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Byham Theater

Originally built as the Gayety Theater, the Byham Theater opened on Halloween night, 1904. It ran for many years as one of the country's foremost stage and vaudeville houses, with appearances from such stars as Ethel Barymore, Gertrude Lawrence and Helen Hayes.

In the entry vestibule, note the original mosaic tile floor and the many bare light bulbs lining the ceiling, evidence of the advent of electrical lighting. Backstage, the theater was one of the remaining few to use sandbags and hemp ropes to work the scenery rigging until 1999 when a modern rigging system was installed.
 
In the 1930s, the theater was renamed The Fulton and became a full time movie theater. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust purchased the theater in 1990 and following the first of four planned phases of renovation, the Fulton was reopened in May 1991. It was later renamed the Byham Theater through a naming gift from the Byham family following the second phase of renovation in 1995.

The old lighted Fulton marquee has been restored by the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and will be installed there as part of a theater exhibit.

The second phase of renovations brought new restrooms, box office, marquee, an elevator, lobby improvements and facade changes. In 1997, the Cherub Lobby was restored to its original splendor.

The third phase of renovation in 1999 updated the theater rigging system, enlarged the orchestra pit and provided new HVAC for the entire building. Excavation under the stage and seating area provided space for future dressing rooms.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust continues to address the needs of the Byham Theater. These types of renovations are driven by the contributions of its attentive supporters, and with ongoing support the Cultural District will continue to improve and develop.
 

Byham Theater Seating Chart

Download a detailed seating chart (Requires Adobe Acrobat)

Upcoming Events at the Byham Theater

Seussical
Seussical
Byham Theater
Pittsburgh CLO

For a full list of upcoming events at the Byham Theater, visit our calendar page

Parking

parking

Directions to the Byham Theater

The public entrance to the Byham Theater is on Sixth Street, at the corner or Sixth Street and Ft. Duquesne Boulevard, adjacent to the Rennaisance Pittsburgh Hotel.
 

Public Transportation: Port Authority Buses, "T" Services and Inclines

For schedules, rates and general information about these services, visit Port Authority's Downtown Service Center at 534 Smithfield Street or call 412.442.2000, or visit https://www.portauthority.org. Please note that the Port Authority buses are free for travel within the downtown zone until 7 PM; the "T" is always free downtown.
 

Driving Directions from Google Maps

 

Driving Directions

 

FROM THE NORTH

  • Follow Interstate 279 South to Pittsburgh
  • Take the Veteran's Bridge/ Interstate 579 Exit
  • Stay in the right lane and take Sixth Avenue Exit
  • Follow Sixth Avenue to Liberty Avenue and turn left
  • Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Sixth Street
  • Make a right on Sixth Street
  • Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
  • Byham Theater is on the right

Or

  • Follow Interstate 279 South to Pittsburgh
  • The Fort Duquesne Bridge Exit and stay in the left lane
  • Take the Fort Duquesne Blvd. Exit off the bridge
  • Proceed on Fort Duquesne Blvd. to Sixth Street
  • Make a right on Sixth Street
  • Byham Theater is immediately on the left

FROM THE SOUTH

  • Follow Route 51 North (Saw Mill Run Blvd.) to the Liberty Tunnels
  • Turn right into the Tunnels and proceed across the Liberty Bridge
  • Take the Interstate 579 Exit onto Crosstown Blvd.
  • Immediately exit to the left on Seventh Avenue
  • Follow Seventh Avenue to Liberty Avenue and turn left
  • Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Sixth Street
  • Make a right on Sixth Street
  • Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
  • Byham Theater is on the right

Or

  • Follow Route 837 North through Pittsburgh's South Side
  • At Station Square, turn right on Smithfield Street Bridge
  • Follow Smithfield Street to Sixth Avenue, turn left
  • Proceed on Sixth Avenue to Liberty Avenue
  • Make a left on Liberty Avenue
  • Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Sixth Street
  • Make a right on Sixth Street
  • Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
  • Byham Theater is on the right

FROM THE EAST

  • From the Turnpike, take exit 6 to Monroeville/Pittsburgh
  • Take I-376 West (towards Pittsburgh) for 13.5 miles to Exit 1C, Grant Street
  • At the signal at the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Fort Pitt Boulevard
  • Continue another 0.4 miles and at the third signal, turn right, onto Stanwix Street
  • Proceed straight to the fourth light and bear right (45º angle) onto Liberty Avenue
  • Go to the second traffic light and turn left onto Sixth Street
  • Go two blocks to the Byham Theater, located on the right, at the corner of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and Sixth Street

Or

  • Follow Interstate 376 West to Pittsburgh
  • Take the Boulevard of the Allies Exit
  • Take the 579 exit onto Crosstown Blvd.
  • Immediately exit to the left on Seventh Avenue
  • Follow Seventh Avenue to Liberty Avenue and turn left
  • Proceed on Liberty Avenue to Sixth Street
  • Make a right on Sixth Street
  • Proceed through traffic light at Penn Avenue
  • Byham Theater is on the right

FROM THE WEST

  • Follow Interstate 279 North to Pittsburgh
  • Proceed to Fort Pitt Tunnels
  • Take Fort Duquesne Boulevard Exit
  • Proceed on Fort Duquesne Blvd. to Sixth Street
  • Make a right on Sixth Street
  • Byham Theater is immediately on the left

Facilities Rental

More information about facilities rental and theater tech specs

Text Venue Description

The Byham Theater seats 1313 patrons. Below is a description of the seating configuration. Keep in mind that the directions left and right are, in relation to your entry point, at the back of the theater

Floor:
a. Pit – The pit has three sections: Center, Left and Right. There are two rows: AA and BB. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101, on the left to 109, on the right. The Left portion of the Pit only contains 2 seats, Row BB, seats 21 and 23. The Right portion of the Pit only contains two seats, Row BB, seats 22 and 24. The Orchestra Pit can either be entirely used for seating or removed for an orchestra.
b. Orchestra Section – The Orchestra has three sections: Center, Left and Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row A in the front, closest to the stage and going back alphabetically. There is no Row “I” because an “I” looks too much like a “1” on a ticket. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101, on the left isle, to the right isle. The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25… The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26…
c. Boxes and ADA seating – The Byham has 7 boxes for seating. 105, 106, 114 and 115 are closer to the front of the stage and are for general sale. They seat 3 patrons each and patrons sit in loose chairs. Boxes 107, 108, 111, 112 and 113 are designated as ADA seating. A patron in a wheelchair can simply wheel themselves into the box from the doors in the lobby. Companions sit in loose chairs. Boxes 107 and 113 seat 2 patrons, Boxes 108, 111 and 112 seat 4 patrons.

Balcony:
a. Mezzanine - The front part of the balcony. It has three sections: Center, Left and Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row AA in the front and going back to Row FF. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101 on the left to 114, on the right. The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25… The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26…
b. Gallery – The back of the balcony. It has three sections: Center, Left and Right. The rows are lettered starting with Row A in the front and going back alphabetically. There is no Row 'I' because an 'I' looks too much like a “1” on a ticket. The seating in the Center is numbered in order from 101, on the left to 113, on the right. The Left is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 21 and then by odd numbers, 21, 23, 25. The Right is numbered starting from the closest to the center with 22 and then by even numbers, 22, 24, 26…

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