Blumenthal Arts Welcomes Director of Blume Studios Events

(April 30, 2025) Charlotte, NC – Blumenthal Arts announced Michael Thomas-Visgar as its first Director of Blume Studios Events.

 

Blumenthal Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard said, “Following a highly competitive international search that attracted over 100 applicants, Michael has been selected as the inaugural Director of Blume Studios Events. He will lead a diverse slate of programming—from national and international touring productions to corporate events and locally developed shows.”

(Michael Thomas-Visgar, Director of Blume Studios Events)

Blumenthal Arts’ new venue for immersive art and multimedia experiences launched in 2024 with the popular Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, an interactive VR journey to the International Space Station, with 360-degree cinematic views of outer space.

Next up, Blume Studios will be home to MONOPOLOY LIFESIZED: Travel Edition, an interactive gaming experience based on everyone’s favorite boardgame. MONOPOLY LIFESIZED opens May 6–July 27.  For more information about Blume Studios and upcoming events, visit https://www.blumenthalarts.org/visit/blume-studios.

Thomas-Visgar said, "I am deeply passionate about immersive art and its transformative potential within the entertainment industry. As audiences continue to seek out more engaging and innovative experiences, I believe immersive formats will continue to play a leading role in shaping the future of artistic expression. I am honored to join Blume Studios and contribute to growing this cutting-edge form of entertainment in the Charlotte community."

Gabbard added, “Since opening in September, Blume Studios has earned some of the highest audience ratings in Blumenthal’s history. We are well on our way to realizing our vision of Blume Studios as a vibrant creative hub and national leader in immersive experiences and artistic development.  Under Michael’s leadership, we look forward to sustaining that level of excellence while expanding ways that we are catalyst for creativity.”

More than 44,000 visitors traveled to space with Space Explorers: THE INFINITE between September 2024 and January 2025. The estimated local economic impact of Space Explorers: THE INFINITE was $3.89 million. 

Through ambitious fundraising and generous support from lead sponsor The Leon Levine Foundation and CMS E3 arts field trip funding, Blumenthal brought all CMS sixth-graders to the experience free of charge. 12,000 students in total, across multiple grade levels, experienced the memorable field trip.  

Michael Thomas-Visgar has more than a decade of experience in the live entertainment industry, with a focus on the creative development of immersive events in non-traditional spaces. A Los Angeles native, Michael began his career as an actor and director, performing at venues including the Pasadena Playhouse, McCoy Rigby Entertainment, and 3D Theatricals. He was an original cast member in Frozen: Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure.

As a director, Michael earned an LA Times Critics’ Choice recognition for The Mongoose and received critical acclaim and awards for multiple productions at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

In recent years, Michael served as a key creative and operations leader at Rail Events Inc., where he oversaw the reopening of Old Tucson —an immersive Wild West theme park— after a two-year closure due to the COVID19 pandemic. He was on the team that managed concurrent productions of The Polar Express Train Ride during the holiday season across the country. He is especially proud of his work developing Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure, a new immersive experience expected to launch soon.

Michael holds a Master’s degree in Arts & Culture Management with a concentration in Advocacy & Outreach from the University of Denver, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Media Production with an emphasis in Acting and Directing from Pepperdine University.

 

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ABOUT BLUMENTHAL ARTS

Blumenthal Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment, and education not-for-profit. For more information, call (704) 372-1000 or visit BlumenthalArts.org. Blumenthal Arts receives support from the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Arts Council. Generous support is also provided by PNC Bank, sponsor of the PNC Broadway Lights series, and Equitable, sponsor of the Equitable Bravo Series.

 

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