Performing got into Vivian Johnson's blood when she was a teenager.

"I love the theater," said Mrs. Johnson, who is the theater coordinator for the city of Aiken.

She started in plays while in high school in Hawaii and found the Aiken Community Playhouse in her early 20s.

"I wanted to do a play. I looked in the phone book (for the playhouse's number), found out about auditions and got a part, and that was it," she said.

She volunteered for the playhouse for many years before becoming its office manager.

In July 2007, Mrs. Johnson became an employee of the city, which owns the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. She works at the center in almost the same capacity she did for the playhouse, but with added duties.

While the Aiken Community Playhouse uses the Washington Center more than any other group, it is not the only one that books the facility for events.

Mrs. Johnson works to coordinate the rental of the facility with other groups, including the Aiken Performing Arts Group, which brings in professional performers. The group has five shows scheduled for its 2008-09 season, including Music at the Crossroads, a celebration of Irish music, in October, and the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players in March.

She is handling ticket sales for the two groups.

Others have used the Washington Center for the Performing Arts as well.

"We've had an Elvis impersonator, weddings, school groups and churches," she said.

Most evenings are booked well in advance, but the theater is also available during the day. Mrs. Johnson said she is working to increase the daytime bookings.

She also coordinates with the city to make sure any maintenance or repair issues are reported and completed.

Mrs. Johnson said she enjoys working at the theater because of the people she meets. She said regular theatergoers have given her small tokens, such as home-baked goodies and flowers from their gardens.

"I deal with people all day long. The people are so sweet. They make me feel like I'm part of the family," she said.