The Arts at Center Street sits in the historic Hopewell neighborhood, at the heart of Old Hickory, Tennessee. A dynamic venue for hosting the Arts, be it dance, music, theater, poetry or public speaking, this theater and arts center has become a hub for creative endeavors of all kinds. The Arts at Center Street is a one of kind venue that is home to original productions featuring local talent!
The Venue
The Arts at Center Street is a performing arts venue and home to The Center Street Theatre Company.
The venue hosts a range of acts from bands to poets, musicals and plays. With a seating capacity of 80 - 120, the venue is a unique size to the area, as other nearby theatres have a seating capacity of 30, or 200, but nothing in between. The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment, including the ability to record every show's audio to Protools, and digitally automate light shows for any production. The venue also has 4k video equipment for visually recording any work performed on the stage.
The performance area is a proscenium stage with an apron, totalling 24' x 24' [16' x 24' upstage, and 8' x 24' on the apron]. The stage is versatile enough to host smaller productions as well as large cast productions and still get an intimate feel with the audience, as the tiered seating allows for even the back row to see facial expressions of performers. The Theater is home to the annual Center Street Dance Academy recital with approximately 100 students performing in total (and up to 12 per dance).
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At the Arts at Center Street, we do not seek to create art simply for its own sake, or to produce something “beautiful” without evaluating the cost. Rather, we recognize art as a tool to communicate values, to provoke emotion and lead to introspection and beneficial conversation. To this end, we foster opportunities for education and performance in dance, music, theater, and poetry and public speaking. We accept the challenge of creating entertainment that is characterized by meaning and substance, that will affect people deeply and play a part in the transformation of their lives for the better.
Creatives in Residence
GREGG D. GARNER:
FOUNDER, WRITER AND DIRECTOR
Gregg D. Garner is the Founder and Creative Director of The Arts at Center Street and the Center Street Theatre Company. Over the years, he has used his skills as an artist, particularly in the realm of music, photography, and journalism, to benefit audiences both nationally and internationally. He has performed in over a dozen countries and has written songs in five languages. He writes his music and stage plays with the intention to provoke dialogue and propel people to action.
BENJAMIN REESE:
Resident Poet, Playwright & Event Host
Benjamin Reese is The Arts at Center Street’s resident poet. He performed regularly in Chicago and has continued to write and perform since coming to Nashville in 2009. He’s headlined several poetry nights at the The Arts. Benjamin has also written and directed two one-acts for the The Arts, The Arch Imperial and It All Comes Together in the End.
When he’s not working with The Arts at Center Street, Benjamin puts his performative spirit into his work as a teacher, teaching writing, literature, drama, and poetry. When Benjamin has outlived his use to society, he plans to retreat to a secluded library and happily roam the stacks for the rest of his days.
SARA DAVIS:
Chief Administrative Officer
Sara Davis began working with The Arts at Center Street in 2013, and has steadily participated in the growth and development of the organization on the administrative side since then. She assisted Gregg D. Garner in the development and execution of a number of original one act plays, stage plays, and musicals, and has been privileged to also take part in the live band of ALIEN: The Musical and BREATHE, A New Musical as a cellist. Sara was part of the team to launch the Center Street Dance Academy, a program of The Arts at Center Street, and now oversees not only the Center Street Dance Academy but also the Center Street Music Academy and Center Street Theatre Academy.
The Center Street Theatre Company
The Center Street Theatre Company was birthed out of a desire to see quality and meaningful theatre return to the stage. All of our theatre productions are original, and written and performed by Nashville locals. We strive to provide entertainment that is affordable, accessible and engaging. We utilize the medium of theatre to communicate societal commentary and provoke audiences to thought and emotion.
Not just a benefit to our audiences, the Center Street Theatre Company utilizes both professionals and actors who may have never set foot on a stage, teaching them to communicate effectively and learn to work in tandem with others.
