About the Wortham
Located in the heart of the Pack Square Cultural District, the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts is a three-venue complex comprising Diana Wortham Theatre, Tina McGuire Theatre and Henry LaBrun Studio. There is convenient off-street parking and numerous downtown restaurants within a block of the center. The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
Wortham Presents
The Wortham Center’s ever-popular annual season of national and international touring artists, Wortham Presents, offers live and virtual performances, bringing the best in music, dance, theatre and special attractions. Past headliners include Pilobolus, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Kathy Mattea, Black Violin, Paula Poundstone, Rhiannon Giddons, Bela Fleck, and DIAVOLO.
Local Community Groups
A wide range of regional arts groups and organizations utilize the Wortham Center, including Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective, The Asheville Ballet, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, Asheville Performing Arts Academy, Ballet Conservatory of Asheville, Music Video Asheville, and YMCA of Western North Carolina.
Student Series
Shows in the theatre’s Student Series for students, teachers and families align with the NC Public Schools systems curriculum and are attended by students, parents, and teachers from 16 counties in Western North Carolina. Offerings include Shakespearean selections and dance performances as well as shows with historical and social context about topics such as Black history, bullying, and the importance of voting. The theatre provides support for low-income schools and students to participate in the Student Series through Arts for All Kids.
Residency Programs
The Wortham Center’s residency programs strengthen engagement between artists and audiences through extended opportunities for outreach, creation and community connection. Artists-in-residence participate in season-long residency periods with multiple opportunities for learning, engagement, workshops and performances. In 2018, the Wortham Center welcomed Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective as its first company-in-residence. The Asheville-based theatre troupe presents its full performance seasons in the Tina McGuire Theatre. The residency family grew in 2019 when the Wortham welcomed Stewart/Owen Dance as the first dance company-in-residence. The company leads weekly dance classes for the public in Henry LaBrun Studio, and will be presenting a series of performances as part of the Wortham’s 23-24 season in Tina McGuire Theatre.
Past resident artists include cellist and singer-songwriter, Shana Tucker (2019-2020), and Black Box Dance Theatre (2019-2020).
