Theatre Tours

Excerpted from the Casino Theatre website

Prior to building his new industrial town and steel factory in what was to become Vandergrift, PA, George G. McMurtry owned and operated a major mill in Apollo, PA. A trip to the Chicago Exposition of 1893 provided the impetus for McMurtry to seek out the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead to design and build his new company town, the intent of which was to provide a place where his employees could own their own homes and develop pride and allegiance to the wonderful place that was being created for them. Part of that pride was to come from intentionally incorporating unparalleled cultural and recreational opportunities into the town’s fabric, including development of a cultural center for musical and performing arts to be known as the Casino Theatre. Hiring building architect John Allison to design it and the Rudy Brothers to do the theatre’s ornate stained-glass windows, McMurtry created a columned Greek revival gem where nearly 700 townspeople could gather to rise to a heightened level of entertainment and culture.

Opened in June of 1900, The Casino (meaning a large room where people could gather) was primarily used for popular lectures, plays and traveling Vaudeville shows. The stage provided a way to experience, firsthand, what was going on in the world, regarding entertainment as well as listening to renowned speakers. As time and technology advanced into the teens and twenties the theater was also used to show silent movies. An orchestra, including a permanent Geneva Organ, accompanied the features to provide added excitement and meaning. In addition to many technological upgrades over the years to keep competitive with television, in the 1950s the theater was converted to show wide screen (cinemascope) films. The theater continued to enjoy popularity for many decades until it could no longer compete with multi-screen cinemas. Despite all the innovations, in 1981 the Casino closed its doors and remained silent for nearly 13 years

Provided by Westmoreland Cultural Trust

Originally opened on September 2, 1926, as the Manos Theatre, a vaudeville and silent movie venue, the historic Palace Theatre now hosts the widest variety of live entertainment and concerts in the Laurel Highlands region.

The Palace Theatre holds a prestigious legacy, having welcomed dignitaries and celebrities such as The Dalai Lama, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beach Boys, Wayne Newton, Tom Jones, George Carlin, Bernadette Peters, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Wiz Khalifa, Jonas Brothers, Kenny Rogers, Jay Leno, Lyle Lovett, and Blue Man Group, among others. WCT supports live performances through a network of professional promoter agencies and annually hosts a diverse range of live shows. Audiences can enjoy exciting performances by talented national, regional, and local artists. These performances include Motown favorites, family-focused shows, country, rock, and pop concerts.

This beautifully renovated facility boasts 1,367 seats and is situated across from the Westmoreland County Courthouse at 21 W. Otterman Street in downtown Greensburg. The Palace Theatre is proudly owned and managed by Westmoreland Cultural Trust.

The Hollywood Theater in Dormont, PA, opened in 1926 as a silent film theater, complete with a full-time organist. Over the decades, it experienced various renovations and ownership changes. In 2011, the Friends of the Hollywood Theater (FHT) took over and began operating it as a non-profit, showing a mix of classic and new films. In 2023, Row House Cinema, a local cinema known for its unique programming, acquired the theater and is currently renovating the theater to include more screens, party areas, and improved accessibility, while still preserving its historic charm, according to CBS News. They also plan to bring back the "atmospheric" elements, such as the galaxy of stars on the ceiling, which were part of the original design.

The building was originally built in 1936 as the Westinghouse Memorial High School. Westinghouse Memorial High School Closed down in 1965 and later became an elementary school. Formerly a part of the East Allegheny School District (our charter district), the school closed in 2007 and was left vacant until Westinghouse Arts Academy revitalized it in 2017 to open its doors once more. The theatre is the only Art Deco-style theatre in the Greater Pittsburgh Metropolitan area making it a wonderful piece of history. The Theatre has 652 seats plus 6 ADA spaces for wheelchairs. This state-of-the-art space is used by students and community members alike.

Heinz Hall, dedicated in 1971 and last renovated in 2015, is the cornerstone of the Cultural District of Pittsburgh. This cultural-entertainment focal point of the Golden Triangle has helped spur the continuing economic and cultural revitalization of downtown Pittsburgh. With its international reputation for grandeur and excellence as a concert hall and showplace, the 2,675‑seat Heinz Hall is home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

The Hall is centrally located near Gateway Center, PPG Place, Dominion Tower, Fifth Avenue Place and Liberty Center, and within walking distance of Heinz Field, PNC Park and the CONSOL Energy Center. The Cultural District offers many restaurants, hotels and parking facilities within easy walking distance to the Hall.

The structure evolved from its origin in 1927 as the Loew’s Penn Theater to its renovation and dedication as Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts in 1971 — “a gift to the Pittsburgh Symphony Society from the Howard Heinz Endowment . . . to encourage, foster and perpetuate the performing arts in the Greater Pittsburgh area.” Each year more than a half-million patrons attend symphony concerts and other attractions, ranging from Pops concerts to children’s concerts to national Broadway touring shows.

Known today as the Benedum Center, the facility opened as the Stanley Theater on February 27, 1928. James Bly Clark, an early theater tycoon who assisted in the founding of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, financed the $3 million dollar project. The Stanley was billed as "Pittsburgh's Palace of Amusement." In attendance on opening night were Governor John S. Fisher, Mayor Charles H. Kline and Adolph Zukor, president of Paramount Studios. Regular admission cost 65 cents—25 cents if you came before noon—and performances provided a welcome lift of spirits during the Great Depression. The theater was purchased and remodeled by the Cinemette Corporation in 1976. In 1977, DiCesare Engler Productions bought the Stanley and presented rock and roll concerts through 1982.

Following the renovation of the Loew's Penn Theater to Heinz Hall, the late H.J. Heinz II focused his attention on the historic restoration of the Stanley Theater. This became the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's first project after its founding in 1984. The $43 million dollar restoration faithfully restored this cultural treasure to its 1928 opening night glory. By following the very strict restoration standards set by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Commonwealth Bureau of Historic Preservation and the Historic Review Commission of Pennsylvania, the building is registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

Originally built in 1903 as the Gayety Theater, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust purchased this 1300-seat venue, then called the Fulton Theater, in 1988. The Trust renovated and reopened the Fulton Theater in 1991. The theater was renamed the Byham Theater in 1995, in recognition of a gift from William C. and Carolyn M. Byham. Today, the Byham Theater is home to a wide variety of performing arts, including dance, music, theater, film, and family-friendly events held throughout the year.

Please note: This theatre is not historic, but our National Partner, DLR Group, and our local host, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, have graciously arranged to host our 2025 Closing Party at this unique venue!

Excerpted from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust website

The Greer Cabaret Theater is a project of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, where unforgettable artistic performances pair with thrilling culinary experiences in Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Transformed by recent renovations, the new Greer Cabaret Theater, Lounge at the Greer Cabaret, and Kara Family Lobby for Theater Square feature striking upscale décor. Expect enhanced seating options, state-of-the-art technology, and inspired food and beverage offerings.