It's almost showtime at Clermont's new performing arts center.

The Clermont Performing Arts Center announced its inaugural season and unveiled a new website for ticket sales Wednesday, and officials believe it can compete with over venues across Central Florida.

The news came almost a year to the day the ribbon was cut on the new entertainment center.

The building's pool and gym have already gotten plenty of use, but the theaters in the center have mostly sat empty.

Doris Bloodsworth, public information officer for the city of Clermont, said when Celebration of Praise Church suddenly became available for $6.3 million, the city knew residents wanted entertainment. They just didn't know how to give it to them.

"We didn't even really know how to start, so the first step was to do research," Bloodsworth said. "We talked to a lot of other performance halls and other cities to see what do we need staff-wise, what kind of budget, how do you reach out to different entertainment to book acts?"

Along the way, city representatives met with Jeanie Linders, the long-time Central Florida festival and musical writer and director.

"I took a look at the main stage area, I took a look at the black box area and I thought this is perfect to be converted," Linders said.

Linders said she was able to pull strings to get as strong of an inaugural season as she could, including Kenny Rogers presents "The Toy Shoppe" starring Alan Thicke, "Celtic Nights," and other Broadway and off-Broadway productions.

"Once it gets out in the business that you have a 1,200-seat house that's 30 minutes from Orlando with this type of demographics, then people start clinking in line," Linders said.

The church had its final service Sunday. Crews were already beginning renovations Wednesday ahead of the first performance.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer Darlene Love kicks things off Sept. 26 with a red carpet gala.

The inaugural season continues with 13 shows in the main performance hall and four in the smaller block box theater.