Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

Official address: 430 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina

Seating capacity: 1,192 within its orchestra, grand tier, and mezzanine levels

Open date: November 1992

The idea for Knight Theater came out in 2003. At the time, the city's Arts & Science Council had wrapped up a year’s worth of study, one that went on to become a 25-year master plan for cultural facilities. The scheming was the next phase of a moonshot that started in 1976, leading to the creation of venues like the Discovery Place, The Spirit Square, and the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

The initial phase of the project had a $236 million commitment, partitive of which was an $84 million endowment fund. It required the relocation of the Mint Museum to the uptown, the setting up of a contemporary art museum named after Andrea Betchler, a theater with 1200 seating capacity, as well as a spick-and-span Afro-American Cultural Center.

Eventually, the aforementioned master plan culminated in a movement for cultural facilities in 2006. Along these lines, venues such as the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, Mint Museum Uptown, and of course, the Knight Theater, were established. Each unique, they were situated inside the Levine Center for the Arts campus.

Known for its stainless steel construct and curvy lines, the looks of the Knight Theater were in sharp contrast to the terracotta facade of its closest neighbor, The Bechtler. Today, the venue exists for premium entertainment, including electrifying concerts and other events that keep the residents of Charlotte and worldwide art fanatics enthralled.

Events at the Knight Theater

The venue is a favorite stop-by for many performing arts professionals, particularly comedians whose humor hardly knows bounds. One such is Jimmy Carr, a British-Irish comedian, presenter, writer, and actor known for his deadpan delivery of controversial one-liners. He’ll be presenting at the theater on March 19th, 2024.

Ronny Chieng is another comedic sensation taking this stage. A Malaysian actor based in the United States, he is a senior correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. Chieng created and starred in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation sitcom Ronny Chieng: International Student. His standup will be held here on March 24th.

Next (May 16th) is Hassan Minhaj, whose comedy revolves around South Asian culture and modern American politics. His employ of satire, observational comedy, and black comedy gives his act a unique slant bound to crack ribs while raising a few eyebrows.

Other subsequent performances at the Knight Theater will come from Johnny Cash, Ms Pat, and Paula Poundstone, among others. The venue will also host the Charlotte Ballet, Banff Mountain Film Festival, and Message in a Bottle.

Transportation and parking

The theater is conveniently accessible via the Lynx Blue Line light rail. The nearest station is the 3rd Street/Convention Center Station, and it is just a short walk away from the venue. The line runs from the I-485/South Boulevard Station in the south to UNC Charlotte Main Station in the north, with multiple stops in between.

Another viable transportation option is the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), which operates numerous bus routes throughout the city, providing access to various destinations, including Knights Theater. Bus routes serving the vicinity include routes 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 41, 56, and 77.

The Knight Theater has a parking lot at the Levine Center for the Arts, located at 550 S. Tryon Street, with an entrance on West Brooklyn Village Avenue. A space costs $10 in cash when used after 5 pm on weekdays. Parking is also available at The Green Parking Garage and The Duke Energy Center Parking Garage at 435 S Tryon St.