Page 8 - Clemens Center 2015–16 Annual Report

CLEMENS CENTER 2015–2016 ANNUAL REPORT
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FProgram Additions
or many years the Clemens Center’s practice was to close its doors for the months of July and August and lay off stagehands, custodians, and box office employees as a means to preserve its budget. The reasoning was that
audiences departed for the lakes for the summer and there were few remaining in the city to partake of entertainment. For 2015-16 the Center aimed to continue programming, partially eliminating the layoff, and provide quality family entertainment to the community through the summer.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Triple Talent Academy was able to conduct a 3-week long musical theatre summer camp for 30 youngsters age 8 to 15. Students were auditioned for parts, learned dialogue, music, and dance steps, and performed
Willy Wonka, Jr., for 350 of their biggest fans on stage in the Powers Theater. Additionally, Ferrario Southern Tier Jazz Festival kicked off their weekend of activities with a concert by Marcus Johnson on August 12. Although the attendance was not what organizers had hoped, they viewed the opportunity as an acorn from which to grow a much larger oak tree. The Jazz Festival is scheduled to return in 2016-17.
In alignment with the Department of Social Services’ Summer Cohesion Program, the Clemens Center booked children’s entertainer Dr. Kaboom! for a matinee performance. Sales were very strong for this performance and the community was looking forward to Look Out Science is Coming! on August 9. Unfortunately
Dr. Kaboom! was traveling from Colorado for the engagement and Delta Airlines suffered a massive computer breakdown that affected his flight. Due to his performance tour the Center was unable to reschedule right away. The engagement was cancelled and patrons received a refund for tickets purchased. Dr. Kaboom! is now set to perform during the summer of 2017. Fingers crossed this time!
Programmatic and financial information reflected for September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016.