From accommodating actors backstage to ushering in patrons for the evening show, Lana Rogachevskaya has her hands full as Executive Director of the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University. Lana loves what she does, “We are providing our audiences with diverse, exciting performances. I truly enjoy serving the local community and making the Chicago Southland a better place to live.”
Over the past two years, Lana and her team have worked very hard to increase the attendance for the Center for Performing Arts. This year the venue saw a 29 percent increase in first-time attendance. “That was music to my ears,” she says.
Although the Center for Performing Arts has housed some pretty amazing productions, Lana is very proud of the state-of-the-art sound system the venue has to offer. “I think our acoustics are truly one of the best kept secrets in the region.” The venue was designed nearly 20 years ago to showcase orchestras, concerts and jazz. The production technology and welcoming staff have played a big part in attracting local patrons and visitors to the venue.
Lana and her team have been working very closely with other Governor State University departments. “We try to create an experience for the visitor that is vibrant and full of culture. Whether it’s a tour of Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park with Curator and Director, Geoff Bates prior to a show, a visit to the Visual Arts Gallery with Director Jeff Stevenson or a backstage tour and visit with the actors, we want people to have a rich cultural experience.”
Although Lana has many favorites, one of her top picks this season would be the Mardi Gras Celebration with Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and some special guests. The audience enjoyed a pre-performance New Orleans-style buffet and witnessed the world premier of Survival of the Saints, a tribute to the spirit of the people of New Orleans and their stories of survival during Hurricane Katrina.
The Center for Performing Arts has a lot to be proud of! Lana is looking forward to the upcoming season, “this will be one of sensational sounds and powerful stories!”
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