Kentucky Center Venues Rank in Worldwide Top 200 Listing

The Kentucky Center's Whitney Hall and Brown Theatre have both been recognized among the top 200 theatre venues in the world, based on ticket sales. Whitney Hall ranked 33rd and the Brown Theatre ranked 149th. The report was issued by Pollstar, considered to be the only trade publication covering the worldwide concert industry.

Whitney Hall sold 187,205 tickets during 2016, according to the report. The Brown Theatre sold 43,373 tickets during the same period. Other popular venues on the report included the Flamingo Las Vegas (#94), Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium (#75), the Chicago Theatre (#15), Nashville's Rhyman Auditorium (#14), New York's Beacon Theatre (#10), London's Royal Albert Hall (#3), Radio City Music Hall (#2) and Mexico City's Auditorio Nacional which was ranked number one with 1,329,044 tickets sold in 2016.

"This report once again reminds us that places like Whitney Hall and The Brown Theatre play a critical role in the economic engine that supports our state's economy - along with so many other great arts attractions in our region," said Kim Baker, president of The Kentucky Center. "This recognition demonstrates the passion and enthusiasm Kentucky audiences have for the performing arts."

During 2016, Whitney Hall hosted a range of diverse performers and acts, including country singer Vince Gill, legendary dance troupe Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, crooner Harry Connick Jr., and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The Brown Theatre saw an equally varied field of performers, with trumpeter Chris Botti, contemporary dance troupe Pilobolus, rockers The Goo Goo Dolls and public radio host Ira Glass all taking the stage to entertain audiences there.

Upcoming performances in Whitney Hall include the Louisville Orchestra Performance, Sacred + Profane: Of Heavens and Humans (March 11) and the PNC Broadway in Louisville show Beautiful: The Carol King Musical (May 16-21). The Brown Theatre will host former New York City ballet principal dancer Wendy Whelan (March 8) and the family-friendly Sesame Street Live! (March 3-5).

Resident companies in both Whitney Hall and The Brown Theatre include The Louisville Orchestra, PNC Broadway in Louisville, The Louisville Ballet and other numerous local and touring performance organizations.

The two venues were among only three Kentucky venues to make the list (The Louisville Palace ranked 185th).

Pollstar supplies in-depth information to every professional concert promoter, booking agent, artist manager, facility executive and every other entity involved in the live entertainment business. It produces a weekly print magazine for professionals and publishes that information daily to the web.

For more information about upcoming shows and performances at Whitney Hall and The Brown Theatre, visit kentuckycenter.org.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The mission of The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts is to lead and enrich the artistic, educational and economic vitality of the region by providing unparalleled programming and cultural events. As an integral member of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage cabinet, The Center, along with the other agencies, seek to preserve and promote the history, heritage and arts of the Commonwealth.