The Department of Theatre Arts boasts three performance spaces: the Charity Randall Theatre and the Henry Heymann Theatre, both housed in the Foster Memorial, and the Richard E. Rauh Studio Theatre, located in the Cathedral of Learning basement. All three provide state-of-the-art performance and technical experiences for Pitt students.
Foster Memorial
The Foster Memorial is located at 4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. It was built on the Forbes Avenue side of the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh campus.
Just as the Cathedral of Learning is the symbol of Pitt's academic tradition, the landmark Foster Memorial represents the University's deep commitment to the performing arts. The Foster is one of the three majestic Charles Klauder buildings of Indiana limestone occupying the Cathedral of Learning green. The crown jewel of Oakland's Cultural Corridor and East End performances spaces, this gothic-inspired arts complex emulates Pittsburgh's tradition of preservation and practicality, providing Pitt students and the greater community with a warm and intimate setting for artistic exchange.
Conceived and initiated by members of the Tuesday Musical Club, the building was completed and dedicated in 1937. The Foster Hall Collection, the principal repository for materials pertaining to the ragtime composer, was founded by Indianapolis pharmaceutical giant Josiah Kirby Lilly and given to the University to be housed in the building.
The Foster Memorial Museum is located in the 12-sided wing housing Pitt's Center for American Music, which contains one of the nation's most significant collections of 19th-century music. The museum is open to the public Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM, and guided tours may be scheduled. Admission is free.
Committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all patrons, the Foster Memorial Building now hosts an elevator, making audience areas wheelchair accessible. Please identify any accessible and companion seating needs to our Box Office staff when reserving your tickets.
Fred Kelly Lobby
The Kelly Lobby serves as the Box Office and concessions area for the Charity Randall and the Henry Heymann theatres. The entrance is through the Foster Memorial's main Forbes Avenue double red doors. The lobby contains two rectangular chandeliers by master metalworker Samuel Yellin of Philadelphia. The lobby also contains stained-glass windows depicting Shakespeare and Beethoven craafted by the prominet American artist Charles Jay Connick. These windows, along with the plaza behind the auditorium known as the Lilly Court, were dedicated to honor the Foster Memorial benefactor Josiah Kirby Lilly. The lobby commemorates Pittsburgh performer Fred Kelly, whose older brother Gene was also a Pitt graduate. Fred actually taught Gene and many others to dance as an influential choreographer who later became a pioneering television producer and director. The lobby was funded by Fred Kelly's family to honor his contributions to the arts.
Fred Kelly Lobby Dedication Announcement