Nashville's first movie house opened in 1925, was briefly home to the Grand Ole Opry, and evolved into a premier venue for live entertainment and film. Today Belcourt Theatre has emerged as the place for cutting-edge productions, including independent flicks, Mockingbird Theater, and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. Events happen monthly and movies are shown every day.
Located in downtown Nashville, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is sprawled across an entire city block between 5th and 6th Avenues of Union Street. The main performance venue of the center is the Andrew Jackson Hall. This hall can seat up to 2,400 spectators and hosts a variety of Broadway shows and entertainment events. The center is the home of the Nashville Opera Association and the Nashville Ballet. It also houses the Tennessee State Museum, the James K. Polk Theater, the War Memorial Auditorium, and an education program for children.