CENTER'S DIRECTOR TO RESIGN; ARTS OFFICIAL GETS SANTA ROSA JOB.Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer Bruce Spain, the man who brought such talents as Natalie Cole, Harry Belafonte Harold George Belafonte, Jr. (born March 1, 1927) is an American musician, actor and social activist. One of the most successful Jamaican musicians in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style in the 1950s. , and Penn and Teller to the Lancaster Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. , is resigning Aug. 21 to take a job in Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, city, Argentina Santa Rosa, city (1991 pop. 80,629), capital of La Pampa prov., central Argentina. It is a modern city and road junction surrounded by a rich agricultural and cattle-raising area. . Spain, the center's director for six years, will take a job programming and operating three venues in Santa Rosa. He will assume his new post Aug. 24. ``It's bigger venues and a bigger budget,'' Spain said. ``I have a lot of family and friends in the Bay Area.'' A national search will be conducted to find a replacement. Lancaster hopes to have one on board by January, said City Manager Jim Gilley. ``This is a specialized talent,'' Gilley said. ``We're going to have as broad a search as possible. We have high standards.'' Spain was chosen to run the performing arts center out of a field of 75 candidates in May 1992, midway through the theater's first year. In that post, he has been responsible for booking performers and managing general operations of the $10 million, 758-seat theater. The center hosts more than 300 events a year. Spain lists attracting noted talent to the center, starting outreach programs to schools, and fostering the arts in the community as among his achievements during his tenure in Lancaster. For the 1998-99 season, he booked country-music stars Billy Ray Cyrus and Ricky Skaggs Ricky Lee Skaggs (born July 18 1954, in Lawrence County, Kentucky) is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He plays fiddle, guitar, banjo, and, primarily, mandolin. , comedians Don Rickles Donald Jay Rickles (born May 8, 1926 in New York City, New York)[1] is an American comedian and actor. Early life and career Rickles was born in the New York City borough of Queens to Jewish parents Etta and Max Rickles. and Joan Rivers Joan Rivers (born June 8, 1933) is an American comedian, actress, talk show host, businesswoman, and celebrity. She is known for her brash manner and loud, raspy voice with a heavy metropolitan New York accent. , and singer Dionne Warwick. Before coming to Lancaster, Spain managed the 1,065-seat theater at Northeastern State University NSU offers 69 undergraduate degrees, 18 graduate degrees, and 13 preprofessional programs in five colleges (Business & Technology, Liberal Arts, Education, Optometry, and Health & Science Professions). The student-to-faculty ratio is 26 to 1. in Tahlequah, Okla., where he graduated with bachelor's degrees in accounting and theater. Before becoming the university's theater manager, Spain worked as an assistant property master, technical director and in other positions. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) Bruce Spain, director of the Lancaster Performing Arts Center for the past six years, is resigning to take a similar job in Santa Rosa. (2--Color) Spain sits inside the center, where he has booked a variety of big-name talent. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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