“The kid’s a hit! If you weren’t a Hank WIlliams fan when you walked in...you were when you walked out.”
- Tom Uhlenbrock, St. Louis Dispatch
THEATRE STAFF
Founder & Executive Director .. Jason Goedken
Founder & Artistic Consultant .. Whitney Morse
Artistic Director ........................... Angel Creeks
Director of Operations .................... Jon Cronin
Director of Business .................... Sean Graham
Director of People, Projects & Culture ....................... Leslie Becker
Development Director Yasmeen Stogden
Marketing Director Monica Berdecio, MA
Booking & Contracts Manager Sierra Weiss
Senior Manager of Technical Operations......................Clay Becker
Technical Production Manager .. Andrea Huneycutt
Assistant Production Manager .......... Madi Carr
Deck & Facilities Coordinator .. Tony Fairchild
Lighting Supervisor ................... Ally Southgate
Associate Lighting Supervisor ..... Dio Raquel Jr.
Audiovisual Technician ................. Roel Cavazos
Manager of Patron Services ............ Alec Speers
Assistant Manager of Patron Services .............................. Tina Carroll
Assistant Manager of Patron Services Lonnie Goertz
Assistant Manager of Patron Services .............. Savannah Rose Parker
Development & Customer Support Coordinator .................. Lyndsey Shore
Marketing & Social Media Coordinator ...........................Natalie Bollinger
Marketing Account Manager ........ Erika Nelson
Graphic Designer ......................... Krissi Kugler
Lead Housekeeper ....................... Victoria Doss
Ad Sales ... marketing@significantproductions.org
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS BOARD
WHITNEY MORSE on
The Sharon®
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Dear Patron of the Arts,
Welcome to The Sharon Performing Arts Center!
This year marks a very special milestone—10 years since The Sharon first opened its doors. What began in 2015 as a bold dream has grown into a vibrant home for live performance, rooted in the adventurous and artistic spirit of my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse.
Over the past decade, we’ve been honored to earn your trust, show by show, standing ovation by standing ovation. Whether you’re here tonight to experience a beloved Broadway tour, a favorite artist, or something entirely new, know that every performance has been thoughtfully curated by our passionate team of artists and arts administrators.
As we celebrate our first ten years, we’re also stepping into an exciting new chapter: The Sharon is now proudly powered by Significant Productions, a registered nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful, memorable arts experiences in our community. With this new foundation, we’re not only preserving what makes The Sharon special, we’re building toward a future filled with bold ideas, diverse stories, and even more opportunities to surprise and delight you.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We’re so glad you’re here. Enjoy the show, and here’s to the next ten years of discovery, connection, and applause.
See You at The Sharon,
Whitney Morse
Founder & Artistic Consultant
Significant Productions
ART. ARTISTS. AUDIENCE.
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS (SIGPRO) is a Non-Profit arts organization that operates The Sharon Performing Arts Center & The SigPro Studio. OUR MISSION; SigPro cultivates a diverse collaborative community with a focus on artists' well-being that strives to provoke thought and spark conversation through high quality performing arts.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
We believe that fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace is essential for the creation of exceptional art. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to our employees. This ensures every individual who contributes to our productions feels valued and empowered. We actively promote a workplace culture that embraces differences and encourages collaboration among our diverse team of artists, technicians, administrators, and volunteers.
Thank You FOR SUPPORTING SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS
STANDING OVATION
$2,022 A YEAR
Hery Nias Foundation
Robert & Joan Jalbert
Jim & Dee Judd
Elliot Sussman
Andy Pawlowski
John Swartz
ENCORE ENTHUSIASTS
$60 A MONTH
John Cable
Celeste Hankins
April Linscott
Marianne Niesen
Kevin & Teresa O’Grady
Patricia Schlemmer
Jim Ward
John Hilt
ARTS AMBASSADORS
$30 A MONTH
David Burns
Marie Connolly
Mary Homko
Russ & Jo Jones
Bob & Diane Kendi
Honey & David Kirk
Edward & Gayle Labuda
Convertible Club
Holly Nicholson
Dina Nizza
Bonnie Park
Debbie Rabe
Karen & Clarence Russell Jr
Donna Silver
Donna Taylor
Jan & Dave Thomas
Bob & Iris Trinh
Barbara & John Van Dyke
Melissa Warner
DEDICATIONS
Ursula Becker
Derek Mumford
Peg Fiore
Alice Stogden
Jackson L. Straub III, M.D.
Lorraine Torgerson
Thank you to our Vibe Setters and anonymous donors.
HANK WILLIAMS TURNS 100!
Jason Petty celebrates Hank Williams 100th birthday with his critically acclaimed tribute, Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes. Williams penned over 400 country songs depicting the trials and tribulations of the common man and woman. Among his timeless classics are Hey Good Lookin’, Your Cheatin’ Heart, I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Jambalaya and I Saw The Light. Williams is credited with creating the style that would influence other artists such as Patsy Cline, George Jones, Merle Haggard and Elvis Presley. He is considered the single most influential person in country music history and is enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jason Petty gained national notoriety when he portrayed Hank Williams in the biographical/musical about Williams’ life titled Hank Williams: Lost Highway. Petty first portrayed the country legend on the world-famous Ryman Auditorium stage in Nashville, TN, for a 2-year run of the Williams’ production. After 2 national tours, he landed in New York City where he won the Obie Award for Best Actor in the Off-Broadway production of Hank Williams: Lost Highway.
Since 2001, Jason has traveled the continent with his own production called Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes. Over the years, Jason had the chance to meet and become friends with those who knew and played with Williams. They shared their stories of what Hank and his music meant to them and to the history of country music. Jason has translated those stories into a beautiful mosaic of live music and storytelling, taking the audience down history’s memory lane while expertly weaving Williams’ story of triumph and tragedy. For Williams’ 100th birthday celebration, Jason has put together a package that any size venue can accommodate. From his full band show to a trio to a one-man show, Jason brings Williams’ legend and music to life with authentic set pieces and period costumes. However, it is Jason’s easy and insightful storytelling that keeps bringing audiences back time after time. There is no better time to introduce…or re-introduce your audience to Hank Williams ..and to Jason Petty.
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, HANK WILLIAMS!!!
JASON PETTY has always been a country soul. Born and raised in the small middle Tennessee town of Manchester, he began spending a lot of time on his grandparents’ farm in Hickman County, TN, after his Mother’s sudden passing when he was only 7. On this farm, he began tending fields and helping raise and take care of the livestock. This is where he learned what was important in life...family. He attended church with his grandparents where the entire membership numbered 18. These people were earthly, grounded, faithful people who loved music as part of their lives. Gospel and country music became a part of the fabric of their lives and it became deeply important to Jason as well. His Grandmother, Fannie Mayberry, would swing on the front porch and shell peas while singing Blessed Assurance. His Grandfather, Dan, let him ride on the tractor with him while plowing and would sing Hank Williams’ songs to him.
The very first song Jason remembers hearing is when his Dad, James Petty, sang Hey Good Lookin to him on a car ride back home from visiting his grandparents house. Jason was hooked. After high school graduation from Coffee County Central High in Manchester, Jason attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He began his career in business, working for a pharmaceutical company for 3 years...until the music bug bit him. He had been singing in church choir when one of his fellow choir members told him he should audition for Opryland in Nashville. Jason did and the rest, they say, is history.
While at Opryland, Jason was asked to perform on the Grand Ole Opry and was first introduced onto that hallowed stage by the King Of Country Music, Roy Acuff. In the fall of 1995, Jason was asked to do a reading of a play about Hank Williams for the Ryman Auditorium. Jason had been portraying Williams at Opryland in a show called Country Music USA. After the reading, the executives hired Jason on the spot and Lost Highway ran for 2 years at the Ryman Auditorium, which is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. During this two year run, Jason met and became friends with many of Williams old musicians and friends. It was while at the Ryman that Jason would meet and fall in love with his wife, Hope.
After a national tour and a few regional theatre productions of Lost Highway, Jason connected with Randy Myler, original co-writer of Lost Highway and they became friends. Myler was ready for Lost Highway to go to New York City and in 2002, it began a 6 week run Off Broadway. The reviews were off the charts and the run was extended for another 7 months. Jason won the coveted Obie Award for his portrayal of Hank. The Obie is the Off Broadway equivalent of the Tony Award.
After completing 7 straight years of touring with Lost Highway, Jason decided to write a show based upon all the people he met and befriended who knew Hank. Some of those included Grand Ole Opry stars, musicians and friends and family of Williams. That first show was Hank and My Honky Tonk Heroes. Jason has gathered many stories and was asked to write a book...but decided to write shows honoring those grand legends of country music and their songs. It has become his life’s calling to do so and will continue until they drag him off the stage. Jason currently has seven shows touring about the history of country music and he believes that the stories behind the artists and songs are just as important as the songs themselves. He believes it gives the audience a greater appreciation and admiration for the artists and their impact on people’s lives. He harkens back to his grandparents farm in his memory while on stage and tries to bring that sense of family to all his shows.
Jason and Hope now reside back in Jason’s hometown of Manchester, TN, where they are raising 2 children...a daughter, Loralei, and a son, James. They often travel to Daddy’s shows and are sometimes even coaxed onto the stage so Jason can show them off. Jason’s grandparents and Dad have gone on to be with the Father of Creation, but are still very much a part of his daily life and his onstage performances.
BE A VIP IN OUR PRIVATE LOUNGE AT THE SHARON
• Exclusive experience for up to 15 guests.
• Private lounge for the evening, including home-like furnishings, restroom, and direct access to the auditorium box for comfortable viewing of your show.
• Upgrades available such as a private bartender or personalized celebratory furnishings.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CREATING AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER!
To explore accommodations and availability, please contact VIP@SignificantProductions.org
BEHIND THEcurtain tour
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of your favorite shows at The Sharon? Want to share footprints with some of the world’s biggest stars?
Book a private Behind the Curtain Tour!
Want to arrange a private tour for your group, club, company, school trip, or cul-de-sac?
Email: Info@SignificantProductions.org
Visit SignificantProductions.org/Tour for more information.
All sales require a minimum guest count of 15.
STEP INSIDE SIGPRO the free, monthly backstage pass to everything Significant Productions! From hilarious team antics to exclusive sneak peeks, event presales, juicy behind-the-scenes stories, and heartfelt community moments… this isn’t your mother’s newsletter.
SUBSCRIBE NOW & JOIN THE VIP LIST KEEPING THE ARTS ALIVE
Great theatre requires talent, passion, and the support of our community. The Villages values the power of art and recognizes Significant Productions’ role in enriching our lifestyle. Join them, as we have, in ensuring that live theater continues to thrive.
POWERING art IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH
Free Memory Screens
Hand-Selected Jewelry from the World’s Finest Brands
Hand-Selected Jewelry from the World’s Finest Brands
Expert Repairs by In-House Master Jewelers
Expert by In-House Master
Certified Appraisals On-Site by GIA Gemologists
Appraisals On-Site GIA Gemologists in The Community for 25 Years
Proudly Family-Owned in The Villages® Community for 25 Years
Increase your visibility by marketing your message to The Sharon Performing Arts Center’s local, engaged audience, as well as advertise in The SigPro Studio’s Programs and our monthly Digital Newsletter, The Scoop! For information on prices, ad sizes, and availability, please email us at marketing@significantproductions.org.
