Tom Gabbard has been CEO of Blumenthal Arts since 2003. During his tenure, Blumenthal has become a top 10 market for Broadway touring in North America. The Blumenthal manages four theaters and more than 1,000 events every year.
In addition to performances in theaters, Blumenthal Arts is involved in various artistic events and educational programs throughout Charlotte, including the Charlotte International Arts Festival in the fall and immersive experiences at places like Blume Studios, which is a new facility for Blumenthal near uptown.
He’s also a lifetime member of the Broadway League and has been a voter for the Tony Awards since 1997.
In this episode of the podcast, recorded in front of an audience at The Sharon at South Park retirement community in February 2025, Gabbard shared his experiences growing Blumenthal into the organization it is today, how he gets big shows to come to Charlotte, and what it was like being in the room when Lin Manuel Miranda first pitched the musical “Hamilton.” He also discusses:
His interest in the arts and his background in arts administration
How Blumenthal balances national touring shows with homegrown arts programming
How Blumenthal adjusted during the pandemic, and its decision to bring the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit to Charlotte at that time
Behind-the-scenes stories about the beginnings of major productions “Hamilton” and “Six”
What it’s like being a Tony Awards voter
The status of the arts in Charlotte generally
The role of public funding of the arts
This is a recording of Tom Gabbard’s talk at The Sharon on Feb. 3, 2025.
The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.
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