Georgia Southern University has named Carol Thompson director of its 825-seat Performing Arts Center, which is considered one of the region’s premier performance venues.
    Thompson attended Mississippi State College for Women and the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fla., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts and secondary education.
     Thompson’s career at Georgia Southern began in 1987 and she has since held a variety of roles including working as a member of the University’s development staff.  In 2002, Thompson became the box office manager for the PAC and was later named the assistant director in 2005.
     Thompson is a past president of the Statesboro Arts Council which operates the Averitt Center for the Arts.  She currently serves on the Council’s Board of Directors and has played a leadership role in the development of arts in Statesboro and Bulloch County for several years.
     In addition to being named to lead the area’s premier performance venue, regional audiences will most likely recognize Thompson for her performance on stage.  She has portrayed Daisy in “Driving Miss Daisy” and Claire Zachanassian in “The Visit.”  Most recently, she portrayed Maude Brannen Edge (1881-1963), a local Statesboro legend, for the annual meeting of the Bulloch County Historical Society.
     As director of the PAC, Thompson will be responsible for developing and hosting the facility’s annual performance series – now in its 10th season – which includes Broadway plays, musical performances and a popular school matinee series.
    The 2011-2012 performance season includes:
•    Sept. 9, 2011, 100 Years of Broadway
•    Oct.  6, 2011, Capitol Steps
•    Nov. 4, 2011, Forever Motown
•    Nov. 19, 2011, Kathy Mattea
•    Jan. 22, 2012, Marvin Hamlisch
•    Feb. 23, 2012, American Boychoir
•    March 3, 2012, Women of Ireland
•    Apr. 1, 2012, South Pacific
     The School Matinee Series will include a variety of children’s favorites ranging from Jigsaw Jones, Cinderella, Ramona Quimby and Skippyjon Jones.