Tulsa Performing Arts Center
Address | 110 E 2nd St. Tulsa, Oklahoma United States |
---|---|
Coordinates | 36°9′15″N 95°59′22″W / 36.15417°N 95.98944°W |
Owner | City of Tulsa |
Type | Performing arts center |
Capacity | Chapman Music Hall: 2,365 John H. Williams Theatre: 437 Liddy Doenges Theatre: 300 Charles E. Norman Theatre: 200 |
Construction | |
Opened | March 19, 1977 |
Architect | Minoru Yamasaki |
Website | |
www |
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center, or Tulsa PAC, is a
Numerous headliners such as Michael Bublé, Kelly Clarkson, Steve Martin and Anthony Bourdain have appeared at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The complex was built with a combination of public and private funds and opened in 1977. The building is home to a permanent collection of 76 works of art.[3]
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center launched a regional ticketing company, run by the Tulsa PAC, in 2006. MyTicketOffice.com handles the ticketing for 12 performance arts venues in Oklahoma and Texas.[4]
History
The Tulsa PAC opened March 19, 1977, and was built with a combination of public and private funds.
The forerunner of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center was the Tulsa Municipal Theatre, now known as the
Construction
Prior to construction, a private corporation, PACI, was formed to take over the ownership of the construction project and then return the PAC property back to the City of Tulsa after building completion. This allowed for construction to move ahead at greater speed ahead of the rampant inflation. A committee was formed to procure art for the building.
The facility underwent a major retrofit in the early 1990s to help the PAC become more accessible to people with disabilities. In 2000, the PAC completed a major expansion that included an additional studio theater, a large reception hall and a large suite of restrooms. This was the second addition of restrooms since the building opened in 1977.
Performance venues
The Tulsa PAC has four main performance venues: Chapman Music Hall,
Chapman Music Hall
Accommodating 2,365 in Continental-style seating, Chapman Music Hall is the largest venue at the PAC. World-renowned talents, like
John H. Williams Theatre
A scaled-down replica of Chapman Music Hall, the intimate John H. Williams Theatre seats 437 people. It opened in March 1977 at the same time as Chapman Music Hall and the former Studio I and Studio II. Chamber music, piano soloists, a variety of theatre productions, poetry readings and Celtic music concerts have been staged in the theater.
Liddy Doenges Theatre
The former Studio I was renamed in 1994 following the death of arts patron Liddy Doenges who served on the TPAC Trust. This “black box” theater can accommodate up to 300 people in non-fixed seating. Theatre productions, special events and cabarets are frequently staged in the Doenges Theatre.[12]
Charles E. Norman Theatre
Charles E. Norman was one of the key city leaders who played a crucial role during the pre-construction and construction phase of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. He served on the TPAC Trust until his death in 2010. The former Studio II was renamed for him in 2000.[13] This theater seats approximately 200. Theatre productions, receptions, cabaret-style performances, master classes and rehearsals are the theater's main business.
Other amenities
Robert J. LaFortune Studio
This space is used as a cabaret theatre during the PAC's Trust's annual SummerStage festival, and also is a setting for press conferences, pre-curtain lectures, master classes and cast parties. It can comfortably seat 100 at tables, and more with a combined table/riser seating arrangement. There is lecture seating for 200. Robert J. LaFortune was Tulsa's mayor during the PAC's construction phase.[14]
Kathleen P. Westby Pavilion
This 49’ x 64’ reception hall, nearly 3,000-square feet, can seat approximately 160 at tables and 240 lecture-style. The Pavilion is ideal for pre- and post-performance gatherings, galas, small concerts and press conferences. The PAC honored longtime Tulsa PAC Trust member Katie Westby by naming the hall for her in 2000. Westby oversaw the formation of the Performing Arts Center's permanent art collection.[15] The PAC currently rents this hall to the public for a range of social and cultural activities.
Accomplishments and recognition
2015 "Best Performing Arts Space (Tulsa Voice readers); 2015 A-List Winner (Tulsa People); "Best Performing Arts Venue" (Tulsa World readers); 2015 Certificate of Excellence (Trip Advisor)
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center was one of the first 15 performing arts centers in the United States with a website.[16]
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center ticket office was named the 2013 “Outstanding Box Office” by the International Ticketing Association (INTIX).[4][17]
The Tulsa PAC's INTERMISSION Magazine was awarded “PR Magazine of the Year” in 2011 and 2013 in the Great Plains Journalism competition.[18]
INTERMISSION also earned First Place for Best
Oklahoma Magazine voted the Tulsa PAC “Place to See and Be Seen,” 2008.[citation needed]
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center won the International Ticketing Association Outstanding Box Office Award, 2013[19]
References
- ^ a b 'House of Art' by Tulsa PAC; published 2012; retrieved February 2013
- ^ "PAC Trust plans Guthrie Green shows | Tulsa World". Archived from the original on 2012-08-07.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ a b "Tulsa PAC takes box office award | Tulsa World". Archived from the original on 2013-02-21.
- ^ a b c d [2] [dead link]
- ^ "Director who oversaw Broken Arrow PAC growth named new Tulsa PAC director | Entertainment". Tulsaworld.com.
- ^ [3] [dead link]
- ^ [4] [dead link]
- ^ [5] [dead link]
- ^ [6] [dead link]
- ^ [7] [dead link]
- ^ [8] [dead link]
- ^ [9] [dead link]
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- ^ [11] [dead link]
- ^ Happy 35th Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsakids.com; by Betty Casey; published March 2012; retrieved February 2013
- ^ [12] [dead link]
- ^ [13] [dead link]
- ^ [14] [permanent dead link]