benjamin & marian schuster performing arts center

We love having this performing arts center in Dayton. It attracts great shows, recently we saw Shen Yun, it was very entertaining. We have always enjoyed attending events here and hope that it continues to be supported by the Dayton community.

This was a Valentines gift to my 87 year old mother who had never been to a Schuster performance. She was thrilled and in awe. The show, Nice Work If You Can Get It, was very well done and a hit with Mom. The theatre is well maintained, the ushers friendly and helpful, and the seats okay for a 2+ hour performance.

I love this theater - I don't think there is a bad seat in the house. We saw Nice Work If You Can Get It (full of Gershwin hits) and it was so darn funny and the singing was awesome. It is one of my favorite shows I have seen!!! I have friends that I graduated from high school with (1962) and we try to get together and do something fun at least once a month (or so). We try to be economical so when we get the notice about cheap seats available at the Dayton theaters we try to book at least one or two each time the notice comes out. Yes, we sit in the balcony but as I said before, there isn't a bad seat in the house. So, for under $50.00 (dinner, show and parking) I had a wonderful night out.

There is nothing "small" about the Schuster Performing Arts Center! From the enormous lobby filled with palm trees, to the inside of the theater itself, this place does everything on a grand scale. My husband, daughter and I recently saw The Nutcracker, and it was fabulous! The costumes, the lights, the stage sets, and the actors made you feel like you were part of another world for the couple of hours we were there. Tickets are a bit pricey, but if you find a play that you simply must see then splurge the extra money and spend an evening surrounding yourself with high-class culture! (If you belong to a military family, always inquire about military discounts as well).

This jewel of a performing arts center has everything-- opera, Broadway, ballet, you name it. I recently saw the Broadway productions of The Illusionists and The Texas Tenors. Both were outstanding. The ushers and house managers are always ready to help if there is a problem. I appreciate their strict guidelines regarding the use of cell phone and photographs. If you are seen texting during a show, they WILL speak with you about it. They desire for others to enjoy the shows without distractions. Also, their restaurant, Citilights, is excellent, and is located right inside the performing arts center.

The Schuster Performing Arts Center is a true architectural gem found in Dayton, Ohio, a middle sized, mid-west city. Its architect was Cesar Pelli & Associates, noted for, among other wonderful creations, their work on designing the Petronas Towers (at one time the world’s tallest building, and featured in Mission Impossible 3) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The ‘Schuster’ is the center for the Dayton area arts – the philharmonic orchestras, the opera and the ballet – as well for shows and other gatherings throughout the year. It is worth a walk-through just to see how lucky the residence of this area really are . . . thanks to the vision and generosity of Benjamin and Marian Schuster.

I've been here several times but only twice for shows (Wicked, The Addams Family) Both shows were good (Wicked was amazing) but what made it so great is that they were afforded a stage size large enough to put on marvelous performances. Schuster is small, but large enough to hold many productions. The seats were comfortable, and it didn't seem like there would be many bad seats in the house. Finding a place to park is about the only downfall....And downtown Dayton is NOT a nice place to be alone at night.

This center, in downtown Dayton, is the home of a number of Dayton Performing Arts groups, including the Philharmonic, Ballet and Opera. And frequent live theatrical productions are on the docket. The acoustics are incredible, and there is not a bad seat in the house. And with the added benefit of Citilites, a restaurant that serves lunch every weekday, and before every evening performance, the opportunity exists for a wonderful one-stop evening out.

The staff was very engaging. One staffer took the time to explain the unique architecture. I experienced crystal clear audio during the Broadway musical and all seating appeared excellent. My seats certainly were. I attended the after show gathering with some of the perfomers.

I misread the seating chart, and instead of purchasing tickets for the Nutcracker in the first row center of the highest balcony, I purchased DEAD LAST ROW center of the whole theater! oops. My family was a little miffed, to say the least. However, we could see everything, although a mighty bit small, and could even hear the ballerina's toes hitting the floor as she danced. We saw an opera in one of the side boxes, and I don't recommend that for plays/operas as you get a side view, rather than a front view--those are best left for orchestra performances--and saw Bill Cosby in 7th row to the side a bit. That was a good seat. The staff has it together, and you can get in and out fairly quickly. They allow you to take (overpriced) drinks and snacks inside the theater now--which is nice, since they are so expensive, you can enjoy it without feeling like you have to consume quickly. There is a restaurant on site, but you should get reservations EARLY-like weeks before a show. But there are a few other places on the block as well. There is metered street parking (maybe free at night/weekends? I haven't looked) and a large parking garage next door ($7 I think?) And I seem to recall that you also receive free or discounted city bus tickets for that evening with each performance ticket purchased. I don't know if that's all the time, I don't use them so I really didn't pay much attention other than noticing it once. This is a beautiful place, and they offer a great variety of performances-of all types-plays, operas, ballet, visiting acts. I highly recommend the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Very, very, talented.

Beautiful venue. Seating is excellent. Ample parking around the building. It was very easy to locate. Very nice inside and out. Would love to go again.

We have been to many programs at the Schuster Cntr. and each time it is a treat! It is an opulent experience. The decor alone is worth seeing. If you ever get a chance to do a guided tour (offered from time to time) do it! The history of the Center is worth finding out about!

The Schuster offers Broadway plays, concerts, motivation speakers, ballet, etc. The schedule at the Schuster can stand up with the Broadway playhouses. Beautiful deco inside and out; glass-enclosed atrium with a very impressive ceiling that circles up to the stars. The stars are tribute to Daytons own Wright Brothers. The stars depict the appearance on the eve of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, December 16, 1903. It's a must see.

I have been to this theatre several times and no matter where we sat the view was wonderful. If you get there early enough you can park on the street; however, given that it is in downtown Dayton I prefer to park in the parking lot next to the building. The attached restaurant is also very good. You can make an evening of it with dinner and a show. I like doing that better than going somewhere for dinner and then going to the theatre. I can judge my time better by doing both at the same place.

I often attend plays and musicals put on by or through the Victoria Theater Association and many of the performances occur at this venue. This venue has some great seating options and generally the prices are very affordable. Parking is right next door so you don't have to walk too far to get to the theater if it is very cold/hot outside. The only tip I would give people about attending shows at the Schuster would be to ensure that you get there early or else you might be running up several flights of stairs to get to your show (as the elevator is often occupied and running slowly from one floor to the next).