Knoxville’s Historic Tennessee Theatre
It’s worth attending an event at the Tennessee Theatre just to experience this beautiful building. Although, it’s a comfortable place to see a show too! Constructed in the 1920’s as a movie palace, it has been restored and reborn as a performing arts venue. The theater, which seats about 1,600 people, hosts concerts by first-rate national acts as well as touring Broadway productions and performances by Knoxville’s Symphony Orchestra and Opera Company.
The lobby is truly grand, decorated with bold reds and golds and lit with five large, carefully restored crystal chandeliers. The seating area and stage are equally spectacular. Although the theater looks like something out of another time, the performance space is modern and state-of-the-art. The stage house area is newly constructed, expanded to provide ample room for large productions and rigged with modern lighting and sound equipment.
The Tennessee Theatre is located on Gay Street, downtown Knoxville’s main thoroughfare. There are several restaurants to choose from on Gay Street, and more one block over in the town’s Market Square section. Parking downtown is plentiful. Your best bet is to park in either the State Street, Market Square, or Locust Street garages, which are operated by the city and are free on weekday evenings after 6:00 p.m. and all day on weekends. The State Street garage is located behind the Tennessee Theatre and is the closest place to park.