The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

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.

Benedum Center Stage The Stanley was billed as "Pittsburgh's Palace of Amusement." In attendence 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.

Benedum Center Exterior 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.

Benedum Center Interior 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.

Benedum Balcony 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.

Benedum Interior 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.

Theater Layout

Seating Chart

Download a detailed seating chart (971k, Requires Adobe Acrobat)

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.

Upcoming Events

RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR starring THE ROCKETTES: 51 performances starting Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Nutcracker: 16 performances starting Friday, December 11, 2009
Jim Brickman: Friday, January 22, 2010
Ron White: Saturday, January 23, 2010
CATS: 8 performances starting Tuesday, January 26, 2010
IN THE HEIGHTS: 8 performances starting Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Company B: 4 performances starting Friday, February 12, 2010
XANADU: 8 performances starting Tuesday, February 23, 2010
1964 The Tribute - The #1 Beatles Show: Friday, March 5, 2010
GREASE: 8 performances starting Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Carmen: 4 performances starting Saturday, March 20, 2010
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY: 8 performances starting Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Swan Lake: 3 performances starting Friday, April 16, 2010
The Marriage of Figaro: 4 performances starting Saturday, April 24, 2010
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN: 8 performances starting Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Direction to the Benedum Center

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

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.