High performance
Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio
starts season of community programs with concert
by Rebecca Ross

Walking into the Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio at WSRE-TV is like opening the door of a new car. The heady scent of fresh paint and new carpet still pervades the state-of-the-art studio on the Pensacola Junior College campus, which opened to the public a little over a year ago.

Something else is in the air, as well -- expectation.

"We are really just getting started," said WSRE General Manager Sandy Cesaretti Ray. "We feel like we're at the beginning of what this studio has to offer to the community."

The studio, which has been the setting of a few events, including a visit by the wife of the late Fred Rogers (public television's "Mister Rogers") and the annual "Senior Follies," is gearing up for a new season of concerts, performances, lectures, television program tapings and community educational events.

"We've got some great programs coming up, that will bring out-of-state visitors and revenue to the area," said Robin McArthur, manager of marketing and promotions of WSRE. "We're starting off with a concert by Anthony Kearns, who is very popular with PBS audiences."

Kearns, an Irish lyric tenor, will star in the studio's premiere concert and first "official" event presented by WSRE, tonight at 7. Other scheduled performances include "An Evening of Jazz" with Clarence Bell on Wednesday and Lawrence Welk Show singers Guy & Ralna in concert June 10.

"It's very exciting, because so many people have expressed interest in using the facility," said Claire Williams, director of the performance studio. "We've had calls from everyone from film producers to the Pensacola Children's Chorus."

And that diversity of interest is just what the multi-functional studio was designed for, said Cesaretti Ray. A few of its features:

*The 18,000-square-foot building features dressing rooms, make-up rooms, bathrooms with showers, green room, production offices, kitchen, ticket booth, upper and lower lobbies and public bathrooms.

*It can seat an audience of up to 600 with 496 fixed seats, 212 of which can retract at the push of a button. ? Floor space is 80 feet by 80 feet with seats retracted, and 60 feet by 80 feet with seats expanded.

*It will be used for productions to be aired live on WSRE or taped and aired later.

*It is equipped now for productions in standard definition and will be equipped for high definition productions in the near future.

"When we built this studio, we knew we wanted it to be able to serve the local community in the best possible way," she said. "And now we're standing here with our arms open to everyone, saying, 'Come on in, this is for you!' "