Schuster Performing Arts Center [Mead Theatre]

At the heart of the Schuster Center lies the 2,300-seat Mead Theatre, a state-of-the-art facility designed to accommodate a diverse array of performing arts, including orchestral music, opera, theatre, and dance. The Mead Theatre delivers stunning aural and visual experiences for audiences. That experience begins with the look of the theatre. Architect Cesar Pelli’s design invokes the feeling of an evening under the stars. The cool blues and orange-reds of the theatre’s interior reach all the way to the domed ceiling, where concentric circles of fiber optic lights depict the Dayton sky as it appeared on the eve of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, December 16, 1903. Careful attention to layout and acoustics further enhances the experience. World-class theatre planning and design consultants worked to create an intimate setting, with the last row a mere 120 feet from the stage. Seating options include orchestra, loge, and lower and upper balconies. Acoustical experts customized the theatre to meet the unique needs of performances requiring both acoustical and technical excellence. In addition to delivering outstanding concert hall acoustics, the use of cutting-edge sound isolation technologies in Mead Theatre ensures that external noise will not distract from the performances.