About This Experience
Designed by world-renowned architect César Pelli, the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center is downtown Dayton’s crown jewel for live entertainment. From the towering six-story glass Kettering Wintergarden—complete with indoor palm trees and a fiber-optic starfield ceiling—to the state-of-the-art 2,300-seat Winsupply Theatre, the Schuster Center sets the stage for unforgettable moments. Whether you're attending a blockbuster touring Broadway musical, an awe-inspiring Dayton Philharmonic concert, or an evening of world-class opera, every visit promises breathtaking acoustic clarity and theatrical magic.
Trip Itinerary
Balcony or upper-tier seating for premier Broadway touring productions, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, Dayton Opera performances, and guest artists in the Mead Theatre.
Main floor orchestra seating access featuring prime sightlines and acoustics for touring Broadway musicals, concerts, and major performing arts events.
Discounted seating for students and youth attending designated educational matinees, family shows, or select orchestral concerts.
Featured Media
Exterior shot of the César Pelli-designed glass complex glowing at night along West Second Street in downtown Dayton.
Wide interior view of the 2,300-seat main hall facing the proscenium stage, showing the multi-tiered balcony seating and acoustic design.
View inside the six-story glass atrium featuring the indoor Reynolds & Reynolds Palm Grove and cashmere travertine marble floors.
Close-up of the auditorium dome ceiling depicting the fiber-optic star pattern replicating the exact sky over Dayton on the night before the Wright Brothers' first flight.
Perspective view of the grand sweeping staircase leading from the ground-floor Wintergarden to the balcony level lobbies.
View inside the flexible 150-seat black-box studio theater used for rehearsals, intimate plays, and community events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I park when visiting the Schuster Center?↓
The primary parking facility is The Arts Garage, located directly behind the Schuster Center at 107 North Ludlow Street. It provides covered parking with direct, skywalk-accessible access into the Schuster Center complex during performance times.
What resident arts organizations perform at the Schuster Center?↓
The Schuster Center serves as the primary home for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (comprising the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Ballet, and Dayton Opera) as well as the host venue for Dayton Live’s Premier Health Broadway Series.
Are food and beverages available inside the venue?↓
Yes! The Schuster Center features a full-service Starbucks in the lobby area open during daytime hours. Before performances and during intermissions, multiple performance bars in the Wintergarden and upper lobbies sell wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, and light snacks.