Numerica Performing Arts Center Welcomes J. Woody Lotts

When asked of how he felt about his new position at Numerica Performing Arts Center (PAC), J. Woody Lotts said that moving to Wenatchee felt like coming back home.

"The community is very kind and welcoming and that has just been a wonderful breath of fresh air," Lotts said.

The new Executive Director of Numerica PAC graduated from Seattle University with a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Arts Leadership. Lotts then went on to work as a theater teacher at Colegio Lord Byron school in Arequipa, Peru.

"As a theater teacher in Peru, I got to experience, what I would say, was a wonderful culture that was totally different to how I grew up and experiencing a different culture in terms of that community was great because it allowed me to learn from different people and different experiences in that way, that sometimes we don't get to have in our life," Lotts said.

He progressively worked his way up from professional performer to producing shows for Edmonds Driftwood Players Theatre and Phoenix Theatre. He also worked as a Tour Manager for Book-It Repertory Theatre in Seattle, which led Lotts to discover what the Wenatchee community had to offer.

"When you are working for a repertory theatre like that, there's a lot of business acumen that you get to gain," Lotts explained. "Controlling the budget, working as a team, working through your marketing plan and your development plan and seeing that from more of a bird's eye view, as a wholistic picture, that really, really helps."

Although the Delta variant has left many entertainment venues wary, Lotts hopes to maintan a sense of safety and normalcy for Numerica PAC's upcoming season.

We are in contact with the health district," Lotts said. "We are taking as many precautions as we can to keep the community safe, to re-open, stay open, enjoy live entertainment, but there is only so much that we can control at the business entity."

The Apple Blossom Musical just finished up production on Mama Mia in September. However, Numerica has multiple events ready for the upcoming fall season, including: Mike Super: Magic and Illusion, One-man Star Wars Trilogy, and Cold Winter Nights Comedy Series: Todd Barry.

Most recently, Numerica PAC arranged an upcoming Courtyard Concert at the Wenatchee Convention Center, featuring music from The Junebugs on Oct. 8th. A quarter of all proceeds will be donated to The Bunker, a non-profit organization for veteran services. Sponsors include: American Shoe Shop, Pro Active Retirement Solutions, and Dave & Sheryl Sutherland.

Additionally, they will also be hosting their annual Festival of Trees event this fall. They will also host a Gala on Nov. 20th, 6 p.m.

"We as a staff and as a board are going to talk about the type of acts and programming that we want to bring in," Lotts said. "We are hoping that we will be able to connect with our student population again and hopefully bring back our Every Kid in the Pack program again, to connect with the community that way."

Lotts recognized the large shoes he had to fill left by previous Executive Director Matt Cadman.

"His saying was 'every show sponsored and every seat filled,'" Lotts continued. "We want to continue that."