Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in downtown
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
is an $88 million
[ 3,023-seat performing arts facility.][ Its first public performance was a September 2021 concert] which was followed by an official opening in November 2021.[ It replaces the 2,400-seat War Memorial Auditorium in the ]Greensboro Coliseum Complex
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex, commonly referred to as Greensboro Coliseum (the first and biggest building on the site), is an entertainment and sports complex located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Opened in 1959, the complex holds eight venu ...
; the auditorium was torn down in October 2014. The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro raised $35 million privately, to be paid over ten years. The city of Greensboro is paying $30 million. Construction was delayed a year so the foundation could get a $25 million bank loan to guarantee its contribution. The Greensboro Symphony and Guilford College
Guilford College is a private liberal arts college in Greensboro, North Carolina. Guilford has both traditional students and students who attend its Center for Continuing Education (CCE). Founded in 1837 by members of the Religious Society o ...
's Bryan Series frequently use the facility.[ The facility will also hosts Broadway productions and concerts. The facility is named for Steven Tanger, CEO of ]Tanger Factory Outlet Centers
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. ( ) is a real estate investment trust headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that invests in shopping centers containing outlet stores in the United States and Canada.
As of December 31, 2019, the com ...
, who pledged $7.5 million toward the project in 2013. After working for a year, a task force recommended a state of the art center in February 2013. Groundbreaking was held April 26, 2017 and the first work took place July 13.
History
In 2000, Greensboro arts groups wanted a new performance facility or changes to existing facilities which were inadequate. War Memorial Auditorium, with 2,400 seats, was too large for some events but had a small stage and orchestra pit as well as poor acoustics; Coliseum Managing Director Matt Brown had plans for $5 million in improvements but no funding. The Carolina Theatre downtown had only 1,100 seats. A preliminary study recommended a performing arts center with 1,700 to 2,000 seats, and a smaller 500-seat facility. The study also said the city had enough events for both existing and new facilities. Arts leaders wanted a more detailed study.
A 2001 downtown master plan estimated the cost of a new performing arts center at between $35 and $45 million. A feasibility study was done in 2004.
2006 and 2008 bond referendums to renovate were unsuccessful.[ In 2008, Brown said events were being lost to the Durham Performing Arts Center and that Greensboro was entitled to a facility of equal quality. Until that happened, the auditorium could be repaired as needed, but that would not be enough.
In January 2012, Brown asked the city council to consider a $36 million performing arts center to replace the auditorium, paid for with $25 million in bonds and $11 million in accommodations tax revenues. A Greensboro Performing Arts Center Task Force began meeting in February. At their first meeting, Interim City Manager Denise Turner Roth said a downtown location, which the city council wanted, would cost up to $15 million more, with $10 million of that amount coming from donations.
In June 2012, the task force recommended a 3000-seat $60 million facility downtown.]
In 2013, Greensboro attorney Kathy Manning
Kathy Ellen Manning (born December 3, 1956) is an American lawyer and politician from North Carolina. She is the U.S. representative from North Carolina's 6th congressional district. The district is in the heart of the Piedmont Triad and includes ...
agreed to serve as chair to seek private funds for the performing arts center.
Originally, the city-owned former YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams (philanthropist), Georg ...
site was to be used but it was not enough. Land was purchased at North Elm and Lindsay Streets and Summit Avenue at a cost of $11.5 million.[
During the closing ceremony for War Memorial Auditorium on September 4, 2014, Brown showed what the planned veterans' memorial would look like. Names of veterans shown on plaques at the auditorium would eventually go in the new memorial near the Tanger Center.
Because the Tanger Center is expected to lose money in its early years, a new premium parking lot at the Coliseum Complex will be used to help with operating expenses. Expected revenue from the lot is nearly $400,000 a year. A second, 250-space lot at the Tanger Center is expected to provide $675,000 per year.]
On July 29, 2015, the city revealed the cost of the center would be $58 million, $8 million over the original estimate, and not including $11.5 million for the land. This was after cuts had been made, and more cuts were expected.
On December 8, 2015, the city council approved a plan to raise $11 million more for the center, after it became clear the original budget was already exceeded by more than $10 million. The Chamber of Commerce building would be replaced by VIP parking expected to provide $1.6 million. Private donors would be asked for $3.5 million more. Ticket service fees would be $1 more, and $1 less of the existing $3 service fee would go to arts groups, with each raising a projected $3.75 million over 25 years. Also, $4.4 million of the costs would be eliminated if possible. The city would also have to authorize $9,617,858 in bonds.
At a January 27, 2016 news conference, H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture showed designs for the exterior and lobby including a limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
and glass facade and lobby art to be paid for by donations.
On February 17, 2016, Phillips Foundation announced a $1.5 million grant; this is in addition to a $3.5 million grant in May 2013, for which the 8000-square-foot lobby will be named Phillips Hall. $500,000 of this amount went for art installation.[
Brown and others announced on December 16, 2016 that the $38.5 million fund-raising goal had been met and that $300,000 of the additional $3 million had been raised. Construction was expected to start in May 2017 and will be complete in early 2020. The 111,000-square-foot building will face Abe Brenner Place and occupy part of a 5.5-acre lot also bordered by North Elm and East Lindsay Streets and Summit Avenue. The 3000 seats will be ]white oak
The genus ''Quercus'' contains about 500 species, some of which are listed here. The genus, as is the case with many large genera, is divided into subgenera and sections. Traditionally, the genus ''Quercus'' was divided into the two subgenera ''C ...
with red upholstery, and divided into lower orchestra, upper orchestra and balcony. A Founders Room will be available for events. The site will also have 329 VIP parking spaces.
As of March 8, 2017, the opening date of early 2019 was uncertain. Potential donors had been saying for several months that delays would result in their waiting to give their money.
Steven Tanger and North Carolina Governor
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...
Roy Cooper
Roy Asberry Cooper III (born June 13, 1957) is an American attorney and politician, serving as the 75th governor of North Carolina since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th attorney general of North Carolina from 20 ...
attended the groundbreaking April 26, 2017. At the time, Brown predicted a June 2019 opening.[
D.H. Griffin won the bidding for Phase I, which started July 13, 2017.][
On December 19, 2017, the Greensboro city council awarded a $57.9 million contract to Barnhill Contracting Company of ]Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southe ...
. Work could start in January 2018, but this meant a completion date of January 2020. The project's total cost was $84.7 million, plus $5 million in financing costs. The Tanger Center would be collateral
Collateral may refer to:
Business and finance
* Collateral (finance), a borrower's pledge of specific property to a lender, to secure repayment of a loan
* Marketing collateral, in marketing and sales
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Collate ...
for $48 million in limited obligation bonds.
A web site was available and included what is described as a real-time camera permitting viewers to watch construction progress.
On March 13, 2020, it was announced that the center's opening would be put on hold due to statewide bans of gatherings consisting of more than 100 people due to the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, effectively postponing or cancelling multiple opening events.
On December 1, 2020, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra announced its first concert in the center would take place April 29, 2021. However, the first public performance at the center was a Rhiannon Giddens concert on September 2, 2021. The center's total cost was believed to be $88 million, not including financing costs.[ Tanger Center held an official opening ceremony November 15, 2021, that included the dedication of ''Genesis'' by Mabel Poblet, "nearly 200 strands of ]laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The fi ...
-cut, reflective metallic and clear acrylic
Acrylic may refer to:
Chemicals and materials
* Acrylic acid, the simplest acrylic compound
* Acrylate polymer, a group of polymers (plastics) noted for transparency and elasticity
* Acrylic resin, a group of related thermoplastic or thermosett ...
discs ... from 6 inches to 24 inches in diameter" hanging from the ceiling of the lobby.
Notable Productions
Notable productions to play the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts through the First Bank Broadway series include;
* Come From Away
''Come from Away'' is a Canadian musical, with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is based on the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes, carryin ...
(2020)
* Wicked
Wicked may refer to:
Books
* Wicked, a minor character in the ''X-Men'' universe
* '' Wicked'', a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name
* ''Wicked'', the fifth novel in Sara Shepard's ''Pretty Little Liars'' s ...
(2020)
* The Lion King
''The Lion King'' is a 1994 American animated musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 32nd Disney animated feature film and the fifth produced during the Disney Renaissance ...
(2021)
* Dear Evan Hansen
''Dear Evan Hansen'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a tr ...
(2021)
* Mean Girls
''Mean Girls'' is a 2004 American teen comedy film directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey. The film stars Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Amanda Seyfried (in her film debut), Tim Meadows, Ana Gasteyer, Amy Poehler a ...
(2021)
* Cats (2023)
* Ain't Too Proud (2023)
* The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which, according to Latter Day Saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from 600 BC to AD 421 and during an interlude dat ...
(2023)
* Beetlejuice
''Beetlejuice'' is a 1988 American fantasy horror comedy film directed by Tim Burton, written by Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson, and Warren Skaaren, produced by The Geffen Company, distributed by Warner Bros., and starring Alec Baldwin, ...
(2023)
* Frozen (2023)
The 2023-2024 Broadway season is slated to begin in the fall of 2023
References
External links
*
website for the performing arts center
{{Music venues of North Carolina
Buildings and structures in Greensboro, North Carolina
Dance in North Carolina
Music venues in North Carolina
Performing arts centers in North Carolina
Theatres in Greensboro, North Carolina