Staff Spotlight: Ellen Kingston, Concierge Services Manager
3/7/2019 12AM
With an actor/director father and a stage-manager mom, Ellen Kingston was born into showbiz. A North Carolina native and a North Central High School graduate, she played coffeehouses with her brother in the ’60s and spent the next few decades on the regional musical theater scene.
In 2010, she got roped into a thing called the Center for the Performing Arts, a fledgling nonprofit organization that needed someone to make sure its headliners had lodging, sustenance and whatever else they needed to produce a magical performance. Kingston conceived and embodied the role of “artist concierge.” She is writing a book about her experiences.
Just recently, the Indianapolis resident – pictured at right with Sheryl Crow, Liza Minnelli, Kris Kristofferson and at age 19 in Gypsy – has taken on a supervisory role and a very special ongoing project: producing the Center’s annual Songbook Celebration gala, which includes directing the musical numbers for the occasion. This year’s gala is set for Sept. 21.
We asked Ellen a few questions.
In a nutshell, what do you do around here?
I created the Artist Concierge position and outlined how we would care for our artists, from booking the hotels and car services to planning meals with the caterer. I am proud to say that the Palladium has become a standard in the industry for treating artists in an excellent manner; word gets around among these touring groups. Last month we hired Karen Knotts to take over as Artist Concierge so that I can focus on writing and producing the gala. I also now book all internal events and meetings, as well as providing hospitality.
What’s the coolest thing that has happened to you on the job?
Getting photos with all of the wonderful stars who have played here, along with signed set lists. Driving artists around: Marvin Hamlisch, Liza Minnelli, Renee Fleming, etc., and chatting on the way to the hotel or the drugstore.
Are you now, or have you ever been, a performing artist?
Oh, yes. Musical theater for 60 years at Footlite, Civic, Phoenix, Beef & Boards, Raleigh’s Dinner Theatre, Christian Theological Seminary, the Athenaeum and the ISO (12 years in Yuletide Celebration, three as costume designer) and four years playing the Soap Star in Menopause the Musical – two at the Athenaeum and two on tour.
What are your interests or hobbies outside the Center?
My seven grandchildren, writing custom musical numbers, casting and coaching commercial shoots and doing voice-overs.
What do most people not know about this line of work?
That it involves (or rather, did when I was Artist Concierge) doing all the shopping, setting up, dishes and laundry, along with taking care of everyone day-of-show. It’s not glamorous all the time.
