Bartlett Performing Arts Center Reveals Exciting 25th Season Lineup
With a rich history spanning almost 25 years of providing exceptional entertainment for the local community, the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center is proudly presenting a diverse and captivating lineup for its landmark 25th season in 2023-24.
This upcoming season boasts an array of talents, including country, bluegrass, and gospel artists, a side-splitting comedian, captivating live theater productions, enchanting ballet performances, and even a blast from the past with ’70s and ’80s musical tributes.
Michael Bollinger, the Artistic Director of BPACC, has been at the helm for seven years and is thrilled with the growth and diversity of the center’s offerings. He shared, “We curate an exceptionally varied lineup every year, almost doubling the number of shows in a season compared to when I first joined. Attendance has seen substantial growth too.”
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, BPACC is offering a generous 25% discount to patrons who purchase tickets for five or more shows.
The curtain rises on the 2023-24 season with “Neil Diamond: The Legacy Concert Tribute” on October 7th.
Last season’s addition of “Macbeth” by the Tennessee Shakespeare Company at Theater by the Lake was a resounding success. This season, they return with “The Tempest” on October 13th, continuing the tradition of offering free performances to the public.
The musical lineup for the season includes the legendary Crystal Gayle on November 3rd, bluegrass pioneers The Dillards on November 17th, the dynamic country/gospel act Chapel Hart on January 26th, and a special performance by Morgan Myles and Jay Allen from Season 22 of “The Voice” on October 28th.
Tribute shows have gained immense popularity in recent years. Alongside the Neil Diamond tribute to kick off the season, other highlights include the Everly Brothers Experience Holiday Show on December 7th, ABBA Revisited on January 13th, and Hotel California’s “A Tribute to the Eagles” on February 10th. Due to high demand, additional dates may be added for each of these spectacular tributes.
Bollinger emphasized their commitment to education, saying, “We also introduce a few shows each year with an educational component, especially for Bartlett students. Most children have never had the opportunity to experience live theater.”
Families and children will be delighted by the season’s offerings, which include “Mark Nizer 4D” on November 18th, “The Nutcracker” ballet from December 15th to 17th, “Dinosaur Quest of Dr. T-Rex” on February 3rd, and “Peter Pan” from March 8th to 10th.
Closing out the season on April 19th is Tom Wopat, known for his role in “Dukes of Hazzard” and his talents in Broadway and country music. The season will be followed by the free “Music by the Lake” series throughout the summer.
Bollinger highlighted the success of their “Music by the Lake” outdoor concert series in May and June, which has garnered substantial audiences in recent years.
Over the past 25 years, BPACC has undergone significant technical upgrades, enhancing the audience’s intimate experience with cutting-edge improvements such as new LED lighting, a state-of-the-art Clair Brothers sound system, fog machines, and more. Bollinger remarked, “Even if you sit in the back row of my theater, it’s like having your favorite artist perform in your living room. You don’t need binoculars.”
BPACC, owned by the City of Bartlett, is conveniently located just south of U.S. 70 on Appling Road. Its inaugural season in 1999 kicked off with Art Garfunkel on September 10th. Since then, the venue has hosted notable musical acts like Clint Black, Los Lonely Boys, and Marc Cohn, as well as Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz. Esteemed performers such as Jeff Daniels, John Davidson, John Lithgow, and Lily Tomlin have graced the center’s stage.
Jack Young, a city alderman since 1999, is a dedicated patron who attends several shows each year. He praised the vision of Mayor Bobby Flaherty and the center’s leadership, saying, “I think Michael and his predecessors have done a great job providing a diverse range of entertainment, including some plays that children can be involved in. There’s really something for everybody.”