About the Venues
Built in 1966 to honor Atlanta’s performing arts community, Center Stage Theater is an iconic live performance venue in Midtown celebrating over five decades hosting music, comedy, wrestling, boxing, eSports, film and television recordings, and private events.
Today, the facility features features three diverse venues:
- Center Stage Theater, the historic 1050-capacity original theater renowned for its acoustics and intimate live show experience
- The Loft, an industrial 650-capacity live music and event space
- Vinyl, a 300-capacity staple in Atlanta’s local music scene
Marquee Moments at Center Stage
- Originally “Theatre Atlanta”, Center Stage was built by Ms. Frania Tye Lee as a memorial to her daughter, Mrs. Helen Lee Cartledge, after she and 100 other Atlanta arts patrons perished in the Orly plane crash of 1962. The family preserves the Midtown Atlanta property as a home to performing arts in Mrs. Cartledge’s honor.
- The Video Music Channel first broadcast from Center Stage in 1982.
- World Championship Wrestling (WCW) filmed WCW Saturday Night at Center Stage.
- ProgPower USA has taken place at Center Stage for 20+ consecutive years.
- Sir Elton John recorded the live-studio album Captain & The Kid on the floor of Center Stage.
- Beck surprised Atlanta at The Loft one Halloween night.
- Jay-Z launched his seven-city-in-one-day “Hanger Tour” with a 7am show at Center Stage.
- Jamie Foxx hosted television comedy special Laffapalooza from Center Stage.
- Lady Gaga & Katy Perry each played Center Stage the same week.
- Twenty One Pilots, Cold War Kids, Marc Broussard, Citizen Cope, X Ambassadors & countless others were introduced to Atlanta in Vinyl.
- Kanye West, Drake, Ellie Goulding, Queens of the Stone Age, Dan & Shay, Khalid, The Weeknd, 21 Savage, The Strokes, Young Thug, J Cole, H.E.R and Shawn Mendez – all launched meteoric careers from Center Stage – The Loft – Vinyl.
- MTV Unplugged and Rockstar Energy Drink’s concert experience highlighting Atlanta-born artist J.I.D at The Loft in 2022.
- Three seasons of the series “Wild N’ Out” were shot at Center Stage Theater from 2018 through 2020.
- Comedian Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me on HBO Max filmed at Center Stage Theater
- The “Plastic Cup Boyz” Netflix special feature
- World Wrestling Entertainment NXT LIVE! hosted at Center Stage
Rival Entertainment
Since 2004, Rival has produced concerts and festivals, presenting many of Atlanta’s most acclaimed live events, including the Candler Park Music Festival, Georgia State Stadium’s inaugural concert featuring Foo Fighters, ONE Musicfest, the infamous three-day Outkast ATLast reunion and Prince’s last live concert performance.
Inquiries about sponsoring an event and hiring Rival Entertainment’s event production services are welcome at
info@rivalentertainment.com
