The Center for the Performing Arts

Wow. I had no idea what to expect but I was blown away. The theater is beautiful on the inside. I thought my seat in the back row would be terrible, but I still had a great view of the stage. My ticket was only $15 so I thought it was an incredible value. Plus, self parking is free. The volunteer ushers were so nice and I loved that the President applauded the volunteers during his opening. The show (Vitamin String Quartet) was amazing and the ease of parking, getting inside, and even getting concessions during intermission made everything just that much better.

I visited Tarkington which is 500-seat theater with used primarily for drama, musicals, dance, lectures and presentations. Tarkington is located in the same building as the Studio Theater, across Carter Green from the Palladium and has wonderful service. I enjoyed the show, my time and everyone who made our evening fabulous. If you appreciate art this is definitely the place for you!

True story:I largely learned how to ruin a business relationship thanks to The Center for the Performing Arts, a Carmel, Indiana performing arts center comprised of the 1,600 seat Palladium, 500 seat Tarkington Proscenium Theatre, and the 200 seat black-box Studio Theatre. It happened not long after The Center had opened. I had been offered the chance to appear at a writer's event alongside other Indiana writers. I decided it was a great opportunity to review the venue (mistake #1). I did let some folks know from the facility, especially because I knew accessibility was a huge concern of mine and always a focus in reviews. I didn't think about letting the event organizer know I planned to review the facility (mistake #2) because, at my worst, I'm typically known as a kinder/gentler reviewer. I arrive early. I check out the venue. As nearly everyone notes, it's a beautiful facility with kind employees and volunteers along with excellent acoustics. I had a few accessibility concerns, though I could tell this had been a strong consideration. The event itself went incredibly well and I was honestly surprised how accessible the actual stage was within the Palladium. I write the review after the event (mistake #3). The Center seemed fine with it, though did address some of my accessibility concerns. The event organizer? Ick. Not so happy. Long story not so short. I ended up deleting the review and, of course, apologizing to the event organizer. While we made amends, it's probably not surprising we would not work together again. Ugh. Now then, I've had a couple occasions to return to The Center including a recent Grace Potter concert along with multiple events at The Tarkington (which is also home to Civic Theatre). As I've learned the rhythm of the facilities and figured out some of the puzzles that presented on that first visit, I must admit that while I still think The Center has some accessibility concerns it has, in fact, grown on me and because I've figured out how to access it I find it to be a much more pleasurable experience. So, yes, I'm finally re-writing my review of The Center. I'm actually upping my rating a star. I'm also not going to delete it. It's important to note that The Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit organization. You can subscribe to its season, rent its facilities, and you are right next to a variety of excellent restaurants along with the top-notch Hotel Carmichael. Parking is generally free, a rarity at performance venues these days, and there are some valet parking options (not free). Accessible parking is located in the parking garages and along Carter Green. An interesting note - you can NOT back into parking spaces. This is a Carmel regulation and it is enforced. In all likelihood, you will be ticketed. Accessibility features are available on The Center's website. They are pretty solid, though I've always found them a bit weak in terms of entry and parking. Wheelchair accessible seating is located in various sections of the venues. Aisle seats with moveable armrests to accommodate transfers are also available throughout the Palladium and the Tarkington. The Center is home to Great American Songbook Foundation (Michael Feinstein), Civic Theatre, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble, Actors Theatre of Indiana, and Indiana Wind Symphony. While I'm still not willing to fork over that 5th star, I must admit that The Center has endeared itself to me with a devotion to accessibility, a diverse array of events and performances, and a team of employees and volunteers who consistently go out of the way to make the night special. A longtime vision of soon to be outgoing Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, The Center has become an essential presence for performing arts in Central Indiana and one of those venues where the first time you enter it you look around and go "Wow." This is my review. This time, I'm sticking to it.

Experienced the unconventional artistry of Abilene, for the first time; it was inspirational! The way they marry classical with modern elegance, and extend their sound beyond limits(with a looping technique)... left me at times, as previous reviews stated, spellbound and entranced.100% Recommend

Carmel has changed, and I mean really changed. Gone are the days of only cookie cutter homes and sleepy strip malls. It has become a vibrant place - a place far estranged from its philistine reputation of decades past. The Center of Performing Arts ("The Palladium") is paradise for all who enjoy live music or theater.When I first saw the Palladium, I was reminded of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. It's grand. The interior is equally as impressive. The attention to detail is evident in every corner, and I love the meticulously crafted woodwork. The Palladium truly embodies the grandeur of a European concert hall.I recently visited the Palladium for two entirely different performances: The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, and Floyd Nation, a Pink Floyd cover band. One of the most impressive aspects of The Palladium is its impeccable acoustics. The moment the performances began, I was completely engrossed in the rich, vibrant sound that filled the hall. Every note, every instrument, and every voice resonated beautifully, allowing for a truly immersive and unforgettable musical experience. Whether you're attending a symphony or a rock concert, the Palladium ensures that every artist's talent is showcased to its fullest extent. Seating is comfortable, and I felt I had plenty of space. Limited concessions are available at exorbitant prices.Visiting the Palladium is a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it!

The Center for the Performing Arts is a Carmel gem. I've officially seen my first concert here at the Palladium (Rufus Wainwright!), and the sound during the concert was amazing. Rufus has a beautiful voice, and it was amplified by 100x in this venue. What a great place to see him perform. The theatre itself is beautiful and elegant, but still comfortable and down to earth. It's just a great place to enjoy the arts.One of the great things about seeing a show here is that you're within steps from awesome restaurants (Vivante, especially) and a beautiful hotel. You can really enjoy a night out.I've also taken children's music classes here (at the Tarkington part of the performing arts center), and those were great, too. My children and I have also attended a children's play at the Tarkington, and literally every seat had a great view. The children's plays are so fun -- if you have children and get a chance to see a play here, you really should!

This has to be among my favorite venues in Indianapolis for music and live performances. The service, from the valets that moved quickly and efficiently; running to move the constant line of cars to the guides that helped us to our suite before the show, everyone was kind and helpful. The venue itself was beautiful & I don't think there was a bad seat in the house. I'm excited to see more shows/performances here.

I would really have a hard time understanding anyone who might criticize this venue. Yes, I'm sure my tax dollars funded it, and no one asked my permission to do that. But, I sure got a lot for my money. The venue itself is very clean, beautiful and in like-new condition. The staff are all helpful, and I feel "at home" each time I've attended an event here.

The 1,600 seat Pallidum is one of the three venues located at The Center for Performing Arts in Carmel. The other two are the 500 seat, proscenium Tarkington and the black-box Studio Theater. The campus houses the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation (celebrating the timeless standards of jazz, pop, Broadway and Hollywood) and provides space and support for six resident companies.The Pallidum is gorgeous with 5 levels of seating and the audio was amazing for the Melissa Etheridge concert. I was super excited to visit the Pallidum and see Melissa Etheridge in concert again. She's one of my all time favorites! I was dreading parking but it turned out to be one of the easiest parking experiences we'd had. We parked next door in the Tarkington parking garage and were parked and inside the Pallidum in less than 15 minutes. We were only outdoors for a few minutes moving between the garage and the Pallidum. We arrived a little early for the concert and wasn't allowed into the venue until 1/2 hour before the show. Beverages were available while we waited for the doors to open. We sat in the Left/West Orchestra section on the floor about half way back from the stage. The confortable seats were ideal and we could see everything easily. We were relieved as seats were very limited when we purchased. No binoculars needed here. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. There are elevators for the box seats on the upper levels if needed and they move fairly quickly. Absolutely not as fast as the stairs but not all of us can take the stairs.The volunteers were likeable and knowledgable. After discussing among themselves, several folks in our area moved toward the front and center hoping no one would notice. It worked out for a few before the true patrons arrived.Overall, I was tickled pink to see one of my favorite artist in this beautiful venue with amazing audio. Perfect night for me. I look forward to returning in the near future.

SUCH a beautiful venue!We came to a jazz Christmas concert and the venue added to the special-holiday vibes we were already feeling. My husband is big into music production and sound, and was really impressed by the sound quality inside as well. We also came for the New Years evening party and it was a blast. We loved that it was crowded, but not packed, so you could comfortably walk around and dance in all of the rooms without being crazy sweaty or knocking anything over. Such a great time. I sometimes get confused by the different levels (bathrooms downstairs), but enjoy the venue, so I'll take the learning curve.