Arbogast Performing Arts Center adds more shows in its second year

Miami Valley residents have more options than ever before to see live entertainment. One of the region’s newest venues is the Arbogast Performing Arts Center, a stand-alone, nonprofit arts venue that opened its doors for the first time in October 2001 in Troy.

“Our overall mission is creating community in the Greater Miami Valley Area,” says Angela Whitehead, the marketing director at Arbogast Performing Arts Center.

The venue hosts professional artists and performers across a wide variety of genres. “We have dance, we have orchestra, we have rock shows,” says Whitehead. “We had The Guess Who here in September.”

The facility is also rented out to organizations in the area who want a space to put on their own events.

Arbogast kicked off its major fundraising campaign just before COVID-19 took the world by storm. “I will admit all of us were a bit concerned whether we were gonna be able to pull it off,” says Jeanne Ward, the executive director at APAC. Ward says that the support they have received from people is a testament to how much the community wants something like Arbogast in the Miami Valley. The performing arts center had about 35,000 people come through its doors in its first season. “We never thought we would have that kind of response,” says Ward.

The sky’s the limit for APAC. “Last year I think we had nine performances—and this year we’ve expanded to 15,” says Whitehead. “We’re looking to expand again next year if possible.”

APAC is going to host a children’s show Jan. 15, called Llama Llama – Live! that is based on the set of children’s books by Anna Dewdney that starts with Llama Llama Red Pajama. “We received a grant to buy the Llama Llama Red Pajama books so we will be passing that out to young children,” adds Ward.

The illusionist, Mike Super, is coming to the center Feb. 11. “He was here last year and we had rave reviews for him so we invited him back,” says Whitehead.

At the end of February, Arbogast will welcome back another crowd pleaser, The Oak Ridge Boys. On March 4, the venue will host an event called MJ Live! that is a tribute show to Michael Jackson. ”In March also we have the Miami Valley Symphony,” says Whitehead. “They’re going to come perform a show—an evening of Hollywood. They’re going to be performing musical selections from scores of famous movies.”

“The fun thing about that one is that they’ll be using one of the players from one of our schools in the area and also two local performers that are well known in the community, so it’ll be fun to see local talent as well as the Miami Valley Symphony,” says Ward. “The Miami Valley Symphony is an 80-piece orchestra of volunteers but they are top quality all the way around so we’re excited to be able to partner with them on this evening.”

“We love what we’re doing up here,” says Whitehead. “We are trying to bring as many people in to enjoy the performing arts as we possibly can.”

The Arbogast Performing Arts Center is located at 500 S. Dorset Road in Troy. More information can be found on its website at arbogastpac.com.