The Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center is located in Dayton, Ohio and was built in 2003 to serve as Dayton's key performance arts center. Built on the former site of Rike's department store, the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center, under the operation of The Victoria Theatre Association, opened as another venue to house the Associations larger Broadway productions as well as large acts. The Dayton Philharmoinc, the Dayton Opera, and the Dayton Ballet also rent the building for their performances. These two venues along with the Metropolitan Arts Center, which is also a renovated former department store building next to the Victoria Theatre, are able to hold a variety of performances of any size and is the heart of the performing arts district in Downtown Dayton.
The Victoria Theatre Association is the company which owns and operates both the Victoria Theatre and the Schuster Center. Both buildings are used for different series throughout the theatre season.
This building serves as more than an arts center, with such additional features as:
- Restaurants
- 15 Story Office Tower
- Condominiums
- Winter Garden
- A Penthouse
Architect Cesar Pelli created a world-class 2,300-seat theatre that has fiber optic lights in the dome ceiling that depict the Dayton sky as it appeared on the eve before the Wright brothers’ first flight, December 16, 1903.
The Winter Garden houses exotic palm trees and a cafe by a large glass-enclosed wall that overlooks downtown Dayton.
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