The Jones Performing Arts Center Through The Years: A Cultural Landmark in Franklin County
The JPAC has proudly hosted an extraordinary parade of talent for nearly seven decades.
The phone call came on a snowy afternoon in 2010, the kind of call that would make most venue directors break into a cold sweat. Half of a scheduled band had made it to Louisburg College's Jones Performing Arts Center (JPAC), while the other half—including all the horn players—were stranded somewhere in the mountains, victims of an unexpected winter storm.
Robert Poole, the center's director for nearly a quarter of a century, didn't panic. Instead, he did what small town venue managers have always done: he improvised. A quick call to NC State's jazz department yielded four or five student musicians willing to make the drive north to sight-read charts they'd never seen before. The show, as they say, went on.
It's exactly this kind of capable resilience that has made the JPAC a vital cultural anchor in Franklin County for generations. Since opening its doors officially in 1989, this 1,200 seat theater has welcomed an improbable roster of talent including Grammy winners, Broadway veterans, community theater programs, international dance troupes, world class whistlers, country music legends, and even classically trained acrobats from China.
When Elvis Was the Opening Act
By the time Poole arrived in 2001, the center had already established itself as an unlikely stop on the touring circuit, and a place where artists could find an appreciative audience and genuine hospitality in the heart of Franklin County.
Some of the names that have graced the JPAC stage read like a who's who of American entertainment. Pat Boone performed here, regaling audiences with stories from an era when he was famous enough to have Elvis Presley open for him. When Poole took Boone to dinner, multiple diners recognized him. "He liked the fact that he was recognized in little Louisburg," Poole remembers. "He was very friendly and talked my ears off."
Rita Coolidge, the 1970s sensation, told the stoy that she was uncredited for co-writing the piano part of the hit song “Layla” backstage at the JPAC decades later. Doc Watson, the legendary flatpicking guitarist, performed here shortly before his death. B.J. Thomas, whose "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" soundtracked a generation's memories, brought his charisma to the stage.
But perhaps no performance embodied the JPAC's spirit quite like Melissa Manchester's show. The Grammy nominated singer arrived with two broken legs after a mishap in California. Rather than cancel, she performed the entire concert on crutches. "She had an amazing voice," Poole says, "one of the best I've ever heard."
The JPAC was home to one of America's most charmingly eccentric cultural events for nearly three decades: the International Whistlers Convention. What began as a spontaneous act at a local folk festival evolved into a piece of Americana that drew competitors from around the globe and media attention from CBS News and NPR.
Winners would appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, pursing their lips for a national audience. But Poole's most vivid memories are of the Japanese and Chinese competitors who arrived in tuxedos, ready to whistle entire classical symphonies with concert hall precision. "They were out there doing Beethoven and Mozart," he recalls. "Really perfect, not joking around."
Robert Poole, Director of the JPAC for over 25 years
In the JPAC green room, a tribute to the Whistlers Convention sits on top of a bench.
The Whistlers of the World
The JPAC was home to one of America's most charmingly eccentric cultural events for nearly three decades: the International Whistlers Convention. What began as a spontaneous act at a local folk festival evolved into a piece of Americana that drew competitors from around the globe and media attention from CBS News and NPR.
Winners would appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, pursing their lips for a national audience. But Poole's most vivid memories are of the Japanese and Chinese competitors who arrived in tuxedos, ready to whistle entire classical symphonies with concert hall precision. "They were out there doing Beethoven and Mozart," he recalls. "Really perfect, not joking around."
The JPAC's impact extends far beyond entertainment. It serves as one of Franklin County's civic centers, hosting high school graduations, corporate meetings, competitions, and community gatherings. Dance competitions bring families from Atlanta and other distant cities, their young performers displaying professional level skill that leaves Poole shaking his head in amazement. “Some of these kids have been coming here since they were 3 years old, think of all the memories they have of this place.”
The center also nurtures local talent. When the Glenn Miller Orchestra's pianist couldn't make a show, Poole called Brian Miller, the local high school band director. Miller canceled his plans in Greensboro, drove back to Louisburg, and sight-read the entire performance flawlessly. "Just like you would think he'd have been touring with them for years," Poole marvels.
The Economics of Dreams
Running a venue like the JPAC requires constant creativity. Two-thirds of the audience comes from outside Franklin County, drawn by the intimate setting and reasonable ticket prices. The theater can't afford today's biggest stars. "They probably want a million dollars and they're playing stadiums," Poole notes. But, it can offer something many larger venues cannot: personal attention and genuine warmth.
Artists often linger backstage, sharing road stories and career memories with Poole, who's an amatuer musician himself. "That's what I enjoy almost more than anything," he says. "Just the camaraderie with the artists, telling stories about all the people they've met over their careers."
The Art Between Shows
The permanent gallery at JPAC hosts a series of paintings, pottery, and even ancient artifacts acquired over the years.
Beyond the main theater, the JPAC houses two art galleries that quietly tell their own stories of community investment and cultural preservation. The permanent gallery showcases works acquired through a mixture of strategic purchases and generous donations, many connected to the building's architect Bill Dove, who contributed several pieces when the center opened.
The Lumpkin Gallery bears the name of Edith C. Lumpkin, who was an avid supporter of the arts in Franklin County. The family's long-standing support of the arts extends beyond naming rights. They're also sponsors of the concert series, representing the kind of multigenerational commitment that keeps small cultural institutions alive. This gallery now supports a rotating series of art shows, including an annual student showcase that features artwork from talented young artists in Franklin County Schools.
"Sometimes we would buy a piece or they would donate a piece during art shows," Poole explains of how the permanent collection grew. Former students, local artists, and community members have all contributed works over the years, creating a visual timeline of the region's artistic heritage.
At 24 years on the job, Poole has become the second longest serving director for the JPAC, a testament to his dedication to the center’s mission. He's missed only one show in all that time, which naturally was also the night the smoke alarm malfunctioned during a performance.
In an era when small town cultural venues are disappearing, the JPAC stands as proof that quality entertainment doesn't require big-city infrastructure; just vision, dedication, a lot of elbow grease, and the kind of community support that turns a college theater into a regional treasure.
As Poole puts it with characteristic understatement: "It's kind of been the civic center of Franklin County for all these years." In a world of corporate entertainment complexes and algorithm-driven streaming, that might just be the highest compliment of all.
The Shows Go On
This year's upcoming lineup for the Allen de Hart concert series includes tribute acts, comedians, bluegrass musicians,
Chinese acrobats and a 3D juggling show that requires special glasses.
To learn more about the upcoming acts and to book your tickets, visit the JPAC website or follow our events page for a full list of activities.
