Concert association prepping for second Turnage season

Published 7:29 pm Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Beaufort County Concert Association is a gearing up for another season, this time including some oldies, percussion, opera, a Gatlin and an a cappella group from across the ocean.

BCCA is currently selling memberships: $100 buys five shows with a seat on the ground-floor level of the theater; $80 buys the same for seats in the balcony, according to BCCA President Alma Friedman.

This year marks the second one at the Turnage Theatre in downtown Washington, a move Friedman said has been worth it.

“We really enjoyed it. The performers loved it because it was a theater rather than a high school,” Friedman said. “Moving here it gave people the option to come early, have dinner, help downtown out. I think that’s what a lot of people did, come early, eat dinner and see a show.”

The change in venue also prompted more single ticket sales on the day of the event, as well, she said.

“We sold more than we’ve ever sold at the door because (the show was advertised) on the marquee,” Friedman said, adding that visitors to Washington made up a good portion of those same-day ticket sales.

BCCA’s season starts Oct. 25 with a performance by Not Fade Away, a Buddy Holly/Richie Valens-type tribute show. On Nov. 15, the singing, dancing, percussive group Vocal Trash will perform at the Turnage and for school children from across Beaufort County at Washington High School’s Performing Arts Center, as part of BCCA’s membership-sponsored outreach program.

“Their music is made from metal trashcans, I think the kids will love them. They dance, they sing — they’re all over the stage,” Friedman said. “They just have so much going for them; they have so much enthusiasm.”

On Feb. 12, crowd pleasers Savannah Jack comes back for a second time with BCCA. Fronted by Don Gatlin, a Gatlin Brothers cousin, the band has been singled out numerous times for their live performances.

“They’re really good, he’s really good with the crowd,” Friedman said. “A lot of people, when they were here before, said, ‘Please get them back,’ but you don’t want to get them back too soon.”

March 21 brings Vox Fortura to the Turnage stage. The four-part a cappella group hails from Britain, and a sting on Britain’s Got Talent where they made it to the show’s semi-finals.

Finally, popular opera tenor Ronan Tynan will round the BCCA season out with a performance on April 2.

“This is biggest name that Live on Stage has ever had,” Friedman said. “We’re really excited about him. We’ve had opera singers before, but never someone this well known.”

Friedman said single tickets for performances will not go on sale until membership sales end, toward the end of September. For more information, or to purchase a BCCA membership, visit gobcca.org, visit the association’s Facebook page or call Friedman at 252-947-2076.