Staff Report
Sun City Center is fortunate to have two theater companies, The Performing Arts Company (PAC) and the Pelican Players, to entertain audiences from the greater Tampa Bay area. Both companies have recently appointed women to lead the way.
PAC President, Ellen Kleinschmidt and Pelican Players President, Linda Halperin have dynamic new approaches to theater growth and hopes for South Shore theater lovers. To borrow the title of a song from the popular Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific, “There is nothing like a dame”. And when it comes to excellence in theater production and management, these two dynamic, dedicated “dames” are out to prove that they’ve got what it takes to get the job done.
Both come from strong, yet different theater backgrounds. Linda was a theater major in college where she learned all aspects of theater production. But her career for 25 years has been as an oncology social worker.
Ellen’s career has been in music education, with 25 years spent as an elementary music specialist. She has spent the last 13 years learning everything she could about the world of musical theater, both onstage and off.
A recent meeting between the two presidents focused on how each group could work together to contribute to the success of the performing arts in the South Shore.
A director’s workshop, conducted by PAC Chairman of the Board and former NY actor and director, Lew Resseguie and sponsored by both theater companies, is scheduled for this summer.
The primary goal of the Pelican Players has been to provide college scholarships to high school seniors interested in pursuing a degree in the performing arts.
The Performing Arts Company of Sun City Center is committed to staging full seasons of theatrical productions, conducting educational activities in acting, voice, dance and other theater skills, transforming The Rollins Theater into a first-class venue and, eventually, building a state-of-the art theater.
For PAC, call 789-8271 or visit www.performingartscompany-SCC.org.
For Pelican, visit pelicanplayers.org or call 938-1355.
