BART’S BLOG – DECEMBER 2022

Trimming the Tree

In expectation of the PAC staff and volunteers dropping by next week, Allison and I spent the weekend trimming the trees at home. We don’t do anything extraordinary. It’s not like we have a dozen individually themed trees. No, two is really all we can manage.

Our main Christmas tree is a 12-foot pencil pine that goes up in our kitchen – I know that sounds odd, but trust me, it makes sense in our little hobbit home.

After attaching variously sized traditional ball ornaments in colors complementing our décor, we cluster a few clumps of themed ornaments. For example, there’s a corral of unicorns and a school of mermaids that are Allison’s, alongside a fleet of Star Trek ships under my command.

Then there are those I’ve been gifted or bought that are reminiscent of shows I’ve done over the years – a pair of papier-mâché black shoes, a silver bell with wings attached, a wooden Pinocchio, and such.

Finally, we hang the sentimental ones: the plaster snowman I made in the second grade, the bright brass key our realtor gave us when my first wife and I bought the house, the big blue glass one celebrating the first Christmas Allison and I spent together; an actual bird’s nest my family has gingerly placed in their tree for as long as I can remember, and now sitting in that nest, in our tree is a red fabric cardinal that Allison cherished as a child.

As this ridiculously tall skinny tree turns ever so slowly in its revolving base and the memorabilia of our lives before we were married mingles with those since we met, I am reminded of the wonderful life I’ve had, am having, and have yet to come.

This season, enjoy your memories of Christmas past and make some memories of Christmas present by joining us at the PAC for The Nutcracker December 16-18 or any of the other holiday events happening on our stage between now and then.

Audience Survey Winners

Congratulations to CHERYL BATTEN, DONNA DUNN, SUSAN MASTERS & GARY STEFFEN– each a lucky winner of a $20 PAC gift certificate for completing an Audience Survey last month.

PAC Spotlight – December 2022

This month, The PAC Spotlight shines on Elizabethtown High School’s Ava Emerine, who will be dancing the role of Clara in this month’s production of The Nutcracker at the PAC.

What do you want to do when you grow up?
I want a job that helps kids every day. So I want to be a teacher, social worker, or therapist.

What have you seen at the PAC?
Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

What have you participated in at the PAC?
I have performed with the Dance Centre in recitals since I was five and in The Nutcracker since I was seven.

What have been your most rewarding PAC experiences?
My most rewarding PAC experiences have definitely been participating in The Nutcracker every Christmas season.

What did you learn from your PAC experiences?
I learned the importance of working hard through rehearsals to have a successful show, as well as the amount of work that goes into productions behind the scenes.

How have you benefited from the PAC?
I have benefited from all the relationships I have formed with the dancers. They are like family.

Why is the PAC important to you?
Because it is a place where we get to perform the dances that we have worked very hard on, I have had so many wonderful experiences there. I also appreciate that it is a home for the arts in our community.

Why should the PAC be important to others?
The PAC gives children and adults of all ages a chance to learn, perform, and enjoy the arts.

Do you have any other comments you’d like to share?
My dance teacher Mrs. Sherry has spent a lot of time working on productions within the community, and I look up to her and all she has done.

Ava (Second from left) with guest artists from last year’s Nutcracker. She will be Clara in this year’s production.

Now Showing – December 2022

Dec 1

December 1
HCS Event: West Hardin Middle School Band Concert
7 PM.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: FREE.
Tickets on sale: Nov 14.
Under the direction of Laura Hedges.

Dec 2

December 2
Third Party Event: Lawson School of Music presents THE GREAT BIG HOLIDAY BAKE-OFF MUSICAL
6:30 PM.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: Adults, $10 (fees included), Students/Children, $7 (fees included). Tickets are on sale now.
Under the direction of Heather Lawson.

Dec 3

December 3
Third Party Event: Heart of Kentucky’s Men’s Chorus Concert
7 PM.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: $10.
Tickets will go on sale: November 1.
Under the direction of Jim Lever.

Dec 4

December 4
Third Party Event: Buffalo Productions presents In Concert Glen Rice Family & Friends “Remembering Christmas Through the Years”
2:30 PM.
Outside doors open at 1:30 PM, theatre opens at 2:00 PM.
Tickets in advance are $20 and are available by calling the PAC at 270-769-8837 X 5 or 270–528-4014.
Under the direction of Glen Rice.

Dec 5

December 5
HCS Event: John Hardin High School Holiday Band & Choir Concert
7 PM.
All seats reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: $ Free.
Tickets will go on sale: November 21.
Under the direction of Brian Ellis and Phyllis Westfall

Dec 6

December 6
HCS Event: Central Hardin High School Winter Band Concert
7 PM.
All seats reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: FREE.
Tickets will go on sale: Nov 28
Under the direction of Trevor Ervin.

Dec 8

December 8
Third Party Event: Heartland Winds Concert
7 PM.
Tickets: FREE.
Tickets go on sale: Nov 8.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Under the direction of Mike Pawul.

Dec 11

December 11
Third Party Event: Center Stage Dance Studio Christmas Gala
3 PM.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: $15.
Tickets will go on sale: Nov 1.
Under the direction of Yvonne Groves.

Dec 16, 17,18

December 16 – December 18
PAC Season Event: THE NUTCRACKER
The Plum of the Holiday Season! Journey to a Land of Enchantment filled with swirling snowflakes, waltzing flowers, and sweet sugarplums, featuring dancers of all ages from our community.
Run Time: School Day Performance: 2 hours. Public Performance 2.5 hours, including intermission.
Rated G. Best for: Grades K and above.
School Day Performance for classes: Friday Dec 16, 9:30 AM.
Public Performances: Friday Dec 16, 7 PM. Saturday Dec 17, 1 & 7 PM. Sunday Dec 18, 3 PM.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: $11 – $33.50 (fees included).
Tickets on sale now.
Presented in partnership with The Dance Center of Elizabethtown, The Cecilian Bank, Edward Jones. Participating Vendors: The Dance Center’s Nutcracker Boutique, The Sweet Shoppe, Sugar Fashion Cakes & Sonora Florists.

Coming Soon – January 2023

Jan 14
January 14, 2023  
Third Party Event: Youth Theatre of Hardin County Winter Workshop
(First of three). In preparation for the summer musical production of OKLAHOMA.
11 AM- 2 PM.
Pre-registration with Youth Theatre is recommended.
Contact Greg Thompson at ythc.greg@gmail.com
Jan 27 -29

PAC Season Event:  ProAm Classical THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH. And now for something WILDER! In Thornton Wilder’s tragicomic allegory for the endurance of the human spirit, the Antrobus family survives hysterical and historical disasters of Biblical proportions!
Run Time: 2.5 hours including 2 intermissions.
ated PG. Best for: Grades 8 and above.
School Time Performance
for school groups: Friday, January 27 9:30AM. All seats reserved at https://thepac.net/school-time-the-skin-of-our-teeth/.
Public Performances: Friday, January 27, 7PM, Saturday, January 28 2PM & 7PM, and Sunday, January 29 Matinee, 3PM.
All tickets reserved through the PAC at www.thepac.net or 270-769-8837 X 4 or 5.
Tickets: Tickets: $11, $16, $22.25 (fees included).
Tickets are on sale now.
Producing Partners:   
Cubero Group, Kinetic by Windstream, Chris and Peggy Ryan for Ray and Ethel, Kenneth & Nannette Johnston, The Liske Family, Bart Lovins, Jerry Cormier, Jimmie Dee & Nelson Kelley, Alan L. Thomas Piano Tuning & Repair, German American Bank, & Kimberly Strange.

In Review – November 2022

On November 3 – 6,  101 students with North Hardin High School Choirs under the direction of Cassie Lucas presented 4 school day performances and 2 public performances of FROZEN, JR before student audiences of  1,954 and public audiences totaling 970.

On November 12, the PAC presented LEST WE FORGET, with award-winning Singer/Songwriter Tamara Stewart who transformed Kentucky Veterans’ memories into an emotional journey of music. The performance was enjoyed by an audience of 167 and live-streamed to 3 families in Kentucky and one in Australia.

On November 20-22, 52 students with Allegro Dance Theatre under the direction of Carol Zagar presented 4 school day performances and 3 public performances of the 31st annual production of the classical ballet CINDERELLA before student audiences totaling 1,559 and public audiences totaling 518. This event was live-streamed to 24 families in 12 states including AZ, CA, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, NY, TN and WI.

Total Served in November: 3,767 HCS Students, 762 Non-HCS students, 75 Adults, and 2,526 Public Audience Members.

Total Served Year to Date: 7,625 HCS Students, 1,606 Non-HCS Students, 3,415 Adults, 6,924 Public Audience Members.