By Monica Chen

mchen@heraldsun.com; 419-6636

DURHAM — On Nov. 30, 2008, legendary blues guitarist B.B. King took the stage at the Durham Performing Arts Center and formally opened the largest performing arts venue in the Carolinas.

To cheer that night, the city and DPAC are holding a one-year birthday celebration Monday.

“It’s a way to say thank you for the public and to recognize how successful DPAC has been in the past year,” said Durham Public Affairs Director Beverly Thompson.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. and is open to the public. Mayor Bill Bell, DPAC General Manager Bob Klaus and DPAC Oversight Committee Chairwoman MaryAnn Black will speak from the theater’s second-floor lobby. A big birthday cake for DPAC will be presented as well.

The theater earned $401,706 for the city in its first year of operating, according to the recent draft audited financial statement for the period ending June 30, more than four times the expectations.

“That’s truly great news for Durham, especially in light of today’s economy,” Durham Mayor Bill Bell had said about the financial results. “Our first season has been undeniably successful. The management of DPAC, in addition to operating in a first-rate facility, has found the right combination and diversity of performances that attract people from throughout the region, and the numbers show that.”

Since opening, the $44 million, 2,800-seat theater has played host to comedians Bill Cosby and Lewis Black, musicians Willie Nelson, Steely Dan and Harry Connick Jr., as well as the Broadway show “Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple.”

The theater’s second full year is planned to feature other touring shows from Broadway, including: “Mamma Mia!,” “Spring Awakening,” “Wicked” and “Beauty and the Beast.”