But in recent years, the West Philadelphia venue has been on the comeback trail under the steadying hand of president and CEO Peter Lane. The center diversified its arts and cultural programs to tap new audiences and new funders, "with everything from Shakespeare to opera to an expanded program for children," Lane said.
In the past two years, Lane has pushed through $15 million in capital improvements to spruce up the looks and user friendliness of the 30-year-old facility. This year, the most notable upgrades are the Field Education and Outreach Center, plus new restrooms and concession stands (to complement new food vendor Culinart).
And, lo and behold, even the pop stars are back in force for the 2007 summer season, starting June 1 through Sept. 22, with significant help from outside presenters Live Nation/Electric Factory Concerts (owner of the rival Tweeter Center!) and AEG Live, plus local promoters BRE Presents and Al Edmondson and a consortium of other performing arts centers working with the Mann.
"We'll have a 35 percent increase in shows this summer, 41 or 42 in all, with the biggest increase in contemporary music acts," Lane said with obvious pleasure. The pop stuff will more than offset the decrease in Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. (See story on Page 47.)
Such contemporary acts as poetic balladeer Damien Rice (May 24), neo-swinger Michael Buble (Aug 7-8) and the flamboyant chamber popster Rufus Wainwright (Aug. 17), plus the huge PBS breakthroughs Celtic Woman (June 23) and "American Idol" fave Clay Aiken (July 17) will sing in the park this season.
So, too, will an impressive number of seasoned mid-level acts and superstars whose appeal has leveled off in recent years, from British cult hero Morrissey (June 29) to soul legend Smokey Robinson (Aug. 3) to alt-country darling Alison Krauss with Union Station (Aug. 14).
