An introduction to TPAC

Photo: Hedrich Blessing from tpac.org

If you’ve been in Nashville for long, you surely know that TPAC stands for Tennessee Performing Arts Center, but if you’re new in town, or visiting for business or vacation, you may not realize what an excellent opportunity Nashville’s premier arts venue really is.

TPAC is located at 505 Deaderick St. in downtown Nashville, at the corner of 6th Avenue South. The building itself,opened in 1980, is state-owned and is comprised of four separate venues, Andrew Jackson Hall, James K. Polk Theater, Andrew Johnson Theater and the War Memorial Auditorium. These venues seat anywhere from 288 to 2472 people, offering suitable settings for productions ranging from intimate to grandiose. The center operates at near capacity, hosting up 500 hundred performances annually.

Resident companies at TPAC provide excellent shows throughout the year. The center hosts the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, and Tennessee Repertory Theatre. TPAC also offers numerous traveling shows and special events.

As an anchor of the Nashville arts community, TPAC also offers outreach and educational programs such as Humanities Outreach in Tennessee (HOT), ArtSmart, Wolf Trap Early Learning for the Arts, the TPAC Summer Institute and TPAC InsideOut.

The center is conveniently located, with full handicapped accessibility and ample convenient parking on the street and in nearby garages. Ticket prices vary by event, and group rates are available. Considerations are also made for education purposes.

Upcoming shows include The Gruffalo, Love Overboard, and The Rabbit Hole (including a special “Look In” event where you can see what goes on behind the scenes).

Visitors to Nashville are encouraged to take advantage of the many entertainments offered by TPAC. Family vacations in particular can be greatly enhanced by a memorable theatre experience. Residents are also welcome to enrich their lives in Nashville with season tickets, which provide a wonderful value for theatre lovers.