Bring your mom to GRAC this Mother’s Day. Enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea, complete with sandwiches & scones. Wine & Champagne will be available for purchase. Dress code is spring dressy casual.

Please bring a valid 21+ ID if planning to purchase adult beverages.

It’s back! Get ready for an exciting Saturday!! Join us at the magic castle (Gateway Regional Arts Center) on May 11th from 1-3pm for the Princess Cupcake Party, where your children can meet some of their favorite characters! Each youth ticket includes a cupcake, games, princess-themed art activities and princess story time! You might even see some of your favorite villains…

Adults are FREE with a paying child! All little princes and princesses welcome! We strongly encourage costumes and tiaras! There will even be an extra special PRINCESS PARADE in our building that everyone in your family is sure to love. Don't miss the magic!

All youth should be accompanied by an adult. This is not a drop-off program

Do you love to read? Do you love beer? Join us for Books & Brews!

Join a cohort of readers as you dive deep into Scissors, Paper, Rock, by Fenton Johnson and then discuss over beer at Mt. Sterling's very own local brewery, Sterling MicroBrew Inc.!

6-7pm: Book Discussion

7-8pm: Mix & Mingle

You can pickup the book at GRAC between April 19th - May 1st. Your registration fee includes the book.

This family-friendly FREE event will include the Annual Stick Horse Derby Race, awards for best hats and costumes, and Derby-themed art activities for the whole family! Delicious Kentucky hot browns, Derby Pie, and Mint Juleps available for purchase. We'll even have a non-alcoholic Sprite-based julep for the kids! Then, at race time, experience the excitement as we watch the Kentucky Derby on the big screen! Choose your favorite horse and cheer them on during the race.

Please bring a valid 21+ ID if planning to purchase adult beverages.

Join us at GRAC for our 4th annual Earth Day Celebration! We will take over N Wilson Alley with craft booths, live music, food trucks, art activities, face painting and more! This event is FREE and will feature a performance from The Appalachian Shakespeare Center and an appearance from The Montgomery County Public Library Book Mobile. Come show Mother Earth some love! 

"An Intimate Evening with Ouita Michel" brings a Kentucky culinary legend to Mt. Sterling for an in-depth talk about her life and career. Attendees can immerse themselves in the captivating journey of this esteemed southern chef; from capturing the essence of the Bluegrass region to becoming a prominent figure in Kentucky's culinary scene, Chef Ouita Michel's stories are bound to inspire and entertain. The event will also include a live cooking demonstration of beloved Kentucky dishes, providing a firsthand glimpse into the magic of Chef Ouita's culinary expertise.

VIP Reception: The optional VIP experience adds an extra touch of luxury to the evening, allowing guests to indulge in a fine selection of beer and wine while savoring delectable appetizers. This exclusive setting offers a chance to interact with Chef Ouita in a more intimate setting, where attendees can mingle, take photos, have cookbooks signed, and engage in conversations with the celebrated chef herself. It's a rare occasion to connect with a Kentucky luminary and make lasting memories in the world of gastronomy.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's beloved classic comes to life as a 1940s radio broadcast in this spirited adaptation of The Great Gatsby. An ensemble brings more than two dozen characters from the novel to the stage as a live broadcast, punctuated by ‘40s-era commercials in an intimate black-box style performance. A story of triumph and tragedy that reflects the decadence of the Jazz Age and the perils of the American Dream. SOLD OUT.

Bar opens at 6:30pm, show starts at 7pm (no intermission)

Vintage attire encouraged

Contains adult content - parental discretion advised

Exhibition Talk and Award Ceremony start at 5:45

At this reception we will announce AWARDS!!

• 1st Overall ($500 CASH REWARD)

• 2nd Overall ($250 CASH REWARD)

• 3rd Overall ($100 CASH REWARD)

• k-2nd 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• 3rd-5th 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• 6th-8th 1st, 2nd, 3rd

• 9th-12th 1st, 2nd, 3rd

  FREE Entry

  Complimentary Hors-d'oeuvres

  Cash Bar

In partnership with the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Sterling, we are excited to introduce a weekly Community Visio-Divina event during the Lenten season! Beginning on February 22, meet each Thursday at GRAC to explore Peter’s final hours with Jesus before the crucifixion through the lens of visual art. These weekly events are free and open to all people.

While “Lectio Divina” is a method of praying with scripture, Visio Divina (Latin for "divine seeing") is a method for contemplation with images or other media.

The Gateway Regional Arts Center in Mount Sterling, Kentucky is casting a non-union production of "The Laramie Project" by Moises Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project. All actors will be paid a stipend rate.

AUDITIONS: 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday, March 26th at the Gateway Regional Arts Center, 101 East Main St, Mt. Sterling, KY 40353. 

Audition Preparation: Please prepare a 1-minute contemporary dramatic monologue in the style of the show (a monologue in the category of “dramady” will also be accepted)

AUDITION SLOT FORM: Please sign up for a 5 minute audition slot at the link below.

REHEARSALS: Actors should be available for evening rehearsals, likely on Tuesdays and Thursdays, during the months of April and May 2024. 

PERFORMANCES: Actors must be available for evening performances on May 31 and June 1, 2024. 

SEEKING: The Director is seeking a diverse cast of performers age 18+ for this production. Seeking actors of all ages, ethnicities, races, backgrounds and gender identities. The cast will perform as narrators, townspeople, news media and local Laramie officials. A few performers will be asked to perform dialogue that is hateful and bigoted, so a comfortability with harsh and abrasive will be required, at auditions please let the production staff know if you are opposed to performing this dialogue. As an actor ensemble, all actors will be playing many characters including the narrator. The following breakdown is just a blueprint based on the first production of The Laramie Project. Our production will have more actors; this is shared to give auditioners an idea of which characters might be played by one actor.

Roles available include: 
Actor 1: Stephen Belber, Doc O’Connor, Matt Galloway, Anonymous Friend of Aaron McKinney, Bill McKinney, Andrew Gomez, Fred Phelps, Mormon Spiritual Advisor, Conrad Miller

Actor 2: portray Amanda Gronich, Eileen Engen, Marge Murray, Baptist Minister, Trish Stiger, Shadow

Actor 3: Reggie Fluty, Rebecca Hilliker, Debbie the Waitress

Actor 4: Moisés Kaufman, Philip Dubois, Stephen Mead Johnson, Murdock Cooper, Jon Peacock, Dennis Shepard, Harry Woods

Actor 5: Andy Paris, Jedadiah Schultz, Doug Laws, Dr. Cantway, Matt Mickelson, Russell Henderson, Aaron McKinney, Philip Dubois, Kerry Drake

Actor 6: Greg Pierotti, Detective Sergeant Hing, Phil LaBrie, Father Roger Schmit, Rulon Stacey, Detective Sergeant Rob DeBree, Jonas Slonaker

Actor 7: Barbara Pitts, Catherine Connolly, April Silva, Zub

Play Synopsis: In October 1998, a twenty-one-year-old student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten, and left to die, tied to a fence in the middle of the prairie outside Laramie, Wyoming. His bloody, bruised, and battered body was not discovered until the next day, and he died several days later in an area hospital. His name was Matthew Shepard, and he was the victim of this assault because he was gay. Moisés Kaufman and fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project made six trips to Laramie over the course of a year and a half in the aftermath of the beating and during the trial of the two young men accused of killing Shepard. They conducted more than 200 interviews with the people of the town. Some people interviewed were directly connected to the case, and others were citizens of Laramie, and the breadth of their reactions to the crime is fascinating. Kaufman and Tectonic Theater members have constructed a deeply moving theatrical experience from these interviews and their own experiences. "The Laramie Project" is a breathtaking theatrical collage that explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable.

Come celebrate St. Paddy’s Day at the 11th annual GRAC IrishFest! Featuring a performance by the McTeggart Irish Dancers, music, games, a baked potato bar and all the beer you can drink! 

Get ready for an unforgettable evening as we honor the incomparable Laura Bell Bundy, a native Kentuckian whose talents have taken her to the heights of Broadway, country music, film, and television. As a TONY Award®-nominated actress, Laura Bell Bundy has demonstrated her versatility and artistry in a wide range of roles, captivating audiences with her dynamic performances. Join us as we celebrate this Kentucky legend and learn more about her life and career.

Throughout this intimate evening, Laura Bell Bundy will share up-close stories of her experiences in the entertainment industry, providing unique insights into the world of theater, music, and film. From her early beginnings in Kentucky to her rise to stardom, she will take us on a journey of discovery and inspiration. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired by one of the brightest stars in the entertainment world and celebrate the accomplishments of a true Kentucky native daughter.

Extremely limited tickets are available to this one-night-only engagement, and we expect to sell out. We recommend reserving your tickets today! 

VIP RECEPTION INFORMATION: The VIP Meet & Greet Reception will include a chance to meet with Laura Bell Bundy, take photos, and enjoy a complimentary food and beverages, including beer and wine. For those whose ticket includes the VIP Reception, details will be emailed to the ticketholder regarding timing, logistics, and expectations for arrival. For 21+ guests, please bring an ID if you plan to enjoy alcoholic beverages at the VIP Reception. 

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Don't miss this "one night only" event with the Dry Ice Band! Formed by locals in the early 1970s. Enjoy a casual evening "open rehearsal," where you'll experience the "behind the scenes" magic of getting the band back together! Listen to the fun antics and backstage stories from band members, and hear the great songs of numerous decades as they percolate into the rafters of the Gateway Regional Arts Center.

A cash bar and snacks will be available. Don't miss this exciting night of local music history - past and present!

Saturday Morning Cartoons just aren't what they used to be!

Enjoy an afternoon of family favorite and friendly cartoons on the big screen! A low cost, fun, family outing!

Featuring famous characters like: Steamboat Willie, PopEye, Superman, Betty Boop and Looney Toons, and more!

Boop boop ba doop! Boop!

Looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart? Look no further than Mt. Sterling Cabaret 2024: Broadway in Love!

This event features some of the area's finest performers taking to the stage to bring the magic of Broadway to Kentucky. You'll be treated to a selection of showtunes and songs about love, as well as appetizers, a cash bar and, of course, chocolate! Whether you're a longtime Broadway fan or simply looking for a romantic night out, this is the perfect choice. So why wait? Book your tickets today and get ready to share the love!