The Orpheum, as almost everybody knows, is Memphis’ historic theater — a vaudeville showplace, concert showcase and movie palace. In its current grand incarnation, the venue has anchored the corner of Beale Street and Main since 1928.
But what probably relatively few people know is that the Orpheum — not the theater per se, but the nonprofit arts organization that manages the grandiose building — has a footprint that reaches well beyond Downtown, with an agenda that encourages Memphis’ artistic future even as it celebrates the cultural past.
“When people think about the Orpheum, they think about all the world-class entertainment that we bring to Memphis, and that’s a huge part of how we contribute to the culture of this region,” said Taylor St. John, Director of Education and Engagement for the Orpheum Theatre Group. “But what people are less aware of is that we have a robust commitment to community programs, in Shelby County and beyond.”…