Charlotte Performing Arts Center

About Us:

The Charlotte Performing Arts Center (CPAC) opened in 2003 as a joint venture between the Charlotte County School Board, Charlotte County, and the City of Punta Gorda. The concept for the approximately 900-seat theater grew out of a school district project to replace the original theater at Charlotte High School, which was built in 1926. Members of the school district and community realized that they had the opportunity not just to build a school auditorium, but fill a cultural gap in the area. With money from the school district, city, and county, as well as grants from the State of Florida and portions of the sales tax referendum revenues, construction began in 2002 on the 35,000 square-foot space.

In 2008, CPAC was turned over to Charlotte High School, and with the construction of the new high school, will be fully integrated into its campus. The facility has four classrooms (band, chorus, drama, and dance), which serve the students of CHS on a daily basis. On the walls of the lobby, you will see artwork by the talented students of the CHS Art Department. The main theater is used by most of the schools in the county for concerts, productions, awards ceremonies, graduation exercises, and meetings. Through the district's ShowBiz Kids series, students from across the county attend productions by groups such as the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Bits ‘n’ Pieces Puppet Theater, the Kennedy Center, and more. We, as a district, are proud that we can offer such amazing cultural opportunities to our students.

CPAC is also the home of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Charlotte Chorale. Both organizations rehearse and hold regular concerts in the venue. We are excited to have their continued support and presence in this space.