The Orpheum Theatre is the grand entertainment palace at Main Street and Beale, and its campus tour lets you see the building when it is not full of an audience. The tour lasts about 60 minutes and covers the theatre’s art deco rooms and building history, including the story of how Memphians saved it from demolition in the late 1970s. The same block has been an entertainment destination for more than 90 years, and the building is still a working theatre with a Broadway season. Highlights include the backstage murals painted by visiting stars and productions, the theatre’s ghost story involving a character called Mary, and the Balcony Project, which tells segregation-era history connected to the building. The tour also visits the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts and Education, a 39,000-square-foot venue next door that is home to the organization’s education programs and its second venue. The tour is a good fit for history fans, theatre lovers and families with older children. It only runs on select days, so you will need to plan around the schedule, and it is a better choice than a generic walking tour if you want an inside look at a Memphis landmark. The Balcony Project can also be toured separately and free of charge on set days.
How to visit
Tours run at 10 a.m. and noon on select Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, depending on availability, and registration generally opens about four weeks ahead. The cost is $10 per person, and children under five are admitted free but need a reservation. Meet at the Orpheum lobby outside the box office, at 203 S. Main Street, at least 15 minutes early.
What to expect
The tour is about an hour of walking and standing, with stairs and backstage areas, so ask the venue about accessibility if needed. Private tours for groups of 20 or more require contacting the venue at least one week ahead. The free Balcony Project tour runs on Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons, with hours given on the venue’s site.
Making the most of it
Book as soon as your dates open, since places are limited, and combine the tour with a stroll down Beale Street or lunch nearby. If you cannot get a tour, check the box office for a show during your stay, as a performance is the best way to experience the interior. Check the schedule before building your plans.
What to expect
The experience
A guided hour through the Orpheum’s art deco rooms, backstage murals and the Balcony Project.
Best time
A Monday to Wednesday morning, booked about four weeks ahead.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Register early, arrive 15 minutes before and meet in the lobby outside the box office.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History fans, theatre lovers and curious first-time visitors.
- Families
- Suits older children who enjoy backstage stories and a ghost tale.
- Couples
- A short, atmospheric visit before a stroll on Beale Street.
- Pair with
- Beale Street, the Rock n Soul Museum or a show.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
When do the Orpheum tours run?+
At 10 a.m. and noon on select Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, depending on availability. Registration generally opens about four weeks ahead.
How much is the tour?+
It is $10 per person. Children under five are free but need a reservation.
Where do I meet?+
At the Orpheum lobby outside the box office, 203 S. Main Street, at least 15 minutes before the start.
What is the Balcony Project?+
It covers segregation-era history connected to the theatre and can also be toured separately and free of charge on set days.
Is the Orpheum haunted?+
The tour includes the theatre’s ghost story, involving a character named Mary.
