10th anniversary season kickoff at MCPA

Ten years ago, Marathon Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors to this community with a simple but ambitious idea: that the performing arts could be a home for everyone. Since that first curtain went up, we've welcomed Broadway blockbusters, legendary musicians, family shows, community concerts, civic events, and programs that entertain and challenge us. Most importantly, we've welcomed you, our neighbors, our friends, our families, who have filled these seats with laughter, applause, and heart. This season marks our tenth anniversary, and that milestone belongs to all of us. A decade ago, community leaders and visionaries dreamed big. They raised money, renovated a school building, and invested in something they hoped would become a gathering place. None of it would have mattered without you showing up, buying tickets, volunteering, donating, and spreading the word. You built this center just as much as the bricks and mortar did. Looking back is gratifying, but anniversaries are also about looking forward. We are not the same organization we were in 2015. Audiences, the industry, and even Findlay have all changed. What remains the same is MCPA's commitment to being a place where the arts enrich daily life and connect us to one another. In the next decade we will keep presenting shows that engage, inspire, and surprise. We will keep opening our doors to schools and community groups. We will keep working to make sure that every child, no matter their background, can experience the magic of live performance. You don't often get to see everything that goes into running a performing arts center. Behind the curtain, there is a constant rhythm of planning, budgeting, negotiating, maintaining, and learning. It takes a full team of staff, board members, volunteers, and partners to keep the lights on and the artists on our stage. I invite you behind the scenes with me over the coming months. Through these columns, I'll share more of our story; not just what shows are coming, but how and why we choose them. I'll take you inside ticket sales, sponsorships, and donor support, and how they all come together to make this place possible. My hope is that you'll feel part of the work, not just as an audience member but as someone who understands MCPA, the role we play in our local economy and why a performing arts center in downtown Findlay matters so deeply to the future of our community. Pulling back the curtain can feel a little vulnerable, but it is important. Transparency builds trust. And MCPA only exists because of trust: trust that when you buy a ticket you will have a great night out, trust that when you donate your money will be used wisely, and trust that this building will continue to be a place you are proud of. As we celebrate ten years together, I hope you will join us for the performances that speak to you. Try something new. Bring a friend who has never been here before. Support the arts in whatever way you can. Most of all, know that this center is yours. Here's to the next ten years. Curtain up! Heather J. Clow is the Executive Director of Marathon Center for Performing Arts. She can be reached at hclow@mcpa.org.