Byham Theater Tickets

Byham Theater
Those who are regular theatergoers know the importance of good venue for making a theatrical experience worth remembering. The greatest of stage productions can fall flat if they are not staged at the right theatre.

But if the theater is nice, the joys can multiply and visitors can enjoy to the fullest. Judging by these standards, Byham Theater passes all the standards of a good and must-visit theaters of America.

Bearing the long history of serving arts and culture in the States, Byham Theater is a place that should be visited by everyone anytime of the year as the place always swings with full action.

Like many other theaters of the country, Byham Theater also witnessed good and bad times in its century"s old history. But today, the place epitomizes the rich tradition of the nation that knows well how to revise yet retain its glorious arts.

Byham Theater was built in 1903 as the Gayety Theater. It was opened on Halloween night in 1904 aiming to bring the biggest world talent to Pittsburgh. It rightly did just that and a lot of local artists also performed at the theatre and got their break from the prestigious venue.

For so many years, the theatre continued as one of the country's foremost stage and vaudeville houses. Stars like Ethel Barymore, Gertrude Lawrence and Helen Hayes made appearances at the theater and visitors from all over the world visited the place from time to time.

In the 1930s, the Gayety Theater was renamed as The Fulton and became a full time movie theater. For many years thereafter, it showcased classic movies and box office blockbusters. However, the citizens of the region missed the theatrical delights it once used to offer.

In 1990, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust purchased the theater and started renovating plans. A four planned phases of renovation was designed and after finishing the first phase, the Fulton was reopened in May 1991.

In 1995, the theater was renamed as the Byham Theater through a naming gift from the Byham family following the second phase of renovation. This phase also brought many top-notch facilities to the venue and new restrooms, box office, marquee, an elevator, lobby improvements were made.

The facade was also changed to make the theater appealing to the eyes. In 1997, the Cherub Lobby was restored to its original splendor that was followed by third phase of renovation in 1999. During this phase, theatre was further upgraded to facilitate live events on large scale.

Theater"s rigging system was upgraded, orchestra pit was enlarged and new HVAC was provided for the entire building. Back stage changes were also made during this phase to accommodate the performers and large scale musicals.

Byham Theater is an integral part of Pittsburgh's culture. It is the city's only surviving Vaudeville theater that hosts frequent dance performances, classical and jazz music besides regular productions of drama and musicals.

The grand theater retains much of its original Vaudeville era charm combined with new age facilities and superb staging features. Make sure to visit the Byham Theater in your next family outing as this is the place where art meets innovation. Check it out and experience good times!