Thu, Nov 30, 2023
DPAC Celebrates Its 15th Birthday
Today, DPAC celebrates its 15th Birthday as one of the nation’s top theaters. In its first 15 years of operations, DPAC has hosted more than 2,900 events and welcomed over six million guests.
DPAC is known for presenting spectacular touring Broadway productions, high-profile concert and comedy events, family shows and special events of all kinds. Under the direction of the successful theater operators Nederlander and Professional Facilities Management (PFM), DPAC has hosted more than 1,300 sellout performances since opening in 2008. DPAC also is home to one of the most successful Broadway subscription series in the country, with over 17,000 members.
“It has been incredible to witness the growth and success that DPAC continues to achieve. All of us at Nederlander are proud to be a part of the important public/private partnership that has genuinely served Durham and the greater Triangle area. DPAC has set the national example of how the right public/private partnerships can serve their communities and advance the cultural life of our nation’s great cities,” said Nick Scandalios, Executive Vice President of the Nederlander Organization, one of the world’s largest theater owners and one of the largest theatrical producing organizations in North America.
Live Broadway performances have topped DPAC’s list of best-selling events every year since 2008. DPAC’s signature series, Truist Broadway at DPAC, brings the biggest shows directly from New York to the Triangle. Three of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters, Hamilton, Disney’s The Lion King, and WICKED remain among the top-grossing Broadway shows in DPAC’s 15-year history.
|
Top 10 Broadway Shows Based on Ticket Sales |
Date |
|
|
1. |
Hamilton |
November 6 – December 2, 2018 |
|
2. |
Disney’s The Lion King |
February 16 – March 20, 2016 |
|
3. |
Hamilton |
May 17 – June 5, 2022 |
|
4. |
WICKED |
August 22 – September 17, 2023 |
|
5. |
WICKED |
May 2 – 27, 2012 |
|
6. |
WICKED |
April 21 – May 16, 2010 |
|
7. |
Disney’s The Lion King |
January 4 – 30, 2011 |
|
8. |
The Phantom of the Opera |
November 26 – December 20, 2009 |
|
9. |
WICKED |
January 7 – 25, 2015 |
|
10. |
Disney’s Aladdin |
October 2 – 26, 2019 |
Since 2008, DPAC has also hosted a variety of incredible concerts that span a diverse range of music genres. Grammy Award-winning superstar, Brandi Carlile tops the list of DPAC’s bestselling concert events, followed by American jam band, Widespread Panic and the multi-talented Harry Connick, Jr.
|
Top 15 Concerts at DPAC Based on Ticket Sales |
Date |
|
|
1. |
Brandi Carlile |
October 7, 2022 & February 22, 2023 |
|
2. |
Widespread Panic |
February 9 – 11, 2023 |
|
3. |
Widespread Panic |
March 29 – 31, 2019 |
|
4. |
Harry Connick, Jr. |
November 22 – 23, 2022 |
|
5. |
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit |
November 26 – 27, 2021 |
|
6. |
Steely Dan |
July 19, 2022 |
|
7. |
Neil Young |
April 15, 2011 |
|
8. |
Ringo Starr |
August 6, 2019 |
|
9. |
Lauren Daigle |
December 1 – 2, 2021 |
|
10. |
Joe Bonamassa |
March 18, 2019 |
|
11. |
A.R. Rahman |
August 14, 2022 |
|
12. |
Mannheim Steamroller |
December 18 – 19, 2018 |
|
13. |
Celtic Woman |
February 13, 2010 |
|
14. |
John Mellencamp |
May 20, 2023 |
|
15. |
Joe Bonamassa |
March 22, 2022 |
Comedy’s biggest new star, Matt Rife, is ranked as DPAC’s bestselling comedy event with his four sold out performances that took place last month. Multiple-night engagements of standup shows by Trevor Noah and Jim Gaffigan were also among DPAC’s top comedy shows.
|
Top 10 Comedy Shows at DPAC Based on Ticket Sales |
Date |
|
|
1. |
Matt Rife |
October 26 – 27, 2023 |
|
2. |
Trevor Noah |
March 24 – 27, 2023 |
|
3. |
Jim Gaffigan |
January 27 – 28, 2023 |
|
4. |
Steve Martin & Martin Short |
April 20 – 21, 2017 |
|
5. |
Jerry Seinfeld |
November 18, 2023 |
|
6. |
Sebastian Maniscalco |
March 7 – 8, 2020 |
|
7. |
John Oliver |
July 8 – 9, 2023 |
|
8. |
Chris Rock |
April 16, 2022 and June 8, 2022 |
|
9. |
Chris Rock |
February 13 – 15, 2017 |
|
10. |
Jerry Seinfeld |
March 15, 2018 |
Top selling special events include Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Farewell Tour and The Haves and Have Nots, family favorite Paw Patrol Live and a special run of Love Jones – The Musical.
|
Top 10 Special Events at DPAC Based on Ticket Sales |
Date |
|
|
1. |
Madea’s Farewell Tour |
April 30 – May 2, 2019 |
|
2. |
Paw Patrol Live |
May 20 – 21, 2017 |
|
3. |
Paw Patrol Live |
June 2 – 3, 2018 |
|
4. |
Tyler Perry’s The Haves / Have Nots |
February 25 – 26, 2012 |
|
5. |
Love Jones |
October 18 – 19, 2016 |
|
6. |
Alton Brown |
April 15, 2016 |
|
7. |
The Hip Hop Nutcracker |
December 23, 2022 |
|
8. |
MOVE Live on Tour |
June 29, 2014 |
|
9. |
A Magical Cirque Christmas |
December 1, 2019 |
|
10. |
Bluey’s Big Play |
June 6 – 7, 2023 |
DPAC is recognized annually as one of North Carolina and the nation’s top live entertainment venues. In the past 15 years, DPAC has received dozens of industry and viewer accolades. Local, regional, and national awards include:
Billboard Magazine
Top Ten Venues – U.S.
Under 5,000 Seats
2012 (#4), 2014 (#4), 2015 (#3), 2016 (#4), 2017 (#4), 2018 (#6), 2019 (#5), 2020 (#7), 2022 (#4),
Mid-Year 2023 (#3)
Pollstar Magazine
Top Ten Venues - U.S.
Theater Venues
2010 (#9), 2011 (#4), 2012 (#5), 2013 (#4), 2014 (#3), 2015 (#4), 2016 (#5), 2017 (#4), 2018 (#4), 2019 (#4), 2020 (#6), 2022 (#6), Mid-Year 2023 (#2)
Theater of the Decade Nominee
Theater Venues
2021
Venues Now Magazine
Top Ten Venues - U.S.
2,001-5,000 Capacity
2010 (#8), 2011 (#4), 2012 (#6), 2013 (#5), 2014 (#7), 2015 (#3), 2016 (#3), 2017 (#5), 2018 (#2), 2019 (#3), 2020 (#4), 2022 (#2), Mid-Year 2023 (#1)
Triangle Business Journal
#1 Performing Arts Organization
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023
WRAL.com
Voters’ Choice Awards
Performing Arts Venue
Winner: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA)
Theater of the Year Award
2018 Winner
North Carolina Travel Industry Association
NC Visitor Attraction of the Year
2018 Winner
Durham Magazine
Best of Durham Awards
Place for Live Music
Winner: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023
Indy Week
Best of the Triangle Awards
Best Live Theatre
Winner: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022
Midtown Magazine
Diamond Awards
Best Live Theatre
Winner: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023
“For the past 15 years, PFM, in partnership with the Nederlander Organization, has been proud to be a part of the growth and success that DPAC has achieved, becoming the center for live entertainment in Durham and the greater Triangle area,” said J.L. “Lynn” Singleton, President of PFM, Inc.
Link to Venue Photos: https://bit.ly/TopVenuePhotos
Link to Top Broadway B-roll: https://bit.ly/TopBroadway15
Link to Top Concerts Photos: https://bit.ly/TopConcerts15
Link to Top Concerts/Special Events Photos: https://bit.ly/TopComedyandSpecialEvents15
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