Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh and commemorative statue of the city's namesake Sir Walter Raleigh
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| Address | 2 East South Street Raleigh, North Carolina United States |
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| Coordinates | 35°46′17″N 78°38′22″W / 35.771325°N 78.639483°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium: 2,369 Meymandi Concert Hall: 1,587 Fletcher Opera Theater: 600 Kennedy Theater: 150 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1932 |
| Reopened | 2001 |
The Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts is a super cool place in Raleigh, North Carolina. It's where you can enjoy all sorts of cultural shows and entertainment! Think of it as a big home for music, dance, and theater.
This center has four main performance spaces. These are the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Meymandi Concert Hall, A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater, and Kennedy Theatre.
Many famous performers and touring shows visit the Martin Marietta Center. It's also the home base for five local arts groups. These include the Carolina Ballet, NC Opera, NC Symphony, NC Theatre, and PineCone. Over 600 events happen here each year. More than 400,000 people visit the center annually. It's a really important spot in downtown Raleigh!
The name of the building comes from a company called Martin Marietta. They have the "naming rights" to the center. Before them, other companies like Duke Energy and Business Telecom, Inc. also held the naming rights.
The center includes these great spaces:
- Raleigh Memorial Auditorium (opened in 1932, updated in 1990)
- Meymandi Concert Hall (opened in 2001)
- A. J. Fletcher Opera Theater (opened in 2001)
- Kennedy Theatre (opened in 2001)
- Lichtin Plaza (opened in 2001)
Contents
Exploring the Performance Venues
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
The Raleigh Memorial Auditorium first opened its doors in 1932. It replaced an older city auditorium that burned down. This auditorium was named to honor citizens from Raleigh. They had bravely served their country during World War I.
This beautiful building is in downtown Raleigh. It sits at the end of Fayetteville Street. Its style, called Greek Revival, matches the North Carolina State Capitol. The Capitol building is just a few blocks away.
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium is a top spot for performing arts in North Carolina. Many amazing artists have performed here over the years. Some famous names include Sinatra, Jerry Seinfeld, and Norah Jones. Big Broadway shows have also been staged here. These include Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Disney's The Lion King.
The venue has been updated several times. Renovations happened in 1975, 1990, 2001, and 2016. These updates added modern technology. They also kept the traditional feel of the theater.
Meymandi Concert Hall
The North Carolina Symphony performs in this amazing hall. It has 1,587 seats. The hall has a very tall ceiling, about 65 feet high. Its special "shoebox" shape helps the sound. Narrow sides and shallow balconies make the sound warm and clear.
This design gives you the best listening experience. Many national and international artists have played here. These include Dave Chapelle, the Backstreet Boys, and Bryan Adams. The hall is named after the mother of Dr. Assad Meymandi. He was a doctor and a generous person from Raleigh. The hall is known for its excellent sound quality.
Fletcher Opera Theater
This theater is a cozy space with 600 seats. It's perfect for ballet, opera, concerts, and comedy shows. Even the seats farthest away are less than 70 feet from the stage. This means you always feel close to the action.
The Fletcher Opera Theater is on the east side of the Martin Marietta Center. It is the home of the Carolina Ballet. Many other performers have also appeared here. These include Boney James and Post Modern Jukebox. Even Vice President Kamala Harris has visited this stage!
Kennedy Theatre
The Kennedy Theatre is a special "black-box" theater. It can seat up to 150 people. This space is 40 by 60 feet. It's designed to feel very personal and energetic. It's a great place for new and experimental shows.
Many creative groups use the Kennedy Theatre. Regional theater productions happen here often. Broadway performers, like Ariana Debose, have also performed. This flexible space is also used for video shoots, meetings, and lunches.
Lichtin Plaza
Lichtin Plaza is a large outdoor area. It's about 2 acres (8,000 square meters) big. This lawn is right in front of the Martin Marietta Center. It's often used for outdoor festivals. People also use it for public and private parties. The plaza is named after Harold Lichtin. He was a well-known real estate developer in the area.
Amazing Performance Groups
Many groups regularly perform at the Martin Marietta Center. They bring all kinds of shows to life!
- Theatre In The Park
- North Carolina Opera
- Carolina Ballet
- North Carolina Theatre
- Pinecone, The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music
- North Carolina Symphony
- North Carolina Master Chorale
- Triangle Youth Orchestra, Triangle Youth Symphony, & Triangle Youth Philharmonic
- Raleigh Dance Theater
- Triangle Youth Brass Band
- The Raleigh Ringers
Images for kids
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Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in 2013
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Raleigh Memorial Auditorium and Lichtin Plaza during Christmas 2018
