Like a finely tuned automobile, Wharton Center is starting 2009 with a full tank of eclectic shows and educational activities. Some of those include Broadway’s most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award®-winner in years, Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award® winner opens at Wharton Center February 24 through March 1. Also, the Tony Award® –winning Broadway phenomenon Disney’s The Lion King returns for a month, March 19 through April 19. 

The Center is running smoothly, even though the road, at times, is bumpy. Overall ticket sales are slightly down. Other national venues are experiencing similar trends. Wharton Center has responded by eliminating and delaying non-essential projects and expenditures. We also plan to present a slightly smaller season for 2009-2010 while still maintaining the quality we are known for in our performances and customer service. Our Broadway series will consist of four shows instead of five, and prices will be a bit lower.

The expansion project is on schedule for completion in October 2009. As you may have noticed during a recent visit to the Center, natural sunlight (what little we have during Michigan winters) has been blocked by an internal firewall. To brighten the lobby and lounges during construction, students from the Department of Art and Art History have designed and painted a visually intriguing image along the wall, mimicking images from The Four Muses banners hanging in the Grand Foyer.  

The MSU Federal Credit Union Institute For Arts And Creativity at Wharton Center is driving forward at a fast rate, reaching people who have an interest in the arts. The cornerstone of the Institute is the artist-in-residence programwhich integrates world-class artists with MSU students and faculty, as well school children and adult learners throughout the state. Residencies to date have included Wynton Marsalis, Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada, and Tiempo Libre.  popular jazz artist Sophie Milman is now the artist-in-residence.

Wharton Center’s Inner Circle volunteers have even established a book club at the East Lansing Barnes and Noble store. The new club will read and discuss books that have something in common with upcoming Wharton Center productions.

There is a lot going on at Wharton Center as we travel the arts open road, Mid-April we will be announcing our new 2009-2010 season and begin another finely tuned year bringing you the best of entertainment and arts education. We hope you jump on for a ride!

		Bob Hoffman is the public relations manager at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts.