Assistant Editor

When dancers hit the floor of the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center on Saturday, March 13, they will be moving to grooves of the Band of Oz, but they will also be shagging for a great cause — the children of Sampson County.

The 8th Annual “A Night at the Beach” is a special fundraising gala for the Class Acts-Sampson CenterStage for Students program, which Exposition Center executive director Ray Jordan said, has gained statewide recognition for its quality programming, introducing many students to the performing arts for their first time.

Founded nine years ago, the program is an arts education initiative administered and supported by the Sampson CenterStage Performing Arts Series, Sampson County and scores of individuals, businesses, industries and civic organizations. Class Acts, which has presented 36 different shows over the nine years, provides, Jordan noted, an unparalleled opportunity for school systems’ students to attend live, professional performing arts productions at no cost to them.

Since the creation of the Class Acts program, over 55,382 students have had the opportunity to attend live performing arts productions free of charge.

“That is what it is all about, to give back to the kids and make sure they have an experience that they would otherwise not have,” Jordan said. “It is really a great program and the most special thing about it is that it is free. A lot of communities have these types of events where the child would have to pay (for a field trip), but that is not that case, because this community sees the value of it and want to have the kids exposed to live art ...”

Despite issues with the economy, Jordan said a solid lineup of shows are on tap for students this year.

“The annual campaign is about $4,800 short of meeting its goal of actually paying for the season without having to dip into the endowment,” said Jordan. “What we are hoping to do is continue to build the endowment, so that, in theory, the endowment would pay for the shows and we wouldn’t have to knock on doors (during the annual campaign).”

But that hope is still a ways off. Right now, fundraising is necessary and important to ensure the shows continue.

Jordan said this year’s batch of shows are exciting.

“We have ‘The Wrights of Passage’ about the Wright Brothers; it’s just a wonderful show,” Jordan said. “They actually build a plane on stage by the time the show ends — that show is for fourth and eighth grade students; we have the Doktor Kaboom science show for third and fifth graders; The Velveteen Rabbit for first and second grade students; and Mike Wiley will perform Brown vs. Board of Education for sixth and seventh grade students.”

In addition, every show performed comes accompanied by a in-depth study guide for the teachers, as well as a program, a list of sponsors and tips on how to conduct yourself in a theater.

And it is all free for the students thanks to funds raised from the special “A Night at the Beach” event.

“The Band of Oz has been here every year with us,” said Jordan. “The people just love them because they have a wide variety of music — from beach to dance music.”

Like every year, a meal will be provided with every ticket, and there will be silent and live auctions throughout the evening.

“At this point, we have some really nice live auction items,” said Jordan. “We have concert tickets, Carolina Mudcats tickets that include seating for 12 in a suite with food and parking passes, suite tickets for the ‘Stars on Ice’ at the RBC Center, a pig pickin’ for 25 people; catering for 25 people from a local caterer. I have a bunch of other tickets as well. So, it is going to very exciting.”

Like last year, seats are going fast.

“We are about halfway sold out,” Jordan said. “We still have seats available, and we will sell seats through March 4.”

Tickets are sold only through the box office at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center or by phone (910-592-7200), not online or not at the door.

“We are going to sell individual tickets, but it will be for the entire package,” said Jordan. “We don’t sell for the dance only. That ticket price includes the concert, the activities, the dinner and the auctions.”

Jordan said he is excited about this year’s event.

“It really is a great night out, a nice evening or dinner and dancing and it is going to a great cause,” he said.

For more information on any of the programs or upcoming presentations, click on to www.sampsoncenterstage.com and click on ‘Class Acts’.