Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
The Theatre of the Future
Address 1001 Performance Place
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
Location Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex
Type Indoor theater
Built 1999-2002
Opened February 2002
Owner City of Grand Prairie
Construction cost USD$63 million
Former name(s) Texas ShowPlace (planning/construction)
NextStage Performance Theater (2002-04)
Nokia Live at Grand Prairie (2004-09)
Capacity 6,350
Website verizontheatre.com

The Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie is a concert hall located in Grand Prairie, Texas, 16 miles west of Dallas, 24 miles east of Fort Worth. The hall is near the Lone Star Park. The theatre is currently operated by AEG and owned by the City of Grand Prairie.

History

The theatre was proposed in 1998 as an alternative to the Reunion Arena. Owned by NextStage Entertainment Corporation, the venue was built in Grand Prairie to boost the economy of the city and lead to possible tourism. Construction began in the summer of 1999, however, it was delated 14 months due to an increase in budget. The final construction cost was about $63 million dollars.[1] Originally known as "Texas ShowPlace", the venue was meant to house concerts and theatrical performances for the Dallas–Fort Worth area.[2] The theatre opened in February 2002 as the "NextStage Performance Theater"[3] with a capacity of 6,300.[4]

In May 2002 the theatre hired Dallas artist Cabe Booth to paint oil portraits of the visiting acts and personalities. The portraits are signed by the performers and then hung on display in the backstage area and administrative office area. In 2007, the venue moved a small portion of the now over 300 (and growing) 4'×4' paintings into the main foyer along with the downstairs entry to the private suites. In 2004, Nokia Corporation purchased the naming rights to the theatre for six years, changing its title to "Nokia Live at Grand Prairie".[5] In February 2010, Verizon Wireless acquired naming rights for ten years, changing the title to the "Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie". Since the venue has opened, it has hosted several Broadway productions and family shows including Sesame Street Live, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! and The Doodlebops Live!. Concert performers include Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Alicia Keys, Kylie Minogue and Fort Worth native Kelly Clarkson.

References

  1. ^ Christensen, Thor (3 February 2002). "Staging an evolution". The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation). 
  2. ^ "Concert hall project by racetrack delayed". Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas: The McClatchy Company): p. 1 METRO. 20 October 1998. 
  3. ^ Smith, Jenni (7 September 2002). "NextStage yet to gain operator". The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation). 
  4. ^ Smith, Jenni (10 February 2002). "NextStage curtain, business hopes rising". The Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas: A. H. Belo Corporation). 
  5. ^ "Nokia, NextStage manager ink naming-rights deal". Dallas Business Journal. American City Business Journals. 27 February 2004. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. http://www.freezepage.com/1322716555XVUXLYOMCE. Retrieved 30 November 2011.