- April 2, 2025
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Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center volunteer Anna Davis points to the newly installed donor wall during the open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze Jazz Ensemble performs at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Kathleen Ertz and granddaughters Alexandra and Lillian Ertz pose with the painting of her mother Pauline (left in the painting) hanging out with friends at the Marine Corps Ball. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center opens its doors to the public after rennovations were completed earlier this month. Part of the changes included remodeling the lobby and modernizing the lights. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center employee Frank Marinacci (left) helps people as they arrive at the open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volunteers Carol Ewy (left) and Anna Davis stand in front of the donor wall at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center interior designer Alyssa Smullin (left) and her son Miles, Tom Satterlee (center) and Mark Bowen (right) hang out amid the Florida Women's Arts Association exhibiton. Photo by Michele Meyers
Artist Joy Bowen stands in front of her oil painting of the 'Angel Oak' located in Charleston, South Carolina. The name of her painting is 'Earth to Heaven'. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center box office was renovated to be more accommodating and user friendly for clients. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center interior designer Alyssa Smullin (right) and her son Miles, Tom Satterlee (left) and Mark Bowen (center) hang out amid the Florida Women's Arts Association exhibition. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center stairs and area leading to the upper theater entrances were part of the facilities renovations. Photo by Michele Meyers
Curators of the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center fine art gallery L.C. Tobey (left) and Tommy Tobey (right) talk to Katie Ertz, Lillian Ertz and Alexandra Ertz (center) about the Florida Women's Arts Association exhibition.
Children's Musical Theater performers rehearse for their upcoming show Peter Pan Jr. during the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center opens their doors to the public for a day of tours, musical performances by Seabreeze High School and rehearsals by the Children's Musical Theatre. Photo by Michele Meyers
Children's Musical Theatre 'pirates' (left to right)--Alexa Pretko, Maddalena Dimayuga, Mark Walker, Sophie Hodges, Miah Haymes and Maya Colella--rehearse for their upcoming show, Peter Pan Jr., during the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Children's Musical Theatre performers Amedea DeGraide (center), Emily Robinson (front left), Soleil DeGraide (front right), Jack Hayes (back left) and Maddalena Dimayuga (back right) rehearse for their upcoming show, Peter Pan Jr., during the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Katie Ertz (left), Lillian Ertz and Alexandra Ertz look for Kathy Ertz' painting in the Florida Women's Arts Association exhibition during the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Centers open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Children's Musical Theater performers rehearse for their upcoming show, Peter Pan Jr., during the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center Supervisor Marc Schwartz takes a moment to laugh during the venues' open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Anna Davis, Marc Schwartz, Carol Ewy and Frank Marinacci work at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze Jazz Ensemble plays at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Chad Booth on alto saxophone, Anakin Reyna on tenor saxophone, and Aidan Clements on baritone saxophone (left to right) perform with the Seabreeze Jazz Ensemble at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
Pam Church, Cathy Fleminger and Gale Jackson stop by the open house to support the artist Joy Bowen. She painted possibly the oldest tree east of the Mississippi--the 'Angel Oak'. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center theater aquired new seats from Ormond's Regal Cinema after it closed in 2020. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze orchestra soloist and Mr. Seabreeze 2023-24 Gavin Martinez performed at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center open house. Photo by Michele Meyers
It was open house at the newly revitalized Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center following a myriad of reopening activities. A ribbon cutting, a donors' champagne extravaganza and the venue’s first concert performed by Victor Wainwright and the Train on Saturday culminated in a day of activities on Sunday, Feb. 18.
PAC Supervisor Marc Schwartz was on hand to greet people and give tours of the renovated venue. In 2010, he began to manage the facility.
“I realized, at that time, that I was going to have to reimagine what this facility could be so that it draws the attention of the people who have an interest in the arts,” he said. “I wanted them to understand that we have this facility here — it’s not just a nondescript office building on U.S.1.”
Volunteers gave tours of the ticketing office, brightly lit lobby and newly installed theater seating. Art enthusiasts also got a chance to roam the fine art gallery where the Florida Women’s Arts Association exhibition is installed.
Alyssa Smullin was the interior designer for the Performing Arts Center. She stopped by the open house with her son Miles.
“I worked with the architect for this renovation," she said. "It’s like my baby.”
LC and Tommy Tobey are the curators of the gallery for the next year. They accepted 18 out of the 33 submissions for the first show, which runs until April 27. The next exhibition, titled "Kodachrome Today" will feature color photography.
Seabreeze High School music students from the jazz ensemble, the string quartet and soloists from the orchestra performed throughout the day. They alternated with Children’s Musical Theatre actors who rehearsed excerpts from their upcoming show — Peter Pan Jr.
Carol Ewy has volunteered at the PAC for 16 years. She said she is pleased with the changes.
“I love it — I’d say it’s elegant,” she said. “We were very fortunate because we got brand new seats that were donated. Everybody is loving being more comfortable.”
There are 12 upcoming events. The Edwards Twins, which is a Las Vegas style variety show, is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21 and is already sold out. Schwartz said the renovation attracted the agent for the jazz band Spyro Gyra. PAC will be a stop on their anniversary tour Friday, Aril 26.
“Instead of them going to Dr. Phillips (Center for the Performing Arts) or the King Center or Jacksonville, they’re coming here,” he said. “What attracted their agent was he had read about the renovation and said they would love to play in a beautifully renovated theater, especially in a place where they played once before.”
The band had played at the Ormond Beach Independence Day celebration Jazz Matazz in the 1990s.
Tickets can be purchased at the PAC box office Tuesday through Friday from 12-5 p.m., two hours before the shows, and at https://ormondbeachperformingartscenter.csstix.com.
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