Benedum Center

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Seating Chart
Upcoming Events
Benedum Center Facts
Parking
Directions
Facilities Rental
Text Venue Description

The Stanley Theater was built in 1927 at a cost of $3 million and opened on February 27, 1928. James Bly Clark, an early theater tycoon who assisted in the founding of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, financed its creation.

The Stanley was billed as "Pittsburgh's Palace of Amusement." In attendance on opening night were Governor John S. Fisher, Mayor Charles H. Kline and Adolph Zukor, president of Paramount Studios. Regular admission cost 65 cents - 25 cents if you came before noon - and performances provided a welcome lift of spirits during the Great Depression.

The theater was purchased and remodeled by the Cinemette Corporation in 1976, and in 1977, DiCesare Engler Productions bought the Stanley to present rock and roll concerts through 1982.

The late H.J. Heinz II focused his attention on the historic restoration of the Stanley Theater, and as a result, this became The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's first project after its founding in 1984.

The $43 million dollar restoration would take approximately two years, faithfully restoring the Benedum Center to look as the Stanley did on opening night in 1928.

By following the very strict restoration standards set by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Commonwealth Bureau of Historic Preservation and the Historic Review Commission of Pennsylvania, the building is registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

For a full list of upcoming shows at the Benedum Center, visit our calendar page

Benedum Center Seating Chart

Event Details

Celtic Thunder

October 6, 2013

Presented By: Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS Series & WQED | Venue:

Benedum Center

Read more | Driving Directions

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Aida

October 12, 2013 - October 20, 2013

Presented By: Pittsburgh Opera | Venue:

Benedum Center

The grandest of all grand operas returns!

Read more | Driving Directions

Buy Tickets

We Will Rock You

October 29, 2013 - November 3, 2013

Presented By: PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh | Venue:

Benedum Center

Read more | Driving Directions

Buy Tickets

The Magic Flute

November 9, 2013 - November 17, 2013

Presented By: Pittsburgh Opera | Venue:

Benedum Center

Romantic love, spiritual transcendence, and the beguiling art of bird-catching

Read more | Driving Directions

Buy Tickets

The Fresh Beat Band Live In Concert

November 21, 2013

Presented By: Cohen & Grigsby TRUST PRESENTS Series | Venue:

Benedum Center

Read more | Driving Directions

Buy Tickets

For a full list of upcoming events at the Benedum Center, visit our calendar page

Parking

Parking near the Benedum Center

Benedum Center Facts

There are over 90 crystal chandeliers, torchieres and sconces in the theater, all but one are original. The Central Brass Company located in Reading, PA refurbished them.
The Grand Lobby mirrors, marble and woodwork are all original.
At the landing on each staircase in the Grand Lobby are 18-foot high original mirrors meant to be reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
The signature piece of the Benedum Center is the original main chandelier which weighs 4,700 pounds, is 20 feet high and 12 feet wide. It was restored in honor of the late H.J. Heinz II.
Approximately 95% of the interior of the building is plaster. It took a fifteen person crew almost a full year to complete the plaster renovations.
There are 1,500 feet of brass rail in the theater, most of which is original.
On St. Patrick's Day in 1936, the theater flooded within two feet of the balcony. Several men were trapped for three days until police arrived in a motorboat and rescued them.
The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts was named in honor of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, which made the largest contribution toward the restoration of the theater.
The Benedum Center opened on Friday, September 25, 1987, with a show called Purely Pittsburgh. It was written by Dan Langen and produced by Mandy Levine. The show featured composers from Pittsburgh and performers with a Pittsburgh connection.
In 1928, the Stanley cost $3 million to build. In 1987, the Benedum Center cost $43 million to restore.

Directions to the Benedum Center

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
719 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Public Transportation: Port Authority Buses, "T" Services and Inclines

For schedules, rates and general information about these services, visit Port Authority's Downtown Service Center at 534 Smithfield Street or call 412.442.2000, or visit http://www.portauthority.org. Please note that the Port Authority buses are free for travel within the downtown zone until 7 PM; the "T" is always free downtown.

Driving Directions from Google Maps

Driving Directions

From the North

Follow Interstate 279 South to Pittsburgh
Take the Veteran's Bridge/ Interstate 579 Exit
Stay in the right lane and take Sixth Avenue Exit
Follow Sixth Avenue and cross over Liberty Avenue
Road becomes Seventh Street
Benedum Center is on the right, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

Or

Follow Interstate 279 South to Pittsburgh
The Fort Duquesne Bridge Exit and stay in the left lane
Take the Fort Duquesne Blvd. Exit off the bridge
Proceed on Fort Duquesne Blvd. to Seventh Street
Make a right on Seventh Street
Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
Benedum Center is on the left, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

From the South

Follow Route 51 North (Saw Mill Run Blvd.) to the Liberty Tunnels
Turn right into the Tunnels and proceed across Liberty Bridge
Take the Interstate 579 Exit onto Crosstown Blvd.
Immediately exit to the left on Seventh Avenue
Follow Seventh Avenue to Liberty Avenue and turn left
Proceed on Liberty Avenue and make a right on Seventh Street
Benedum Center is on the right, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

Or

Follow Route 837 North through Pittsburgh's South Side
At Station Square, turn right on Smithfield Street Bridge
Follow Smithfield Street to Sixth Avenue, turn left
Follow Sixth Avenue and cross over Liberty Avenue
Road becomes Seventh Street
Benedum Center is on the right, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

From the East

From the Turnpike, take exit 6 to Monroeville/Pittsburgh
Take I-376 West (towards Pittsburgh) for 13.5 miles to Exit 1C, Grant Street
At the signal at the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Fort Pitt Boulevard
Continue another 0.4 miles and at the third signal, turn right, onto Stanwix Street
Proceed straight to the fourth light and bear right (45º angle) onto Liberty Avenue
Go to the third traffic light and turn left onto Seventh Street
Benedum Center is on the right, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

Or

Follow Interstate 376 West to Pittsburgh
Take the Boulevard of the Allies Exit
Take the 579 exit onto Crosstown Blvd.
Immediately exit to the left on Seventh Avenue
Follow Seventh Avenue to Liberty Avenue and turn left
Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Seventh Street
Make a right on Seventh Street
Benedum Center is on right, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

From the West

Follow Interstate 279 North to Pittsburgh
Proceed to Fort Pitt Tunnels
Take Liberty Avenue Exit
Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Seventh Street
Make a left on Seventh Street
Benedum Center is on the right, on the corner of Liberty and Seventh Street.

Facilities Rental

Tech Specs

Rental Rates

Text Venue Description

The Benedum Center seats 2800 patrons. Below is a description of the seating configuration. Keep in mind that the directions left and right are , in relation to your entry point, at the back of the theater.

1. Orchestra/First Level:
a. Grand Circle – It has three sections: Center, Left and Right. The rows are double letters starting with AA (closest to the stage) and going back to FF. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101-115 (Row AA is 101-112). The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25... The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26…
The Grand Circle can be entirely used for seating, half for seating and half for the orchestra if the show has a small orchestra or, not at all if the show has a large orchestra.
b. Orchestra Section – It has five sections: Center, Left Center, Left, Right Center and Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row A in the front, closest to the stage and going back alphabetically. There is no Row “I” because an “I” looks too much like a “1” on a ticket. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101-116. The Left Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25… The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 53 and then by odd numbers going out. The Right Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26… The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 54 and then by even numbers going out.

2. Upper Levels:
a. Directors Circle – The front part of the balcony. It has five sections: Center, Left Center, Left, Right Center and Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row AA in the front and going back to Row EE. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101-112. The Left Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25… The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 45 and then by odd numbers going out. The Right Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26... The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 46 and then by even numbers going out.
b. 1st Tier – The middle part of the balcony. It has seven sections: Center, Left Center, Left, Side Left, Right Center, Right and Side Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row A in the front and going back to Row L. There is no Row “I” because an “I” looks too much like a “1” on a ticket. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101-110. Note the entrance way in the center which eliminates the seating in the middle of 1st Tier Center, rows A-D. The Left Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25… The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 41 and then by odd numbers going out. Side Left starts at Row E and is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 61 and then by odd numbers going out. The Right Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26… The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 42 and then by even numbers going out. Side Right starts at Row E and is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 62 and then by odd numbers going out.
c. 2nd Tier – The top part of the balcony. It has seven sections: Center, Left Center, Left, Side Left, Right Center, Right and Side Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row M in the front and going back to Row W. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101to either 110 or 111. The Left Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25… The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 43 and then by odd numbers going out. Side Left starts at Row Q and is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 65 and then by odd numbers going out. The Right Center is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26... The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 44 and then by even numbers going out. Side Right starts at Row Q and is numbered starting from the closest to the center with seat 66 and then by odd numbers going out.