Bill Nye, Sutton Foster to headline Washington Pavilion’s 25th anniversary celebration
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Bill Nye “The Science Guy,” along with actress and singer Sutton Foster, will be arriving in Sioux Falls to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Washington Pavilion, officials with the the cultural, fine arts and science center announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Pavilion's President and CEO Darrin Smith and Chief Operating Officer Kerri DeGraff made the announcement of this year’s entertainment lineup, specifically curated to celebrate the big milestone.
More: Canton woman charged with vehicular battery for New Year’s Eve crash pleads not guilty
Celebrations will feature the Bill Nye session on May 2. Then, following a full day of activities about a month later, Foster, a two-time Tony award-winner, will take the stage with a special concert June 1. The celebrations will also feature a permanent outdoor art installation.
There will also be an "incredible traveling exhibition" of National Geographic photography in the visual arts center Feb. 16, as well as National Space Day celebrations in the Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium on May 3.
The Washington Pavilion was established in 1999, three years after it began construction. It was a more than $30 million investment, of which only half was city funded, making it a public project with private investment.
It was “the first of its kind in the United States,” Smith said.
The Bill Nye session will be designed as a fireside chat about a variety of science topics. It will begin with an engaging and educational 45-minute presentation followed by a 45-minute question-and-answer session in the Mary W. Sommervold Hall.
The June 1 day will begin with a list of activities including live entertainment, a beer garden, celebratory cupcakes, free access to the museums and Radley Rex appearances. The finale to the day will be Foster’s concert, featuring renowned Broadway classics.
The Washington Pavilion has had some really popular acts in the past, featuring names like the New York Philharmonic, Yo Yo Ma, the National Symphony Orchestra, Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin and David Copperfield, "Les Misérables" and most recently "Aladdin" on the Broadway front.
More: DCI is not investigating DOC secretary after state prison staff calls for her removal
The two well-known public figures were decided upon after a year and a half of planning and discussions among Washington Pavilion staff. They came to the final choices after also discussing the idea of bringing back previously successful performances and acts, DeGraff said.
The overall aim of the milestone celebration was to feature and represent each part of the center’s identity – arts, science and performing arts – as a reflection of what the center does.
"We’ve crafted these celebratory events to be unique, noteworthy and aligned with our work of blending the arts, science and entertainment under one roof,” Smith said.
Tickets for Bill Nye and Sutton Foster will go on sale from 10 a.m. Feb. 6 for Pavilion donors and 10 a.m. Feb. 14 for the general public. The public also has an opportunity to purchase exclusive VIP meet-and-greet packages.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: How to get tickets for Bill Nye, Sutton Foster at the Washington Pavilion
