With the release of its 2016-17 Annual Report to the Community, the nonprofit Tennessee Performing Arts Center is sharing the success of several new, even historic, steps made last year that were informed by an 18-month, board-led strategic planning process.

The resulting strategic plan, shaped by feedback from a diverse group of community partners, sets specific goals to support the creation of new works on TPAC stages, diversify programming, engage the community through unique events and assess how well TPAC facilities serve and support its work.

TPAC is committed to keeping pace with Nashville’s dramatic growth and contributing value to city and surrounding area. In 2016-17, TPAC presented 474 performances, welcomed 350,728 audience members, served 42,944 children and adults through its arts education programs, and created a combined annual economic impact of more than $72 million dollars from TPAC and its resident artistic companies — Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera and Nashville Repertory Theatre.

Broadway’s Eden Espinosa as Eva Peron in Studio Tenn’s production of Evita. Photo by MA2LA.

Additional highlights from 2016-17 include:

• TPAC’s first steps as an associate producer, presenting for the first time in its history a locally-produced show — a production of EVITA by the Franklin-based Studio Tenn company — as part of the 2016-17 HCA/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC season. Additionally, TPAC presented three stage readings of a new musical, Part of The Plan which it would ultimately co-produce.
• The nonprofit’s continued expansion of its Disney Musicals in Schools program as well as professional development opportunities for teachers, such as summer and fall institutes on how to integrate the arts into classroom learning and technical training.
• A new partnership with Lipscomb University’s College of Entertainment & the Arts to expand and co-present its Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards program. Now one of TPAC’s six education programs and named the Spotlight Awards, the program culminated in a Tony Awards-style awards ceremony and two Best Actor/Actress winners competing in New York at the Jimmy Awards (the Middle Tennessee students were named among the Top 8 Finalists).

“We are incredibly grateful for all our donors, sponsors, community partners and friends who help to bring TPAC’s mission to life and make a difference in the lives of children and adults – from students and teachers to the hundreds of thousands of people who walk through our doors each year,” said Kathleen O’Brien, TPAC president and chief executive officer.

“With them, we hope to serve Nashville’s growing needs by presenting bold and innovative programming, energizing our region’s creative abilities and improving the lives of the people of Tennessee.”