Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center annual fundraiser planned January 28

Celebrating sixty years of entertaining audiences, the Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit theater located in Owego, N.Y., is holding their annual fundraiser, this year entitled, “Lollapalooza”, on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The fundraiser includes a buffet dinner, a regional wine and beer tasting, silent and live auctions and entertainment, including a comedy duo, and live music by the band, Triple Down, a local favorite performing jazz, R&B and funk.  

Sonny DeWitt, executive director of the center, welcomes guests to, “Join us for a night of fun, food and music, and celebrate the sixtieth anniversary!”

DeWitt, a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an experienced theater and music director with a strong background in education. Before relocating to the Triple Cities area, DeWitt held a role as Fine Arts Director and Music Department Chair at a school district in Minnesota, and also worked with several community theater companies there. Since relocating, DeWitt has worked as a music director and instrumentalist with theater companies in the Binghamton area as well as conducts the Maine Community band.

One goal of DeWitt’s in his new role in Owego is to strengthen the bond between the community and the arts.

DeWitt explained that the Owego theater draws local talent and participants from all over Tioga and Broome counties and northeast Pennsylvania, and consists of a large crew for each production such as costume design to lighting, directing to acting, and food preparation and waiting tables, just to name a few.

DeWitt commented, “We produce four main shows each year, with hundreds of people volunteering their time.”

Later this year, a children’s workshop will invite elementary aged children and young adults up to about age 18 to participate in theater activities, and is being planned during the months of July and August.

Performers first came together as the Ti-Ahwaga Community Players in 1957. Twenty years ago, the group purchased and moved into what was once O’Hara’s Foods building, and began the arduous task of revamping an old food processing facility into a state-of-the-art theater in 1997.

Equipped with a multi-media system and 14-foot screen, the stage encompasses 1,325 square feet. In March 2001 the first production in the new theater was the Cole Porter classic musical, “Anything Goes.” The center also hosts group functions such as meetings, award ceremonies, video and web presentations, concerts and other performing arts events.  

The theater, located at 42 Delphine St., seats 156 people during a regular show, at tables in a cabaret-style setting, and where guests are guaranteed that there “isn’t a bad seat in the house.”

Tickets for Lollapalooza are available online at tiahwaga.com or by calling (607) 687-2130. Space is limited and general admission tickets are $50 each. Wine and beer tasting will begin approximately 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and a live auction at 8 p.m.  

Inquiries can also be emailed to info@tiahwaga.com. A schedule of future shows is available on their website, tiahwaga.com or find Ti-Ahwaga Community Players on Facebook.