MORE THAN A
STAGE
The King Center Enters a New Chapter After 38 Years
NICK PALMIOTTI KING CENTER, GENERAL MANAGER performing arts center, at its best, is more than a building with a stage and seats. It is a
A gathering place, a classroom, an economic engine, and a thread woven through the life of a community.
That is the idea at the heart of the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts. As a direct support organization( DSO) of Eastern Florida State College, the King Center does not simply present shows.
“ The King Center’ s role as a DSO is both unique and valuable,” says Nick Palmiotti, who stepped in as General Manager this spring.“ It reminds us that our work goes beyond simply producing shows. We’ re creating experiences that ultimately benefit something bigger than the venue itself. It adds a level of importance to what we do each day.” For Palmiotti, that sense of purpose is what makes the role meaningful, and it’ s part of what drew him to Melbourne in the first place.
A DELIBERATE CHOICE
Palmiotti’ s path to the King Center was, in some ways, an accident. After graduating from college, he accepted a job as a bank teller in Colorado. Before his first day, he was offered an internship at the Pueblo Riverwalk. Following his first show, Foghat,“ I’ ve been hooked ever since,” he says. continued on page 18
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