway’s Kristen Chenoweth and Linda Eder; pop’s Natalie Cole, Norah Jones, Tom Jones, Annie MUSICIANS/MUSICAL ACTS: Beach Boys, Lenox and Lyle Lovett; jazz singer/pianist Indigo Girls, Dave Koz, Kraftwerk, Harry Connick Jr.; Michael Feinstein, who Brian Setzer, Styx, Frankie Valli, Yanni. sings the Great American Songbook; country’s Vince Gill and Travis Tritt; rockers Bonnie Raitt and Steven Tyler; and crossover artist PERSONALITIES: Foodie Alton Brown, humorist Garrison Keillor, comic-commentator Josh Groban. Bill Maher. MAGICIANS: David Copperfield.
Diversity of Program Types 2007-2017
Other Opera 11% Educational 14% % Comedy 10 8% Theatre Broadway 8% 13% 22
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Ballet 15% Concert 21%
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obb Energy Centre is grateful to sponsors and partners that help it maintain its status as a premier venue. These people, says managing director Sandie Aaron “are a vital part of our growth and success, and with their continued support and collaboration, we can expand our presentations, services and arts education” to the community, the state and the Southeast. Gas South is among the facility’s sponsors, and has been with Cobb Energy Centre from the beginning. “We’re of the same vintage,” says Kevin Greiner, president and CEO of Gas South, which opened in 2006 in headquarters across I-75 from Cobb Energy Centre. “We are neighbors,” Greiner says, “and we saw the incredible benefits to us to support such a major cultural center essentially across the street. As a new Cobb Countybased company in the Cumberland area, we were really excited to see a facility like Cobb Energy Centre come to be.
“We saw it as a catalyst for economic, commercial and residential development and a great regional asset,” he says. In terms of quality of life, it helps attract and retain employees, and Gas South has programs and perks, including discounted and free tickets to opera and ballet performances. “Having the Centre as a neighbor can help us grow our brand, announce our presence and give us an impressive place to entertain customers,” Greiner says. “At the same time, we are committed to supporting arts in the area, bringing culture to Atlanta and reaching out to give access to the arts in underserved communities.” Cobb Energy Centre’s partnerships include such entertainment booking companies as Outback Concerts and the National Artists Corp. It also has a strong relationship with the Fox Theatre.
SPONSORSHIP
SPONSORS, PARTNERS HELP FACILITY GROW AND ATTRACT AUDIENCES
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT | 2007-2017
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,,
COMPANY LEADS OPERA RENAISSANCE IN ATLANTA, AMERICA
JEFF ROFFMAN
JEFF ROFFMAN
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JEFF ROFFMAN
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he Atlanta Opera’s vision is “to be a vital leader in the renaissance of opera in America by engaging a 21st-century audience.” The 38-year-old company has made Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre its home since the facility opened 10 years ago, and continues to pursue that vision with a passion. Tomer Zvulun, who joined the company as general and artistic director in 2013, has set a course of innovation and excellence. The Israeliborn director, 41, has worked with prestigious houses like the Metropolitan Opera as well
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
opera companies in Seattle, Cleveland, Dallas, Cincinnati, Buenos Aires and at Wolf Trap, as well as numerous festivals. In recent years, The Atlanta Opera expanded its mainstage season from four to six productions and increased production nights from 12 to 22. It launched the Discoveries series, which puts contemporary works by new composers and rarely done operas in alternative venues around metro Atlanta (Astor Piazzolla’s tango-themed Maria de Buenos Aires and Mozart’s The Secret Gardener last year, for example).
RAFTERMEN PHOTOGRAPHY
JEFF ROFFMAN
JEFF ROFFMAN
JEFF ROFFMAN
THE ATLANTA OPERA
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JEFF ROFFMAN JEFF ROFFMAN
JEFF ROFFMAN
RAFTERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
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“The audience for opera is changing,” Zvulun says. “As we go forward, we are incorporating elements to keep the audience engaged and appeal to this more visual- and technology-oriented generation.” Once example is last season’s Silent Night, the Kevin Puts piece about a spontaneous Christmas truce between French, Scottish and German soldiers during World War I. The Atlanta Opera’s 2017/18 mainstage season at Cobb Energy Centre features a new and modern version of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman plus Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment, Bizet’s Carmen and Stephen Sondheim’s musical/opera thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The Discoveries series includes Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins (at Le Maison Rouge at Paris on Ponce) and Out of Darkness: Two Remain by composer Jake Heggie (Three
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Decembers, Dead Man Walking) and librettist Gene Scheer. Under the leadership of Zvulun and his team, The Atlanta Opera has increased its profile through collaborations with the Glimmerglass Festival (near Cooperstown, N.Y.), Minnesota Opera and Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland. Recent honors include a nomination for the 2016 International Opera awards. Before finding a home at Cobb Energy Centre, the opera was a bit of an itinerant company, performing variously at Atlanta Symphony Hall, the Fox Theatre and the Atlanta Civic Center. Cobb Energy Centre, the first major performing arts center built in metro Atlanta in four decades, gives The Atlanta Opera and others a world-class venue with state-of-the-art technical systems with excellent acoustics and public spaces.
Proud partner and resident company of The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre since 2007 THE FLYING DUTCHMAN THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT CARMEN SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
ATLANTAOPERA.ORG
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hroughout its 88-year history, Atlanta Ballet has garnered a reputation as one of the premier dance companies in the country. With works from innovative choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Israel’s Ohad Naharin and Britain’s Christopher Wheeldon, as well as collaborations with pop-folk’s Indigo Girls and rapper Big Boi, former artistic director, John McFall, helped the Company make a national name for itself by presenting a mix of classical ballets and contemporary modern dance premieres throughout his 21-year tenure. When McFall retired in June 2016, he was succeeded by Bolshoi-trained Gennadi Nedvigin, now in his second season as artistic director. Nedvigin, who came to Atlanta following 19 seasons as a principal dancer with the esteemed San Francisco Ballet, will continue to
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focus on Atlanta Ballet’s tradition of versatility, excellence and commitment to introducing audiences to a wide variety of dance styles – from nineteenth century classics and neoclassical works to contemporary ballets and exclusive signature commissions from some of today’s top-tier choreographers. This season, Cobb Energy Centre patrons will enjoy Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote in February; March’s Black Swan, featuring Act III of Swan Lake by Marius Petipa and a world premiere from choreographer Craig Davidson; April’s Tu Tu & More, featuring exciting pieces by Naharin, Stanton Welch and former Atlanta Ballet dancer Tara Lee; and Bach to Broadway in May, featuring works by George Balanchine, Maxim Petrov and Helgi Tomasson. Younger audiences will be mesmerized by a one-hour
KIM KINNEY
ATLANTA BALLET TURNS PAGE WITH NEW LEADERSHIP
CHARLIE MCCULLERS
KIM KINNEY
KIM KINNEY
ATLANTA BALLET
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT | 2007-2017
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Atlanta Ballet has performed more than 180 productions, and according to president and CEO Arturo Jacobus, has “developed a distinctive brand, enabled by the focus we have brought to world premieres and works new to Atlanta Ballet.” He says the relative intimacy of the 2,750-seat Cobb Energy Centre theater space is perfect for dance. (Compare that to the 4,678-seat Fox Theatre, the ballet’s former venue and still its stage for the annual Nutcracker.) “As we look to the next decade and beyond,” Jacobus continues, “we are excited about the potential for a surge in attendance and feel confident that our theater is well-equipped to handle it comfortably.”
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KIM KINNEY
KIM KINNEY
KIM KINNEY
KIM KINNEY
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version of Beauty & the Beast in February, as well. Atlanta Ballet, which dates back to 1929, chose Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre as its performance home in 2008/09 – its 79th season. Throughout the years, audiences here have enjoyed productions such as Helen Pickett’s Camino Real, David Bintley’s Carmina Burana, Michael Pink’s Dracula, the U.S. premiere of Jorden Morris’ Moulin Rouge® The Ballet, Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette, Alexei Ratmansky’s Seven Sonatas and Wheeldon’s Rush, as well as Swan Lake, Firebird and many more. In its decade at Cobb Energy Centre,
Atlanta Ballet congratulates the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on 10 successful years!
Courtney Necessary. Photo by Charlie McCullers.
Learn more about our 17|18 Season at
Visit www.atlantaballet.com
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO KEEP COBB ENERGY CENTRE CLICKING
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elebrations for the Cobb Energy Centre’s 10th birthday have been underway for some time. From conception and design to completion, the venue has followed the vision of the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority. The facility’s ongoing success is a team effort that encompasses management, staff and volunteers. “It truly takes a village,” says managing director Sandie Aaron, “to operate the facility and to execute the many events in the theater and the ballroom, along with corporate meetings and conferences.” Aaron, who’s made a career out of managing venues, says she’s found the CEPAC staff among the most professional with whom she’s ever worked. Donn Jennings of DJ Promotions agrees. “It is rare,” he says, “to find people that care about their jobs these days and take pride in doing the job right.” The Cobb Energy Centre has nearly 500 volunteers who’ve been critical in the venue’s first decade. Among them: house manager Richard Stevens, who volunteered as soon as the facility opened, and then joined the staff to recruit and train ticket takers and ushers. Volunteers deal with thousands of theatergoers, including schoolchildren who participate in ArtsBridge Foundation education programs.
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Stevens, who wants to grow the volunteer pool to 600, holds two orientation sessions each year. Each typically draws 35 to 40 people. Many join the CEPAC family at the urging of friends. Others are attracted by the perk of being able to see entertainment of all kinds. “In 2006, as I watched the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre come up out of the ground, I was excited about the possibilities of having an excellent performing arts center closer to my home,” says floor captain Dan Snider, who’s at the venue four to eight times per month. “Each time a patron steps through the front doors and they look around in amazement,” he says, “I think, ‘That is how I felt the first time I stepped through those doors’ and still do today.” THE PIONEERS These Cobb Energy Centre staff members have been with the venue since it opened. • Beryl Bernier, receptionist • Ramin Djaved, food & beverage manager • Lorena Dominguez, human resources specialist • Barbara Kiss, executive assistant • Tom Rowland, director of marketing & sponsorships • Carol Willis, box office manager
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COBB ENERGY CENTRE STAFF & VOLUNTEERS COBBENERGYCENTRE.COM VENUE STAFF MANAGING DIRECTOR Sandie Aaron
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER Jeri Wallis
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Barbara Kiss
HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST Lorena Dominguez
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & SPONSORSHIPS Tom Rowland MARKETING COORDINATOR Leah Valentine DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Mike Cronin RECEPTIONIST Beryl Bernier BOX OFFICE MANAGER Carol Willis ASSISTANT BOX OFFICE MANAGER Russel Kennedy HOUSE MANAGER Richard Stevens DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & SECURITY Larry Green PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGER Jamie Wheeler PUBLIC SAFETY SUPERVISOR Eric Rascoe CULINARY DIRECTOR/ EXECUTIVE CHEF Nicholas Walker SOUS CHEF Camilo Aguirre FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGER Ramin Djaved BANQUET MANAGER Abol Ghoreishi BEVERAGE & CONCESSION MANAGER Fernando Quintero
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TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Ben Tilley PRODUCTION MANAGER Jessica Coale HEAD ELECTRICIAN Mike Wolmer HEAD AUDIO ENGINEER Jon Summers
COBB-MARIETTA COLISEUM & EXHIBIT HALL AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN Jerry Nix | Post 6 VICE-CHAIR A. Max Bacon | Post 2 SECRETARY Johnny Gresham | Post 4 Mike Boyce | Post 5 Tricia Pridemore | Post 7 Steve “Thunder” Tumlin | Post 1 Robert P. Voyles | Post 3 GENERAL MANAGER & CEO Michele L. Swann
HEAD CARPENTER/RIGGER Mark Newman DIRECTOR OF FACILITY SERVICES Arthur McDowell DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING Joe Green
ARTSBRIDGE FOUNDATION
CHIEF ENGINEER Marty Taylor
PRESIDENT Jack Ward
DIRECTOR Clare Richardson
LEAD ENGINEER Madjid Lakhdari
VICE PRESIDENT Joanne Truffelman
DIRECTOR Kessel D. Stelling
LEAD ENGINEER Victor Sgobba
SECRETARY/TREASURER Larry M. Dingle
DIRECTOR Percy Vaughn
DIRECTOR Helen S. Carlos
DIRECTOR Valery Voyles
ARTSBRIDGE FOUNDATION STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jennifer Dobbs Hill DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR Laura Gronek
DIRECTOR Barbarella Diaz DIRECTOR Jerry Nix
DIRECTOR EMERITUS Barbara E. Williams
DIRECTOR Sam Olens
DIRECTOR EMERITUS John A. Williams
Th e A tlanta Brave s congratulate
Co b b Energ y P er f o r m i n g A r t s C e n t r e 1 0 th A n n i v e r s a r y
1 0T H A N N I V E R S A R Y COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
ARTS & CULTURE COME OF AGE IN A GROWING COBB COUNTY
N
ot so long ago, the Cumberland area in south Cobb County buzzed with activity by day but became much quieter once workers in the clusters of office buildings headed home. Weekends? Even quieter. Although Cobb Galleria Centre drew conventions, trade shows, events and conferences since it opened in 1994, something was missing. “We were not a complete community,” says David Connell, president and CEO of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. That missing element: public entertainment and a cultural heart. From the beginning, those who led the development of Cobb Galleria Centre saw the need for a cultural center — for concerts, theater, comedy and family shows to attract audiences and appeal to the growing diversity of mero Atlanta’s population. When The Atlanta Opera (2007) and Atlanta Ballet (2008) decided to make Cobb Energy Centre their home it “galvanized us,” Connell says. The opera’s move, in particular, spoke volumes. It meant that Cobb County was a distinct part of metro Atlanta, not a distant suburb,” he says, “and that Cobb Energy Centre
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was a major player on the arts scene.” Those moves had naysayers but both companies are thriving. “Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre brightened the night,” Connell says. It also brightened the days and evenings with new restaurants and shops, convincing people to stay after work for dinner and a show. Cobb Energy Centre “is now the cultural heart of the community, and it has attracted many other investments,” says Malaika Rivers, president and CEO of the Cumberland Community Improvement District. CCID focuses on infrastructure, transportation and pedestrian accessibility for everything built in the Cumberland area. It supports the development of office, commercial and public properties. New housing complexes have, for example, attract millennials who add a new vibe to the area. Cobb Energy Centre has become a regional focal point for tourism, says Holly Quinlan, president and CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “It is a dynamic and thriving part of the mix of what Cobb County and the region have to offer … and a vital element in making the Cumberland area and Cobb County an entertainment district and a well-rounded community.”
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1 0T H A N N I V E R S A R Y COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
A
s the ArtsBridge Foundation celebrates this anniversary, we are reminded of how far it has come, and the regional impact it has had in such a short time. We remain committed to providing education, engagement and access to the arts through innovative, highquality education initiatives for ticketed performances and free or low-cost admission. For these reasons, foundations, corporations and private citizens have given generously to support us, recognizing the value the Foundation brings to students, educators, parents and aspiring young artists. It has been an honor to serve as president for the past four years and to have been a charter member of the Foundation. On behalf of the entire board and our dedicated staff, we thank you for your commitment to our mission and for all you do for ArtsBridge and, in turn, our region and our state. With your support, ArtsBridge will continue to thrive for many years as the arts-education arm of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. JACK WARD President ArtsBridge Foundation
ARTSBRIDGE FOUNDATION: CREATING THE FUTURE THROUGH ARTS EDUCATION
A
rtsBridge Foundation is the the arts-education-outreach arm of Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, reaching tens of thousands of K-12 children, educators and families every year. ArtsBridge, which began with the opening of the Cobb Energy Centre in 2007, has collaborated with regional and national arts organizations to share the wonder and power of the arts through field trips, a Family Performance
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Series, a Director’s Bootcamp, master classes and the Performing and Visual Arts College Fair. FIELD TRIPS Students of all ages discover live theater this way, with visits that typically go beyond fun and wonder. “We work with teachers to tie performances into their curricula, including science, math, social studies and literature,” says Natalie
FAMILY SERIES In 2016, ArtsBridge debuted its Family Performance Series, intended to introduce young people and their families to live theater. The shows last about an hour and often feature familiar characters from such animated TV shows as “Wild Kratts” (PBS) and “Octonauts” (Disney Junior).
event gives college-bound students a chance to meet with admissions representatives from more than 100 performing/visual arts colleges, universities and conservatories. The 2016 fair attracted more than 1,000 students. ArtsBridge’s mantra, “Creating the Future Through Arts Education,” is true whether the live-performance seed yields future audiences, arts professionals or everyday folks who use creativity to think outside whatever boxes they encounter.
SHULER AWARDS Patterned after Broadway’s Tony awards, DIRECTOR’S BOOTCAMPS the Georgia High School Musical Theatre The three-day-long bootcamp, a newer program, Awards (aka Shuler Hensley Awards) celebrate dates to 2016. The June event is designed for K-12 excellence in high school musical theater. The educators and is led by industry professionals. program involves more than 10,000 students, Atlanta-based Tony Award winner Shuler educators and theater professionals in a Hensley (Oklahoma!) is among those who have competitive season that culminates in a live, taken part. The boot camps offer in-depth televised awards show. workshops in musical theater production, and An annual red-carpet event each count as a professional learning TLU credit. spring since 2009, the awards show features musical performances by host Shuler Hensley MASTER CLASSES and several hundred student participants These began in 2013. The acting, dancing, interspersed among award presentations in 17 singing, technical training and audition categories. The winning lead actress and actor techniques taught are designed for aspiring represent Georgia at the National High School musical theater artists. The small classes Musical Theatre Awards, at which Shuler have been led by experienced performers, winners have taken home multiple awards and directors, choreographers and production scholarships. managers from the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta With the mantra, “Creating the Future Lyric Theatre and such Fox Theatre touring Through Arts Education,” ArtsBridge puts shows as Matilda the Musical, Cabaret, Finding students onstage, backstage and in the Neverland and Mamma Mia! audience with the goal of planting seeds that foster future artists, audiences or everyday COLLEGE FAIR folks who use creativity to think outside The third annual Performing and Visual Arts whatever boxes they encounter. College Fair happens in early October. The free For more, please visit artsbridgega.org.
ARTSBRIDGE EDUCATION
Barrow, ArtsBridge’s director of education and community outreach from 2014-2017. ArtsBridge also offers financial aid to schools for tickets and transportation.
A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT | 2007-2017
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1 0T H A N N I V E R S A R Y COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
SPECIAL EVENTS: CREATING EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
T
he Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is a magnificent destination for extraordinary events. We offer a wide variety of unique settings to showcase your important event from grand receptions and charity galas to intimate gatherings and corporate meetings. The stunning Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom has been the backdrop for more than 1,000 events over the past ten years, including some of Atlanta’s most prestigious blacktie balls and celebrations. This magnificent ballroom blends elegant dÊcor, state-of-theart technology and impeccable service to create memorable events. Our professional catering and event staff provides personal service and seasonally changing menus, sourced from local, regional farms and small businesses. The culinary team led by Nicholas Walter specializes in Mediterranean, Asian and Kosher stylecuisine.
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Nicholas Walker Culinary Director & Executive Chef
SPECIAL EVENTS A DECADE IN THE SPOTLIGHT | 2007-2017
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UPCOMING EVENTS 1 0T H A N N I V E R S A R Y COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
THE TEMPTATIONS
MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER
SOULFUL SOUNDS OF
& THE FOUR TOPS
AND ME
CHRISTMAS WITH
SEPTEMBER 22, 2017
OCTOBER 20, 2017
WILL DOWNING, CHANTE MOORE AND MAYSA
PEPPA PIG’S SURPRISE
RODNEY CARRINGTON
SEPTEMBER 24, 2017
OCTOBER 21, 2017
JOHN MULANEY
DANIEL TIGER’S
SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE!
NOVEMBER 18, 2017 KIRK FRANKLIN & LEDISI
OCTOBER 22, 2017 LEADERCAST WOMEN LIVE OCTOBER 5, 2017 RICKEY SMILEY
NOVEMBER 19, 2017 LINDSEY STIRLING NOVEMBER 22, 2017
“SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE” TOUR
DAVE KOZ
OCTOBER 26, 2017
20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
OCTOBER 7, 2017
NOVEMBER 24, 2017 THE ATLANTA OPERA
TRAVIS TRITT
PRESENTS
EBI - THE 50 WORLD TOUR
OCTOBER 13, 2017
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
NOVEMBER 25, 2017
NOVEMBER 4 - 12, 2017 TREVOR NOAH OCTOBER 14, 2017
FANTASIA LEGEND OF ZELDA:
NOVEMBER 26, 2017
SYMPHONY OF THE MARKIPLIER
GODDESSES
THE ALLIANCE THEATRE’S
OCTOBER 15, 2017
NOVEMBER 16, 2017
A CHRISTMAS CAROL DECEMBER 8-24, 2017
NICK OFFERMAN - FULL BUSH OCTOBER 19, 2017
For the most up-to-date list of performances please visit cobbenergycentre.com Tickets sold at the Bank of North Georgia Box Office at Cobb Energy Centre, Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000
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COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
1 0T H A N N I V E R S A R Y COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE CELEBRATION
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VENUE
COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Sponsors
Elevating our community. Supporting the arts.
As the Official Natural Gas Provider of Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, we would like to congratulate you on a decade of stellar performances.
Happy 10th Anniversary!
WE’RE PROUD TO WELCOME COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE TO OUR FAMILY OF ATLANTA ARTS SCENE PUBLICATIONS MARQUEE COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
PR
EM
IE
RE
IS
SU
E
SUMMER
TRAVIS WALL’S MATTHEW MURPHHY
SHAPING SOUND AFTER THE CURTAIN JUNE
COBBENERGYCENTRE COM
Advertise with us. Call 678-837-4043.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING US MAKE OUR FIRST DECADE A SUCCESS. WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU!