Philadelphia is best known as home of the Liberty Bell and Old City Historic District, the Constitutional Convention, Betsy Ross, oh, and the Rocky stairs. But as one of America’s earliest cities, the Pennsylvania metropolis also has a deep history in the arts and live entertainment, with some of its venues among the oldest in the country. Go beyond the Old City with our guide to Philly’s art district.
Does Philadelphia have an arts district?
Yes, Philadelphia’s downtown Arts District serves as the city’s cultural hub, with theater, opera, art, history and fine dining all enmeshed into the personality of the Avenue of the Arts neighborhood along S Broad Street. The district also contains Philly’s Walk of Fame, City Hall and the Octavius V. Catto Memorial commemorating the late Civil Rights activist.
Iconic Theaters in the District
The Avenue of the Arts neighborhood is packed with theaters and other live entertainment hubs, including a Gilded Age theater that houses the Philadelphia opera and ballet companies and numerous venues that bring Broadway theater to the city. Plus, Philly counts the oldest operating theater in the country among its caliber of spaces dedicated to the arts.
Where is the arts district in Philadelphia?
The arts district in Philadelphia, also known as Avenue of the Arts, is located on S Broad Street. Venues on S Broad Street include the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Academy of Music, and the Miller Theater.
Below, we’re highlighting four of the most notable theaters in Philadelphia and their storied performing arts histories.
The Academy of Music
240 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Here’s a fun fact: Philadelphia’s Academy of Music has never actually been a music school. Instead, the nearly 175-year-old institution is home to Opera Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Ballet, and remains the country’s oldest opera house still used for its original purpose.
Operating since 1857, the grand building is colloquially known as the Grand Old Lady of Locust Street and was designed in the German style known as Rundbogenstil. In addition to acting as headquarters for the opera and ballet companies, the Academy is used today for touring Broadway productions, comedy, jazz, dance and more.
Forrest Theatre
1114 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
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The Forrest Theatre was originally located on the corner of Broad and Sansom Street before it was demolished and replaced by its current location in 1928. Named after American Shakespearean actor Edwin Forrest, the theater has welcomed pre-Broadway tryouts for nearly a century, including classic shows like The Women (1936), The Music Man (1957), Funny Girl (1963), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1966), The Wiz (1974) and Chicago (1975). The Forrest Theatre is currently getting set to host touring productions of A Beautiful Noise, Candide and Some Like It Hot as part of Broadway Philadelphia.
Miller Theater
250 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Built in 1918 by theater producers Lee and J.J. Shubert to memorialize their brother Sam, what is now the Miller Theater was originally named the Shubert Theatre for most of the 20th Century. Major Broadway luminaries who graced the stage of the theater include Katharine Hepburn, John Barrymore, Angela Lansbury, Laurence Olivier, Helen Hayes and Sammy Davis Jr.
In 1991, the venue was renamed after Philadelphia entrepreneur John W. Merriam before becoming the Miller Theater in the spring of 2022. Pre- and post-Broadway runs that have played at the theater include Annie Get Your Gun (1946), Kiss Me, Kate and Brigadoon (both 1948), Guys and Dolls (1950), Paint Your Wagon (1951), Gypsy (1959) and My Fair Lady (1976).
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Opened in 1809 as The New Circus, the Walnut Street Theatre holds the distinction of being the oldest operating theater in the U.S. The venue is well-known for hosting famous Broadway plays like A Streetcar Named Desire starring Marlon Brando (1947), Gigi with Audrey Hepburn (1951), The Diary of Anne Frank with Susan Strasberg (1955) and A Raisin in the Sun starring Sidney Poitier (1959).
Other significant events that have taken place in the theater’s more than 200-year history include the 1923 premiere of the Marx Brothers I’ll Say She Is, the first presidential debate of the 1976 election season between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford.
Dining and Accommodations
Where to Eat Near the Philadelphia Arts District
- Estia, 1405-07 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- The Cheesecake Factory, 1430 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- Sampan, 124 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Mercato, 1216 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- The Morris, 225 S 8th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
- Parc, 227 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- High Street Philadelphia, 101 S 9th St Suite 106, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- El Vez, 121 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Where to Stay Near the Philadelphia Arts District
- The Bellevue Hotel Philadelphia, 200 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- The Dwight D Hotel, 256 S 16th St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- The Franklin on Rittenhouse, 1715 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia City Center, 237 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown Center City, 219 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
- Element Philadelphia Downtown, 1441 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, 10 Ave of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102
- The Westin Philadelphia, 99 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
What to Do in Philadelphia
Looking for more art and culture in Philly? The city is home to numerous art galleries (check to see if a First Friday is coming up), plus modern venues like the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. There are also walkable Philadelphia neighborhoods to explore like Rittenhouse Square, Fairmount and Washington Square West, and Spring Garden. Finally, be sure to visit museums like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation.
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