Places to See a Live Performance in Charlotte, NC

Theater and concert lovers in Charlotte can celebrate: You no longer need to fly all the way to New York to see quality live theater. Charlotte has a number of impressive live venues, offering a variety of shows. You can see musicals for the whole family, dramatic plays for the parents, or live concerts for the younger crowd. Here are four of the best places to see live performances in Charlotte.

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

The Blumenthal Performing Arts Centers is much more than just a theater. While performances at the Belk Theater are the most popular attractions, the center offers more than just live theater. Opened in 1992, it is truly the backbone of Charlotte’s (and all of North Carolina’s, for that matter) performing arts scene.

Some of the most prominent art and theater organizations in the state call this art center home. The Charlotte Symphony, Opera Carolina, Charlotte Ballet, Community School of the Arts, On Q Productions, and Caroline Calouche & Company all reside at Blumenthal.

The Blumenthal Center manages most of Charlotte’s theaters and venues. It is also an educational center, and the organization brings free live performances to various schools and events throughout the year. But, the Belk Theater is the must-visit location for performing arts in Charlotte.

The Belk Theater

The Belk Theater is housed within the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. It is the largest theater managed by Blumenthal and it has over 2,000 seats. It has a classic European design, making it ideal for live theater and opera. Live music performances (even rock concerts) are commonly held at Belk, but the most popular events are the Broadway productions. All of the most popular shows eventually make their way to Charlotte via the Encore series. If you have been waiting to see a hit Broadway show, Belk could be your best bet. These shows are often offered with limited runs, so you need to get your tickets early.

The Booth Playhouse

The Booth Playhouse is an intimate venue with 434 seats. It is obviously reserved for smaller shows. For instance, you might catch poetry slam, a discussion panel, a dance performance, or other exciting performances at the Booth. You also might be discover emerging local artists at this venue. It is also often rented out for business meetings, conferences, and seminars. Keep your eye on the Booth calendar because, even though it is a small venue, there is always something great going on there.

The Ovens Auditorium

The Ovens Auditorium is not directly under the management of Blumenthal, but the center does often host events here. Ovens is an auditorium with an even larger capacity than Belk. It is well suited to rock concerts and comedy shows, but it also hosts the occasional live theater performance. With a 2400 seat capacity, Ovens is an all-purpose auditorium that you will need to visit.

These are just a few of Charlotte’s best venues. Visit one of these any night of the week for a stellar performance.

image from Pixabay licensed under CC BY 2.0

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