Blumenthal Arts facts for kids
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| Address | 130 North Tryon St. (Blumenthal) 345 North College St. (Spirit Square) 430 South Tryon St. (Levine Center for the Arts) 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 | Wells Fargo (Knight Theatre) |
| Operator | North Carolina Performing Arts Center at Charlotte Foundation |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | Belk Theater: 2,097 Booth Playhouse: 434 Stage Door Theater: 172 McGlohon Theatre: 716 Duke Energy Theater: 190 Knight Theater: 1,193 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1992 (Blumenthal) 1909 (Spirit Square) 2009 (Knight Theatre) |
| Reopened | 1976 (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 a not-for-profit organization, which means it uses its money to support the arts. It opened in November 1992. Blumenthal Arts runs four theaters across two main locations in Uptown Charlotte. It's a hub for amazing performances!
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Discover the History of Blumenthal Arts
In 2012, Blumenthal Arts started the Blumey Awards. This program celebrates talented high school students in musical theater. It covers the entire Charlotte metropolitan area. Winners for "Best Actor" and "Best Actress" get to compete in the national Jimmy Awards. This big event takes place on Broadway in New York City. Famous past winners include Reneé Rapp and Eva Noblezada.
During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Blumenthal Arts brought something new to Charlotte. They launched the "Immersive Van Gogh" exhibit. This popular show ran from June 2021 to January 2022. Over 300,000 people visited the exhibit. On January 23, 2024, Blumenthal Performing Arts changed its name. It is now known as Blumenthal Arts.
Explore the Amazing Theaters
Blumenthal Arts has several fantastic theaters. Each one offers a unique experience for audiences. Let's take a look at some of them.
Blumenthal Arts Center Theaters
The Blumenthal Arts Center is home to several important venues.
Belk Theater: The Main Stage
The Belk Theater is the biggest theater at the Blumenthal Arts Center. It can seat up to 2,118 people. This theater hosts many large shows, including big Broadway tours. It opened in 1992. The theater was designed by architect Cesar Pelli. It has a special horseshoe shape. This design means that even the farthest seat is close to the stage. The Belk Theater also has a beautiful chandelier. It has 2,400 points of light.
Booth Playhouse: A Flexible Space
The Booth Playhouse is a theater that can change its setup. It has 434 seats. You can find seating on both the main floor and a higher level. This theater is perfect for dance shows and 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 has a simple, flexible design. It can seat up to 233 people. The seating can be arranged in different ways. It is the smallest theater run by Blumenthal Arts.
Levine Center for the Arts Theaters
The Levine Center for the Arts includes another great theater.
Knight Theater: A Modern Venue
The Knight Theater is a proscenium theater. It can hold 1,192 people. It is located next to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. You might recognize this theater from a movie! Parts of the 2012 film, The Hunger Games, were filmed here.
Spirit Square Theaters
Spirit Square is currently being renovated. However, it has two important theaters.
McGlohon Theatre: A Historic Stage
The McGlohon Theatre first opened in 1980. It was originally a church. Later, it was changed into a theater. It has 716 seats. You can sit on the main floor or in the balcony.
Duke Energy Theater: Another Black Box
The Duke Energy Theater is also a black box theater. It can seat up to 190 people.
Ovens Auditorium: Charlotte's Largest
Ovens Auditorium is the biggest performing arts theater in Charlotte. It can seat over 2,400 people. It is located at the Bojangles Entertainment Complex. This venue hosts longer Broadway shows and concerts. The City of Charlotte owns this auditorium.
Exciting Shows and Festivals
Blumenthal Arts brings many different types of shows to its theaters. These include national Broadway tours and concerts. You can also see comedians, dance performances, and shows from local groups. In 2022, Blumenthal Arts started a new event. It is called the Charlotte International Arts Festival. This festival features art installations and performances. It takes place in the Uptown and Ballantyne neighborhoods.
Local Performing Arts Groups
Blumenthal Arts works with several local performing arts groups. These groups often perform at the Blumenthal theaters.
- Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
- Charlotte Ballet
- Opera Carolina
- Tosco Music
