King Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Boston Pops

By  //  March 17, 2013

The Performing Arts

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BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — Thousands of friends of the Maxwell C. King Center For the Performing Arts gathered at the iconic Brevard County landmark earlier this month to celebrate its 25th anniversary. 

Max King talks about founding the Maxwell C. King Center during the facility’s 25th anniversary celebration. (SpaceCoastDaily.com image)

The King Center opened its doors in 1988 and has hosted and produced hundreds of world-class performances for area residents and visitors to enjoy – while having a profound impact on the cultural and artistic landscape of Brevard County and Central Florida.

Platinum Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway joined Lockhart and the Boston Pops to celebrate America’s grande dame of entertainment – Barbra Streisand.

The special evening featured Streisand’s classic and unforgettable songs from her Broadway debut through her Hollywood hits. Callaway provided an insider’s glimpse into the life of Streisand, who has recorded six of Callaway’s songs on her recent albums.

Darcia Francey
Myra Haley

To kick off the evening, Maestro Lockhart lead the orchestra in a “Bright Lights, Big City” tribute to the Big Apple with works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Duke Ellington.

“Darcia Francey and Myra Haley did a wonderful job in taking a lead role in organizing the 25th Anniversary celebrations,” said Max King.

ELEGANT PRE-PARTY, RED CARPET

The evening began with an elegant cocktail party at the beautiful home of Phil and Jeanne Farmer and was attended by a Who’s-Who on the Space Coast. The guests were treated to a Red Carpet entrance and were all interviewed on-camera by Maverick Multimedia Philanthropy & Style Editor, Faith Luebker. Maverick Multimedia is the parent company of SpaceCoastDaily.com and Space Coast Medicine & Active Living magazine.

Tom and Polly Molnar are interviewed on the Red Carpet by Maverick Multimedia Philanthropy & Style Editor Faith Luebker.

“The Boston Pops are one of my all time favorites – I can’t wait for tonight’s concert,” said Tom Molnar, Board Member of the King Center, at the pre-concert party at the home of sponsors Phil and Jeanne Farmer.

While on the Red Carpet, Canaveral Port Authority CEO Stan Payne said it was exciting to have a wonderful asset like the King Center in Brevard County.

“Some of my best memories of coming to shows here are attending the Seinfeld show, the Moody Blues and Spamalot with Richard Chamberlain,” said Payne. “This is a wonderful place.”

Brevard Community College, a state agency, owns the King Center, and the facility is managed by a separate non-profit subsidiary of Brevard Community College. In 1990, the King Center for the Performing Arts was designated a state cultural institution and a direct support organization of BCC. Staffing the King Center are 10 full-time employees, 57 part-time employees and 400 volunteers.

CLICK HERE: King Center Has Profound Impact On Brevard Cultural Landscape

BRINGING IN GREAT SHOWS

Under King’s leadership while he was the president of Brevard Community College, the Florida Legislature approved funds for initial design work in 1983 and construction began in 1985 on the $12.3 million facility.

In 1990, the King Center for the Performing Arts was designated a state cultural institution and a direct support organization of BCC. Staffing the King Center are 10 full-time employees, 57 part-time employees and 400 volunteers. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

In 1988, the venue opened as the Brevard Performing Arts Center with two sold out performances of Singin’ in the Rain. The next year, the facility’s name was changed to the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts to honor King’s founding role, as well as his many contributions to the Space Coast community.

“I’m real happy with what we have done for our community,” said King, while on the Red Carpet.

“Getting the support of the community to keep it running so well all these years is great. Our endowment is in place, so we can bring in great shows – and the community really benefits from this. We saw what the Carr Center had done for Orange County so we knew we needed one here.”

ROCK OF AGES SET FOR APRIL 9 & 10

If you missed the Boston Pops celebration, the Brevard community will have another opportunity to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the King Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9-10, as the hit Broadway Musical Rock of Ages comes to the King Center.

If you missed the Boston Pops celebration, the Brevard community will have another opportunity to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the King Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 9-10, as the hit Broadway Musical Rock of Ages comes to the King Center.

There will be an 80’s themed pre-show party in the King Center Rotunda to celebrate the occasion and raise more important funds for the center

“The King Center staff has collected a treasure trove of 400 plus historical items – truly an extraordinary walk down memory lane of the amazing talent that has appeared on the King Center stage,” said Henry Lonski, King Center Board Member in charge of the auction.

“Our Star Memorabilia Auction will run through April 10, which is the King Center’s 25th anniversary date.”

The public will have the opportunity to bid on some of the fabulous memorabilia items from some of the world’s most notable stars. Minimum bids will be set by the King Center auction committee and the cost of the items will vary in price.

CLICK HERE for more information on how to bid to win a piece of history.

KING CENTER ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS & MEDIA PARTNERS

Lead Underwriter – Harris Corporation Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Brevard.

Director Level – Phil & Jeanne Farmer.

Broadway Level – Berman, Hopkins, Wright & LaHam, CPAs; Charpentier Law Firm, P.A.; Community Credit Union; Florida Power & Light; The Glover Group at Merrill Lynch; Myra Igo Haley; Christine Lance (Auction Party Preview Sponsor);
Alan H. Landman, P.A.; and Mercedes-Benz of Melbourne.

Rock Star Level – Brevard Community College; GrayRobinson, PA; and Vance, Lotane & Bookhardt, PA.

Supporter Level – Hal & Zelda Abercrombie; Frank & Lisa Armstrong; Dr. Larry S. Bishop, Mima Dermatology; Harry & Wendy Brandon; Phil & Nance Burroughs; Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC; Florida Institute of Technology, Tony & Sara Catanese; Mike & Mary-Louise Coleman; Wes & Sherry Covell; Joe & Pennie DiPrima; Bill & Carol Ellis; John & Darcia Francey; Michael & Carol Ann Gaich; Nanialei Golden, MD; John T. Hartley; Dewey Harris; Nick & Diane Heldreth; Bjornar & Bjorg Hermansen; Island Lincoln, Jaguar, Range Rover; Steven G. Janicki; Louise Jones; Dr. & Mrs. Maxwell C. King; Glad Kurian/BIMDA; Henry & Donna Lonski; Dr. Fairuz Matuk & Dr. Freda Nime-Matuk; Tom & Polly Molnar; Tom & Sue Moran; Dr. Ruben & Rita Moreno; Stan & Carol Payne; Jack & Pat Pruitt; Bryan & Judy Roub; Mr. & Mrs. William Schick; Scott & Joan Sorensen; Tsamoutales Strategies; Steven & Lily Voepel; Tom & Susie Wasdin; and the Martha Young & Family.

Individual Level – Brevard Community College Foundation; Fran S. Delisle; and Jackie Pantello.

Media Partners – Brevard Business News; Brevard Live Magazine; Charm on the Space Coast; Ebony News Today; Florida Today; National Health Review; Senior Life; Senior Scene; Space Coast Daily.com – Space Coast Medicine & Active Living; Space Coast Living; and Viera Voice.