This is my first time here and definitely not my last. An absolutely beautiful and historic theater with a pretty bad- chandelier, if I do say so. If you want to experience the best of what this city has to offer, visit the Benedum. The bf and I came to see Elf the Musical for our anniversary. I was blown away by the beauty of the Benedum! The ceilings! The lighting! The candied almonds... Ok so I bought those ... I smelled them them minute I walked in. It's part of Buddy the Elf's food groups, so I'm allowed right? Ok ok I'm not here to review the show, I'm supposed to review the Benedum. The Benedum has all of the features a classic theater had to offer - cathedral ceilings with the gold leaf and naked babies, massive chandeliers, huge archways, and the feeling that history took place here. So come and visit one of the many shows at the Benedum. Excuse me while I enjoy my nuts. read more

Benedum Center - Me and my candied almonds - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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This is a fine, old, ornate theater that I visited for the first time to see the ballet. It's fairly large and wide for a opera and ballet venue, with an orchestra section and one large balcony with seats in several tiers. There are no boxes or seats around the sides. I was a little concerned about the acoustics and sound carrying properly in this large theater, but when the orchestra started playing I was pleasantly surprised by the fine acoustics. I had a seat in the front orchestra in the side in row E. I was also concerned about sight lines, but for the most part they were excellent at this side seat. I would consider the quality of the sound and the sight lines from this seat better than what I've had at a comparable seat at the Metropolitan Opera. However, it's not true that every seat is a good seat. The stage was very wide and deep, and from my seat I could not see a crucial scene that took place in the back of the stage. The action on the right side of the stage was also not visible to me. The prices, though, took this into account and my ticket was about half of what the price would be if I moved over a few seats to the center. I did not find the interior quite as nice as Heinz Hall, and the new bar and lounge in the upper level does not quite fit in with the rest of the decor. The afternoon matinees of the Pittsburgh Ballet unfortunately attracted an audience that made this not quite as pleasurable as it could be. Some parents thought it was ok to bring small kids to a three hour ballet. I had to suffer with fidgety kids kicking seats and constantly moving around. The lady next to me was also classless, checking her smart phone every ten minutes and reading her email. The performance, though, was excellent and I will definitely come back here for evening performances. read more

Theater is absolutely beautiful. Classically decorated. Amazing place to see a show. We saw Hilton there and loved it. Only negative was bar lines were obnoxiously long. Tried the one on the lower level and even tried the new one on the upper level. No luck either place. 20-30 people long in lines. Apparently normally a bar in main level, not tonight. We can't wait to come see another show here. read more

Benedum Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I love the Benedum. Really there's not a bad theater in Pittsburgh, but this just has my heart. Recently just saw the Nutcracker, but have seen many a show here. Plenty of parking garages in the vicinity so not a far walk once parked downtown. Great restaurants nearby. Pricing is good, too. I love that they offer discounts to teachers. Yay! They also do student rush tickets, too I believe. Trust Arts gets a great selection of shows to come to Pittsburgh so you can see a great Broadway series production in your hometown or if you visit Pittsburgh. And, in that case this is something to do on your visit. I sat most recently in the orchestra seat which are nice. I prefer the director's circle above so you don't have to dodge a head in front of you. I did once sit in 4th row orchestra and well, that's pretty damn awesome! I will always be back to this theater. read more

Benedum Center - Orchestra seats. - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Giselle was amazing. The set in Act I was charming and the set in Act II was ethereal. The Wilis were stunning- the choreography was so on point there were moments I felt like i was seeing double. The story is beautifully told and is a testament to the power of love and forgiveness. Haunting and beautiful. read more

Hey guys and gals! As you know, I am a volunteer usher at the Benedum! Last night... SEINFELD! Tonight.... CELTIC THUNDER!!! I highly recommend buying a season certificate or a package deal to the Benedum! Next year is GREAT! "Wicked" is the the featured attraction! What a GREAT Christmas or birthday gift, Right???? Do check into it and BUY!!! read more

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The Benedum is a stunning theatre to attend a show. Adults are more than welcome to enjoy getting trashed during shows on cocktails in the theater with cups from the concession stand. As long as it raises funds for the Benedum. Wow. How fun is that! It makes the experience we had as a family even more outrageous. We attended a family friendly show at 11 am. The concession stands were not open. To begin, despite the audience being made mostly of children the changing tables were not set up in the restrooms. As a parents with physical disabilities this made everything difficult. When I inquired about the lack of changing tables, the facilities people said they hadn't anticipated them being needed. Despite the audience being children that day. However it was pointed out that, across the street there were restaurants & coffee shops with changing facilities for babies & toddler. (Umm, ya I don't think so.) Caregivers had to change on chairs which were uncomfortable for the child and changer. And kind of gross for whomever uses the seat next. Then, aggressive ushers confiscated any bottles and cups they saw. While I understand they have a job to do, it's also a bit much when taking children to the theater who rely on juice for health needs. When trying to explain that to the usher, it on someone who not budge to listen to our unique needs. Our juice, which was necessary for a break outside of the theater in 45 minutes, was forced to be thrown away. Which I should NOT have done but was so shocked by the ushers aggressiveness I complied. When I then approached an employee and explained we needed a back up bottle for our child's needs to stay to see the show, I was told that the theater concessions were closed and nothing was kept in the theatre for emergencies. But that I could walk across the street. Again. As a parent w a physical disability with my son and his group. I was not going to be carry a 30lb child across the street. I can't make it back and forth, which is why I have to come prepared. I then sought the manager. She could have cared less about our issue. She was even less concerned of we stayed to see the show or my child's need. Or that we needed, or lost or juice. It's a shame that we tried to bring juice in a secured bottles into the theatre and not a plastic cup of wine to get trashed on. So lesson learned. The Benedum was not a child & family friendly experience. As a parent & family with physical & medical needs, I felt VERY frustrated and upset that I couldn't provide my kid with the best experience possible. I don't walk around with a bid handicap sign on my forehead but I do think we should have to be treated with respect and dignity. But then again, we just should have been good patrons and have had our liquids in the official Benedum wine cup. If I bring my kid back, I'll do it right next time and have him drink his juice out of that! read more

A great place to see a Show! My wife and I have sat in several locations but our favorite is the Balcony because you can see everything! We are Subscribers so we are there pretty often and every person that works whether its Security, to the person checking your ticket ,to the Ushers, they're all Fantastic! We've never had a bad experience and I don't ever see it happening! Thank God for the Elevator because I have trouble with steps so its also a huge help! read more

I've had consistently lovely experiences at the Benedum Center. Beginning with the kind and efficient ushers leading you into the performance hall, the experience is magical and luxurious. The theater itself is bright, spacious, and beautifully adorned - even the water fountains blended nicely and I conspicuously into the decor. The hall itself is designed well, with tiered seating so that views are unobstructed from any place you are seated. The center piece chandelier is something to be admired, I often find myself pondering it's weight and figuring out how they change the light bulbs! Coming from New York, I'm always impressed by the selection of shows that come through here, my favorites being Hamilton, the lion king, and yesterdays performance a Bronx tale. Love the quality of the acting and overall ambiance. Keep it coming! read more

This is by far and away my favorite theater in Pittsburgh! I f you've ever been here you KNOW how beautiful it is! It's a historic landmark and was built in 1927 and restored in the 80's to it's original state. It holds around 2,200 seats and is the third largest stage in the country. As you can see, I'm a total nerd about this theater. So let me give you some BIG insider tips about seating! Avoid at all costs the outer sides of the Left and Right Orchestra (the floor) in the front. You can actually get a cheap seat if you sit in the back of the Left and Right sides but only sit on the aisle. IF an aisle seat isn't available, go for First or Second Tier. I would rather see the show from far away than half see the show! The touring Broadway, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre perform here. So go support our local theater! Just remember it's right here in the burgh, it's still a fantastic production and it's cheaper than a trip to NYC! read more

Such beautiful architecture! When you enter there are so many things to catch your eye from what is on the walls to the ceiling. There are bathrooms located downstairs from the first floor. Productions usually offer a bar service as well before the show begins and during intermission where you can take your drinks inside. It's a magical experience all around! read more

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The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts was originally a movie theater called The Stanley. It was built in 1927 and was billed as "Pittsburgh's Palace of Amusement." It's acoustics are nearly perfect because back when it was built, 65 cents would not only buy you a "photoplay", but you'd also get live entertainment too. A two year renovation in the late 1980s under the guidelines of the U.S. Department of the Interior brought it back to its original condition. The grand lobby's mirrors and woodwork are all original. Of the more than 90 chandeliers and sconces in the theater, only one is a replica. In fact, the main chandelier weighs 4,700 pounds and is 20 feet high and 12 feet wide. The sightlines here are awesome. It truly is a masterpiece of theater design. Let's face it fellow Yelpers, you're not here for my architectural reviews are you? Okay. I came here last night for the Decemberists concert featuring Justin Townes Earle as the opener. There were only single seats left when I tried to get tickets. So I ended up going by myself to the show. Hey a married babe can treat herself to a night out on occasion! The Portland, OR based Decemberists have been burning up the indie rock scene for a few years now and their CD "The King Is Dead" has been doing quite well. So much so that it reached #1 on the Billboard Charts in late January. The Decemberists in the past have dabbled in so-called "progressive rock" and British folk but this new CD is definitely more of an Americana/Alt Country sound. So much so that the single "Down by the Water" reminds me of Firetown's "The Good Life" for some reason (Firetown later evolved into Garbage--in both senses of the word.. But that's another story). So it was no surprise that after doing "The Crane Wife, Parts 1-3", Colin Meloy told the audience "I don't know who wrote the set list, but they thought we were a prog band. We're not a prog band anymore. We're a folk band." Hmmm! That actually was a pretty apt description. Despite this, they managed to get a lot of songs in from their catalogue. There was plenty of good singin' and good playin' though. Sam Watkins of Nickel Creek played fiddle against Jenny Conlee's accordion and they did a rousing Irish jig to the song "Rox in the Box". It was almost strange though how Meloy apologized for taking the tempo down a notch during the gorgeous new song "Rise to Me". They also did their most epic pieces in the middle of the show, and face it folks, you can't keep a good prog band down! But anyway, this show proved that the Decemberists aren't some flash in the pan. Their many musical stylings and their abililty to move a show along proves that they're in it for the long haul. I should also mention that my 60-something father, a music fan in his own right, absolutely loves the Decemberists. Now you know where I get those genes from. As I mentioned, Justin Townes Earle opened the show and if his last name sounds familiar, it should. His father is the iconic Steve Earle (another one of my favorites). Justin gets his middle name Townes, from Townes Van Zandt, of whom Steve Earle was a great friend. Justin Townes Earle is definitely more bluesy than his old man and while he seems to be a good performer, only time will tell if he lives up to the musical legacy of his father. read more

I always love coming to the Benedum. We attended Wicked on a recent Sunday night. I am always astounded by the beauty of this theater. Here are a couple interesting facts: The mirrors, marble and woodwork in the Grand Lobby are all original. There are over 90 crystal chandeliers, torchieres and sconces in the theater, all but one are original. The original cost was $3 million back in 1928. Compare that to the 1987 restoration that cost $43 million. We had perfect seats, Row AA. How lucky is that? Loved the performance. My first time for Wicked. But just as entertaining is the view of theater. Love it here. So beautiful and so ornate. And while the seats are showing some signs of wear, the good news is the 2,881 seats will be repaired and refurbished to the tune of $450,000. You know, it always feels really special here. No matter what event we attend. Looking forward to coming back during the holiday season. read more

Beautiful piece of history in downtown Pittsburgh! I've been to a few shows here and they've all been great! I've never had a bad seat! The chairs are very tight so if you're big, you won't be comfortable. My husband is 6'2 and doesn't fit very comfortably in the seats. Everything else is great though! They decorate he's beautifully for the holidays and the staff is always friendly and willing to help you find your seat. Will keep coming back for more shows! read more

Wow the Nutcracker was sensational! The cast really did an outstanding job! You won't be disappointed! Beautiful costumes and wardrobe just amazing! This is a whole family affair !! Great job! read more

On Friday October 13th at the Benedum. The fat lady sang, jumped to her death and it was curtains for Cosca and the show. The show was truly over only when the fat lady sang which left all 4 of the main characters dead. What a brilliant show! The ending wouldn't suggest that The first Act was more comedic than dramatic. At times, hilarious as the jealous Cosca became increasingly irate of the beautiful woman her lover Mario is painting (Mary Magdalene - see 1st pic posted) lol & Scarpio's jealously of Mario is at first funny. Funnier when he starts torturing and threatening to lap of heads (you can hear Mario's friend screaming out off stage through the torture chamber door..singing his torture in a classic beautiful Opera way. I thought this was extremely cool, brilliant (almost funny...because you don't expect to hear screaming in terror sung in key) and the actor is off stage right singing this scream. I loved that. Imagine a beautiful Opera voice cry Instead of "Arggghha ahhladffuki'mmmmbeinnnmurderrredd" The set is in a church with the Mary Magdalene painting on an eisel and a church door to the cathedral audience. center of the stage. The second set is also in a church with a center door to the larger Cathedral chapel (you can hear a choir singing off stage and the acoustics are made to sound like it's coming from that door and/or the set design has that easy to believe. Check out the video I postEd. Loved that. very cool. who designed that? exceptional. Cosca's character cycles through a broad spectrum of emotions from jealous, loyal, venegeful, and religious and moral at the end before she jumps to her deAth while singing " I will now be judged before God with you..you bastard Scorpio". Is this all about her and Scorpio ? Is she a sociopath too? what about the poor artist Mario who got caught up in all of this? Did he deserve to die? maybe, but shouldn't she be calling out for his love before vengeance witn Scarpio? Hmmm...a peak into her true character here. But Leah Crocetto's acting & beautiful singing have the audience believing her to be more of a jealous & funny character who is chasing an artist who feels trapped in the situation and is staying with her to survive. Sure there are different interpretations of Cosca and this one is a believable one. And Compassion grows for Cosca despite her flaws as the futility of the situation becomes evident. And her singing is so beautiful! Gives the audience no choice but to fall in love with her despite her character flaws. Is this an observation of life and the character flaw exceptions we make for athletes, beautiful actresses, and the extremely wealthy? In the end, the fake execution for Mario was real. The Power mongering and heartless Scarpio has been murdered, killed by Cosca. And her lover is dead, victim of a "fake execution". Her choice to believe the sociopath she murdered (who's fault is that?) is a poor one. This Opera is going GOT on us...and Cosca, true to the words we all know "Elivs has left the building" or I mean it aint over until the fat lady sings" as she falls to her death..exit stage center down! Bravo, fricking loved this Opera! 2 Thumbs way up! Lastly, trying to research the origin of "It's not over to the fat lady sings...I found this and thought I hope that it is true. Great legend...and I'm having a change of heart about Al Capone. Opera can move an audience in mysterious ways.. Fwd...(from a bloke in Dublin) The way I heard it was that in the twenties Al Capone developed a taste for opera, mugging up assiduously on recordings, and one night went to a live performance of Tosca, accompanied by two bodyguards. These gents, who hadn't done the same homework as Al, got up to go at the end of the first aria, only for Al to drag them back into their seats, snarling ... you guessed it. "It's not over until the fast lady sings" read more

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I have such fond memories of the Benedum Center. I love the "old theater" beauty and charm though I've seen modern, expertly-played shows here using lights, sound effects, and all manner of smoke machines, so you know this place is well-equipped. There are some seats that don't have the best view or the most comfort, as some other reviews touched on, but I can't remember having a hard time with the acoustics. The staff members have always been friendly and courteous to me no matter if I was here for a musical or a more comic solo act (yeah, I mean Alton Brown. That was awesome. #humblebrag.) I have had some difficult conversations with staff members in the ticketing office, though, who seemed less than thrilled to have to speak with me. A case of "We have a website, can't you just go online and do this!" read more

This and the Florida Theater is by far two of my favorite theaters! To my surprise both theaters were built during same year and have a lot of similarities in aesthetics. It's so beautiful it's no wonder I love it, reminds me of The FT. So far I've seen.. Swan Lake is absolutely amazing! Wicked! Shen yun :) read more

It's a great venue. Absolutely gorgeous, great acoustics, and you can find quality seats for a pretty good price. I had to knock off a star this time due to the service, which was kind of erratic and strange at a recent concert I attended there. We were sitting in the director's circle, first row, which are great seats. At the start of the headlining set, a band member told the audience to get to their feet, and pretty much everyone complied! We were all up, singing along and dancing, having a great time. You know...like you do at a indie rock concert! Most people sat down again mid-way through, during one of their slower songs. No everyone, though, and a rude patron shouted at two guests a few rows in front of them to "sit the h*ll down!" Requesting would have been one thing, but this guy was just rude from the start. That's when things started to get strange. Shortly after this, when I and a few other patrons stood again for a popular, upbeat song, an usher came over and told us to sit. Just us. It was very strange, given that the majority (seriously like 75%) of the audience in all levels remained standing. Bewildered, we sat, and then noticed a security guard telling the same two ladies standing from earlier to sit. They were arguing back, gesturing to the rest of the crowd who were standing with no problem. So after a minute of this, we backed them up, stood again, and several rows behind us followed suit. Solidarity! The security guard and ushers left us all alone after this. Here is my issue: It wouldn't be strange to be asked to sit down if a.) the act on stage hadn't *requested* everyone to stand and b) if this rule was being applied across the board. Instead, it was just one section of the audience, director's circle left, that had this command, likely because of one incredibly rude patron who didn't get what show he was attending. It might seem silly, but it didn't make any sense and left a bad taste in my mouth about the venue. read more

This is a great place to see a show. I have been here many times for shows ranging from talking hosts to on stage productions to orchestras, and I do not ever remember having a bad seat in the house. They also have refreshments that you can purchase before going into the show, but you have to pay extra if you want to carry it into the actual show. Kinda strange, but I guess anything to make an extra buck. read more

I came here last weekend to see Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre perform The Great Gatsby. The show was wonderful with amazing cherography by John McFall and Lauri Stallings of Atlanta Ballet. What amazed me just as much was the beatuiful theatre the performance was shown in. Built in 1927, the Benedum Center is awe-inspiring and magical. After following strict guidelines, the theatre was restored to its original grandeur in the 1980s. It is one of the most beautiful theatres I have been in. with over 90 chandeliers, and original mirrors and marble in the Grand Lobby. My only word of caution, the seats in the upper balconies are extremely tight giving taller people very little leg room. read more

At the Benedum for Shen Yun, with Mom and my grandmother (in her wheel chair). All of the staff went out of their way to be accommodating- we've had such an unbelievable experience! The show was beautiful, made even better by the impeccable staff! Thank you for a wonderful night! read more

I've been to hundreds of concerts across the country and I'm attempting to write a review of every venue to assist my concert going troubadours. Jason Isbell - March 2, 2016 Unfortunately, the trend for rock and country performers too big for the clubs and too small for amphitheaters is playing theaters like the Benedum. Personally, I find these sedative and sterile venues designed for ballets and operas ho-hum for concerts. The Benedum is beautiful and the sound is pristine, but it lacks any personality and tempers any kind of excitement - dancing, applauding, singing, breathing. They make you purchase and drink your bourbon and water out of a humiliating plastic sippy cup (complete with a ridiculous accordion staw). However, it was fun watching the senior lady wearing a man's tuxedo working out of a make-shift bar trying to open a bottle of Makers Mark (I accidentally got a triple pour!). Not for me. Going forward, I'm purposefully seeking out general admission, non-seated theaters for concerts (even if I have to drive 300 miles). read more

It's a great venue, I have many memories and saw many concerts here since it was the Stanley Theatre. The reason I am giving it three stars is that I recently went to a Lindsey Stirling Concert. I paid $200 to get a seat up close so I could take pictures. Right before she took the stage they announced that we were not allowed to take pictures. I have seen Lindsey 6 times, she is perfectly okay with fans taking pictures, she even poses during her performance. Numerous fan pages on social media sites have pictures of her concert. This apparently is The Benedum's rule, not hers. Very disappointed. There is not a good reason for this. I can understand a no-flash rule, but when you are paying triple digits, you should be allowed to do something that doesn't hurt anybody read more

Beautiful theatre! I have the 203/2014 Broadway subscription that is split between here and Heinz Hall and I am really happy with the experiences I've had so far. When picking up a ticket from the box office, I left my wallet at the counter. I didn't realize this until partially through the 1st act when I reached for chapstick and didn't feel my wallet in my purse. I had a minor panic attack, but decided to wait for intermission to go back and check. If someone stole it, I might as well not miss the show I paid for! I went to Guest Services and they informed me that the House Manager had my wallet. Someone at the box office had turned it into her. Since I'm a subscriber and they had my account information, they knew exactly where I was sitting and she was on her way to bring it right to my seat. They radioed her in and she brought it down a few minutes later. Every single one of the staff members I talked to was very helpful and polite through the whole situation. I can only imagine how hectic intermission is for the staff, but they made me feel like a priority and took great care of me. I look forward to my other shows here! read more

Always a great show here. The new bar and restroom area is really nice. Remember to bring your cup you bought last time so you can take your drink into the show! read more

Beautiful performance hall that is very similar to the interior of Heinz hall. I went for the opera and was very pleased with the actual performance as well as the venue. I sat above in family circle and the stage view was fantastic. My minor concern is that the seating arrangement doesn't allow for much leg room so if you wanted to slouch/get comfy in the seat you'd need to figure a way to make more leg space. The stage sound projects very well to the back of the hall so overall you should be in for a great audio-visual treat! read more

Beautiful venue. Great way to spend the afternoon. Everyone from the ticket booth to ticket scanners to seating the hosts were so friendly and accommodating. We were there to watch the Pittsburgh Ballet and honestly there isn't a bad seat in the house. Wonderful performance, fantastic venue. read more

Came for a pre-Christmas Nutcracker performance, and was very impressed with this beautiful theater. Staff was friendly and accommodating, seating was comfortable and offered a great view, and the theater itself was gorgeous. The missing star is for a strange layout. The line to the bar at intermission blocked the path to the restroom, creating a confusing mass of humanity. The restroom was down a number of steep steps, and although I'm sure there was a more accessible option, the most direct route was not easy to navigate for this expecting mama. read more

This is such an amazing theatre. Outside, you have the old-school light up billboards. Inside, you're transported back in time with old ceiling crowning, gold flecked accents all over the walls and chandeliers - beautiful and ornate - everywhere. My repeated comment to my Pittsburgh-native friend was along the lines of, "Wow, I wish Cincinnati had something like this. This just doesn't compare to the Aronoff." I was here for about 4 hours and got to the see the Pittsburgh Ballet Company perform Swan Lake...the dancers were amazing. The pit orchestra was fantastic. The theatre was simply breath-taking. Such an amazing experience - especially for my first time seeing a ballet! Bravo! read more

As mentioned repeatedly by other reviewers, the Benedum (which is apparently the 3rd largest theater in the country, according to a fellow fan) is an absolutely beautiful theater. However, I can't honestly say this is my favorite theater, and my opinion has been emphasized after seeing "Les Misérables" last night at this place. I think the Benedum's greatest strength and weakness is indeed its size and scale. It can hold a massive number of people (there's almost 2,200 seats, again according to a fellow fan and reviewer), but as a result, a number of the seats are just, well, bad - in terms of viewing abilities AND actually being able to hear and understand what's happening in the show. Additionally, while it's stunning to look at when the light's are on, during a show, it feels like a very impersonal theater, I think. This admittedly may not matter to some people (and may not even make sense, I know), but for me as a regular theater-goer, bigger truly is not better, and this place is no exception to my rule. Also, I try to avoid the second tier at all costs - one, because the seating area shrinks and taller folk in particular find that their knees don't want to work at the end of a show (as some of my friends remembered last night); and two, because, as I touched on earlier, the sound is truly awful in the back. This weekend was the third or fourth show where I've noticed that the acoustics are just plain distracting and downright bad in the back, and while it doesn't always matter when I want a relatively cheap ticket to a show I've seen repeatedly (i.e. I know the lyrics already), it will absolutely ruin a newcomer's experience. For example: once, a friend could not follow "Jekyll and Hyde" due to the bad sound in the back. For me, the poor sound absolutely ruined "Jesus Christ Superstar." To this day I can't quote a single lyric from that show, because I didn't understand a single word of it during my experience. Just avoid the back at all cost. Cheaper it may be, but you will have wasted your money completely if you can't enjoy your show. Ultimately, and naturally, the deciding factor for attending the Benedum is whether or not you truly want to see the show there. I consider their runs and shows hit-or-miss, but for the most part, my favorite shows (from "Wicked" to "Rent" to "Spamalot") have gone off without a hitch here. On a final note: I can't comment on the small cash bar and snacks that are in the lobby during shows, because I never have the money to purchase these things - but, if you want to splurge, give them a go and let me know what you think! read more

I spent this afternoon at the Benedum watching "Beauty and the Beast". Anytime you go to the Benedum it's a magical experience. There are grand marble staircases, beautiful architecture, and chandeliers. From the moment you step on to the sidewalk out front you are greeted by gentlemen who open people's car doors and escort them into the building. There are wonderful employees who check your tickets and show you which way to go. The ushers walk you to your seat and give you a program. I'm blessed to have been enough times that I know which seats I love the best. I've never seen a bad performance and have always enjoyed my experiences. It's sad to leave and walk back into the real world. read more

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Every time I have went here I always enjoy myself. Last time I went to see the Nutcracker (one of my favorite) and we had such a nice time. It happened to be on a day when it wasnt super packed and the ushers allowed us to sit in an area where no one was so that we had space, as my friend and I are both very tall and amazon size (lol) I love this place! read more

Last night my boyfriend and I attended Alice and Wonderland. While the performance was wonderful I felt awful the poor girl playing the queen fell on stage! Hope she is not hurt! This is a beautiful venue and well preserved! The tickets were reasonably priced however I will note the seats aren't very comfortable, especially for those with low back pain. The visibility to the stage was good on the first level! They have a new bar located off the second floor is convenient however empty - advertising it may help get more business! I love the location of the benedum! There are awesome restaurants surrounding the area with easy access to parking! Makes for a great date night! read more

If you've never been to the Benedum before then what are you waiting for?! If you have been then you know how beautiful it is! It's a historic landmark! It was built in the 20s and beautifully restored to its original state in the 80s. In my opinion there isn't a bad seat in the house. On my last trip I sat in the very last row and still fully enjoyed the show. If you want to pay more for a better seat go for it but for $25 last row isn't bad at all. They have so many workers on hand to help you to your seat and to get the crowds moving in and out. All the workers are nice and polite. I had an issue with my tickets on my last trip. I explained to the man at the box office the issue (it was a very busy night as usual) and he took care of it right away for me. You can purchase alcohol here but if you want to take it into the theater it's an extra $3.50 for a sippy cup. They should serve it that way to begin with because who really has the time or wants to hang out and sip a drink before the show. I'd much rather enjoy a drink during the performance. Support local Pittsburgh theater or see a touring Broadway show here either way you can't go wrong. The Benedum is truly always a wonderful experience and I know I'll be enjoying it for many years to come. read more

Benedum Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Yelp had given us tickets to go see the Nutcracker in this beautiful theater in the cultural district in Pittsburgh. I am not sure of how old the building is but it has been around for a very long time. Everything is exquisitely decorated. Lots of crystal chandeliers and marble. You do not have to dress up but most people do when they go to shows. Easy parking also as there are several parking garages nearby. We picked our tickets up at the box office right next door. There are multiple mini bars where you can purchase alcohol or soft drinks and little snacks also. Reasonably priced! There are three floors of the Benedum, downstairs they had an area to get your picture taken with a dancer, the main level had two mini bars and snacks, little gifts to buy, and the third level had a bigger bar area. Once the show was about to start they opened the theater doors so you could find your seat and get settled. The tickets offered to us were great seats. We were not allowed to take pictures during the show. It was amazing. The dancers were all so talented. Great place to go for a nice night out to see a show and have dinner afterwards at a nearby, walking distance restaurant. read more

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I had a wonderful evening out with the hubby. We went on a Saturday night to see Jim Gaffigan. The theater was impeccably clean and the ushers were very helpful and pleasant. The Gaffigan show was hilarious. I was impressed with the upkeep of the theater. Every seat appeared to be a good seat. I am taking off two stars because a Captain and coke and glass of red wine cost $22.00. read more

Cocktails in sippy cups. Jeans. Noisy ushers. Rude customer service. These are a few words that I must unfortunately use to describe my recent Benedum Center experience. I went to see Don Giovanni on a groupon deal in November. Don Giovanni has always been one of my very favorite operas. I remember seeing it as a child with my grandfather when he offered to take me. He had season tickets and I went with him often. Going to the opera at the Benedum used to be an event. People dressed up. Martinis were served to gloved women in fur stoles during intermission. And even if you didn't have the money for fur stoles and gloves, you darn sure didn't come to the opera in jeans and sweatshirts. I know that the Benedum doesn't have much control over what their patrons wear, but serving well drinks in plastic cups with straws does not really inspire people to consider the opera as an event. I had some question about the seat that we received and could not for the life of me get an answer for weeks. Apparently the gentleman who handled groupon tickets had a family emergency that took him out of the office for quite some time. My sympathies were abruptly reversed because when he finally did get back to me, he treated me as though I was the biggest pain in the butt ever. He assured me in the most condescending tones that if i had ever been to the opera, I would have known that my seats were good ones. I understand that the Pittsburgh opera needs to get cheeks in seats and that groupon buyers do not constitute their normal patrons, but as I see it, my generation is their future and I have to say that after this experience, I will likely not go back to the Pittsburgh Opera or any other event at the Benedum if I can see the shows I want somewhere else, even if it means hoofing it to NYC. What a shame. read more

What can I say about the Benedum Center except I can't believe I'm the first to leave a review about it and that there isn't a bad seat in the whole house. I went to see Neil Degrass Tyson which of course made you appreciate your existence just, a bit more than you do. They usually have concessions but be ready to pay 20$ for two alcoholic beverages. You feel in the presence of money being in this place so I guest it's only fitting. The staff is very nice and no matter what you're seeing here it feels eventful, the lighting is fitting and the seating is surprisingly comfortable. I decided to visit their site and include in my review a few interesting facts about the place to educate both you and myself! This is a great place to go. Enjoy the 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. read more

As a new resident of Pittsburgh I was very excited to see a show at the Benedum. This place is stunning. It speaks to the money that used to exist in this city. Get there early so you can just soak in the beauty. I like that you can bring a drink into the theatre rather than rushing yourself to drink in the lobby. I also appreciate the addition of the newer bar and bathrooms on the second level. My only actual complaint was that I don't think the sound was spectacular. There were moments were it seemed certain mics weren't picked up and it made parts hard to hear. Not sure if that was due to the theatre's staff or Book of Mormon crew. read more