Palladium Announces Grand Opening Week Celebrations

The Center for the Performing Arts today announced festivities to celebrate the Palladium’s grand opening week January 22-30, 2011. The public celebration will begin with a ceremonial ribbon cutting scheduled for January 22 at 10 a.m.

The celebration week includes a gala and concert featuring artistic director Michael Feinstein with jazz instrumental artist Chris Botti. The gala will be produced by acclaimed Hollywood producer Gordon Hunt and will include performances by the Carmel Symphony Orchestra.

“Today we begin our countdown to the grand opening,” said Steven Libman, executive director at The Center for the Performing Arts. “As you can see from today’s gathering, the Palladium is a one-of-a-kind concert hall. We are quickly moving from the construction phase into the grand opening celebration. The community is anxious to experience this state-of-the-art hall in person. In six short months, we will unveil this magnificent performing arts venue.”

The emphasis of the grand opening week will be on community involvement, including an opportunity for community musicians to have a chance to play on stage. The “Now Hear This at the Palladium” competition will provide opportunities for professional and amateur musicians to perform on stage in the acoustically perfect concert hall.

Opening week festivities mark the final phase of a decade-long planning and construction vision first presented by Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.

“This investment by the taxpayers of Carmel will pay off for years to come as central Indiana competes with other cities around the globe for high paying jobs, corporate headquarters and economic opportunities,” said Brainard.

The 10-day opening celebration runs the gamut – from community days and public lectures to classical concerts to a black-tie fundraiser gala.

The Center for the Performing Arts, which is currently under construction in Carmel City Center, will include the Palladium concert hall, the Tarkington proscenium theater and a 200-seat studio theater. The Palladium will also be home to Michael Feinstein’s Great American Songbook Collection, acting as a museum and education center by day and a concert venue by night.