A Home for the Performing Arts

Recognized internationally as one of the finest venues of its type, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts stands as the only world-class performing arts center in the region and is an invaluable asset to our community.

Since Ordway Center opened its doors in 1985, more than eight million people have enjoyed exceptional performing arts experiences in a world-class setting. Sally Ordway Irvine’s dream of a performing arts center that could offer "everything from opera to the Russian circus" has been realized, demonstrating what can happen when passionate visionaries, committed leaders, and generous individuals and foundations come together to achieve a common goal.

As a nonprofit organization, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts depends on the generous support of individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies to close the gap between earned income and expenses. Ordway Center must raise $4.5 million in contributions annually, 36% of our operating budget, in order to achieve our mission. A little known fact is that Ordway Center earns only 13% of ticket sales. If we relied solely on ticket sales for our performance and education program budgets, the results would be devastating to the quality of our work and our mission.

Ordway Center benefits the community by:

• Bringing the highest quality Broadway musicals and theater such as Les Misérables, Chicago, Rent, Spamalot, and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas to the glorious Main Hall;
• Providing a world-class home for The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, The Schubert Club, and The Minnesota Opera;
• Supporting presentations by local performing arts organizations including VocalEssence, Theatre Mu, and Theatre Latte Da. 
• Engaging local, national and international performing artists in planet Ordway^® Target^® presentations and the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival;
• Providing support to our high school partner, the new Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists; and
• Making arts accessible to children in Minnesota with discounted tickets and bus subsidies. In fact, Education at Ordway Center has made Ordway Center the #1 destination for Saint Paul and Minneapolis public school students for eight years running!