Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center: Dayton's Premier Venue

The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center stands as a cultural cornerstone in downtown Dayton, offering a world-class venue for local, national, and international entertainment. Opened in February 2003, the Schuster Center was built on the former site of the Rike-Kumler department store and is named after philanthropists Dr. Benjamin Schuster and his wife, Marian, who donated $8 million to the project. The center boasts several performance and event spaces, including the 2,300-seat Winsupply Theatre (formerly Mead Theatre), the versatile Mathile Theatre, and the stunning Kettering Wintergarden, a glass-enclosed atrium featuring palm trees. The Wintergarden serves as a unique public space and has been described as the "public room" of the structure. The Schuster Center is the principal venue for the performing arts in Dayton, hosting a wide array of events, such as Broadway shows, concerts, ballet, and opera performances. It is home to the Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Ballet. In addition to performances, the Schuster Center offers space for meetings, weddings, parties, and other special events.