it occurred to me after the recent reopening of broadway in memphis that i’ve never written a post about the orpheum theatre. i’ve mentioned various shows and concerts and events that i have attended in other posts, but i wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for this gem once again.
orpheum date. memphis, tennessee. february 2018. 
my favorite orpheum date. memphis, tennessee. march 2019. 
in the room where it happens. memphis, tennessee. july 2019. 
pretending we’re fancy. memphis, tennessee. july 2019. 
such a fun show. memphis, tennessee. april 2018. 
all shows should include pie. memphis, tennessee. january 2019. 
favorite show of the season. memphis, tennessee. february 2020. 
masked up for the new broadway season. memphis, tennessee. october 2021.
my first visit to the orpheum was an elementary school field trip for an event i no longer remember the name of, and over the years i have returned again and again. my mother and i have been season ticket holders for their broadway series since 2017, enjoying performances of hamilton, rent!, wicked, aladdin, the play that goes wrong, something rotten!, and most recently come from away, among many others.
black violin at the orpheum. memphis, tennessee. april 2018. 
amos lee. memphis, tennessee. march 2019. 
leon bridges date. memphis, tennessee. april 2019. 
leslie odom, jr. memphis, tennessee. june 2019. 
orpheum date. memphis, tennessee. june 2019. 
haunted dinner at the orpheum. memphis, tennessee. october 2018. 
ballet night date night. memphis, tennessee. april 2018. 
gloria steinem. memphis, tennessee. october 2019. 
we fancy up well. memphis, tennessee. october 2019.
in addition to the broadway season, the orpheum also hosts – in non-covid years – a summer movie series that provides for some great nostalgia. they bring in a lot of musical guests, and over the years i have been lucky enough to see black violin, amos lee, leon bridges, and leslie odom, jr, perform. they used to host dinners on stage, and thanks to my friend jen who works there i have tagged along for a few and have become something of an expert on the backstage murals. i’ve also been able to see the nutcracker, peter pan, and alvin ailey ballet performances. and every year [when in person is possible] they host the national civil rights museum freedom awards; in 2019 jen invited me to be her plus-one and we were able to hear hafsat abiola and gloria steinem speak and to watch john legend perform. it was pretty incredible.
next door to the orpheum is the halloran center for performing arts, where i saw my first opera, attended indie memphis film festival performances, saw hasan minhaj perform a stand-up set, and once crashed the orpheum’s annual gala.
the orpheum has played a significant role in memphis’ history and in my own time in the city, and i am very grateful for its existence. i hope that memphians continue to support them for many generations to come.
xx
queen veen on the scene 
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