Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts facts for kids
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| Address | 300 South Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States |
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| Public transit |  Walnut–Locust:
Broad Street Line
12th–13th & Locust + 15th–16th & Locust:
PATCO Speedline
 SEPTA bus: 4, 27, 32 |
| Owner | Kimmel, Inc. |
| Type | concert hall recital theater |
| Capacity | Verizon Hall: 2,500 seats Perelman Theater: 650 seats |
| Production | Verizon Hall: Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops Perelman Theater: The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Opera Philadelphia, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 16, 2001 |
| Architect | Rafael Viñoly Architects, PC |
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a famous place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's where you can enjoy many different types of live shows. You can find it on Broad Street, which is also known as the "Avenue of the Arts".
The Kimmel Center is home to the Philadelphia Orchestra. This is one of the top symphony orchestras in America. Many other groups also perform here. These include the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and Philadanco. The center also hosts a series of shows called Kimmel Center Presents. These shows feature jazz, classical, and world pop music.
Contents
History of the Kimmel Center
Planning a New Concert Hall
In 1986, the Philadelphia Orchestra decided it needed a new concert hall. Their old home, the Academy of Music, was getting old. They hoped to open the new building by 1991.
People had wanted a new home for the orchestra since 1908. But plans often stopped because they couldn't agree on how big it should be or how to pay for it. Plans came up again in the 1920s but were stopped by the Great Depression. After World War II, other cities built big arts centers. This made people in Philadelphia want one too.
Building the Center
The project finally moved forward in 1993. A kind person named Sidney Kimmel gave $12 million to help. In 1995, leaders decided to combine the new concert hall with a place for other arts groups. These two ideas became one big project in 1996. Construction on the Kimmel Center began in 1998.
In 2000, the center was named after Sidney Kimmel. This was to thank him for his big donations. The main concert hall was named Verizon Hall. This was because Verizon and the Verizon Foundation gave a lot of money and help.
Opening Day
The architect who designed the Kimmel Center was Rafael Viñoly. The building officially opened on December 16, 2001. Before that, there was a special preview on December 14. Famous performers like André Watts and Elton John were there. The Philadelphia Orchestra played their first concert in Verizon Hall on December 15.
Performance and Other Facilities
The Kimmel Center has a special glass roof that covers the whole building. This creates a big, open lobby for everyone. The center is a popular place to visit. It is open to the public every day. You can even take free tours to see inside the building.
- Verizon Hall: This is the main performance room. It has 2,500 seats. It also has a huge pipe organ called the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. This organ is one of the biggest of its kind in an American concert hall.
- Perelman Theater: This theater has 650 seats. It has a cool stage that can spin around. This means it can be used for different types of shows. It can be a recital hall or a theater with a stage and orchestra pit.
- Dorrance H. Hamilton Roof Garden: This is a garden located on the roof, right above the Perelman Theater. It's a nice place to relax and enjoy the view.
- SEI Innovation Studio: This is a flexible black box theater. It's a smaller space that can be set up in many ways for different performances.
- The center also has other smaller rooms for performances and meetings.
Other Cool Programs
The Kimmel Center offers more than just concerts. They also have many educational programs.
Youth Jazz Ensemble
The Kimmel Center has its own youth jazz orchestra. It's called The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble (KCYJE). This group includes many talented young jazz musicians. They come from the Philadelphia and New Jersey areas. This ensemble is like a youth version of the famous Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
Teen Summer Arts Camp
Every year, the Kimmel Center hosts a Teen Summer Arts Camp. These are ten-day programs. Teens can learn about chamber music, singing, and jazz. It's a great way for young people to explore their musical talents.
Images for kids
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The atrium
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The roof garden in 2007
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Verizon Hall
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Verizon Hall interior
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Roof from the roof garden
See also
In Spanish: Kimmel Center para niños
