Durham Performing Arts Center or DPAC is one of the best places to go if you want to catch an amazing show. Ranging from broadway to concerts you are sure to find something that interests you in this amazing venue.
The best performing arts center in the triangle of North Carolina.
The staff was extremely polite and helpful.
Parking was easy even with a baseball game taking place at the same time. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the seats. They are not very comfortable.
Always a great experience and great venue for shows and concerts!
Beautiful facility in downtown Durham. We saw the Beach Boys in concert. The staff was extremely friendly, courteous and helpful. It is the third event that we have attended and have had pleasent experiences each time. Fairly good parking options nearby.
I am a second year Suntrust Broadway season seat holder and it is one of the best investments I have ever made. DPAC has done an amazing job partnering with theaters in NYC and securing some of the best shows to ever hit Broadway. My daughter is 12 and her love for theater and all things creative has EXPLODED since we began attending shows at DPAC. The most notable shows for us have been: Wicked, The Lion King, and Hamilton. When I was not completely mesmerized by these performances, it was a joy to watch the wonder that filled my daughters eyes.
DPAC itself is always organized and clean. The volunteers are friendly and helpful when you enter the building. Security is always present but not overbearing- you may not even notice them but they are there. Snacks are provided by Whole Foods and The Nutty Bavarian (my daughter's favorite) and there are drinks, wine, and beer available at each show. If you'd rather not spend money on drinks, which can get quite pricey, there are water fountains on each floor with disposable paper cups. Elevators are there for people who can't climb the stairs and booster seats are provided for those that are on the shorter side, my daughter still uses them at 12 years old. Over all the facility is very accommodating.
My only complaint is the bathrooms during intermission. It seems that when the building was designed and built they didn't take into consideration how busy DPAC would really be. They are always clean and there is an attendant present when you enter to make the line flow smoothly but the line for the women's restroom, on every floor, is ALWAYS impossibly long. So much so that it could cause you to be late returning from intermission. Which is not good because you are not permitted re-entry for 5-10 minutes while the play gets back underway. This problem could be rectified by simply making the bathrooms gender neutral. The men's restroom often has half the line the women's restroom does, or less! This is just my opinion though.
Overall, I HIGHLY recommend everyone attend at least one stage play and one concert at DPAC in their lifetime. It's worth it and you won't regret it.
Convenient location, easy parking, great customer service and always superb shows. Only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because the concession selections are poor.
Was a member for 11 years I Love this place and Everyone that works there! Fabulous staff and performances!
Small, intimate venue. Fantastic musicians. Very wheelchair friendly (both parking and the venue itself) for those of you who are mobility impaired.
Saw Summitt Christmas at Dpac. Luv this place to see anything. Always a good seat!
Never a bad show. Great venue, get there early if you want to hit the bar before the curtain goes up.
It doesn't get any better for seeing Broadway productions than DPAC!; We have been season ticket holders for eight years and have enjoyed every performance! DPAC customer service is second to none!
DPAC is a joy in Durham! Great shows, convenient location, clean and organized.
Just saw phantom of the opera here and the staff were very helpful and nice and the performance was amazing. The center was nice and clean. Would love to come back soon
I've seen 2 musicals here with my boyfriend. Parking nearby is plentiful. Clean auditorium, great selection of shows and visiting performers.
Stellar experience everytime. It is always clean, the staff is courteous and helpful, and the performances? WOW!
Loved watching Trevor Noah make us laugh and care for the world, definitely coming back for more!!
We saw an excellent performance of fiddler on the roof last night great balance of music and vocal ensembles.
Carol Burnett was great! Brought back childhood memories watching her on Saturday night with our family. Packed house at DPAC.
This is a great venue for live theater. Parking deck and restaurants nearby and food and drinks in the lobby.
A nice intimate venue for small concerts. The seats are comfortable and generally a pretty good view of the stage from anywhere. Nice clean theater that has some very good performances.
Amazing shows, great auditorium, and a helpful website are all very important, and DPAC has all of those. However, I think that what makes DPAC stand out the most compared to other theaters is the staff. Very, very helpful and very, very nice.
The tickets are a little overpriced, though.
People that work there did not seem to have information about the event
Loved it. Staff is very helpful. Love the cup recycling program (and drink discounts). Can't wait to go back.
We were there for the Il Divo concert.
Zero stars.
Auditorium : all the speakers are only reserved in the premium ticket seats right near the podium.
If you are sitting anywhere in the balconies, dont be surprised to find zero speakers or woofers near you.
The sound is literally bouncing off the floor and shooting up across the atrium into the balconies.
People: most of them weren't even appropriately dressed for a Western Classical concert. They walked in like its Walmart.
The man behind me kept coughing throughout without a minimum sense of covering his mouth with the hand while coughing. I ended up having all the blasts of his cough air hitting the back of my neck for 1 full hour.
Premises: they try to put up a show like you've entered the White House. But women who were waiting for their rides right at the main entrance were being catcalled, jeered and booed by passersby.. because the 'honorable' citizens of Durham downtown do not know how to respect women who dress well to go to a concert.
I have heard one gang of hooligans calling a lady in a sequin dress waiting for her ride " who are you sneaking upon" as if shes an escort.
The senile security was right there and they looked away.
Security : literally zero although situated in a crime infested Durham downtown.
Great show, nice staff, and very fast/efficient getting out to the car and to the highway after the show.
Staff friendly. Got the best information from the security man in the parking lot about the best way to exit the theater into traffic back to our hotel. He also had good advise about local restaurants.
Love rhe DPAC. Love how organized the shows always are. Nice, friendly and calm environment. Great views from every seat.
Nice looking place with way-too-long lines for the ladies' rooms. Also, why the minimum age of five for a matinee of Christmas Carol? Makes no sense.
Beautiful venue. Drink lines can get very long, so arrive early.
It s beautiful, awesome sound, and there s not a bad seat in the house.
A wonderful venue for plays, live music and shows. Cocktails and food are available. Seats are comfortable. Acoustics are good.
Always a great place for a show..friendly people, parking isn't the best however.
This is my favorite performing arts theatre in the Triangle. There is not a bad seat in the place. The amenities are gorgeous. The staff is friendly and helpful. The performances here are Broadway shows and top notch artists. The theatre is in the heat of Downtown Durham and there is plenty of nearby parking.
Love the overall experience here. Bringing the best shows to the area
Great show! Entering was easy and the longest bathroom line I have ever seen moved very fast.
An awesome venue for shows of all types. It's Broadway for the residents of the Triangle. It's rated highly among other theatres in America.
Lovely venue friendly staff would visit again decent car parking charge's
Love seeing anything here! It is a great place to see a show!
Wonderful super solicitous and helpful staff, impressive venue. Saw "Beautiful" and it was extremely well done. Thoroughly enjoyed!
Perfect venue, perfect preparty, perfect performance.
Good show. I have bad knees and using the shuttle to get to the ticket office was so helpful. It would be nice if they had escalators so it wouldnt be a long wait for an elevator.
We have had season tickets since the opening of DPAC and it has added a special quality to our wonderful life here in Durham. We simply love the theatre and haven't seen a bad show yet. We've attended other concerts/shows that were not part of the season ticket packages -- and they have all been wonderful as well. We've been to many theatres in NYC on Broadway -- but DPAC outshines them all in terms of the quality of the facility, the wonderful staff and the comfort of the seats. And of course the selection of shows/events is simply stellar! We've had seats in many different places and have truly not had a bad seat. This year we purchased a season ticket for my mother who lives in W-S. She doesn't know yet -- but when we tell her she will be so excited! She has been to DPAC before, and since my Father's passing this past May, she will be excited to have so many special nights out on the town with us. SO VERY GLAD THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER CHOSE TO COME TO DURHAM !!!
perfect location, many restaurants to choose from before or after a show. Everyone who works there is so kind and polite. There is not a bad seat in the house.
Such a terrific venue! Do yourself a favor and go early to enjoy some food and drink in the spacious lobby. Actually, lobbies... each tier has its own. Pick your favorite!
Hadn t been to DPAC since it opened. My first trip was to see A Christmas Carol play. The play itself was awesome. But I was pretty uninspired by the venue. I guess my expectations were too high. First getting gouged for parking was particularly frustrating. The venue itself just seems set up wrong. Balcony seats are a huge hike up many flights of stairs when it seems like a direct connection to the parking garage higher levels would be simple. I just walked down all those stairs in the garage! The balcony is too far back from the stage. Lighting and sounds were just ok. Seats are tight but not the worst. Food prices were high but a reasonable selection. And getting out of the garage took forever because of poorly directed traffic.
It s too bad too. This place could be a home run for Durham. Instead it just leaves a meh impression. And a massive hit to your wallet.
Great place to go and enjoy, people helpful and nice.
SO thankful we have the DPAC. How else am I supposed to get my Broadway on?!
A lovely place, with all the comforts and many luxuries. It is clean, cared-for, and grand in appearance. The seats are comfortable, with good views even in the back corner (where I sat). Smart management, too. The logistics of intermission and the unavoidably long ladies restroom line was solved by providing an alert attendant and many stalls. The food and drink choices were also varied and delicious. I had a wonderful evening!
Great place to see a show. Not a bad seat in the house.
Love that DPAC hosts An Evening of Entertainment for Durham Public Schools!
Great location with no bad seats in the venue. Have now seen 4 shows here in various locations/levels and never once have we had a bad experience.
Went in for gift certificates for gifts. Staff was friendly and answered all my questions. Extremely clean inside and out. Parking was a bit odd.
dpacnc.com
