McKinney’s arts scene is as unique as the rest of the community.  Art galleries downtown, new theater groups, a recently renovated performing arts center and city-funded grants dedicated to enhancing the cultural arts in McKinney are all signs of a vibrant, growing art environment.

On a recent Saturday, visitors to the old Collin County Courthouse took a trip down memory lane, not to relive the drama of a historic courtroom scene, but to move to the groove of classic Beatles music.

In a benefit for Meals on Wheels of McKinney, the tribute band Beetlegrass played a bluegrass-tinged version of the Fab Four’s timeless tunes in what they dubbed “on of the best sounding rooms in North Texas.”

That room is actually the former county courtroom – a place where murder trials once grabbed the national spotlight.  Now it serves as a showplace for local national artists, a gathering spot for civic groups and even a site for weddings, all thanks to the vision of civic leaders who were willing the polish the 1870s-era jewel that was vacated in 1979 when Collin county moved its courtroom to a new location.

The McKinney Community Development Corporation and the city joined efforts in a $9 million project to transform the courthouse into the McKinney Performing Arts Center (MPAC), a cultural center for both McKinney and greater Collin County.  In 2006, the 23,000-square-foot center opened with the 427-seat Courtroom Theater, Encore Wire Conference Room, Ruschhaupt Reception Hall, Noble Hall small auditorium, an art gallery, working artist studios a catering prep area and executive suites for lease.

During the Fall 2008 – Spring 2009 season, sell-out crowds welcomed nationally known Grammy and Tony award wining singer, songwriter and composer Duncan Sheik and Instrumentalist George Winston for MPAC’s first full season of performance.  The Fall 2009 – Spring 2010 lineup includes Dan Evans, a contestant on the Biggest Loser is now a budding country music artist;  The Blanks, also known as “Ted’s Group” on the ABC-TV series Scrubs; Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Paula Cole; and Grammy-award country and bluegrass singer-songwriter Ricky Skaggs.

"We’ve gotten phenomenal response to our events,” says David Taylor, director of MPAC.  “We like to mix things up; do things that are fun, things with a twist.”

For example, Taylor says the Blanks appearance also included playing at a local hospital.  The blue and the Gray Brass Brigade, showcasing authentic Civil War-era music, included a workshop for students interested in playing and learning more about instruments of that era.

The center’s schedule reflects the community’s desire for family friendly, affordable fare, Taylor says, and almost all the shows cost less that $30 per ticket.  MPAC is also a regional and even national draw, with more than half of the guests coming from outside McKinney.

In addition to the season of nearly a dozen major events MPAC hosts a variety of local arts groups and their exhibits and performances.  For example, the popular Word of Mouth children’s theater company performs a full season, as does the McKinney Repertory Theater.

MPAC’s reach goes beyond downtown.  A joint effort with the Tucker Hill residential development, Arts on the Lawn, is a music and arts festival that takes place during Labor Day weekend.  The 2008 event won a prestigious marketing award from the Homebuilders Association of Greater Dallas.

“It’s a fun event that makes the arts so accessible,” Taylor said. “People really respond.  It’s been great.”

The city’s arts scene doesn’t stop at MPAC’s doors.  In 2005, the city created the McKinney Arts Commission to serve as an advisory board in matters involving the close cooperation between the city and private citizens, institutions and agencies interested in or conducting arts-related activities.  Arts groups from McKinney and surrounding North Texas cities can apply for grants through an in-depth process that includes marketing proposals, commitments for performances in McKinney and other performances or demonstrations of their specialty.  To date, the Arts Commission has dispersed almost $1 million to support local artists.

For a complete list of upcoming events and a listing of services offered by McKinney’s Performing Arts Center, visit www.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org

As published in The Dallas Morning News

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