The Durham Performing Arts Center opened in the midst of a budding visual arts scene as well as an economic recession in Durham. Yet less than two years since opening its doors in November 2008, DPAC—nestled in the American Tobacco District off of East Campus—has quickly developed into a major locale for world-class performances.
The venue will open its 2010/2011 season in October with the 10-time Tony Award-winning “Billy Elliot the Musical,” as well as multi-week showings of Disney’s “The Lion King” in January. Since the center opened its doors, more than 500,000 guests have visited DPAC for premieres ranging from Broadway musicals to concerts to comedy shows, DPAC General Manager Bob Klaus wrote in an e-mail.
“[‘Billy Elliot’] has been the biggest new show in New York since 2008 and will be making its national tour debut right at DPAC,” Klaus said. “Triangle audiences will get the chance to see this great new show before any major U.S. cities outside of New York and Chicago.”
Other highlights of the coming season include comedian Lewis Black, musical group Celtic Thunder and Chicago-based Blue Man Group.
But Durham’s newest performing arts venue is no stranger to well-known productions and popularity—it’s been happening since day one.
Beginning with its first performance, a show by blues legend B.B. King, DPAC sold out more than 30 shows in its opening year. Other full performances included the musicals “Hairspray,” “Rent” and “The Color Purple,” and comedians Bill Cosby and Robin Williams.
Most recently DPAC just finished up a run of the Broadway hit “Wicked,” which tops the list of sold-out performances with 32 shows. Klaus called it one of the “most successful Broadway events in North Carolina in years.”
As an indicator of its success, DPAC has generated substantial income despite the economic downturn, and the venue has hosted increasing numbers of shows in the past two years, Klaus said. The center presented more than 150 events during its first year and more than 175 in its second year, according to its website.
DPAC attracts audiences of all demographics, but college students compose about eight to 10 percent of the average audience, Klaus said. Duke encourages students to experience the Durham arts scene through the Office of Student Activities and Facilities, which offers special pricing and packages for DPAC shows.
The center has also collaborated with the University in other ways in order to put on top-notch performances for the Triangle community. DPAC was built in part to host the American Dance Festival, ADF Co-Director Jodee Nimerichter said
ADF has utilized space in Reynolds Theater and Page Auditorium in past years, but the bigger productions are now performed at DPAC as of summer 2009, replacing Page. This move will continue into subsequent years, Nimerichter said.
“The larger space [in DPAC] allows for much more freedom than in [Page Auditorium],” she said. “It’s a beautiful theater, the seating is incredible and our dancers from national and international companies love to perform on it.”
Several performances scheduled at DPAC will include “larger than life” aspects—such as a tango in the air by the Buenos Aires-based Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance Company—and Nimerichter said they will benefit from the additional stage space.
Although DPAC has weathered the economic downturn, some Triangle arts supporters have raised concerns that DPAC could hurt the sales of other venues, such as the nearby historic Carolina Theatre. However, Klaus said that DPAC has tried its best in preparing its schedule to avoid booking conflicts with local centers.
“We have also recently opened talks about booking collaborations for events that could be co-presented at each of our theaters,” he added.
For the future, Nimerichter said she hopes DPAC continues to make its mark as a national arts venue.
“I see this as another incredibly opportunity for the residents in and around Durham to come and enjoy a diverse set of works,” she added. “DPAC is putting Durham yet again on the national map.”
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