Mission
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts’ mission is to enrich, enlighten, educate and entertain through the performing arts.
As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Wortham Center is deeply grateful to its donors and ticket buyers, whose support makes this mission possible.
History
The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts originated in July 1992 as the Diana Wortham Theatre, the first of its three venues.
Conceived in the late 1980s, the Diana Wortham Theatre was created as part of the Pack Place complex in downtown Asheville—a project designed to spark the city’s revitalization. When it opened in 1992, the theatre quickly became a hub for nighttime activity and cultural engagement. It was named in honor of Diana Gayle Wortham, an Asheville resident and major supporter of Pack Place’s development.
Born from the vision of community leaders, Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center and the Diana Wortham Theatre were established to meet Asheville’s growing need for a dynamic performing arts presence. Nearly three decades later, this nonprofit organization continues to anchor the vibrant cultural life that defines Asheville.
Thanks to the dedication of its supporters, a major expansion in 2019 transformed the venue into the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, a thriving three-venue complex that continues to honor its founding mission of enriching, enlightening, educating, and entertaining through the performing arts.
Expansion of the Wortham Center
The transformation to the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts began with The Next Stage capital campaign, which raised more than $3.1 million to expand the former Diana Wortham Theatre into a multi-venue arts complex. Construction began in 2019, and later that year the new Wortham Center for the Performing Arts opened its doors, coinciding with the launch of the 2019–2020 season.
Today, the Wortham Center comprises three venues: the 500-seat Diana Wortham Theatre, featuring state-of-the-art sound and energy-efficient LED lighting; the Tina McGuire Theatre, a flexible black box space with convertible seating for 80–100 guests; and the Henry LaBrun Studio, a multi-use space for classes, rehearsals, and community events accommodating 60–80 people. The expansion has allowed the Wortham to broaden access to programming, foster new partnerships, and offer enhanced educational opportunities and rental spaces for the community.
The transformation also included a complete renovation of the Center’s main entrance and lobby, as well as the Explore Asheville Courtyard on Biltmore Avenue. This inviting outdoor area now serves as a welcoming gathering space, featuring an outdoor stage, dining and seating areas, and direct access to the Henry LaBrun Studio.
Hosting more than 300 public events each year and welcoming over 55,000 attendees, the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts continues to be a beloved cornerstone of Asheville’s cultural community. The Center is home to more than 40 local arts organizations—including Ballet Conservatory of Asheville, Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, Laugh Your Asheville Off, Asheville Performing Arts Academy, Blue Ridge Orchestra, Adesto Theatre, The Moth, Stewart/Owen Dance, Asheville Musical Theatre and The Asheville Ballet—and offers its own Wortham Center Presents series, featuring notable and internationally acclaimed touring artists.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Rae Geoffrey, Managing Director
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Office: 828-210-9837
Email: rae@worthamarts.org
Anigiduwagi (Cherokee) Land Acknowledgement
The Wortham Center acknowledges that the land we are on is the ancestral land of the Anigiduwagi, more commonly known as the Cherokee (ᏣᎳᎩᎠᏰᎵ). Learn more about the Cherokee land cessions and the formation of Buncombe County at https://bit.ly/3T0HlCx. Support native art and artists through the Indigenous Walls Project.
