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Contribution of local volunteers makes E! Terrell a real entertainment bargain
In today’s economy, it’s not often you hear people talk about a bargain. However, if you live in Terrell, there’s a least one deal out there that’s sure to give you more than your money’s worth.
If you want to find some true entertainment at a great price, you no longer have to venture into Dallas. In fact, you won’t even have to cross the city limits. Thanks to the hard work of scores of volunteers and the backing of patron donors, E! Terrell – a subscription concert series – is now entering its sixth year of bringing talented live performances to the residents of Terrell at a fraction of what residents would expect to pay.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of attending the E! Terrell shows over the past five years, you’ve missed it. Although the likes of the Siberian Children’s Choir, the Chinese Golden Acrobats, the Russian Ballet and countless others have graced the Terrell Performing Arts Center stage in previous years, E! Terrell committee members promise the upcoming season will be no less exciting.
In fact, E! Terrell committee members are so sure that you will want to attend this year’s shows – which start off with Riders in the Sky and conclude with American Jukebox – that they’ve decided to give residents another chance to purchase tickets. Committee members decided to extend this year’s subscription sales with a special E! Terrell-a-thon scheduled to kick off June 10.
All I can tell you is that you need to buy your season tickets before you miss the opportunity to witness some of the best shows money can buy.
If I sound like an infomercial, so be it. But wait, there’s more …
For just $45, you can buy season ticket to seven concerts. And, if you want an even bigger bang for your buck, spend just $90 and you can buy the family package – two adults and four children’s tickets. If you are a senior, your season ticket costs you just $40.
Organizers are proud of the fact that in addition to top-notch entertainment for the community, performers often provide educational outreach programs for TISD students, giving them a cultural and educational experience outside of the classroom.
“When we host a program – particularly an international one – it’s more than just singing or acrobatic skills. With the costumes and backdrops it’s like a total immersion in another culture,” said Dana Skelton, a committee member who is responsible for the educational component of the program.
For Terrell theater tech students, the performances offer an additional educational opportunity by providing them hands-on experience in stage production.
“We had a THS sophomore who ran the sound board for the Glenn Miller Orchestra production. The performers were blown away by his expertise. He didn’t miss a single cue,” Skelton said.
Skelton also is one of the volunteers who screen talent each summer by watching about 25 abbreviated acts to make the selection for performers for the upcoming series.
“We try to have something for everyone and still also choose programs that meet standards we want for our students,” Skelton said.
Skelton said the volunteers are the key to E! Terrell’s success.
“It’s a 100 percent volunteer-drive organization,” he said.
According to Skelton, it takes about 80 volunteers to put on each production. Volunteers perform a number of tasks including stuffing envelopes, feeding the artists and taking tickets.
“Every person contributes, yet they all still buy a tickets,” Skelton said. “They volunteer because they think it is a good thing for the community,” Skelton said.
Skelton said the Terrell series is one of about 200 community concert-style organizations across the country.
“We’ve received a lot of help from other organizations. We’re one of the newest, yet we’ve caught and surpassed most of them in terms of the price and what we have to offer,” Skelton said.
Skelton credits the E! Terrell patron donors – who contribute approximately half of the cost to bring the acts to Terrell – for keeping the prices so reasonable.
“I haven’t seen anyone who offers entertainment level for same price. Usually the price is about twice for same level of programming,” he said.
“We need to keep this going and not take it for granted,” Skelton said.
So, if you haven’t purchased your tickets, pick up the phone and call the Chamber of Commerce.
We’ll save you a seat.
Alison Walker is the managing editor of The Terrell Tribune.
If you want to find some true entertainment at a great price, you no longer have to venture into Dallas. In fact, you won’t even have to cross the city limits. Thanks to the hard work of scores of volunteers and the backing of patron donors, E! Terrell – a subscription concert series – is now entering its sixth year of bringing talented live performances to the residents of Terrell at a fraction of what residents would expect to pay.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of attending the E! Terrell shows over the past five years, you’ve missed it. Although the likes of the Siberian Children’s Choir, the Chinese Golden Acrobats, the Russian Ballet and countless others have graced the Terrell Performing Arts Center stage in previous years, E! Terrell committee members promise the upcoming season will be no less exciting.
In fact, E! Terrell committee members are so sure that you will want to attend this year’s shows – which start off with Riders in the Sky and conclude with American Jukebox – that they’ve decided to give residents another chance to purchase tickets. Committee members decided to extend this year’s subscription sales with a special E! Terrell-a-thon scheduled to kick off June 10.
All I can tell you is that you need to buy your season tickets before you miss the opportunity to witness some of the best shows money can buy.
If I sound like an infomercial, so be it. But wait, there’s more …
For just $45, you can buy season ticket to seven concerts. And, if you want an even bigger bang for your buck, spend just $90 and you can buy the family package – two adults and four children’s tickets. If you are a senior, your season ticket costs you just $40.
Organizers are proud of the fact that in addition to top-notch entertainment for the community, performers often provide educational outreach programs for TISD students, giving them a cultural and educational experience outside of the classroom.
“When we host a program – particularly an international one – it’s more than just singing or acrobatic skills. With the costumes and backdrops it’s like a total immersion in another culture,” said Dana Skelton, a committee member who is responsible for the educational component of the program.
For Terrell theater tech students, the performances offer an additional educational opportunity by providing them hands-on experience in stage production.
“We had a THS sophomore who ran the sound board for the Glenn Miller Orchestra production. The performers were blown away by his expertise. He didn’t miss a single cue,” Skelton said.
Skelton also is one of the volunteers who screen talent each summer by watching about 25 abbreviated acts to make the selection for performers for the upcoming series.
“We try to have something for everyone and still also choose programs that meet standards we want for our students,” Skelton said.
Skelton said the volunteers are the key to E! Terrell’s success.
“It’s a 100 percent volunteer-drive organization,” he said.
According to Skelton, it takes about 80 volunteers to put on each production. Volunteers perform a number of tasks including stuffing envelopes, feeding the artists and taking tickets.
“Every person contributes, yet they all still buy a tickets,” Skelton said. “They volunteer because they think it is a good thing for the community,” Skelton said.
Skelton said the Terrell series is one of about 200 community concert-style organizations across the country.
“We’ve received a lot of help from other organizations. We’re one of the newest, yet we’ve caught and surpassed most of them in terms of the price and what we have to offer,” Skelton said.
Skelton credits the E! Terrell patron donors – who contribute approximately half of the cost to bring the acts to Terrell – for keeping the prices so reasonable.
“I haven’t seen anyone who offers entertainment level for same price. Usually the price is about twice for same level of programming,” he said.
“We need to keep this going and not take it for granted,” Skelton said.
So, if you haven’t purchased your tickets, pick up the phone and call the Chamber of Commerce.
We’ll save you a seat.
Alison Walker is the managing editor of The Terrell Tribune.
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