Thomasville Entertainment Foundation opens its 82nd performance season Thursday evening with a sold-out cabaret-style performance by two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway headliner Sutton Foster, and regular concertgoers will notice several enhancements aimed at improving the audience experience. 

Most obvious will be changes to the historic 500-seat auditorium where TEF presents most of its concerts. Over the summer, Thomasville Center for the Arts completed a significant phase of needed renovations and updates to its intimate auditorium, including a new sound system, stage curtains, projection system and carpeting; refinishing of the stage floor, repairing water damage from previous roof leaks and repainting of the entire auditorium and acoustic shell.

“We are very excited about the improvements to the Center’s auditorium and the technology upgrades that will enhance the concerts,” said TEF President Charlotte Brown. 

For a number of years, season ticket holders have had the option to purchase a pre-concert buffet dinner. Brown said TEF’s Hospitality Committee is working to revamp the buffet menus, and a cash bar option for all adult patrons, open before each concert from 6 to 7 p.m., has been added as a response to audience requests.

“As we went through a strategic planning process last season and sought input from trustees, subscribers and other community stakeholders, we identified several opportunities to enhance the concert experience for TEF audiences, and we are implementing them when feasible,” she said.

Season ticket subscriptions increased substantially in all three ticket categories — the Complete Series, the Classics Series and the Variations Series. Since July, Brown added, TEF’s ticket volunteers have been maintaining a lengthy waiting list for Sutton Foster’s concert in the event any ticketholders release their seats, but to date there has been very little movement in seating.

With 11 roles on Broadway to her credit and a strong television resume that includes lead roles on ABC Family’s “Bunheads” and TV Land’s “Younger,” Foster proved to be an especially strong draw, and the few remaining single tickets sold out within hours. 

Founded in 1937, TEF is a volunteer-powered, non-profit organization celebrating 82 years of entertaining the community. In addition to its annual season of performances by acclaimed artists, TEF offers a dedicated family series of presentations geared to families and younger children, provides educational outreach programs for students and awards performing arts scholarships and grants to promising young artists.