Raleigh's Premier Arts Venue
Set amongst the backdrop of our Capitol, the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts has stood as a historic and cultural focal point in Downtown Raleigh since 1932. It has played host to Broadway classics, rock legends and major political figures while maintaining an emphasis on education of the arts and artists housed within our own community. With four separate event spaces available, the breadth and depth of events past, present and future has made this Raleigh’s Premier Arts Venue.
Opened in 1932, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium is the crown jewel of North Carolina performing arts. Over the years, this richly historic theater has played host to a dazzling spectrum of artists and performances. Just a sample of the list quickly becomes dizzying: Sinatra, Gillespie, Baryshnikov, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughn, Itzhak Perlman, Natalie Cole and Prince. Broadway blockbusters like Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Miss Saigon, and Rent have also been staged here.
After some dramatic renovations ranging from 1975-76, 1990, 2001, and most recently 2016, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium now blends state-of-the-art technical amenities with grand theater traditions. Stepping into the theater -- with its dramatic atrium lobby, twin floating staircases, and gorgeous Doric columns -- brings the magic and inspiration of all these artists to life for visitors.
Eighty-thousand square feet of stage, house, rehearsal hall, lobbies, and public areas make Raleigh Memorial Auditorium one of the most decisively versatile facilities in the Southeast.
The North Carolina Symphony calls this remarkable 1700-seat venue home and it’s easy to see why. Its 65-ft ceiling, unique shoebox shape, narrow sides, shallow balconies and lack of proscenium all work together to deliver the warmest, clearest and most immersive sound experience possible. National and international artists and performers now speak of this hall’s remarkable acoustics.
The A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater is the epicenter for opera and dance in North Carolina. This 600-seat theater offers an intimacy perfect for such performances, with the farthest balcony seat less than 70 feet from the stage.
Located on the east side of the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, this unique venue hosts the Carolina Ballet as well as a wide variety of other performances.
This unique gallery, nestled within the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, is the proud home of the North Carolina Artists Exhibition. A collection of work by NC artists are selected each year by respected local museum and gallery directors from hundreds of submissions.
Hours: The Gallery can also be accessed during select performance hours.
It's the breathtaking show before the live show. Our atrium lobby presents a stunning grandeur with its central twin floating staircases, 14 Doric columns, and a high-coffered beam ceiling. The overall impact is a professional yet introspective atmosphere, bolstered by our remarkably attentive staff. In other words, it's an ideal space for any event, no matter the scale.
