The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts opened on November 6, 2014, in downtown Orlando, Florida, becoming the city’s premier home for touring Broadway shows, orchestral music, ballet, and opera. Built across two city blocks, the campus was funded through a mix of public tourist development taxes and private donations, including a major gift from the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation, for which the center is named.
The project was completed in two phases due to the 2008 economic downturn, with the flagship Walt Disney Theater opening in 2014 and the acoustically celebrated Steinmetz Hall following in January 2022. Today the center anchors Orlando’s downtown arts scene, hosting the AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando series alongside resident companies like the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Ballet, and Opera Orlando.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Downtown Orlando, Florida
- Type: Performing arts center
- Opened: November 6, 2014 (Steinmetz Hall: January 14, 2022)
- Capacity: 2,700 (Walt Disney Theater); 1,700 (Steinmetz Hall)
- Total cost: About $613 million
- Famous for: Acoustically adjustable Steinmetz Hall, named one of the world’s most beautiful theaters by Architectural Digest in 2023
A Two-Phase Downtown Landmark
The Dr. Phillips Center opened its first phase in 2014 with the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, the 294-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, and outdoor performance spaces. The much-anticipated second phase, Steinmetz Hall, opened in January 2022 after a construction pause tied to the recession, completing the venue’s original vision at a combined cost of around $613 million, funded roughly two-thirds by public tourist tax dollars and one-third by private donors.
Steinmetz Hall’s Award-Winning Acoustics
Steinmetz Hall is built on a floating concrete foundation isolated by hundreds of rubber pads, creating an acoustic air gap that shields performances from outside noise and earns it a rare N1 background-noise rating. A massive, movable orchestral shell allows the room to transform between a 1,500-seat proscenium theater and a 1,700-seat concert hall, a flexibility that helped Architectural Digest name it one of the 11 most beautiful theaters in the world in 2023.
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Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts FAQs
When did the Dr. Phillips Center open?
The main campus opened November 6, 2014, and its second venue, Steinmetz Hall, opened January 14, 2022.
How many people can the Dr. Phillips Center hold?
The Walt Disney Theater seats about 2,700, while Steinmetz Hall holds up to 1,700 depending on its configuration.
Who performs at the Dr. Phillips Center?
It hosts the AdventHealth Broadway in Orlando touring series and is the home stage for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Ballet, and Opera Orlando.
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Photo: Connor J. Williams / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.