The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Stanley Theatre) is a
theater
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...
and
concert hall located at 237 7th Street in the
Cultural District of
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. Designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm
Hoffman-Henon, it was built in 1928 as the Stanley Theatre. The former
movie palace was renovated and reopened as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in 1987.
History
The Stanley Theatre, built at a cost of $3 million, opened as a deluxe
movie palace February 27, 1928, with seating for 3,800 people (it now seats 2,885). It was designed by the architectural firm Hoffman−Henon who were best known for their design of 35 theaters in the
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
area. The Stanley Theatre was the largest movie theater in
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania is a region in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, covering the western third of the state. Pittsburgh is the region's principal city, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic ...
. Operated by the Stanley Warner Theatres circuit division of
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
, it was Pittsburgh's main first run house for all Warner Bros. film releases.
Frank Sinatra played here December 10, 1943.
In 1974
War
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...
and
King Crimson
King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experime ...
played at the Stanley.
On April 29, 1974, the
King Biscuit Flower Hour
The ''King Biscuit Flower Hour'' was an American syndicated radio show presented by the D.I.R. Radio Network that featured concert performances by various rock music recording artists.
History
The program was broadcast on Sunday nights from 197 ...
recorded a show at the Stanley by
Robin Trower
Robin Leonard Trower (born 9 March 1945) is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum throughout 1967–1971, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio known as the Robin Trower Band.
Biography
Robin Trowe ...
for a later broadcast.
In 1976, the Stanley was purchased and renovated by the Cinemette Corporation to be operated as a movie theater. In 1977,
DiCesare Engler Productions ''DiCesare Engler Productions'' was a Pittsburgh-based concert promotion firm.
The company was formed in late 1973 when Pat DiCesare, who was the dominant concert promoter in the region, chose Pittsburgh native Rich Engler to form a new partnersh ...
bought the theater.
September 23, 1978,
Frank Zappa played two sets at the Stanley Theatre.
Live rock and roll concerts presented through 1984.
The
Grateful Dead performed four shows at the venue, and reggae musician
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
performed his last live concert there in 1980, before his death in 1981. The only known photographs from the show were featured in
Kevin Macdonald's documentary film ''
Marley''.
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...
kicked off his
Controversy Tour
The Controversy Tour was a concert tour by American recording artist Prince in support of his fourth studio album '' Controversy''. The tour included Zapp and Roger and The Time as an opening act.
History
The Controversy Tour marked the debut ...
in
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...
at the Stanley. The rock band
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...
chose the Benedum Center to host its 40th Anniversary Fan Appreciation Concert on August 17, 2013, which all the original members were to attend.
The Stanley Theater was named "Number One Auditorium in the U.S." by ''
Billboard'' several times during the DiCesare-Engler years.
Restoration
On September 25, 1987, after a $43 million restoration was completed, the Stanley reopened as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. In converting the former movie palace into a full performing arts center, a new building including an extension to the stage and support facilities was built at the rear of the theater. The interior was largely preserved and restored to its original design, with the addition of a new acoustical baffle covering the original proscenium.
The centerpiece of the auditorium is the large chandelier in the dome above the balcony. It weighs , is high by wide. Its restoration was dedicated to the late H.J. Heinz II.
Today the center is the home of the
Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh Opera is an American opera company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Opera gives performances in several venues, primarily at the Benedum Center, with other performances at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts Sch ...
,
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) is an American professional ballet company based in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA).
History 1969 - Founding
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre was founded in 1969 by a Yugoslavian choreog ...
, and
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh CLO) is a nonprofit professional theater company based in the Cultural District of Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Despite its name, the organization presents musical theatre classics rather t ...
, all of which used to be based at
Heinz Hall
Heinz Hall is a performing arts center and concert hall located at 600 Penn Avenue in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Home to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, the 2,676 sea ...
. The 2,800-seat Benedum Center is a centerpiece of the Pittsburgh Cultural District and is one of the most utilized theaters in the nation today.
The center has hosted several
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
doo-wop television concert specials including ''
Doo Wop 50''. The TV game show ''
Wheel of Fortune'' taped two weeks of shows at the theater for the first two weeks of their 16th season in 1998.
In popular culture
*2011's ''
Live Forever: September 23, 1980 • Stanley Theatre • Pittsburgh, PA'' was recorded at the center.
*HBO's ''
Boardwalk Empire'' mentioned a tap dancing act as having played "the Stanley" in Pittsburgh for three weeks during its
season 4 premier.
*The Benedum Center was featured prominently in the 2006
mockumentary film
A mockumentary (a blend of ''mock'' and ''documentary''), fake documentary or docu-comedy is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events but presented as a documentary.
These productions are often used to analyze or comment on ...
''
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
'' directed by
Jeff Goldblum
Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum (; born October 22, 1952) is an American actor and musician. He has starred in some of the highest-grossing films of his era, such as ''Jurassic Park'' (1993) and ''Independence Day'' (1996), as well as their sequels.
...
. The film follows Goldblum's appearances in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera production of ''
The Music Man
''The Music Man'' is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments ...
'' staged at the theater.
See also
*
List of concert halls
*
Theatre in Pittsburgh
Theater in Pittsburgh has existed professionally since the early 1800s and has continued to expand, having emerged as an important cultural force in the city over the past several decades.
History
The heritage of theater in Pittsburgh stretches ...
References
External links
Benedum CenterPittsburgh Cultural Trust Pittsburgh Opera Stanley Theater History -Big Band Era Stanley Theater History -Rock Era
{{authority control
Theatres completed in 1928
City of Pittsburgh historic designations
Concert halls in Pennsylvania
Movie palaces
Music venues in Pittsburgh
Opera houses in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania opera companies
Performing arts centers in Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks
Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Theatres in Pennsylvania
Theatres in Pittsburgh
Music venues completed in 1977
1928 establishments in Pennsylvania
National Register of Historic Places in Pittsburgh
Event venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania