Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is
an independent, nonprofit arts organization located at 345 Washington Street in
Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Center has two venues, a 1,900-seat Main Hall and an
intimate 306-seat McKnight Theatre.
In 1980, Saint Paul resident Sally Ordway Irvine challenged her community to help her create a
performing arts venue in which her dream of offering "everything from
opera to the Russian circus" could be realized. She set an example by making
the first donation to a fund that eventually built Ordway Center.
The
Ordway cost a total of 46 million dollars to build. Sally Ordway Irvine contributed
a total of 7.5 million dollars and her family graciously matched that amount.
The Ordway name comes from Sally’s grandfather, Lucius Pond Ordway (1862-1948),
a Saint Paul businessperson and early investor of 3M. The Center of Performing Arts was added to the Ordway name in January 2000, to reflect and embrace the
multitude of performing arts available to the community.
The
internationally known architect and Saint Paul native Benjamin Thompson and his
firm, BTA and Associates, designed the theatre so that it would have original
flair, but also fit harmoniously in front of Rice Park. It was also imperative
that it fit in with its historical and somewhat stuffy downtown neighbors. The
design team did an excellent job of creating an elegant and Old World feel. The
main hall has wooden walls that make for outstanding acoustics and the McKnight
Theater provides an intimate venue for the smaller shows. The three-level, windowed lobby is a trademark of the building
and makes for great people watching.
The
Ordway Music Theatre opened to the public on January 1, 1985. Throughout its
existence, the Ordway Center has maintained Sally’s vision of advocating the
importance of arts for society by offering a busy schedule of theater, dance,
music, family events, and educational programs.
Four
organizations call the Ordway home: the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the
Minnesota Opera, the Schubert Club and the St. Paul series of the Minnesota
Orchestra. Touring plays, the Planet Ordway series of performance arts and
other arts events fill out the schedule.
Approximately
500,000 people attend approximately 600 performances each year. The diverse
range of artists and performances attracts people of all ages and cultural
heritages. Approximately 70,000 children and adults attend Education at Ordway Center which provides educational opportunities for children and adults consisting
of student matinee performances, in-school residencies, community workshops,
and pre- and post-show discussions.
The
Center is top notch and offers amenities like no other event theatre. The
large, inviting front doors of Ordway Center are opened by a smiling greeter in
a top hat and concessionaires serve you the finest in treats. Ushers formally show
you to your seats and the entire staff is committed to providing the finest
performing arts experience possible to its many patrons.
The Ordway Center continues to bring the best of the performing arts to the Midwest. There are
plenty of great shows that can’t be missed!
Recently, the Ordway Center for Performing Arts has played host to some outstanding shows that would never feel at home in the Twin Cities except at the Ordway. On Golden Pond, an extended White Christmas showing, Chicago and Monty Python?s Spamalot have all been at the Ordway. When the Ordway isn?t displaying its phenomenal array of orchestras at this fine venue, tickets for great shows like the ones mentioned above are more than likely available. Have an American fine dining experience at the St. Paul Grill, spend some time in beautiful Rice Park, and cap off night out on St. Paul with tickets to a great Ordway show.
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