We get it. In an age of streaming services, convincing us to leave home for entertainment can require serious effort. But picture this: It's unlikely your living room ever hosted a young Elvis Presley or 400,000 people from far and wide to see the 1965 release of "The Sound of Music." But there's a place in Charlotte that did.

The Carolina Theatre is nearly ready to welcome guests starting this March when Charlotte Symphony Orchestra takes the stage as one of the theater's first performances in nearly 50 years.

The $90 million renovation began in 2018 and, as CLTtoday exclusively learned, restoring a theater house that opened in March 1927 and sat dormant since 1978 is no small task.
"Everything from the paintings on the wall to the carpeting on the floor was specifically chosen for its historical ties," said Jared Misner with Carolina Theatre. "We want audiences to feel like they’re right back in the Carolina Theatre they remember while acknowledging the upgrades necessary for a cutting-edge theater of the 21st century.

A new era will begin when Carolina Theatre at 220 N. Tryon St. hosts the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's upcoming spring gala titled "A Homecoming," happening Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. Joining the symphony will be Grammy award-winning soprano Renée Fleming. Tickets for the performance start at $83 + gala tickets start at $750.

"The Carolina Theatre originally opened 98 years ago this March, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra debuted on our stage in 1932," shared Misener. "We’re jazzed to welcome the CSO back for its homecoming anniversary performance."

We guarantee there won't be a bad seat in the house. | Photo by Tommy McCart Photography, LLC

With music and audience applause to soon fill the long quiet halls, the role Carolina Theatre plays in the cultural identity of Uptown and the city of Charlotte is not lost on the minds of those working to make it possible.

"Generations of couples had their first date here. Thousands upon thousands flocked to the theatre to watch “The Sound of Music,” eclipsing the population of Charlotte at the time," shared Misner. "We’re deeply honored to hold such sentimental memories for our audiences.