Texas Trust CU Theatre facts for kids
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The Theatre of the Future
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Exterior view of venue in 2016
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| Former names | Texas ShowPlace (planning/construction) NextStage Performance Theater (2002–04) Nokia Live (2004–10) Verizon Theatre (2010–18) The Theatre at Grand Prairie (2018-21) |
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| Address | 1001 Performance Pl Grand Prairie, TX 75050-7965 |
| Location | Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex |
| Owner | City of Grand Prairie |
| Operator | AEG Live |
| Capacity | 6,350 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1999–2002 |
| Opened | February 2002 |
| Construction cost | $63 million ($111 million in 2022 dollars ) |
The Texas Trust CU Theatre is a cool concert hall in Grand Prairie, Texas. It's about 16 miles west of Dallas and 24 miles east of Fort Worth. This theatre is close to Lone Star Park and Grand Prairie Stadium. The City of Grand Prairie owns it, and AEG helps run it. It's a popular spot for live music and shows!
Contents
History of the Theatre
How it Started
The idea for this theatre came up in 1998. It was planned as a new place for big shows. The old Reunion Arena in Dallas was going to be taken down. This new theatre was built in Grand Prairie to help the city's economy. It was also hoped to bring in more visitors.
Building the theatre started in the summer of 1999. However, there were some delays. The project took 14 months longer than expected. This was because the cost of building went up. In the end, it cost about $63 million to build.
Opening and Name Changes
The venue was first called "Texas ShowPlace" during planning. It was meant for concerts and plays. The theatre officially opened in February 2002. At that time, it was known as the "NextStage Performance Theater". It could hold up to 6,350 people for shows.
In May 2002, a Dallas artist named Cabe Booth was hired. He painted oil portraits of the performers who visited. The artists would sign their portraits. These paintings are displayed backstage and in the office areas. In 2007, some of these paintings were moved. You can now see a few of them in the main lobby. There are over 300 of these special 4-foot by 4-foot paintings!
The theatre's name changed a few times over the years. In 2004, Nokia Corporation bought the rights to name the theatre. It became "Nokia Live" for six years. Then, in February 2010, Verizon Wireless took over the naming rights. The theatre was called the "Verizon Theatre" for ten years.
On July 27, 2018, the name changed again to "The Theatre at Grand Prairie". Most recently, on April 27, 2021, Texas Trust Credit Union signed a naming deal. The theatre is now known as the "Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie".
Cool Performances and Events
Since it opened, the theatre has hosted many different types of shows. It has welcomed Broadway productions. There have also been fun family shows. These include Sesame Street Live, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!, and The Doodlebops Live!.
Many famous music artists have performed here. Some of them are The Scorpions, Fifth Harmony, Ratt, Demi Lovato, Janet Jackson, Phish, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Toni Braxton, Jennifer Hudson, The Killers, Paramore, Nicki Minaj, Mannheim Steamroller, Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue, Alanis Morissette, Roger Daltrey, Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, Van Morrison, Duran Duran, Coldplay, Robert Plant, Stevie Nicks, David Gray, Guster, Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, Ben Folds Five, Barenaked Ladies, Jimmy Eat World, Arctic Monkeys, The Smashing Pumpkins, ZZ Top, Marilyn Manson, and Gorillaz.
Other popular singers like Kelly Clarkson, TobyMac, and Reba McEntire have also performed. The theatre is a big spot for K-Pop fans too! Many South Korean boy groups have visited. These include BTS, VIXX, 2PM, B.A.P, B1A4, GOT7, DAY6, Boyfriend, EXO, SHINee, Monsta X, Seventeen, Wanna One, NCT 127, NCT Dream, Astro, Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together, The Boyz, and Ateez. South Korean girl groups like Red Velvet and (G)I-DLE have also performed.
Christian worship services have also taken place here. Groups like Hillsong United and Joseph Prince Ministries have held events. The theatre also hosted music parties for Super Bowl XLV. These were part of the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam. Kid Rock, Duran Duran, and Jason Derulo performed there. Latin artists Jenni Rivera, Chino Y Nacho, and Dulce Maria also performed.
In 2024, as part of the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game celebrations, Jimmy Fallon brought his TV show, The Tonight Show, to the theatre for a week of special episodes.
