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COVER STORY
Yours. Mine. & Ours. Washington Pavilion celebrates 10 years
2010-11 Calendar
Upcoming Events
Yours. Mine. & Ours. Washington Pavilion
celebrates 10 years
by Amy Smolik
Marketing & Communications Manager
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Washington Pavilion President Larry Toll visits with Kirby Science Discovery Center attendee Adam, who was visiting from Michigan. |
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The east side of the Washington Pavilion |
Larry Toll admits he brings no artistic talent in his new role as President of the Washington Pavilion.
What he does bring to the table is decades of business experience and an ability to work with the community to educate people about the Pavilion with the intent of boosting attendance, membership and community use.
“The Pavilion’s story hasn’t changed in the last 10 years — great things are happening here and we keep adding new things,” Toll said. “We have a great Board of Directors and a great team of people. There’s a lot of talent here.”
Toll took over his position July 1 after serving as Interim President since December 2009. In that time period, the Pavilion has updated its website, tweaked its logo and its name (dropping the “of Arts and Science”), saw several arts organizations move into the building, and streamlined the pricing at the Kirby Science Center and Wells Fargo Cinedome. This is all part of an effort to give more value to Washington Pavilion members and the community in this economy, Toll said.
It appears to be working — Pavilion memberships are the highest they’ve been since 2001 and the number of new members who joined in June 2010 is also a record-setter. The Sioux Empire Arts Council moved in to the Pavilion in June, the South Dakota Symphony moved in July and talks are ongoing with the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts (DAPA) to move their offices also.
Adding the arts organizations to the building is not a revenue stream for the Pavilion. Toll said bringing multiple arts organizations under the same roof is something many people thought would happen when the Pavilion opened 10 years ago. Working together will enhance communication and streamline box office purchases.
Financially, Toll has also tried to stay the course and make the Pavilion profitable without huge infusions of money. The Pavilion is funded through memberships, sponsorships, donations, fundraising events and the City’s entertainment tax. The Pavilion receives approximately $1.3 million from the tax and reinvests about $1.2 million back in to the facility to maintain it. The community also supports the Pavilion by donating approximately 20,000 volunteer hours.
If these types of institutions were profitable, Toll believes businesses would be developing them. “It’s about quality of life — everything from our parks to our bike paths and the Pavilion is what makes Sioux Falls a great place to live,” he said.
The Washington Pavilion’s estimated economic impact on Sioux Falls is $14 million per year, Toll said. Area restaurants can tell when the Pavilion is hosting an event because their bookings are up. Some shows bring travelers from outside the community who will stay overnight, shop, dine and purchase gas before heading home. The recent “Little House on the Prairie” shows sold more than 10,000 tickets and less than half were sold to people in Sioux Falls. Altogether, attendees came from 32 states and three countries. Toll’s intent is to continue to bring cultural diversity and visitors to the city.
Looking ahead to the shows booked for the 2010-11 Performance Series, Toll said they reflect the community’s desire for recognizable shows. “In the new economy, if they don’t recognize it, they’re not going to buy it,” he said. A show that was recently added, “Spring Awakening,” represents the Pavilion’s wish to bring in a new audience — younger patrons. This show is “the current generation’s ‘Rent,’” Toll said. It’s controversial and was booked to bring in younger faces.
Upcoming events in the Visual Arts Center are also designed to appeal to wide audiences — “we’ve really got some blockbusters,” Toll said. In December this year, Norman Rockwell paintings will be on display. This exhibit will have a fee to attend. In 2011, an Andy Warhol exhibit will be on display.
Toll credits previous leadership in gaining accreditation for the facility in 2008. “That really gives us a leg up to get these kinds of shows,” he said, citing that only about 5 percent of museums nationwide are accredited, including very few in South Dakota.
Toll said the Pavilion is hard to define because it encompasses visual arts, performing arts and a science center with a cinedome attached. “When you try to compare it, it’s not easy to do,” he said.
The new marketing campaign with the tagline “Yours. Mine. & Ours.” reflects the leadership’s intent to make the Pavilion open to everyone. “We want to continue to reach out to people to come and see what’s here,” Toll said. “We know we can never satisfy everyone, but we want to make the Pavilion accessible to all.”
Looking ahead, Toll wants to add a museum store on the first floor of the building that would have unique items. Enhanced signage within the building will better direct people to the Kirby Science Discovery Center and Visual Arts Center. Toll wants to reach out to people who might not visit other parts of the Pavilion and make it easier for them to find.
For more information about the Washington Pavilion, call (605) 367-6000, (877) Wash-Pav or visit www.washingtonpavilion.org.
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2010-11 Calendar
Nickelodeon’s Storytime Live!**
Sept. 16 • 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.
$18, $27, $35 plus tax
Storytime Live! is the first-ever live family theatrical tour featuring characters from four of the current top-rated preschool shows on TV today: Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, The Wonder Pets! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan.
Late Night Catechism**
Sept. 14-16, 7 p.m. • Sept. 17-18, 8 p.m.
Sept. 16, 18-19, 2 p.m.
$33.50 plus tax
Late Nite Catechism is an uproariously funny play that takes the audience back to their youth. The irrepressible Sister teaches class to a roomful of “students.” Throughout the course of the class the benevolent instructor rewards “students” for correct answers with glow-in-the-dark rosaries and other nifty prizes. Naughty students may well find themselves on stage sitting in a corner reflecting their actions.
Legally Blonde, The Musical*
Oct. 6-7 • 7 p.m.
$25.50, $40.50, $52.50 plus tax
Sorority star Elle Woods doesn’t take “no” for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law.
Spring Awakening**
$25, $38, $55 plus tax
Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with poignancy and passion you will never forget. This landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll that is exhilarating audiences across the nation like no other musical in years. Join this group of late 19th century German students on their passage as the navigate teenage self-discovery and coming of age anxiety in a powerful celebration of youth and rebellion.
Away in the Basement,
A Church Basement Ladies Christmas**
Nov. 27, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Nov. 28, 2 p.m.
$29.50 plus tax
The ladies are serving it up again, this time around it’s an all new holiday show!
An Evening with Garrison Keillor*
Oct. 17 • 7 p.m.
SOLD OUT!
Join beloved radio host Garrison Keillor for an evening of reflection and stories of Lake Wobegon. Note: this is not A Prairie Home Companion.
Monty Python’s Spamalot*
Jan. 5, 2011 • 7 p.m.
$25.50, $40.50, $52.50 plus tax
Spamalot is a musical lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Philadanco*
Jan. 21, 2011 • 8 p.m.
$17.50, $25.50, $33.50 plus tax
Across the nation and around the world, Phildanco is celebrated for its innovation, creativity and preservation of predominantly African-American traditions in dance.
Fiddler on the Roof**
March 5, 2011• 7 p.m.
$25.50, $45.50, $52.50
This Tony Award®-winning musical weaves music, dance, poignancy and laughter into an electrifying and unforgettable experience.
Avenue Q*
March 15, 2011 • 7 p.m.
$25.50, $40.50, $52.50 plus tax
Avenue Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast*
April 5-7, 2011 • 7 p.m.
$36.50, $50.50, $57.50 plus tax
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast features the animated film’s Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice.
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Upcoming Events
Free First Fridays 5-8 p.m.
Fridays: Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1,
Nov. 5, Dec. 3
The Washington Pavilion is open the first Friday of every month for Free First Fridays, which includes free admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center, various activities throughout the building, free tours of Mary Sommervold Hall, $5 Wells Fargo CineDome tickets, Kirby Science Discovery Store specials and open studio night in the Visual Arts Center.
Sponsored by: SDN Communications and First PREMIER Bank
2010 Sidewalk Arts Festival
Saturday, Sept. 11
The streets of downtown Sioux Falls will be filled with local and national artists, food vendors, entertainment and children’s activities for the Sidewalk Arts Festival. This event is free and helps support the Washington Pavilion.
Sponsored by: Home Federal Bank, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Howalt McDowell Insurance, Inc., Inspired Chiropractic LLC.
Autumn Crush
Thursday, Sept. 30
This is a new wine tasting and buying event. Tickets are $40 for Pavilion members, $50 for the general public in advance and all tickets are $60 at the door. All proceeds benefit the Pavilion.
Sponsored by: HyVee
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