Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
 |
|
Exterior of venue (c.2014)
|
|
| Address | 445 S Magnolia Ave. |
|---|---|
| Location | Downtown Orlando |
| Owner | City of Orlando |
| Capacity | 2,731 (Walt Disney Theater) 1,700 (Steinmetz Hall) 400 (DeVos Family Room) 294 (Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 23, 2011 |
| Opened | November 6, 2014 |
| Expanded | January 14, 2022 |
| Construction cost | $613 million |
| Architect |
|
| Project manager | AMS Planning & Research Corp |
| Structural engineer |
|
| Services engineer | TLC Engineering Solutions. |
| General contractor | Balfour Beatty Construction |
| Main contractors |
|
| Tenants | |
| Orlando Ballet (2014–present) | |
The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a super cool place in Downtown Orlando, Florida. People often call it the Dr. Phillips Center for short. It's a big building where you can watch all sorts of amazing shows.
This center opened its doors on November 6, 2014. It joined the historic Bob Carr Theater to become one of Orlando's main spots for performances.
Contents
What is the Dr. Phillips Center?
The Dr. Phillips Center is a special place where different types of shows happen. It was planned along with other big projects in Orlando. These projects included a new Amway Center and upgrades to the Camping World Stadium.
The design for the center was shared in 2008. It was built in stages to make sure everything was just right.
What Kinds of Theaters Are There?
The Dr. Phillips Center has several unique performance spaces:
- Walt Disney Theater: This is a large hall with 2,731 seats. It's perfect for big Broadway musicals and concerts.
- Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater: This is a smaller, cozy venue with 294 seats. It's great for more intimate shows and events.
- Steinmetz Hall: This amazing theater has 1,700 seats. It's known for its incredible sound quality. It can even change its shape to fit different types of performances! It opened on January 14, 2022.
- Judson's Live: This is a newer music room that opened on January 21, 2024. It has a relaxed, cabaret-style seating for live music.
How Was the Center Funded?
Building the Dr. Phillips Center cost a lot of money. The total cost was about $613 million. This money came from two main sources:
- Public funds: A large part of the money came from taxes.
- Private donations: Many people and groups also gave money. A big donation came from the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation. This foundation was set up by Philip Phillips.
The center was built in two main parts. Phase I included the Walt Disney Theater and the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater. Phase II added Steinmetz Hall and Judson's Live. Construction started in June 2011.
What Was the Frontyard Festival?
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Dr. Phillips Center created something special. They made an outdoor performance area called the Frontyard Festival™. It was on the Seneff Arts Plaza, right in front of the center.
- Safe and Fun: The festival had special "boxes" where up to six people could sit. These boxes were spaced far apart to keep everyone safe.
- Food and Shows: You could order food and drinks right to your box. All sorts of performances and events happened on a big stage.
- Award-Winning Idea: The Frontyard Festival™ was a huge success. It even won awards for being an innovative idea during the pandemic. It ran from December 2020 to December 2021.
What Was There Before?
The Dr. Phillips Center takes up two city blocks in Orlando. To make room for it, some older buildings were taken down. These included a fire station and an old bank building. The center is surrounded by several streets: Orange Avenue, South Street, Rosalind Avenue, and Anderson Street.
First Broadway Show
The very first Broadway show to play at the Walt Disney Theater was The Phantom of the Opera. It was a new version of the famous musical.
