Submitted by Washington Center for the Performing Arts
The CENTER Stage Awards & Gala will be held on Saturday, March 9 2024. The event is a fundraiser for the Washington Center and an opportunity to celebrate local artists and supporters of the arts. “This year’s gala will be a progressive evening of music, celebration, and philanthropy,” says Jill Barnes, Executive Director.
During the gala, the Excellence in the Arts awards will be given to those whose work, support, and creativity help build a vibrant cultural community. This year’s Achievement in the Arts awards will be awarded to Olympia-based comedian Sam Miller. Sam Miller is a nationally touring comedian from Olympia, Washington. He won the Comedy on Trial Competition in 2017 and was the runner-up in the 2021 Seattle International Comedy Competition. Sam has multiple videos with well over one million views on all platforms including a Facebook Reel that has over 8 million views. Sam’s most recent album, Round Trip, recorded live at the Capitol Theater, was released October 27, 2023, and immediately went to number one on the iTunes Comedy Charts.
This year’s Commitment to the Arts award will be awarded to Olympia Junior Programs. Chances are if you, your child, or grandchild attended elementary school in Thurston County during the last 80 years, they have a memory of seeing a performance sponsored by Olympia Junior Programs. Olympia Junior Programs was established in 1940 and has now provided over 80 years of live theater to elementary students in the Thurston County area. Last year they served 55 different school groups and almost 14,000 students. The organization is run by dedicated community volunteers doing year-round behind-the-scenes work. Olympia Junior Programs performances introduce many children to theater for the first time and are intended for elementary students as part of their school curriculum.
The CENTER Stage Awards & Gala will begin with the awards and gala at the Heritage Room and progress to Washington Center for the Greatest Piano Men, A live Rock & Roll celebration of the greatest piano icons in music – from Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles to Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Billy Joel!
The entire evening will raise funds for the Washington Center. A special fund-a-need will focus on education and outreach to help bring students to the theater. Tickets for the awards and gala are $200 per person and include premium-seating at the performance. Tickets for only The Greatest Piano Men performance itself range from $36-$69. All ticket options are available at the Washington Center website.
Box Office Information
- Box Office hours are Tuesday through Friday 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- For ticketing questions or more information about upcoming events please visit the Washington Center for the Performing Arts website or call the Box Office at 360.753.8586.
- Details on current COVID protocols can be found here.
