DPAC, Others Honored by Trip Advisor With Certificates of Excellence

Durham has long been known for its visitor-friendly features and attractions. Now some of these places have been recognized by a leading travel website.

Trip Advisor has announced the 2015 recipients of its Certificate of Excellence designation and fourteen Durham sites are included. The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is awarded to properties that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. A Certificate of Excellence celebrates the accommodations, attractions and eateries that make these perfect trips possible.

Now in its 5th year, the prestigious Certificate of Excellence award recognizes establishments that consistently earn great TripAdvisor reviews from travelers. Many Durham attractions have consistently been recognized by this award, such as DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center which received its fourth consecutive award this year.

The Durham attractions that were recognized included:

1. Sarah P. Duke Gardens
2. DPAC
3. Duke University Chapel
4. Museum of Life + Science
5. Durham Bulls Athletic Park
6. Duke University
7. Cameron Indoor Stadium
8. Duke Lemur Center
9. Carolina Theatre
10. Eno River State Park
11. Streets at Southpoint
12. Bennett Place Historic Site
13. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
14. Ninth Street

To see more Durham Certificate of Excellence recipients, including restaurants and places to stay, visit Trip Advisor's Durham page. Visit Durham's Must Sees or Local Favorites pages for more places to make sure to see!

DPAC Announces 2015-16 Suntrust Broadway Season

Some people think that the Broadway experience is relegated to New York City's theater district. But they probably haven't been to Durham Performing Arts Center, DPAC in Durham, NC.

DPAC, has named the upcoming 2015-2016 SunTrust Broadway season the "Broadway Doesn’t Get Any Bigger Than This" year and the upcoming season seems to live up to those claims.

The SunTrust Broadway season includes eight shows, six of which have been recent hits on Broadway. The other two productions are launching brand new national tours under the creative direction of some of Broadway’s most accomplished writers and directors.

Three recent Broadway hits will all coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center for the 2015-16 season. “If/Then,” “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” will all be part of the next season. Returning favorites include “The Book of Mormon” and “The Lion King.” Also coming are “Cabaret,” “Matilda the Musical,” “42nd Street,” “The Illusionists” and “The Sound of Music.”

Season tickets are available for purchase now and individual tickets will be available at a later date. DPAC has over 15,000 Season Seat Members, making DPAC the country’s leading one-week Broadway series and the Triangle region’s #1 performing arts series. Ninety-five percent of all SunTrust Broadway at DPAC shows sell every ticket to every performance, and ticket information is available on the DPAC website.

Learn more about Durham's performing arts scene online, and stay on top of everything happening here with the Durham Event Calendar.

DPAC Nominated for Prestigious Billboard Magazine Award

DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC is no stranger to receiving high praise, even from one of the most prestigious entertainment groups in the United States. Again it is the recipient of high praise because of its success as a venue, something it receives regularly.

The success DPAC has had is undeniable, and this time it is from a true industry leader. DPAC has been recognized as one of three finalists in the Billboard Touring Awards for the top venue under 5,000 seats. These awards are based primarily on the Billboard Boxscore chart, recognizing true box office success and industry achievement.

This nomination puts DPAC up alongside some serious competition from globally-known venues. Other finalists are The Colosseum at Caesars Palace -- Las Vegas which has won the previous three years and Fox Theatre – Atlanta, which has been a finalist in the same category for three years. 

The winners will be announced live in New York City on November 20, 2014 at the Edison Ballroom. Billboard Magazine, the sponsor of this award, is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. 

Learn more about the award-winning DPAC or other performing arts venues online, and about all that is happening here with the Durham Event Calendar.

DPAC Sets New Broadway Season Ticket Record

The SunTrust Broadway Series at DPAC - Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham has set a new record for season ticket holders. More than 15,000 season seat members have made DPAC the #1 one-week selling Broadway season ticket program in the United States. That's why it's even more important to get your tickets now before they sell out!

The last broadway show to sell out was Jersey Boys, but as the 2014-15 gets underway there are still shows with seats available. At present, none of the shows at the theater have sold out for the Broadway series.

The upcoming shows pack quite a punch, too. Phantom of the Opera is coming back, but it's an entirely new production; the story is the same but the whole experience is different, so even those who have seen it previously will be engaged. The aforementioned Dirty Dancing starts tonight, Jersey Boys returns on 9/26, Wicked returns for the third time with a 3 week run on 10/4 - this is the only Broadway show to do so at DPAC. Also coming up are Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cindarella, Annie, Motown the Musical, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Newsies, and Stomp.

The theater continues to wow audiences each year with an exceptional experience and customer service, as well as top notch shows. The theater has received TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence several times. Those shows draw quite large crowds, too. DPAC consistently ranks in the top five busiest theaters in the US.

Learn more about upcoming events in Durham with the Durham Event Calendar, and plan a visit online.

DPAC Sets New Records, Places in Top Three Nationwide

All of the 13 theaters in Durham are great destinations for different reasons, and the biggest, DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center announced this week key attendance statistics for their just-completed sixth season.

Among other records set, DPAC ranks third in the United States in the latest national attendance rankings by Pollstar magazine. A release from the theater offered more details:

"The sixth season boasts new records with 76 sellout performances and 14,081 season seat members for their signature series, SunTrust Broadway at DPAC.  DPAC's 2013 / 2014 Season featured 179 performances which drew 383,415 guests and 64 concerts, comedy and special events.  This 2013 / 2014 attendance mark was DPAC second highest ever since DPAC’s opening in 2008.  Heading the list of the highest attended shows were The Book of Mormon (16 performances at DPAC) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (10 performances at DPAC).   DPAC begins the 2014-2015 SunTrust Broadway season as one of the top Broadway series in the country, with season seat sales now at 14,220 and still growing."

Bested by only Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and the Fox theater in Atlanta, both of which top DPAC's seating by more than 1300 seats, the third place ranking nationally is just another reminder of the theaters' popularity, and another indicator of Durham's robust arts scene.

Learn more about all the arts and entertainment events with the Durham Event Calendar, and plan a trip to Durham online.

Read more about DPAC's recent TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

DPAC Shines Brighter Than Ever

DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center welcomed its 2 millionth guest in early May. This is great news, no doubt. That it again received TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence is evidence that its patrons view the place, and the staff running it, as being at the top of their game.

A consumer review site, TripAdvisor is considered to be among the most reputable of the ilk and only awards its Certificate of Excellence to places that earn the distinction through repeated user reviews with high ranks.

"DPAC continues to show people an exceptional time when they come to Durham for a show," said Shelly Green, President and CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau, the organization that draws people to Durham to visit. "The service, in conjunction with a world-class facility, a line-up of envy-worthy shows brought in for the SunTrust Broadway series, and a calendar full of blockbuster performances year round, make DPAC an important component in the Durham visitor mix," Green added. DPAC has won this award before.

Shows on that calendar referred to above include global superstars like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby, musicians Neil Young and Patti LaBelle, and Broadway hits like Wicked and The Lion King.

In a statement released by the theater, General Manager Bob Klaus details the service philosophy that underpins the theaters success as a destination. "We opened with just one vision; to be the Triangle's favorite place for live entertainment. This mission always starts with one-of-a-kind, live entertainment events. We follow that with what many call the "DPAC Experience," a focus on the guest and the high value we place on quality and service."

Since opening in 2008, DPAC has presented over 530 hit Broadway performances, 180 concerts, and 60 celebrity comedians. Over 328 of these events have been total sellouts including multi-week runs of Broadway shows. The theater has over 14,000 season seat members to its signature series, SunTrust Broadway at DPAC. 

DPAC is one of 13 theaters in Durham providing residents and visitors alike with great programming year round. The Carolina Theatre in Downtown Durham, like DPAC, is nationally ranked and producing a calendar of high-caliber entertainment.

Stay up to date on all that is happening in Durham's theaters with the Durham Event Calendar.

Durham Wayfinders Volunteer More Than $1.1 Million of Time

November 30, 2008 was an important day in Durham.  Not only did DPAC, the Durham Performing Arts Center open, but a robust volunteer program launched, too.  To date, The Durham Wayfinders program has donated time from citizens worth more than $1.000.000 - and that number is growing at a faster rate than ever.

The program began as an effort to offer passionate people a chance to help others enjoy Durham at festivals, events, and at venues, like DPAC.  The world-renowned theater was integral in the program's inception.

"With Wayfinders, we created an outlet for interested people to easily register to help at events to provide visitors with excellent customer service," said Shelly Green, the CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau who administers the program.  "It has taken on a life of its own and continues to amaze us with the level of engagement demonstrated by the volunteers. It has served as a model for other places to initiate similar programs," Green added.

Take Karen Burns as a shining example.  Burns has volunteered more than 1400 hours at more than 500 events in her years as a Wayfinder. "I have met many interesting people and have fun participating at all the events and performances in Durham," she said.  Burns has volunteered more hours than any other participant in the program. A total of 17 participants have each donated over 500 hours of time. Currently there are 2563 active participants in the program.

Through October, 2013 a total of 53,613 hours have been donated.  According to Independent Sector, a leadership network for nonprofit organizations that, among other things, calculates the value of donated time, that time represents a significant value to Durham's stakeholders.  The value of the time is $1,176,027.56. Hours for 2013 were calculated at the 2012 value because Independent Sector has not released its valuation of a volunteer hour for 2013 yet. Their chart is available online.

People can register to be part of the Durham Wayfinders on this website. 

DPAC #3 in the US; Five Year Impact Tops $175 Million

With the release of its third quarter rankings, Pollstar magazine again recognized DPAC - The Durham Performing Arts Center as one of the top 10 venues in the world as measured by ticket sales - a global industry standard used to measure performance. Attaining the #6 spot in the world and #3 spot in the US (missing #2 by a mere 1255 tickets sold), this state-of-the-art facility in Downtown Durham plays host to some of the most popular performances on tour.

This recognition is ideally timed and serves as punctuation of DPAC's many contributions in its first five years.

"Occasions like this are a great opportunity for us to celebrate DPAC's success and highlight its economic contributions to Durham," said Shelly Green, the President and CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB).  "They've certainly been an important contributor to Durham's continued growth and popularity as a visitor destination."

Through its first five seasons (one partial and four full seasons) the 2,700+ seat theater has sold 1.65 million seats.  That means each seat has been sold more than 600 times on average. Another telling number is that the 1.2 million non-resident visitors sitting in those seats spent about $175 million in Durham.  Patrons typically spend much more than just the price of their ticket.  They visit restaurants, stay in hotels, buy gas and shop in stores here, too.

DPAC has hosted many of Broadways hottest touring shows.  The current Suntrust Broadway Season features several blockbusters including The Book of Mormon, Once, Ghost, Evita and The Wizard of Oz. Click here to see the full line up and purchase tickets.

Stay up to date on all that is happening with the Durham Event Calendar.

Book of Mormon Coming to DPAC

The Tony-award winning musical The Book of Mormon is coming to Durham and tickets will soon go on sale.

The producers of the national tour of the new musical The Book of Mormon  winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical DPAC announced that single tickets will go on sale October 26 at 8 AM at the DPAC Box Office only and at 10 AM online and on phones. An exclusive pre-sale for American Express ® Card members will begin at 10 AM on October 23 through October 24 at 11:59 pm.  Tickets will be available at the DPAC Ticket Center at 123 Vivian Street/Durham, N.C., all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting online, or by calling 1.800.982.2787. Group orders of 15 or more must be placed by October 22 by calling 919.281.0587.

The Book of Mormon features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q.  The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker.

The Book of Mormon is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

The Book of Mormon features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan.  Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus.  Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.  The Original Broadway Cast Recording for The Book of Mormon  winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

Find more events at the Durham Event Calendar.

The Return of the Legends at DPAC Oct 18-19

Ten hip hop and R&B favorites will perform live in concert in Durham as part of The Return of the Legends, a two-night concert and after-party event October 18-19, 2013 at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now.

Rakim will headline on Friday, October 18 with special guests Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Lords of the Underground, Nice and Smooth, and Camp Lo. Bell Biv Devoe will headline on Saturday, October 19 with special guests EPMD, Brand Nubian, Pharcyde, and DAS EFX. Hosted by Durham’s own 9th Wonder.

The Return of the Legends is an official alumni event of North Carolina Central University’s Homecoming weekend. Both nights are presented in partnership with The DOME Group, Inc. and Major Mint Marketing.

For both nights, the concerts will begin at 8:00 p.m. After-parties will begin at 11:00 p.m. in the DPAC lobbies. Artists will appear at the after-parties on their respective nights. Concert tickets do not allow admission to the after-party; after-party admission can be purchased in addition to the concert ticket. At this time, after-party admission can only be purchased by those who also purchase tickets to the concert.

“We are pleased to bring this classic hip hop and R&B lineup to the DPAC stage," states Sulaiman Mausi of The DOME Group, Inc. and NCCU alumnus. “The Return of the Legends will be the perfect concert and after-party event for fans who were college students in the 80s and 90s.”

Learn more about all the events here with the online Durham Event Calendar.

The Ten Tenors Come to DPAC March 20, 2014

The producers of The Ten Tenors have put together a special treat for Broadway fans this season. Fans will get the opportunity to see a wonderful collection of Broadway’s greatest hits sun by Australian’s hottest tenors.  “The Ten Tenors: On Broadway” will be a limited run and will make a stop at DPAC on March 20, 2014.

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 23 at 10 a.m. online and at the DPAC Ticket Center at 123 Vivian Street. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on August 21.

Amidst incredible international success, this Australian troupe has become known as one of the hardest working touring acts, performing an average of 250 shows per year across seven continents.  The group had groundbreaking achievements in 2010, gaining new audiences in South America, Sweden, Japan and the Baltic States. All in all, the Ten Tenors have sold over 3.5 million concert tickets worldwide.

“I’ve seen this group in previous years and have been blown away at the talent level they bring to the stage,” remembers Rachel Gragg, Senior Director of Marketing at DPAC. “Having sold out cities worldwide, DPAC looks forward to presenting a brand new tour that will have audiences hearing all of their favorite Broadway hits.”

With four gold and two platinum albums to their name, the group has also produced two gold and one platinum DVD’s that has forced the Tenors to continually challenge themselves and their audience. The release of their tenth studio album, Double Platinum, saw the Ten Tenors surprising audiences with a new look and new songs. The album debuted at #7 in New Zealand.

Producer D-J Wendt says of Double Platinum, “we like to think audiences come to our show to hear Arias that will give them goose bumps like they have never felt before.” Adding to the feel of their live show, long-serving member Dominic Smith says “so many people, particularly men, turn up to a show having been dragged by their wives… not too far into the show, the realize we are a group of down-to-earth Aussie blokes that have the power and guts in our performance and they leave not only pleasantly surprised, but fans themselves.”

Indeed, it is the Ten Tenors unique approach to opera that has powered their rise to the top.  Bringing rock and classical music together, kicking and screaming, they have created a sound that is uniquely theirs. Expect them to bring the same contrast of raw power and soothing beauty to this special evening of Broadway – only at DPAC.

Discover more great events in Durham at www.durham-nc.com.

Once, a New Musical Comes to DPAC

Whether it's once in a blue moon, once in a while or Once in Durham, theatre fans should definitely see Once, the musical.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards® including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the DPAC for a limited engagement from January 21 through 26 as part of the SunTrust Broadway at DPAC, 2013 / 2014 Season.  Tickets for ONCE will be available on Friday, August 16 at noon.

Tickets for ONCE show go on sale Friday, August 16 at noon online and at the DPAC Ticket Center in Downtown Durham.

ONCE, which was also named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critic Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards, is currently running on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre where it started performances on February 28, 2012 and opened March 18, 2012.

ONCE features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, a book by award-winning Irish playwright & screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom), direction by the acclaimed Scottish director of Black Watch, John Tiffany, movement by Steven Hoggett (Black Watch, American Idiot) and music supervision and orchestrations by Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!). The set and costume design are by five time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley (The Coast of Utopia, Mary Poppins), lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz (Aida, The Coast of Utopia), and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

ONCE is the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award-winning film. It tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music.  Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together.  Brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and featuring an ensemble cast of gifted actor/musicians, ONCE is a musical celebration of life and love: thrilling in its originality, daring in its honesty... and unforgettable in every way.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, ONCE, was written and directed by John Carney, and starred Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with original music and lyrics by Mr. Hansard and Ms. Irglová.

The Oscar winning independent Irish film, ONCE was made for $150,000. Shot in 17 days, it went on to gross $20M worldwide becoming a critically acclaimed international smash. It stars Glen Hansard, from the popular Irish Rock band The Frames, and Markéta Irglová. Glen and Markéta won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original song for “Falling Slowly,” the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Music, and the soundtrack was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

ONCE was originally developed at the American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, Massachusetts) in April 2011; Diane Paulus, Artistic Director; Diane Borger, Producer.

A developmental run of ONCE at New York Theatre Workshop (James C. Nicola and William Russo) began performances on November 15, 2011 and opened December 6.  The production broke box office records and concluded a sold out engagement including a two week extension through January 15, 2012.

ONCE is produced by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf, The Shubert Organization and Executive Producer Robert Cole, in association with New York Theatre Workshop.

Learn more about great events in Durham at the Durham Event Calendar.

Amos Lee to Perform at DPAC Nov. 18

Durham will welcome popular singer-songwriter Amos Lee to town in November. Lee will tour the U.S. this fall in support of his fifth studio album, Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song, which will be released on October 8 by Blue Note Records. The headline run will make a stop at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on November 18, 2013.

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 9 at 10 a.m. online. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on August 7. Lee will donate $1 from each ticket sold for the November tour to Musicians On Call, a non-profit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. In his ongoing effort to support Musicians On Call, Lee will be running a donation-based contest to win an autographed guitar. For more information on the contest, go online.

Special guests on the album include vocalists Alison Krauss and Patty Griffin and instrumentalists Jerry Douglas (Alison Krauss & Union Station), Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson and Family) and Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band). The album is the first to feature Lee’s longtime touring band – comprising Freddie Berman, Zach Djanikian, Andy Keenan and Jaron Olevsky – which will be joining him on the road this fall. Lee will perform solo at Farm Aid (September 21) and the Life is Good Festival (September 22).

Mountains Of Sorrow, Rivers Of Song is the follow-up to 2011’s Mission Bell, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Rock Albums charts and contained the No. 1 Triple A radio hit “Windows Are Rolled Down.” “His soulful singing charms throughout,” said Entertainment Weekly and USA Today awarded the album four stars out of four. "Amos Lee has a honeyed singing voice - light amber, mildly sweet, a touch of grain,” observed The New York Times while The Philadelphia Inquirer noted, “Lee hits his personal best.”

About Musicians On Call

Musicians On Call is a non-profit organization (founded in 1999) that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, in order to complement the healing process for patients, families, and caregivers. To date, its volunteers have played for over 350,000 individuals nationwide. Musicians On Call continues its mission through room-to-room hospital performances by both local and internationally renowned musicians as well as the Music Pharmacy Program. Forty-two weekly Bedside Programs are currently provided in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Miami, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. 

Learn more about great things to do in Durham at the Durham Event Calendar.

John Legend to Perform at DPAC Oct 31

Halloween is all treats this year when nine-time Grammy® winner, John Legend makes his much anticipated return to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on October 31, 2013. 

This stop is part of his North American tour, "Made to Love" in support of his upcoming album Love in the Future, which will be released this fall.  Award-winning singer, reality star and talk show host Tamar Braxton, whose album Love and War also drops September 3^rd, has been confirmed as a special guest throughout the tour.

Tickets go on sale August 2 at 10 a.m. online, or at the DPAC Ticket Center at 123 Vivian Street in Durham. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on July 31. J

"I will never forget John Legend's first show at DPAC as part of our grand opening. It was one of those special moments that brought chills to all of us as he started the show by walking into the seating area singing the first song of the show. DPAC is famous for special concerts and special memories and I cannot wait for this next chapter,” said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC.  

John Legend is a nine-time Grammy® Award winning recording artist, critically-acclaimed concert performer, philanthropist/social activist, and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. 

Legend’s debut album, Get Lifted (2004) sold more than three million copies worldwide and earned an astounding eight Grammy® nominations with three wins for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B album. Legend’s follow-up album, Once Again (2006) earned RIAA platinum certification and a Grammy® Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. 

High off the success of his third consecutive Top 10 album, Evolver (2008), Legend embarked on an extensive world tour with an 11 piece band - his largest traveling show to date. Inspired by the monumental 2008 Presidential election, Legend teamed up with The Roots to release the socially conscious album, Wake Up! (2010.) The album was nominated for five Grammy® Awards and won Best R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B song (for “Shine”- an original composition also featured in Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim’s documentary film Waiting for Superman) along with two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Album and Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration. 

In 2007, Legend launched the Show Me Campaign, a nonprofit organization fighting poverty around the world. John also sits on the Boards of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America, and the Harlem Village Academies. That same year he received the special Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  

Legend has been honored several times for his activism, including the 2010 BET Humanitarian of the Year award, the 2009 CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change, and the 2009 Africare’s Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award. 

In early 2012, Legend released one of the hottest songs of his career, the RIAA gold-certified hit “Tonight (Best You’ve Ever Had),” which sat atop the Urban AC radio chart for six consecutive weeks. Legend's fifth studio album Love in the Future, with executive producers Kanye West and Dave Tozer will be released September 3.

Learn more about upcoming events in Durham and at DPAC at www.durhameventcalendar.com

DPAC’s Fifth Season Sets New Records

DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center continues to blow away the competition with its stellar sold out shows and incomparable events.

DPAC, has just announced key attendance statistics for their just completed fifth season.  The fifth season boasts new records with 65 concerts, comedy, and special events and 11,200 season ticket holders for their signature series, SunTrust Broadway at DPAC.  

DPAC's 2012 / 2013 Season featured 187 performances which drew 371,678 guests and saw 50 total sellouts.  This 2012 / 2013 attendance mark was DPAC second highest ever and 12% better than DPAC's average annual attendance since opening in 2008.  Heading the list of the highest attended shows were Jersey Boys (24 performances at DPAC) and Mary Poppins (8 performances at DPAC).   DPAC begins the 2013-2014 SunTrust Broadway season as one of the top Broadway series in the country, with season ticket sales now at 12,700 and still growing.

Top Five Shows- SunTrust Broadway at DPAC 2012/2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. Jersey Boys 
2. Mary Poppins
3. War Horse
4. Sister Act
5. Anything Goes 

In addition to Broadway blockbusters, DPAC delivered a record high 65 concerts, comedy and special events. Concert sellouts featured Rock acts like Duran Duran and Crosby, Stills and Nash, legends Tony Bennett and B.B. King, blues rocker superstar Bonnie Raitt, renowned jazz artist like Diana Krall, a long list of R & B icons including Al Green, Smokey Robinson and Gladys Knight and even a holiday favorite with Mannheim Steamroller.  Plus Comedy and special events also played a decisive role in DPAC's season with Jon Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld posting record setting sellouts as well as special performances by Alton Brown and Theresa Caputo.

Top Fifteen Concert Events - 2012 / 2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. Tony Bennett
2. Duran Duran
3. Crosby, Stills and Nash
4. Diana Krall
5. Gladys Knight
6. Il Divo
7. Kings of the Mic: Featuring LL Cool J, Ice Cube, Public Enemy, De La Soul
8. Al Green
9. Hall and Oates
10. Smokey Robinson
11. B.B. King
12. Jackson Browne
13. NAS with DMX
14. Mannheim Steamroller
15. Bonnie Raitt 

Top Five Comedy Events 2012 / 2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. Jerry Seinfeld
2. Robin Williams
3. Bill Engval/Larry the Cable Guy
4. Jon Stewart
5. Carol Burnett 

Top Five Special Events 2012 / 2013 Season (July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013)

1. A Christmas Carol
2. Celtic Woman
3. Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker
4. So You Think You Can Dance
5. Theresa Caputo 

"If anyone still doubted the staying power of DPAC, our fifth season should put those thoughts to rest”, said Bob Klaus, DPAC's General Manager .More than ever fans are telling us that DPAC is their favorite place for live entertainment. Based on over 30,000 guest surveys this past season, 99% of DPAC guests would be likely to recommend DPAC (84% - Extremely likely, 15% - Very likely).  It's the strength of our guest experience and truly great shows that create this unbeatable affinity from Broadway, concert and comedy fans in the region."

National Attendance Rankings

Unquestioned as the center for live entertainment in the Triangle, the combination of high profile Broadway, concert and comedy events has also gained DPAC attention on the national live entertainment scene with two of the nation's top entertainment trade magazines naming DPAC among the most highly attended venues in the country. In their just published July 12^th, mid-year edition, Pollstar Magazine lists DPAC as #3 in ticket sales among reporting theatre venues in America. In previous rankings, DPAC had been among the top five listed U.S. theatres, but in this newest ranking covering the first six months of 2013, DPAC was topped only  by the iconic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, and the Coliseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas.  

Pollstar National Attendance Rankings - Theaters: (January 1-June 30, 2013)

1. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV - 4,100 Capacity - 309,798
2. Fox Theater, Atlanta GA  - 4,556 Capacity - 198,552
3. DPAC, Durham, NC - 2,712 Capacity – 173,558
4. Broward Center, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Capacity- 2,700- 163,252dpa
5. Dreyfoos Hall, West Palm Beach, FL- 2,195 Capacity- 153,876

Local and National Awards

DPAC's accolades also run well beyond just attendance statistics. This past season saw the venue win a number of local Reader's Choice Awards.

 The Independent Weekly’s “Best of” winner for Best Theater Venue - 5th Consecutive Year

·     The Herald Sun’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Live Entertainment - 5th Consecutive Year

Separate from these local publication awards, DPAC also recently received its second consecutive Certificate of Excellence ranking from Trip Advisor, the world’s largest travel and destination website.  

Rachel Gragg, Senior Director of Marketing at DPAC, stated, “We're always very proud of the number of guests that have walked through the door since opening almost five years ago and are so humble to be recognized for these awards again this year.  In fact, DPAC staff is all big fans ourselves of the numerous performances of Broadway, comedy and concerts that take the stage night after night. Each day is a new challenge that our team thrives in being a part of.”

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About DPAC
Since its opening in 2008, DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of the art sound and video. Operated under the direction of Nederlander and Professional Facilities Management (PFM), DPAC has been listed three times as the #1 performing arts organization in the region by the Triangle Business Journal. 

What’s up next? Nine Time Grammy Award winning Sheryl Crow (August 3), “Politically” Incorrect” comedian and host of HBO’s “Real Time,” Bill Maher (August 10), followed by the high octane theatrical experience of Blue Man Group (September 6-8).  Please visit www.DPACnc.com for more information about these and all upcoming events.

Learn more about Durham, NC at www.durham-nc.com.

India.Arie to Perform at DPAC

She's not the average girl from the video, and she's not built like a supermodel, but India.Arie will be coming to Durham this Fall!

Multi-Grammy® winning singer-songwriter India.Arie has announced dates for her highly anticipated Soulbird Presents A SongVersation with India.Arie 2013 North American tour including a stop at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on October 29, 2013. The tour comes in support of India’s acclaimed fifth studio album SongVersation (Soulbird/ Motown Records) which released June 25th, received rave reviews and marks her fifth #1 on the Billboard R&B Album Chart and fifth top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.

“Since her 2009 sellout at DPAC, fans have been asking us over and over again to have her back. The atmosphere at DPAC is perfect for an artist like India.Arie. With DPAC's great views of the stage and state-of-the-art sound, India.Arie makes you feel almost like you are on stage with her; the entire room comes together in a very intimate concert experience,” said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC.

2013 continues to be a very busy year for the multi-Grammy® winning, iconic singer-songwriter.  In addition to prepping for the US tour, India has made a number of recent national television appearances in support of SongVersation on shows including Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, BET Awards and a two-episode special on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday.

World renowned award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie came onto the national music scene in 2001 with her Motown Records debut ACOUSTIC SOUL. She followed up in 2002 with her sophomore release VOYAGE TO INDIA and then in 2006 released her third album, the more personally expressive TESTIMONY: Vol. 1, LIFE & RELATIONSHIP. TESTIMONY VOL. 2, LOVE AND POLITICS, her fourth studio album, released in 2009. All four releases received critical acclaim and made India a highly respected and noted artist in a very short amount of time. She has sold an impressive 10 million albums worldwide and has received numerous awards and nominations including a staggering 21 Grammy® nominations, 4 Grammy® Awards, 3 NAACP Image awards, as well as awards from BET, Billboard, MTV, VH1, Vogue Fashion, Essence Magazine and others.

In between touring and writing music, India also finds the time to help promote causes close to her heart. She is an avid supporter of female empowerment, and is a US Ambassador for UNICEF. She has performed alongside legendary acts such as Stevie Wonder, Sting, Elton John, Adele, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Bette Midler and Michael McDonald amongst others, written with Stevie Wonder on the title track of his 2005 studio album “A Time For Love,” and has been featured on other various songs including John Mellencamp’s “Peaceful World.” She has performed on such prestigious television specials as The Kennedy Center Honors, The NAACP Awards and The Grammy® Awards and has performed for President Obama, Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama and at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

India recently formed SoulBird, a new lifestyle company with the mission to spread love, healing, peace and joy through the power of words and music.  Started simply as an avenue for India to release music, the company has quickly expanded to include other vehicles for India’s messaging including events, merchandise, apparel, music and book publishing, film and TV and other exciting endeavors.

For more information, please visit www.indiaarie.com and www.soulbird.com.

About DPAC
Since its opening in 2008, DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of-the art sound and video. Listed four times in the top 10 in Pollstar magazine’s annual worldwide theater attendance rankings, DPAC is currently the #5 ranked theater in the U.S.

What is up next at DPAC this summer? SHERYL CROW in her most intimate concert ever in the Triangle (August 3), Politically Incorrect comedian and host of HBO’s Real Time BILL MAHER (August 10), followed by an intimate evening with 6-time Grammy® winner TONI BRAXTON (August 18).

Tickets are on sale now. For more information please visit www.DPACnc.com.

Toni Braxton Coming to DPAC on Aug. 18

DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, welcomes the incomparable Toni Braxton to Durham, NC on Sunday, August 18, 2013. Her distinctive sultry vocal blend of R&B, Pop, Jazz and Gospel became an instantaneous international sensation when she came forth with her first solo recording in 1992. Today, with more than 40 million albums sold worldwide and six Grammy® Awards, Toni Braxton is recognized as one of the most outstanding voices of her generation. DPAC presents this concert in partnership with The DOME Group, Inc.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 21 at 12 p.m. online and at the box office at 123 Vivian Street. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on June 20.

The concert is a milestone for promoter Sulaiman Mausi, president of The DOME Group, Inc. "We're so excited to present fans with this rare opportunity to experience Toni Braxton on the DPAC stage for the first time. Her voice, her performance and her courageous story are one-of-a-kind. This is a show that music lovers have been waiting for, and there's not a doubt that tickets will go fast," said Sulaiman Mausi of The DOME Group, Inc.

Born a preacher’s child and raised in a strict religious household, Braxton’s first professional experience was singing in the church choir. She went on to perform in a group with her four sisters (Traci, Trina, Towanda and Tamar) that was signed to Arista Records. Her talent was recognized by Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and soon her solo recording career was launched. Her music first came to widespread popularity on the soundtrack of the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang. The resulting Toni Braxton album sold ten million copies worldwide. The album also won her first two Grammys® in 1993 as Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Another Sad Love Long”, and another Grammy® in the same category in 1994 for “Breathe Again.”

The acclaim for her second album Secrets continued her mega success, selling over thirteen million copies in the U.S. and abroad following its July 1996 release. “You’re Makin’ Me High” became Braxton's first across-the-board #1 Billboard Pop and R&B hit single and garnered another Grammy® for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Her release of “Un-Break My Heart” followed in the fall of 1996 and was recognized with the coveted Grammy® for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It has become her signature song, and ranks as the second top-selling single of all time by a female artist. The next album, The Heat, sold 2 million copies and brought her another million-selling single and the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy® with “He Wasn’t Man Enough.”

Toni Braxton had successful runs on Broadway starring in Beauty and the Beast and Aida. In 2006, she headlined her own show, Toni Braxton Revealed at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The show, which ran through April 2008, was a smash, but in the middle of the extended run she was diagnosed with microvascular angina causing her to cancel the remaining dates. After a recovery period, she took time in 2008 to fulfill her dream of appearing on the top-rated ABC television series Dancing with the Stars. Currently, Braxton is enjoying huge success with her Braxton Family Values reality show on the WE network. Braxton Family Values ranked #1 telecast for women during primetime among all ad-supported cable.

Durham is a hot spot for arts and culture. Learn more at www.durham-nc.com.

Charlie Wilson Will Perform at DPAC on Sept. 20

R&B legend and Grammy® nominee Charlie Wilson returns to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on Friday, September 20, 2013 following a sold out performance on the same stage in October 2011. DPAC presents this concert in partnership with The DOME Group, Inc.

"It's always a pleasure to bring one of the greatest singers and performers in music history to DPAC,” states Sulaiman Mausi of The DOME Group, Inc. "Charlie Wilson's catalog spans decades and he brings his catalog with his passion for performing to all of his performances. It's truly an amazing experience. This will be a phenomenal show.”

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m. online or at the box office at 123 Vivian Street. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on June 13.

"The last time we hosted Charlie Wilson was in 2011. I remember the moment clearly. He had just come off stage and was already asking when he could come back to DPAC. We know fans of DPAC love the energy, the acoustics, the great views of the stage, but more and more we know the stars love being on stage at DPAC just as much as we love having them. There's a magic that happens at DPAC and we cannot wait to see Charlie Wilson cast his spell again for Triangle R&B fans," said Bob Klaus, GM of DPAC.

The Natural. This simple phrase eloquently captures the essence of Charlie Wilson. That essence is currently commanding center stage with the sparkling ballad “My Love Is All I Have.” No one slam-dunks a ballad like Wilson, the Grammy®-nominated multi-talent behind the 15-week Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary chart-topper “You Are.” And that truth remains undisputed with “My Love Is All I Have.”

In the early 1990s, Wilson became a friend and regular collaborator with Snoop Dogg. Their relationship provided Wilson with access to many artists who idolized him as well as fresh, emerging talent who have inspired him to continue pushing the limits of his own material. Wilson has since collaborated with a diverse array of artists including Kanye West, R. Kelly, Will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, T-Pain, Fantasia, Justin Timberlake and, most recently, 2Chainz on the 2012 Soul Train Awards.

Initially signed to MCA and then Interscope as a solo artist, Wilson has come a long way from the highs of his The Gap Band heyday to the lows of his alcohol and drug addictions. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native formed the pivotal R&B funk trio with brothers Ronnie and Robert. The siblings hit the charts in the late ‘70s and ‘80s with a string of hits. These included “Outstanding,” “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Yearning For Your Love,” “Early in the Morning,” “Party Train,” “Wednesday Lover” and “All of My Love.” The group retired in 2010.

Working past his addictions, Wilson—sober now for 18 years—signed with Jive in 2004 after landing his first No. 1 Billboard Urban AC hit in 2000, “Without You.” Still burning rubber on stage as well, the energetic Wilson averages 75-100 shows a year between concert tours, festivals and private events. He also finds time to give back. Wilson remains committed to promoting awareness and educating the male community about prostate cancer. A survivor of a disease that afflicts one in six American men—and one in three African-American men Wilson became a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation in 2008. In April 2012 he announced his partnership with Janssen Biotech to launch the company’s Making Awareness A Priority (M.A.P.) campaign. The program brings together leading voices in advocacy and health education through live events in select cities across the country (www.myprostatecancerroadmap.com).

There more to do in Durham. Discover more.

John Oliver to Bring Standup to DPAC Nov. 9

Durham will welcome John Oliver to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

This summer, John Oliver took over as guest host of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and will serve as host of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning series for the eight weeks of original episodes that are scheduled during Jon Stewart’s hiatus. “Don’t worry, it’s still going to be everything that you love about ‘The Daily Show,’ just without the thing that you love the most about it,” said Oliver.

Tickets go on sale Friday, June 14 at 10 a.m. online and at the box office at 123 Vivian Street.

John Oliver joined “The Daily Show” and The Best F#@king News Team Ever in 2006 and since arriving has done everything from interviewing UN Ambassadors to covering the World Cup in South Africa to breaking his nose fighting for the Confederate army.  As a writer Oliver has won Emmy® and Writers Guild Awards and he won the Breakout Award at the HBO US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen.  He performs stand-up around the US and his one-hour special “Terrifying Times” debuted in April 2008.  His stand-up series, “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show” premiered on COMEDY CENTRAL in January 2010 with the fourth season slated to air in late summer.  Along with Andy Zaltzman, Oliver also writes and stars in a weekly podcast, “The Bugle: Audio Newspaper for a Visual World.”

Learn why Durham is where great things happen.

Neko Case Releases Album, will Perform at DPAC Oct. 26

Neko Case will kick off a full North American tour this September and will stop at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on Saturday, October 26, 2013. On September 3, 2013, Anti- will release Neko Case's first album in over four years, 'The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You.' The first single "Man" is available now on iTunes.

Tickets for the show at DPAC go on sale Friday, June 14 at 12 p.m. online and at the box office at 123 Vivian Street.

'The Worse Things Get' is Neko's most precise, urgent record to date, marked by a melodic immediacy, a loving embrace of the big rock gesture, and a lyrical frankness typified by first single "Man," in which she warns "I'm a man...you'll deal with me directly."

"My brain wilderness is more dense and dangerous than I thought," says Case. "It was an embarrassing and hilarious march, but I now feel like a more streamlined being. It's a good feeling. Four years of my life took ten years hostage, then gave me back twelve."

The album was executive-produced by Case and recorded at Wavelab in Tuscon, as well as Portland, Los Angeles and with Phil Palazzolo in Brooklyn. Tucker Martine, Case and Darryl Neudorf mixed the album, with backing by guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, vocalist Kelly Hogan and multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse. Other guests include M. Ward, Steve Turner, Howe Gelb, and members of The New Pornographers, My Morning Jacket, Calexico, Los Lobos and Visqueen. In addition to eleven new songs written by Case, 'The Worse Things Get' features a cover of "Afraid" by Nico.

Case's 2009 album 'Middle Cyclone' was the best-reviewed and fastest-selling of her career to date. It debuted at #3 on Billboard Top 200 and earned two Grammy nominations. NPR hailed Case as "one of the most memorable and seductive voices in music" while The New York Times Magazine said "her voice is a force of nature" and Rolling Stone called her "indie's greatest singer."

For more information visit www.DPACnc.com or www.durham-nc.com.