Orpheum Theatre launches new educational initiative to examine historic venue’s segregation-era past

What’s happening: The Orpheum Theatre Group has launched a new educational initiative that pulls back the curtain on its Jim Crow-era history. The Balcony Project examines the historic theatre’s segregation policies of the time, presenting a new documentary, informative panels, and public tours that intend to provide a glimpse into pre-1964 Memphis and serve as a tribute to, and provide inspiration from, how far we’ve come.

“The Balcony Project can make significant contributions to historical recognition and understanding of the Jim Crow era,” says Dr. Charles McKinney, Associate Professor of History and Director of Africana Studies at Rhodes College.

What it is: The Balcony Project is a multi-faceted educational initiative launched by the Orpheum Theatre Group (OTG) that examines the substandard Black-Only entrance to the Orpheum and its balcony prior to desegregation. The OTG has tapped Dr. Charles McKinney, Associate Professor of History and Director of Africana Studies at Rhodes College, to curate informative panels examining the era; videographer Daven Baptiste has produced a documentary featuring first-hand accounts of the Orpheum before and after desegregation; and a symposium, free and open to the public, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, in the Halloran Centre, details of which are forthcoming.
“This initiative appeals to those who want to learn and continue to advance our society," says Brett Batterson, President and CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group.
What they’re saying: “The Balcony Project serves as a dynamic platform for public awareness, centered on educating visitors. The OTG’s commitment to storytelling extends beyond the stage. This initiative appeals to those who want to learn and continue to advance our society," says Brett Batterson, President and CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group.

See for yourself: The public can freely visit The Balcony Project each Monday, from 2 to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning on Monday, Oct. 2. It will also be included on regularly scheduled campus tours and private campus tours, respective registration for each of which can be found online here and here.

Why it’s important: “The Orpheum Theatre Group has used performing arts to educate for 95 years and is uniquely positioned to tell this story,” says Dr. McKinney. “The Balcony Project can make significant contributions to historical recognition and understanding of the Jim Crow era, underscoring the OTG’s commitment to continuous learning.”