The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is, in an understatement, in good company. The venerable arts center in downtown Fort Lauderdale is currently vying for the title of Theatre of the Decade—the only Florida venue to make the shortlist—in the 32nd annual Pollstar Awards Fan Voting Survey. Its competition includes Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre in New York City, the Colosseum At Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Chicago Theatre, Durham Performing Arts Center and the Auditorio Nacional and Auditorio Telmex in Mexico.
The Broward Center is no stranger to Pollstar’s tabulations; in 2019, it was recognized by the entertainment industry leader as a Top 10 venue for the ninth year in a row. With COVID-19 shuttering indoor theaters for nearly all of 2020, Pollstar decided to use this year’s voting to celebrate “the most commercially and artistically successful artists, venues and events over the last decade, as determined by Pollstar’s box office data and prior awards voting history.”
“The entire organization, from top to bottom, has contributed to this nomination,” said Broward Center President and CEO Kelley Shanley, in a press release. “I could not be more proud of the work of our team and the honor of receiving this nomination. … Even during the most challenging period in our history during the pandemic, we delivered relevant programs to our audiences to engage them in the arts and stay connected.”
Indeed, the Broward Center has been one of the more adaptable theaters in South Florida over the past year, transitioning to open-air outdoor programming and attracting such marquee headliners as “Long Island Medium” Theresa Caputo.
While on the voting site, you can also cast your ballot for Pollstar Touring Artist of the Decade (I picked Paul McCartney for this one), Music Festival of the Decade and other awards.
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