a decade of
DPAC Three staff members who’ve been there since the beginning share their personal bests PH OTO BY BET H M A N N
There have been so many great things that have happened
at DPAC that it is hard to place a ‘best’ tag on just one. One moment that will always be special, though, was in 2010 when DPAC was first listed among the top 10 theaters in America by Pollstar, a leading trade publication that covers the live entertainment business. The team here had worked so hard and overcame the many challenges (and naysayers) that come along with opening a new venue. This ranking was validation that not only had we become an important venue in the Triangle and the Carolinas, but we were now listed among the very best theaters in America. When that happened, I knew we were definitely on the right track toward hosting the biggest theater shows in the world and our focus on the guest experience. Bob Klaus | General Manager
“Thank you to all those who have attended a show at DPAC and helped put DPAC on the map as one of the top performing arts venues in the country.”
For me it was opening the national tour of
Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliott in 2010. Hosting Broadway directors and creative team members not only at DPAC, but also in Durham, for weeks was an incredible experience. I also got to watch five boys from all over the world train as “Billy” at DPAC – most have now gone on to Broadway and win national dance competitions. Rachel Traversari Senior Director of Marketing
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I’m fortunate that my role at DPAC affords me the opportunity to be acutely
involved in all the crazy goings-on that can occur in backstage areas. I have many favorite memories; however, one that truly stands out is the night John Legend was performing for our inaugural gala back in December 2009. I was informed during the day that John had decided to enter from the rear of the orchestra seating to open his set. This was our fifth show ever so in order to make sure all went off without a hitch, I assisted in escorting John from backstage, up the grand lobby staircase and finally through the house right doors. Thinking back to the looks of excitement on both coworkers’ and patrons’ faces while making that walk, followed by the pop from the audience when they realized John Legend was about to walk right by them made me realize, even back then, that we were on to something here at DPAC. Josh Anderson | Technical Director
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october/november 2018