I love the Schuster. I've seen so many wonderful shows here, and I think it the nicest performing arts center in Ohio. It's especially inviting during the holidays. They used to display Rikes vintage holiday windows, but when Shillato pulled rank and moved then to Cincinnati, the had their very own styled by set designers. There are always themed drinks for every show, and you can pre-order intermission drinks and pick them right up! There's also a very cozy wine loft on the Loge level with upscale wine and seating. What's not to love? On a similiar note, if you ever get to see the stage version of "Back to the Future' its a wonderful production! We saw it here yesterday and we're amazed how much we both loved it. read more

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Been fans of Schuster forever; always purchase tickets on line, and enjoy downtown Dayton. Invited our daughter IL from Tokyo for performance; Judi was amazed with all that is Schuster, and found venue superior to those in Tokyo. We explored reasons why. The Nutcracker ballet is very common in Tokyo, considered a popular annual Christmas and winter tradition. Major ballet companies stage multiple performances each season, often selling out to large audiences. We all were most impressed with this performance; all in all, exceptional. read more

Schuster Performing Arts Center Event Services - Performing Arts Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

This theatre is a shining example of what good looks like. Not only are the broadway shows top notch but the theatre itself is both beautiful and highly functional. Notice the intricate ceiling. It displays the stars the day the Wright Brothers had on their first flight. Very pretty and deeply meaningful for Dayton. We have been subscribers for the broadway series for years. We enjoy the philharmonic here as well. The Winter Garden is a fantastic venue itself for Diced in Dayton competition and brew events. Overall a shining star in Downtown, if you get a chance get down here for a show. read more

Schuster Performing Arts Center Event Services - Shot from our seats - Performing Arts Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

We always love our visits to the Schuster Center. Parking is a breeze with the Arts garage across the street. The Schuster Center is always clean. The workers are all very kind and nice. I haven't found a bad seat in the theater as of yet. I love the variety of theatre shows that come to Dayton. read more

Schuster Performing Arts Center Event Services - Peter Pan from Upper Balcony row FF. - Performing Arts Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

A fabulous venue! Beautiful! Both inside the theater and out in the Winter Garden. We have subscribed to the broadway series for years and they are top notch shows. We have also gone to many other shows including their Rockin' Orchestra Series, the Dayton Ballet, the Dayton Super Pops, national touring comedians (John Mulaney, Nate Bartgatze). People are often surprised that a smaller city like Dayton has such a beautiful theater and gets such talent! We love supporting local and are so pleased with everything the Schuster has to offer. read more

Schuster Performing Arts Center Event Services - Performing Arts Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

Good seeing good views. Good sound good volunteer usher staff. You can either take the steps all the way up or down. They also have the elevators good atmosphere all the above. It's a good place to go to see a play Broadway read more

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Be careful about purchasing tickets on line, especially thru Stub Hub. Many seats are not accessible to seniors or people who cannot climb stairs, and this is not indicated when you purchase tickets. Also, Stub Hub allows 2nd party sellers for this venue, so if there's a problem, you can't access the seller. They sent me tickets to the wrong show and I couldn't get things straightened out until I got to the show. Stub Hub is also more expensive. read more

Was gifted a surprise ticket to see Shen Yun during my recent trip to Ohio. We'd been eager to catch their performance since early last year and were really glad we got to finally see them play at Schuster Center so it happened that it was the closest location that matched our schedule. We decided to make a night of it, planning to take a nice short walk from the nearby hotel to the venue. To our surprise, there was plenty of street parking available that night, and a parking garage right across the street for just $10. The night was peaceful with minimal traffic. We appreciated the attentive guards prioritizing pedestrians crossing the crosswalks. Schuster Center itself is a modern, beautiful building. The lines moved very quickly with multiple staff scanning tickets for entry. The only downside that we noticed was the limited elevator availability, particularly during peak times. When we arrived, the elevator was put on a complete stop on the third floor even though nobody was using it; then after the play was over, it was worse with large crowds waiting for their turns for the elevator. Our seats were on a higher floor and we were able to just take the stairs to come and go like the majority of the patrons. But the limited elevator availability might pose challenges for those with mobility issues. As for the show itself, the dress code wasn't strictly enforced. While most attendees were dressed up, some opted for casual attire. We arrived about 5 minutes before the show started so the programs were no longer around for grabs. However, the staff quickly assisted handing it to him when he went back outside. In terms of seating, there were no bad seats inside the theater. You'll get clear views from every angle, a relief for someone like me who's often stuck behind big-haired spectators! There were two emcees setting the scene before it started both in English and in Mandarin. The performance was absolutely breathtaking. The precision, grace, and storytelling in the dancers' movements were mesmerizing. Every detail, from the colorful costumes to the exceptional synchronization with the live music, added to the magical experience. My favorite pieces were the Sleeve of Grace where they danced with long flowing "water" sleeves, as well as the Blossom where they used a fury fan mimicking blooming flowers. Admittedly, they also made me giggle quietly inside my head, reminiscing my childhood days with my cousins attempting to dance like what we saw in the Chinese Dynasty type of shows/movies that our parents watched - wearing silk shawl pretending to do the sleeve dance and using fans doing the Blossom dance together.. lmao good times. But back to the Shen Yun performances... his favorites were the Mongolian Cowboy dance and The Restaurant piece. The latter made us chuckle, same goes with their Kindness Rewarded piece. They have their staple pieces but also do different choreograph variations every year. The highlight was undoubtedly Ming Yue's performance on the Erhu. It was so moving; we were completely spellbound from start to finish. With approximately 19 dance and musical pieces in total and a brief intermission, the show kept us engaged throughout. Despite restrictions on photography, we were fully immersed in the experience, appreciating the beauty and artistry without any reservations. Regarding the more contentious aspects of the show, particularly its portrayal of religious themes, some argue it leans towards cultish or propagandistic themes. However, we approach it as we do any other show, for entertainment and cultural enrichment - appreciating the informative value of the historical and cultural insights without feeling coerced or compelled to adopt any specific ideology or belief system. Overall, the dance and musical pieces from Chinese string instruments like the three-stringed Chinese lute and especially the Erhu were sensational and highly memorable. Thanks to the Schuster Center and its amenities, we had a fantastic time at Shen Yun. The smooth logistics, great seats plus acoustics and unforgettable performance made for a truly immersive experience. read more

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What a beautiful theater. I've been here before when it first opened but then we moved out of the area. Built in 2003 this wonderful theater seats 2.300 but because of its layered design, there isn't a bad seat in the house. We saw Neil deGrassie Tyson talk last night about errors made in the movies. It was funny, informative and at times made you think. It was a great show! I'm sure we will be back to see other things! read more

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I love, love, love the Schuster. I've seen so many great shows there over the years. The beautiful venue is an amazing part of downtown Dayton. It's so cool that high quality touring shows are part of the lineup each year. And I've seen many. I just saw the Lion King last night and it was amazing. However, I have to say I'm not a fan of the food and drinks in the theater policy that's been around the last few years. I had to listen to the person next to me crinkling their snack bag throughout the show. People also have nowhere to put their stuff so drinks end up sitting on the floor. Last night two people had to get up in the middle of the first act for whatever reason. They were then allowed to come back a few minutes later during the performance, which was a lot since they were having to climb over people in the dark. But top it all off, a drink got kicked and went everywhere. It soaked the row behind me, ran down into my row, got my purse wet, as well as getting my back wet. The rest of the show I had to hear peoples' shoes squeaking in the wet under their seats behind me. It would be nice if they could go back to no food or drinks in the theater but cup holders or something would be great as well! read more

My bff & I were gifted tickets to see Christian comedian, John Crist. We had never been to this venue before. We arrived early & parked right out front on the street. I was surprised we had to walk through a metal detector (Oh, the times we live in). Several ushers helped us find our seats. The venue was clean & well-maintained. It was also bigger than I imagined. I would definitely return here. read more

Great place I would go again. Staff is superb. No "Bad" seats. Acoustics is outstanding. read more

A great place to see a concert or play. There is adequate leg room and the seats are wide enough. The restrooms are plentiful so the line at intermission goes quickly. The staff and volunteers are always helpful and friendly. I don't care to sit in the two upper balconies but others might not mind. It's a beautiful building and auditorium with good acoustics. read more

We have had season tickets to the Dayton Live performances at the Schuster Center for two years now. For being a smaller city, they have amazing shows that come in every year. It is also an amazing theater! It is smaller than most larger venues, but it makes it feel very intimate and means every seat has great acoustics and views. We have seats in the back left in the orchestra section and love having aisle seats. The prices are very reasonable for the six shows you get during the season. It is a much better deal to buy the season ticket package and get 6 shows for about $60 a piece then it is to buy tickets for one show for $150+. I have also seen a lot of shows I didn't think I would enjoy and never would have gone to if they weren't part of the season ticket package. It is also very easy to switch your tickets if you have a schedule conflict. They also call at least once a year to check in and see how we are feeling about our tickets and the shows. It is nice to know they really care about our season experience. They have snacks and a bar to buy snacks before and during intermissions. There is also plenty of bathrooms and we never have to wait very long if there is a line. We are already planning on buying the next season of Dayton Live! read more

Easy website for securing tickets. Good selection of entertaining events with great performances. Our most recent experience was Hamilton, and it was spectacular. read more

Lovely venue for plays, musical performances and went to wine event in January that was alot of fun. Interested in going again next year. read more

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Love love love the Schuster. We have been there several times over the years and it never gets old. The shows are quite spectacular. We went to see the King and I. Beautiful! I would recommend seating in the orchestra or first balcony section if you want to enjoy the performance. The other sections are way up too high and you won't be able to see much without opera glasses. read more

Schuster Performing Arts Center Event Services - Row G - Orchestra - Performing Arts Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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Bagels to Broadway is a free event for the public. Yes! I said free! Oh wait, I shouldn't advertise for them should I because if it gets super busy and I might not get reservations. There is a table to check in and then you are shown to the buffet line for bagels and coffee. You mingle for 30 minutes and then they introduce the show and the procedures. No pictures inside the theater nor food. Don't be the person that doesn't follow the rules and ruins it for everyone. Seriously, if you fee tempted to snap a photo ,pack the phone away and think about your fellow theater lovers that enjoy this free experience. ***Selfies are permitted in your seat but not of the stage! ** We got to see the set being put up and learned about killing the seats, local Union 66, time frame to set up, etc. Come to learn more. It's free! What are you waiting for! read more

Schuster Performing Arts Center Event Services - Performing Arts Near Me - Dayton, Ohio

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This was my first visit to this venue and I have to say I was blown away. It's beautiful, clean, and has a terrific staff. I'd happily come back for another show. read more

Just recently went to the Schuster Center to listen to a Whitney Houston Tribute performance that a friend of mine sang in. It is much smaller than the Aronoff in Cincinnati, but very nicely done. There were actual really tall palm trees growing on the inside!! Instead of just selling drinks, you can buy other snacks and there is even a restaurant on the inside. The performance theater was comfortable and had a ceiling that looked like it had stars twinkling from above because of little lights. It was a very enjoyable evening. read more

Motown, The Musical....Wonderful performance! Really a lot more than I expected. Talented singers/actors and the stage set was perfect.