Blumenthal Arts facts for kids
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| Address | 130 North Tryon St. (Blumenthal Arts Center) 430 South Tryon St. (Levine Center for the Arts) 904 Post St. (Blume Studios) Charlotte, North Carolina United States |
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| Coordinates | 35°13′38″N 80°50′29″W / 35.227147°N 80.841463°W |
| Owner | Knight Theater: Wells Fargo Blume Studios: Charlotte Pipe and Foundry |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | Belk Theater: 2,097 Knight Theater: 1,193 McGlohon Theatre: 716 Booth Playhouse: 434 Stage Door Theater: 172 Duke Energy Theater: 190 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1992 (Blumenthal Arts Center) 2009 (Knight Theater) 2024 (Blume Studios) |
| Closed | 2021 (Spirit Square) |
| Architect | César Pelli (Blumenthal) J. M. Michael (Spirit Square) tvsdesign (Knight Theatre) |
Blumenthal Arts is a special place in Charlotte, North Carolina, where you can enjoy many different kinds of shows. It's like a big home for performing arts, which means things like plays, concerts, and dances. It opened in November 1992 and has several theaters and even a cool space for immersive experiences in Uptown Charlotte.
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History of Blumenthal Arts
In 2012, Blumenthal Arts started the Blumey Awards. This program celebrates talented high school students in musical theater from the Charlotte metropolitan area. The winners for "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" get to compete in the national Jimmy Awards on Broadway. Some famous people who were part of this program include Reneé Rapp and Eva Noblezada.
During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Blumenthal Arts brought a special "Immersive Van Gogh" show to Charlotte. This exhibit ran from June 2021 to January 2022. Over 300,000 people came to see it! On January 23, 2024, Blumenthal Performing Arts changed its name to Blumenthal Arts.
After the success of the Van Gogh experience, Blumenthal Arts decided to create a new space just for similar immersive shows. They rented and fixed up an old warehouse. This new place, called Blume Studios, opened in September 2024. Its first big show was Space Explorers: The Infinite.
Explore the Venues
Blumenthal Arts has several amazing places where shows happen. Each one is unique!
Blumenthal Arts Center
This is the main hub for many performances.
Belk Theater: The Main Stage
The Belk Theater is the biggest theater at the Blumenthal Arts Center. It can hold 2,118 people. This theater is where most of the big Broadway shows and performances by local groups take place. It opened in 1992 and was designed to look like European theaters. Even the seats farthest away are still close to the stage. It also has a cool chandelier with 2,400 tiny lights!
Booth Playhouse: A Flexible Space
The Booth Playhouse is a theater that can be set up in different ways. It has 434 seats on two levels. This theater is used for dance shows, choir concerts, and other musical groups. It also hosts meetings and workshops.
Stage Door Theater: The Smallest Venue
The Stage Door Theater is a "black box" style theater. This means it's a simple room that can be changed for different shows. It can seat up to 233 people. It's the smallest venue Blumenthal Arts uses.
Levine Center for the Arts
This center is home to another important theater.
Knight Theater: A Modern Stage
The Knight Theater is a proscenium theater, which means it has a clear stage opening like a picture frame. It can seat 1,192 people. It's located next to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Parts of the 2012 movie, The Hunger Games, were filmed here!
Blume Studios: Immersive Experiences
Blume Studios opened in 2024. It's a large complex made from an old warehouse. It has two main buildings called "stages." Stage 1 is for big immersive shows and multimedia events. Stage 2 is for smaller shows and experiences.
Spirit Square (under renovation)
Spirit Square is currently being renovated, but it used to have two theaters.
McGlohon Theatre: A Historic Stage
The McGlohon Theatre opened in 1980 in a former church. It was later changed into a theater that can seat 716 people. It has seats on the main floor and a balcony.
Duke Energy Theater: Another Black Box
The Duke Energy Theater is also a black box theater. It can hold up to 190 people.
Ovens Auditorium: Charlotte's Largest Theater
Ovens Auditorium is the biggest performing arts theater in Charlotte. It can hold over 2,400 people! It's located near the Bojangles Coliseum. This theater hosts longer Broadway shows and concerts. The City of Charlotte owns it.
Types of Productions
Blumenthal Arts hosts many different kinds of shows. These include big Broadway shows that travel, concerts, comedians, dance performances, and shows from local performing groups. In 2022, Blumenthal Arts also started the annual Charlotte International Arts Festival. This festival brings art installations and performances to different neighborhoods in Charlotte.
Local Performing Groups
Many local arts groups perform at Blumenthal Arts venues. These include:
- Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
- Charlotte Ballet
- Opera Carolina
- Tosco Music
