Greenville, Texas’ history as a center for high quality entertainment goes back to the 1800s. Multiple opera houses merged with strong farming operations, fusing an arts and agriculture vibe that continues today. Market Square is not only home to a thriving seasonal farmers’ market, but a summer weekly music series and other creative events.
Other special events featuring performing arts in downtown Greenville include the Hunt County Festival of the Arts in the spring, the Lee Street Jamboree in September, and the Bob Wills Fiddle Festival and Contest in November.
Multiple venues in Greenville feature live music every week. Greenville Theatre Works performs a new season of plays each year, and the Greenville Chamber Music Society and Greenville Pops Orchestra present chamber music and jazz. Local dance companies are scheduled to perform as well.
The Greenville Municipal Auditorium welcomes thousands of guests through its doors each year to enjoy top quality entertainment.
The cornerstone of entertainment in the area is the Greenville Municipal Auditorium (GMA). The stately building is representative of Art Deco and Modern architecture and was originally completed in 1939.
During its 85 year history, its stage has hosted stars like Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, Elvis Presley, and Van Cliburn. Country superstars later began performing there, including Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Travis Tritt, Merle Haggard, Don Williams, Tanya Tucker, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Asleep at the Wheel.
In February this year, the GMA temporarily closed its doors for some major upgrades. The lighting, rigging, sound, and house systems were all replaced this summer with top-of-the-line equipment that is set to tremendously improve experiences for audiences and performers alike.
Community Engagement Director Micah McBay who has overseen the improvements with the contractor Digital Resources, Inc. (DRI), says ticket holders are going to enjoy GMA shows more than ever.
“First, they’ll notice the house is much brighter,” he says. “The old houselights were dim, and our new lights are significantly brighter, and it makes a big difference when you’re coming in before a show.
“Second, they’ll notice the overall lighting on the stage is vastly improved. (In the past) performers for concerts or plays were often in shadows and not well lit. While the audience could see them, the details of faces, clothing, etc. were unclear and shadowed. With our new system this will no longer be the case. Additionally, our new system includes multiple intelligent lights, so we will be able to do effects like you’d see in other concert venues, like lights sweeping across the stage, and color changes.”
Besides the upgraded lighting, McBay says the sound system is state-of-the-art.
“We believe the GMA is the sixth venue in the world to house this new system from L-Acoustics. Part of the sound upgrade also includes new acoustic paneling throughout the house that will greatly improve the overall acoustics in the venue. The difference in sound quality with the new setup will be exponentially better.”
These changes open the door to inviting a broader range of performers than they could in the past.
“This new system is quite incredible and artists are going to want to come in and play our venue because the sound and lighting is going to be amazing,” McBay says. “Essentially, they’re getting the intimacy and history of the GMA with the tech systems of a venue like the AT&T Arena. Clearly, the AT&T is much larger and has far more bells and whistles, but we will be able to replicate and match some of the tech capabilities of a larger venue in our more intimate and unique space.
“From a theatrical perspective, our new equipment will allow us to create more immersive theatre experiences that more closely resemble Broadway caliber performances.
“Add in our free parking, historic downtown, and rapidly growing retail and restaurant scene and it’s a recipe for future success.”
The shows coming to the GMA starting this fall include some legacy country acts, tribute bands, theatrical and ballet performances, and concerts by local and visiting musicians presenting chamber, symphony, and jazz.
The GMA is also bringing in four educational shows for area students to include the East Texas A&M University band; Texas Shakespeare out of Kilgore performing Julius Caesar; Ballet Frontier of Texas; and Texas Comedies performs an original musical comedy based on actual Texas history called The Crash at Crush.
The public is invited to see all the changes at a grand opening at 7 p.m. September 25.
Get details on all the shows scheduled in the coming year on www.ShowtimeattheGMA.com.
