Upcoming Events at the Benedum Center
For a full list of upcoming events at the Benedum Center, visit our calendar page
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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.
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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 https://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 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.
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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.
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