Schuster Performing Arts Center

The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center (Schuster Center) is located in Dayton, Ohio and was built in 2003 to serve as Dayton's principal center of the lively arts. It is owned and operated by the Dayton Live and occupies the former site of Rike's department store, the block of 2nd and Main street. [1][2] It is named for local philanthropists Dr. And Mrs. Benjamin Schuster who gave the lead gift on the project.

Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center
Schuster Center
Full nameBenjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center
Address1 West Second Street
LocationDayton, Ohio
Coordinates39°45′40″N 84°11′36″W
OwnerDayton Live
OperatorDayton Live
TypePerforming Arts Center
CapacityMead Theatre: 2,300
Mathile Theatre: 150
Construction
Built2000-2003
Opened2003
ArchitectCésar Pelli
Tenants
Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet
Website
www.daytonlive.org/venues/schuster-center/
Schuster Center Exterior

The Schuster center includes the 2300-seat Mead Theatre, the ticket office for all Dayton Live venues, a restaurant space currently housing a Starbucks café, a glass enclosed lobby called the Wintergarden, and a multi-purpose Mathile Theatre that is used as a performance, event, and rehearsal space. Attached to the Schuster Center is the Performance Place Tower, a 15-floor residential and office condominium.

The Schuster Center opened an additional venue to house Dayton Live's larger touring Broadway productions and presentations. The Dayton Philharmonic, the Dayton Opera, and the Dayton Ballet rent the building for their performances. The Schuster Center and the Metropolitan Arts Center, occupying the former Metropolitan department store building next to the Victoria Theatre, stage a variety of performances of any size and form the basis of the performing arts district in downtown Dayton.

History

The Schuster Center was designed by architect Ceasar Pelli. Built at Rike’s department store old location, the project started in April 2000 and finished in February 2003. The total cost to build was $121 million.[3] Dr. Benjamin Schuster and his wife Marian donated $8 million to the project.[3]

The opening weekend of February 28, 2003 brought together artists from the Dayton area as well as national celebrities for the opening, billed as the Gala Evening of Stars. Attendees and performers included Walter Cronkite, Ray Charles, and Allison Janney.[4]

Architectural Details

The Schuster Center's main performance space is the 2,300 seat Mead Theatre. The fiber optic starfield on the ceiling of the Mead Theatre is a callback to the sky when the Wright Brothers first took flight in 1903, showing the stars that were there that night.[3]

In addition to the Mead theatre, the Schuster Center includes several other notable spaces. The Mathilde theatre can be used for rehearsals, meetings, and smaller productions. The Kettering Wintergarden is a block-long glass atrium with live and preserved palm trees. The AES Foundation Stage is often used for gala events, weddings, and receptions/preperformance area.

Since its opening, the Schuster Center has hosted a number of top musical shows, including Hamilton, The Lion King, Les Misérables, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Beauty and the Beast.

References
  1. Florence, Russell Jr. (February 10, 2020). "'The Color Purple' coming to Dayton stage this week". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  2. Moss, Meredith (November 27, 2019). "Designer gives iconic Rike's display a makeover: 'I loved those windows!'". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  3. Powell, L. (1 March 2017). "How a downtown corner went from Beloved Department Store to the Schuster Center". Dayton.
  4. "Looking back at the Schuster Center's glamorous opening weekend in 2003". Dayton. 24 February 2023.


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