| Broward Center for the Performing Arts | |
| Address: | 201 SW 5th Ave Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312-7112 |
| Location: | Sailboat Bend |
| Mapframe: | no |
| Type: | Performing arts center |
| Opened: | February 26, 1991 |
| Renovated: | 2014 |
| Owner: | Broward County |
| Operator: | Performing Arts Center Authority |
| Architect: | Benjamin Thompson and Associates |
| Capacity: | 2,658 584 188-220 220 |
| Tenants: | Broadway Across America Florida Grand Opera |
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts (commonly known as the Broward Center) is a large multi-venue performing arts center located in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States.
Opened in 1991 on a 5.5acres site along the north bank of the New River at Sailboat Bend, the center became a catalyst for major downtown revitalization efforts and an anchor of the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District.[1]
Designed by Benjamin C. Thompson, the Broward Center hosts operas, ballets, concerts, plays, lectures and numerous community events in its four theaters. The Broward Center partners with several organizations, including the Symphony of the Americas, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, Concert Association of Florida and Gold Coast Jazz. National tours of Broadway productions are presented in partnership with Broadway Across America.
Broward Center for the Performing Arts is in the downtown riverfront area, in the South Florida region. It has also become one of the USA's most-visited theaters, ranked number four in the world by Venues Today and seven worldwide by concert trade publication Pollstar for annual sales in 2007.
As of 2011, the Broward Center received over 700,000 patrons annually with over 700 different events. Plans were also announced for an expansion to the center to begin in spring 2012.[2]
The Florida legislature in 1984 established the Performing Arts Center Authority (PACA) to oversee construction, then policy-making, at the Broward Center. The Downtown Development Authority, along with citizens, private sources, and the Broward Performing Arts Foundation worked together to raise the funding required to build the theater complex.
By the end of 1987, initial fundraising goals had been met and with supplementary grant monies from city, county, state, and national sources secured, the project went out to bid. The acclaimed Cambridge, Massachusetts architecture firm of Benjamin Thompson and Associates, Inc was selected to design the facility. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 1988 to initiate the building phase.
By early 1991 the 224500square feet facility was completed at a cost of $54 million. The doors officially opened on February 26, 1991, with the first national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The tenth anniversary of the Broward Center was marked by retiring the entire building mortgage, 11 years ahead of schedule.
In 2007, from June 28-July 1, they premiered the Go, Diego, Go! live. The Live was based on the episode titled "The Great Jaguar Rescue". The Broward Center for the Performing Arts was the last stop for the Go, Diego, Go! live. It was one of the most popular art performances that ever happened.
In 1998, the Broward Center began a collaboration with neighboring merchants and cultural attractions along the New River that would evolve into the formation of the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District. This destination marketing organization features the Broward Center, The Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale, Florida Grand Opera, Concert Association of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, and Historic Stranahan House Museum. Formed to promote cultural tourism to Fort Lauderdale and to the Riverwalk District, in particular, more than 1 million ticketed visitors annually attend programming at the combined Arts & Entertainment District partner venues.
Broward Center management has taken a leadership role in strengthening arts throughout the community since its inception and that community-centered focus has resulted in several partnerships that have allowed the center to expand beyond its geographic borders in pursuit of its mission.
In 2004 Broward Center became a managing partner of the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of Nova Southeastern University. A year later, Broward Center assumed management of the historic 1100-seat Parker Playhouse in east Fort Lauderdale. In 2007, Broward Center was chosen as the creative consultants to help guide the emerging Miramar Cultural Center/Arts Park in western Broward County through its early development. It will now manage operations of this new 800-seat theater, scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.
The Broward Center is governed by the Performing Arts Center Authority (the "Authority"), a volunteer board of 13 members. In October 2023, the Authority announced its appointment of Ty Sutton as president and CEO of the Broward Center. Sutton, who begins his new position on February 12, 2024, will succeed Kelley Shanley who has served as President & CEO since January 2009.[3]
Performance venues at BCPA, on the New River (Himmarshee):
Au-Rene Theater, the main performance space for major international, national and regional productions, including Miami City Ballet, Concert Association of Florida, Florida Grand Opera and Broadway Across America touring companies.
Amaturo Theater, for dramatic productions as well as children's theater, film, community theater, choirs, chamber, jazz, folk and symphonic orchestras, seminars, and emerging dance companies.
Abdo New River Room, a conference/banquet/performance facility available for various types of activities, such as cabaret, dinner theater, rehearsals, and speaker programs as well as for public and private receptions and events.
Parker Playhouse a nearly 1,200-seat theater now managed by the Broward Center's governing authority, PACA, this space is for concerts, theatre, comedy, and dance.
Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, equipped with lighting and acoustics, and a satellite downlink for viewing broadcast and transmitted productions, this hall is used for many types of community events, corporate gatherings, lectures and children's productions.