The Concord City Auditorium "The Audi" Is A Downtown Institution
Get To Know The Concord City Auditorium - The Audi, Reopening in August!
Here in Concord, New Hampshire, we have thriving arts and cultural scene. From small venues that showcase local talent to larger spaces like the Capitol Center of the Arts, in Concord, it's possible to see some of the greatest local, regional, and national performers. These include Broadway shows, symphonic music, and dance every night of the week.
The Concord City Auditorium is located in the heart of historic downtown Concord and is one of the city's great treasures. First opened in 1904, this beautiful landmark theatre is owned and held in trust by the City of Concord and provides a home to many local artists and organizations.
Concord City Auditorium: A Short History
As the 20th century arrived, cities and towns throughout the state of New Hampshire began to develop municipal centers. City Halls sprung up, and many included adjacent or interior theaters called “Opera Houses,” as were in other cities common during the era. Concord already had a privately-owned Opera House, called “White's Opera House, located on Main and Park Street. When City Hall opened, the new space located on the western side of City Hall was named the Concord City Auditorium.
Mr. White, worried about the impact this space would have on his theater, challenged the city. He lost the battle, and the city built the “Audi.” This was a good thing, as a fire destroyed White's Opera House in the 1920s.
The Audi opened to great fanfare in 1904 and for the next 115 years provided and is still providing a home for the Capital area's community-based arts and entertainment organizations. The Walker Lecture Fund has been presenting free programs, lectures, concerts, and shows since the beginning, even bringing the first motion pictures to New Hampshire. Today, the Walker Lecture Fund provides funding for many performances, lectures, and events that are entirely free for theatre goers (first come, first seated).
The Concord City Auditorium has been operating since 1904 as the local home to many of the city's arts and cultural organizations. Seating between 835 and 841 depending on the configuration of the orchestra seats, the space has 524 seats in the orchestra section, and two balconies with seating for 247 in the first balcony and 64 in the second. The beautiful gilded proscenium arch surrounds the 25-foot by 25-foot performance area, and there is a small orchestra pit. Backstage you'll find nine dressing rooms.
Recently restored to its original glory with volunteer and community support, the Audi is the cultural center of the city. It hosts over 100 public events presented by 40 cultural, social, service, and government organizations attended by over 75,000 people each season.
It also features a reception lobby that is available for rental for private meetings and events. The lobby space holds 65 seated guests and 140 standing guests.
The Heart of Concord's Cultural Scene Since the Beginning
The Concord City Auditorium's mission has been to support the local arts community and has been fulfilling its mission since the beginning. It has been the long-time home of many in the Concord arts community, and you can see great performances by local groups every season.
Here's a preview of some of the outstanding presenters you'll find at the Audi in 2019 and beyond!
Concord Community Players
Founded in 1927, the Community Players have been encouraging, fostering, and promoting the participation by amateurs theatre lovers in all phases of the theatrical arts. With over 88 seasons of quality productions, the Community Players have been producing three shows every year, with all of the profits going to support local charities. Theatergoers can enjoy all types of productions from comedies and tragedies, to classics, children's theater, and operettas.
The Walker Lecture Series
The Walker Lecture Fund started in 1892 with a bequest of $30,000 from the will of Abagail B. Walker, the widow of Timothy Walker. The first programs were presented in 1896, and since then, more than 1500 performances and lectures have been produced. As dictated in terms of the trust, all talks on the subject of history, art, literature, or science, as well as performances of theater, dance, music, and other cultural events are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis. Since 1904, Walker Lecture Series performances are presented at the Concord City Auditorium.
Concord's Home For Opera and Classical Music
From Symphony NH to the NH Philharmonic, the Audi is the home of Classical music and Opera in the city. Performances of every composer from Mahler and Beethoven to John Williams can be heard throughout the year. Performances can range from solo performers to chamber ensembles to full orchestral productions. The Audi is also the home for dance in the city. If you're a lover of classical music and opera, the place to be in Concord is the Concord City Auditorium!
For over 115 years, the Concord City Auditorium has been the hub of the local community for performers and lovers of the arts. By offering support to the city's many cultural and arts organizations the Concord City Auditorium is the perfect way to not only enjoy an evening out in the city, but it's a wonderful way to support the many talented artists, performers, musicians and dancers who call Concord, New Hampshire, home.
