The Byham Theater

Originally built in 1903 as the Gayety Theater, the Byham Theater opened on Halloween night, 1904. It ran for many years as one of the country's foremost stage and vaudeville houses, with appearances from such stars as Ethel Barymore, Gertrude Lawrence and Helen Hayes.

The Gayety Floor Mosaic The Gayety boasted pressed copper cherubs painted with a bronze patina, imitation gold leaf, stained glass windows, plaster columns and wainscot of scagolia, an Italian faux marble technique.

In the entry vestibule, note the original mosaic tile floor and the many bare light bulbs lining the ceiling, evidence of the advent of electrical lighting. Backstage, the theater was one of the remaining few to use sandbags and hemp ropes to work the scenery rigging until 1999 when a modern rigging system was installed.

The Fulton Theater Facade In the 1930s, the theater was renamed The Fulton and became a full time movie theater. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust purchased the theater in 1990 and following the first of four planned phases of renovation, the Fulton was reopened in May 1991. It was later renamed the Byham Theater through a naming gift from the Byham family following the second phase of renovation in 1995.

The old lighted Fulton marquee has been restored by the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and will be installed there as part of a theater exhibit.

The second phase of renovations brought new restrooms, box office, marquee, an elevator, lobby improvements and facade changes. In 1997, the Cherub Lobby was restored to its original splendor.

The third phase of renovation in 1999 updated the theater rigging system, enlarged the orchestra pit and provided new HVAC for the entire building. Excavation under the stage and seating area will provide space for future dressing rooms.

Photo: Sara Higgins The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust continues to address the needs of the Byham Theater. These types of renovations are driven by the contributions of its attentive supporters, and with ongoing support the Cultural District will continue to improve and develop.

Byham Seating Chart

Download a detailed seating chart (147k)

Upcoming Events

West Side Story: 6 performances starting Friday, May 9, 2008
ESTA in Concert: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School's Annual Spring Performance: Saturday, May 31, 2008
Defending The Caveman: 2 performances starting Saturday, June 14, 2008
Joan Rivers: Saturday, June 21, 2008
The Gospel...The Struggle, the Praise, the Victory: Sunday, June 22, 2008
Bruce Bruce: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Steve Earle: Thursday, July 24, 2008
Hezekiah Walker: Saturday, July 26, 2008
The Black Crowes: Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The Swell Season: Sunday, September 21, 2008
Ballet Maribor: 2 performances starting Friday, October 10, 2008
Inbal Pinto Shaker: Saturday, November 1, 2008
Doug Varone and Dancers: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Ballet Boyz: Saturday, March 14, 2009
American Rhythms: 4 performances starting Thursday, March 19, 2009
Compagnie Marie Chouinard: Saturday, April 4, 2009

Directions to the Byham Theater

The public entrance to the Byham Theater is on Sixth Street, at the corner or Sixth Street and Ft. Duquesne Boulevard, adjacent to the Rennaisance Pittsburgh Hotel.

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 to Liberty Avenue and turn left
Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Sixth Street
Make a right on Sixth Street
Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
Byham Theater is on the right

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 Sixth Street
Make a right on Sixth Street
Byham Theater is immediately on the left

FROM THE SOUTH

Follow Route 51 North (Saw Mill Run Blvd.) to the Liberty Tunnels
Turn right into the Tunnels and proceed across the 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 to Sixth Street
Make a right on Sixth Street
Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
Byham Theater is on the right

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
Proceed on Sixth Avenue to Liberty Avenue
Make a left on Liberty Avenue
Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Sixth Street
Make a right on Sixth Street
Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
Byham Theater is on the right

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 second traffic light and turn left onto Sixth Street
Go two blocks to the Byham Theater, located on the right, at the corner of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Sixth 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 Sixth Street
Make a right on Sixth Street
Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
Byham Theater is on the right

FROM THE WEST

Follow Interstate 279 North to Pittsburgh
Proceed to Fort Pitt Tunnels
Take Fort Duquesne Boulevard Exit
Proceed on Fort Duquesne Blvd. to Sixth Street
Make a right on Sixth Street
Byham Theater is immediately on the left