Phoenix Symphony Hall facts for kids
The west ticket office and entrance to the Phoenix Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
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| Address | 75 North Second Street Phoenix, Arizona 85004 United States |
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| Location | Downtown Phoenix |
| Coordinates | 33°26′55.90″N 112°4′13.89″W / 33.4488611°N 112.0705250°W |
| Owner | City of Phoenix, Phoenix Convention Center and Venues Department |
| Type | Concert Hall |
| Seating type | Reserved |
| Capacity | 2,312 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1969 |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Architect | Charles Luckman |
| General contractor | Del E. Webb Construction Company |
| Website | |
| Venue website | |
Symphony Hall is a special building in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It's a place where many different kinds of shows happen. You can enjoy concerts, operas, ballets, and even Broadway plays here. It's a very important spot for arts and culture in Phoenix.
The hall was finished in 1972. It was built as part of a bigger area called the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Soon after opening, it became the home of the People's Pops Concert. These concerts were started in 1970 by Theresa Elizabeth Perez. She was the Music Coordinator for the City of Phoenix. Before Symphony Hall opened, these concerts were held at Phoenix College. Theresa also brought her Children's Opera Series to Symphony Hall. These included shows like Help, Help, the Globolinks! and Noye's Fludde.
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Home to Local Arts Groups
Symphony Hall is the main home for several important arts groups in Arizona:
- The Phoenix Symphony: This is a professional orchestra that plays many different types of music.
- Arizona Opera: This company performs grand opera shows.
- Ballet Arizona: This group presents beautiful ballet performances.
Besides these groups, Symphony Hall also hosts many other events. You can see touring Broadway shows here. There are also various dance productions and concerts by popular entertainers. Sometimes, businesses use the hall for large meetings and seminars.
Modern Updates and Accessibility
In June 2004, Symphony Hall had a big update. This $18.5 million renovation happened at the same time as a new building for the nearby Phoenix Convention Center.
The hall now has 2,312 seats. These chairs have wood bases to help the sound travel better. This makes the music and voices sound clearer. The updates also made the hall much easier for everyone to use. New aisles on the main floor, more elevators, and a special section for wheelchairs were added. These changes help people with disabilities move around easily.
The stage area is very large, measuring 60 feet by 100 feet. It has modern systems for sound, lighting, and hanging scenery. There are also special rooms for performers. These include a Green Room, a rehearsal hall, and dressing rooms for stars, chorus members, and musicians.
A Point of Pride
Symphony Hall has been named a Phoenix Points of Pride. These are places that are special and important to the city of Phoenix.
Symphony Hall in Movies and Music
Symphony Hall has even appeared in popular culture. In the 1977 film The Gauntlet, starring Clint Eastwood, the hall was used as the outside of "Phoenix City Hall." In a famous scene, Eastwood's bus crashes onto the steps of Symphony Hall. Also, the live album The Phoenix Concerts by musician John Stewart was recorded here.
Getting There
Symphony Hall is easy to reach by public transport. You can take the METRO Light Rail to the 3rd Street and Washington Street or 3rd Street and Jefferson Street station. Signs at the station might call it "Convention Center."
