Lexington Opera HouseLexington Center Corporation430 W. Vine StreetLexington, KY 40507

House Lights

The Newsletter of the Lexington Opera House

Summer 2009

In this Issue…Stones & Mortar … p1–2

The Incredible Food Show … p3Renovation Continues at

Sts. Peter & Paul School … p3

Stones & MortarHouse LightsSummer 2009

The questionable state of our current economy continues to impact every facet of our daily lives. The arts – and touring Broadway are not exempt. You have often heard me acknowledge the Opera House Fund and our season sponsors during the pre-show curtain announcements. This small act of gratitude cannot begin to express the depth of our

appreciation. The financial support provided by our sponsors is more significant for the upcoming season of Broadway Live than ever before.

Let’s face it – all of us are more frugal these days. Watching our own discretionary funds decrease is indicative of the shrinking funds available from corporate partners for

charitable donations. Because you are a regular subscriber or a member of our Pub Club, we know that you recognize the value of performing arts in your life. We are very grateful that you have decided that our Broadway series and the Opera House is worth your investment! Thank you!

Finding those very special community partners who share that same sensibility, and who are willing to offer financial support to ensure we can continue to offer professional Broadway theatre at the Opera House is always a challenge. There are a many worthy causes that need support. Local businesses and corporations often assist

community initiatives, but this year those support dollars are more rare and valuable than ever before.

We believe this un-common support is deserving of special recognition in this season pre-view edition of our newsletter. We want you to better know our sponsors and recognize them to be generous community-minded partners who have made a significant financial commitment to the arts, to the Opera House Fund and to Broadway Live in spite of the difficult economy. They are a rare commodity and we are grateful that our programming is worth their investment!

The Shops at Lexington Center sponsor our season opener, Of Mice and Men, September 25 – 27. As part of the Lexington Center complex and connected to the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Hotel, the shops offer an array of unique specialty stores in a relaxed comfortable setting, and free

downtown parking with merchant validation. (5 years as a Broadway Live sponsor)

The Wizard of Oz comes to the Opera House on November 6-8, sponsored by Ball Homes and Smiley Pete Publishing. Ball Homes has been making dreams come true for thousands of Kentucky families since 1959. (a Broadway Live sponsor since 1995) Smiley Pete Publishing has completed ten

years of service to Lexington and proudly produces three community publications: The Chevy Chaser, The Southsider and Business Lexington. (4 years as a Broadway Live sponsor)

The Drowsy Chaperone, a wedding story – is appropriately sponsored by Geno’s Formal Affair and Jacki Allen’s Kentucky Bride. Geno’s Formal Affair is a long-time friend and partner to the Opera House. They have generously donated the formalwear worn by

Continued On Page 2

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s

GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Whether you are a group of friends or family, entertaining clients or getting together with co-workers,

getting a group together is a fun way to see a show!

Groups are entitled to the following benefits:

• Seating at a discounted rate!

• Preferred seating all together (when available)

• Personal one-on-one service

• No per ticket service fees if ordered through the Group Sales Office

• No standing in line or waiting – tickets can be mailed directly to you or will be made available for pick-up prior to the show

• Promotional materials are available to help boost interest

To more information about Group Sales call Jana Curd at (859) 233.4567 x3292 or email jcurd@lexingtoncenter.com.

For more great discount offers at the Lexington Opera House and Rupp Arena, please visit www.rupparena.com/groupSales/

2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 S E A S O N

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The Incredible Food Show

- 2 - - 3 -

The Kentucky Proud Incredible Food Show is the event of the year for everyone who loves food, cooking and entertaining.

Coming to the Lexington Center and Rupp Arena October 3 – 4, this two-day food lover’s dream is packed with over 100 exhibitors including Kentucky Proud producers and growers, specialty food companies, cooking-related equipment and wineries. In addition, cooking demonstrations and seminars by regional and local chefs will be presented by Sullivan University’s culinary school.

The Incredible Food Show is highlighted by two presentations featuring Chef Bobby Flay, author and show host of Food Network’s Throwdown and Boy Meets Grill and one of the featured chefs on the Food Network’s Iron Chef. Catch one or both presentations in Rupp Arena at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

“I am thrilled that Chef Bobby Flay is coming back to Kentucky for The Incredible Food Show,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “We will have one of the

world’s most famous chefs and fresh, healthy, delicious Kentucky Proud foods all under one roof. This will be the biggest event of the year for Kentucky food lovers.”

Tickets are on sale now at the Lexington Center Ticket Office, Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Tickets are priced as follows:

Adult One Day Pass: $12 Children ages 4 – 12 One Day Pass: $5 Children 3 and under: Free!

Tickets to the Bobby Flay presentations, held on the ADI Viking Stage, range from $35 – $75* and include admission to the food show exhibit halls. General admission includes cooking demonstrations, food and entertainment-related presentations and product sampling on the exhibit floor. For more information, visit www.incrediblefoodshow.com or call (859) 233-3535 for tickets.

*$75 Premium Seat ticket includes autographed copy of Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill Cookbook: Explosive Flavors from the Southwestern Kitchen.

Lexington Center Corporation430 West Vine StreetLexington, Kentucky 40507(859) 233-4567Chief Executive Officer - William OwenOpera House Program Director - Luanne FranklinOperations Manager - Tom HabermannMarketing Director - Sheila Kenny Graphic Designer - Matt JohnsonBox Office Manager - Jeff Bojanowski Group Sales - Jana CurdTechnical Services - Bob StoopsHouse Manager - Paul Thomaswww.lexingtonoperahouse.com

our Front-of-House staff at each Broadway Live performance since the series began! And we are pleased to add Jacki Allen’s Kentucky Bride as our newest sponsor. Jacki produces local bridal shows in our community and is the proud publisher Kentucky Bride, a new magazine featuring articles, services and information about local weddings.

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP is a regional law firm with offices in five states. Their attorneys are known for more than their legal skills, but also for civic and community leadership. The law offices are sponsors of the Valentine weekend engagement of Camelot, February 12-14. (10 years as a Broadway Live sponsor)

April 9-11 are the dates for our presentation of the Tony-Award winner, Avenue Q. This tongue-in-cheek adult satire will be sponsored by Clark Distributing and Coors Light. In addition to supporting programming at the

Lexington Opera House, Coors Brewing Company is an ardent supporter of the arts. (10 years as a Broadway Live sponsor)

The NETworks presentation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will close the 2009-2010 season on Mother’s Day weekend, May 7-9. This production is made possible through the generosity of two veteran

sponsors of Broadway Live. The Blue Grass Airport offers the amenities of a big city airport with the friendliness and gracious service we expect in our community. (5 years as a Broadway Live sponsor) Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky is one of our state’s largest employers. Toyota strives to be a good corporate citizen and an active

community member through contributions, sponsorships in the areas of education, environment, arts & culture, civic organizations and Health and human services. (sponsoring Broadway Live since 2005)

Sponsorship for Broadway Live is available in many forms and at many levels. In addition to the show sponsors, our programming is also supported by contributions from: Ferguson Enterprises, Corman Marketplace, Lexington Furniture, and Incredipet. We hope you’ll let these partners know that you recognize their names and appreciate

their support of the arts in our community. Getting our message to you is important, and we are grateful to WKYT-TV, Clear Channel Radio and The Lexington Herald-Leader, our partners in the media.

As you look forward to each production during the upcoming season, we hope you

will reflect on the vital support offered by our family of esteemed partners. Sponsors, subscribers, and the Opera House Fund provide a foundation for Broadway Live as strong as the century-old foundation of our historic facility. You are the stones and mortar that will sustain and support the arts through these difficult times. You are the champions of arts programming at the Lexington Opera House.

Stones & Mortar cont.

Chef Bobby Flay

There is a lot of activity happening on Saunier Avenue, right next door to the Opera House. St. Peter & Paul School, built in 1913, is currently undergoing critical renovations and new construction. The new facility will include a renovated theater, a full size gymnasium with walking track, a state of the art science lab, new library and computer lab and an entire wing devoted to the arts. Great care has been taken to preserve the history of the old school and merge it aesthetically with the new addition. When completed the school will be 61,120 square feet. The building has been designed with the latest

technologies such as ground-source heating and cooling (geothermal).

Construction in an urban area presents its challenges. Before construction could begin, the contractor had to relocate all of the electric service on Saunier Avenue due to the school’s proximity to the existing electric lines. This included relocating lines serving the Opera House, Milward’s funeral home and other nearby businesses. All of the electric lines have been located underground.

When you visit the site in person, or see the progress on the school’s website at www.stspeterandpaulschool.org, note a

large open area at the rear of the addition will be the new gymnasium. Steel is being erected to support the next two floors. Next, the structural steel for the addition and floor slabs will go up, and at that point the full magnitude of the building will be much more evident. Projected completion date for the school is April, 2010. The final product will be a space that will serve many generations to come.

Renovation Continues at Sts. Peter & Paul School

Photos from the 2009 – 2010 Broadway Live Announcement Event

Construction on Saunier Avenue