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By Kimberly Powell

When "American Style" magazine ranked Pittsburgh as the 4th best arts destination in the country in 2002 a lot of people were surprised. New York, sure. Chicago, yep. But Pittsburgh? What could the rough, rugged steel town of Pittsburgh possibly have to offer to connoisseurs of world-class music, opera, dance, theater, and visual art?

Yet Pittsburgh, once described as "hell with the lid off" by author James Parton, now offers something to please almost any cultural appetite. From the romantic impressionists of the 19th century and the sweet harmonies of the classics, to the hard hitting pop icons of the 20th and the drumming rhythm of modern dance, Pittsburgh offers quite a cultural feast.

Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District
Since 1984, Pittsburgh has been in the midst of an amazing transformation from a downtown "red light" district with only two cultural venues -- Heinz Hall and the Convention Center -- to a vibrant, animated metropolis with over fourteen cultural facilities, public parks, and plazas. Achieved by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, this successful revitalization has resulted in a superlative 14-block Cultural District in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh which not only enriches the lives of its citizens, but also brings in millions of tourist dollars annually, capturing the attention of arts aficionados worldwide.

Today, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust oversees the development and operation of four major theaters in Pittsburgh's downtown cultural district:

• The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts (719 Liberty Avenue), formerly the Stanley Theater, reopened in 1987 after a $42 million renovation. The 2,800-seat theater, proud cornerstone of Pittsburgh's Cultural District, is home to the Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Dance Council, and the Pittsburgh Opera. The Benedum Center also hosts first-run Broadway touring productions. Registered with the National Trust for Historic Places, the Benedum Center has been named the "Number One Auditorium in the U.S." by "Billboard" magazine and features a stage comparable in size to the Paris Opera House and the New York Metropolitan Opera. It is one of the few theaters in the U.S. large enough to stage full-case, first-run Broadway shows.
   
• The 1,342-seat Byham Theater (101 Sixth Street), opened in 1903 as a vaudeville house and reopened in the 1930s as a "talking motion picture house," is Pittsburgh's oldest performing arts facility. Today this beautifully restored theater features Pittsburgh-based small to mid-sized performing arts productions as well as national touring companies in music, dance, and performing arts for children.
   
• A relatively new performing space in the Pittsburgh Cultural District is the Harris Theater (809 Liberty Avenue). The Harris Theater is the home of the Pittsburgh Filmmakers, which presents independent and foreign films, as well as live performances, lecture series, recitals, and experimental theater.
   
• The intimate, but world-class 600-seat O'Reilly Theater serves as the home of the Pittsburgh Public Theater, an office tower, and the newly completed Allegheny Riverfront Park, a two-tier park overlooking the Allegheny River and the North Shore.

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Article ©2003 Kimberly Powell. Licensed to About.com.