CityView Magazine

64 | October 2015 Aer that show, Community Concerts grew and moved to the Crown Complex. Jimmy Grafstrom, General Manager of the Crown stated, "We look forward to a continued rela- tionship that enhances quality of life in Cum- berland County and enables us to provide an enriched experience in the arts at the Crown Complex." Katie Mikos, Marketing Director of the Crown continued, "We are always striv- ing to provide a wide range of quality enter- tainment at the Crown Complex that appeals to the diverse audience that makes up Cum- berland County and the surrounding region. Community Concerts, being the oldest non- profit arts organization in the area, is an ex- tremely important partnership for us." Because of their willingness to adapt and get with the times, our Community Concerts is one of the last in the United States. Because they were able to spin off and become inde- pendent, they avoided the disbandment of Columbia Artists in 1999. Still, Fleishman and his team have a special pride in the quality of the shows they produce. "None of them have evolved like us. We have become a true performing arts organization. We have grown." Community Concerts pro- vides many music-centered scholarships to our area youth and also inducts members into the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame. Fleishman also noted that DPAC and Com- munity Concerts have a cooperative relation- ship which has benefited both by creating in- stant routing for shows. "We work together.… I let them have Patti Labelle. ey let us have the Dancing Pros tour," he said. e Attrac- tions Director also wants the people to know that finding the right acts, most of the time, usually takes more than just a phone call. "Getting Hall & Oates, Jay Leno, it's not like going to the celebrity or entertainer grocery store. It takes months and months to lock down. ey want routed dates. ey're not going to come here then go to California and back to Atlanta. It's a combination of what they want and what they cost. at's who we get," he said. Although the people behind Community Concerts put in many "man hours" finding and agreeing on the acts, going over contracts and so on, they still remember to have fun and just enjoy the music. Denise Strother of ERA Strother, who is also an executive producer of the shows, uses the performances as a moral booster for her employees. "It's a great oppor- tunity to work with Community Concerts. It Jay Leno Peter Cetera Hall & Oates Boyz II Men Hall & Oates December 5, 2015 Peter Cetera January 21, 2016 Boyz II Men March 11, 2016 Jay Leno April 15, 2016 Community Concerts 2015-2016 Season

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