Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Brand Gets Renamed

CHARLOTTE, NC – On Nov. 16, one of Charlotte’s major cultural organizations announced it is implementing a name change to help the public more easily identify the location of performances and better reflect the diversity of roles performed by the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
President Tom Gabbard announced today at the annual meeting that the organization will now operate under the name of Blumenthal Performing Arts. The change will help the public differentiate between the organization itself and the location where a show is being performed. 
“This is important because Blumenthal Performing Arts as an organization presents performances in seven different spaces, but only three of those theaters are located at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center proper,” Gabbard said.  “We also host shows at Spirit Square, at the Knight Theater at the Levine Center for the Arts and at Ovens Auditorium. We hope by dropping the word ‘Center’ from our name as an organization, we will alleviate confusion about where a show is occurring.”
The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center name will be reserved for referencing the performing arts center as a venue. The Center is at 130 North Tryon St. and is home to three of the seven theaters where Blumenthal Performing Arts presents touring Broadway and other nationally touring attractions.
The new name also more accurately reflects the nature of the organization. Blumenthal Performing Arts is a venue manager, a presenter of shows and a show producer, Gabbard said. Under agreements with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Blumenthal Performing Arts manages the daily operations of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Knight Theater and Spirit Square.
In addition, the organization presents hundreds of performances annually, including the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series, Charlotte’s signature nationally touring Broadway series.
Blumenthal Performing Arts also produces shows both locally and nationally, including last summer’s hit GIRLS ONLY and long running engagements of SHEAR MADNESS.
On a national level, Blumenthal Performing Arts is involved as a producer in two of this year’s Tony Award® winning shows: RED (Best Play) and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Best Revival). It also was a producer of the national tour of 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL, which played at Ovens Auditorium Oct. 5-10, and LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL, part of the 2009 Broadway Lights Series, and currently on stage in London. ®
The Board of Trustees approved the name change in September after a recommendation from the Board’s Marketing/Community Relations Committee, which was charged with reviewing the branding.
The new name will be incorporated immediately.

ABOUT THE BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS
Blumenthal Performing Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider. For more information, call (704) 372-1000 or visit BlumenthalCenter.org. Blumenthal Performing Arts receives operating support from the Arts & Science Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. Blumenthal Performing Arts is also supported through the generous aid of its sponsors including, Carolinas Medical Center, official healthcare sponosr of Blumenthal Performing Arts; and Duke Energy, sponsor of the Duke Energy Broadway Lights Series.

For full press release, please click the PDF below.