Tennessee Amphitheater

The Tennessee Amphitheater, also known as the World's Fair Park Amphitheater, is an open-air amphitheater located in the 1982 World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Tennessee Amphitheater

History

The Tennessee Amphitheater was built for 1982 World's Fair[1] and was designed by structural engineer Horst Berger, part of McCarty Bullock and Holsaple, architects of Knoxville (led by architect Bruce McCarty, the Master Architect of the 1982 World's Fair), and Geiger Berger, structural engineers of New York City. Berger was known for his work with tensile architecture, and the architectural design of the amphitheater is notable for the tensile fabric membranes that hover over the theater.[2][3] The amphitheater has played host to a wide range of concerts, including classical music,[4] country music (e.g., The Aldridge Sisters),[5] blues (e.g., Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown),[6] and rock bands (e.g., Weezer[7] and Widespread Panic).[8] Together with the Sunsphere, the 1400-seat amphitheater is one of only two structures that remain from the 1982 World's Fair.[9]

The amphitheater was condemned to demolition in 2002[10] but was renovated between 2005 and 2007, reopening in 2007 with then-Mayor Bill Haslam's inaugural address for his second term.[11] The amphitheater was voted one of the top 15 architectural works of East Tennessee by the East Tennessee chapter of the American Institute of Architects,[12] and since its reopening in 2007, the amphitheater continues to be used for concerts (e.g., Logan Brill[13]) and by arts organizations in Knoxville, including the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra,[14] Knoxville Opera[15] and the Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble.[16]

See also

References
  1. "World's Fair Park Amphitheater". World's Fair Park. Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  2. "Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future: AIA 150th" (PDF). The Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  3. Knoxville's 1982 World's Fair. Arcadia Publishing. 2009. ISBN 9780738568355. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  4. "A Natural Showman". Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  5. Wayne Bledsoe (30 September 2012). "Jacksons, World's Fair and local upstarts all fueled the 1980s Knoxville music scene". The Knoxville News Sentinel.
  6. "Ticket 70". Ticket Hoarder. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  7. "Super-Chrono 1995". WeezerPedia. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  8. "Tennessee Amphitheater". PanicStream. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  9. Amy McRary (28 May 2016). "World's Fair: The world came to Knoxville in May 1982". The Knoxville News Sentinel.
  10. Doug Mason (18 September 2005). "Professor sings praises of iconic World's Fair structure". The Knoxville News Sentinel.
  11. "World's Fair Park Amphitheater". World's Fair Park. Archived from the original on 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  12. Doug Mason (16 December 2007). "Area architects' picks for ET's Top 15 structures may surprise you". The Knoxville News Sentinel.
  13. "3rd Annual Rocky Top BBQ Festival". Bandsintown. Retrieved 2016-07-02.
  14. Amy McRary (4 July 2008). "East Tennessee celebrations united by America's independence". The Knoxville News Sentinel.
  15. Alan Sherrod (3 May 2016). "Knoxville Opera's Daring Production of 'Tosca' Pays Off—Even in the Rain". The Knoxville Mercury.
  16. "Weekend Watch: Discover the Dinosaurs, HoLa Festival, Greek Fest and more". The Knoxville News Sentinel. 25 September 2014.

35.9612°N 83.9239°W / 35.9612; -83.9239

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