Miller Symphony Hall | Allentown

Historical evolution

Opened in 1896 as the 2,400-seat Lyric Theatre, the building first hosted vaudeville, touring opera troupes, and silent film. A 1926 renovation introduced the gilded proscenium ornament, the Kimball three-manual pipe organ, and the Italian-marble lobby finishes that still greet patrons. When the Allentown Symphony Orchestra chose the theater as its permanent home in 1951, the stage was deepened, and seating was reduced to improve sightlines. Between 1988 and 1991 a steel stagehouse and new roof saved the hall from demolition. A major restoration from 2000 to 2005 installed modern HVAC, fiber networking, and a nine-panel mahogany acoustical shell while restoring historic plaster detailing. In 2012, after a landmark gift, the venue was rechristened Miller Symphony Hall and its capacity set at 1,103 fixed seats plus sixteen wheelchair positions.

Architecture and acoustics

The auditorium is a steep horseshoe: orchestra rows A through Q sweep under a mezzanine and balcony that rise abruptly, so even the last row sees the stage floor. Maple paneling surrounds the lower walls; above, gilded plaster reliefs of the classical muses shimmer beneath a coffered ceiling. Empty-house reverberation is 1.8 seconds at mid-band, ideal for symphonic literature. Motorized velvet banners drop from the grid to trim decay to 1.3 seconds for amplified jazz, rock, or cinema with live score. The balcony overhang begins behind orchestra row O; sit in rows G through K for the most balanced natural blend, or choose the first balcony rail for shows using the flown line-array system.

Technical capabilities

A forty-four-foot-wide, thirty-four-foot-high proscenium frames a maple sprung deck marked every six inches. The double-purchase counterweight system carries forty-two linesets, each rated at 1,500 lb, allowing full Broadway scenery or large choral risers. An air-lift orchestra pit rises flush with stage level or descends two meters to accommodate seventy players. Fiber tie-lines and Dante network points provide sixty-four audio channels to the control room and to the Rodale Community Room, a 180-seat black-box space used for jazz nights and education programs. The 1926 Kimball organ, restored to A-440 pitch, can be rolled forward on air casters for silent-film accompaniment.

Resident programming

The Allentown Symphony Orchestra mounts five classical weekends, two pops concerts, a Halloween silent-film gala, and December’s community “Messiah” sing-along. A chamber-music and jazz series fills Friday nights in the community room, while touring Broadway revivals, ballet companies, stand-up comedians, and film-with-orchestra events rotate through the main stage. Education initiatives include an El Sistema-inspired after-school string program, a summer StageTech internship that mentors high-schoolers in rigging and lighting, and free “Bach at Lunch” recitals on the third Wednesday of each month.

Visitor experience

The box office operates Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday noon to 4 p.m., and two hours before curtain. Dynamic pricing keeps prime orchestra seats at market value while releasing ten-dollar balcony rush tickets to students and educators thirty minutes before showtime. Patrons enter at street level through a marble lobby crowned by a stained-glass skylight and twin brass staircases. Two lobby bars serve local craft beer, wine, and espresso; drinks can be pre-ordered via QR code for pickup at intermission. The hall is fully accessible with an induction hearing loop, elevator service to all tiers, and large-print or Braille programs on request. A 600-car garage on Sixth Street charges a six-dollar flat event rate, and curbside drop-off spaces accommodate mobility-impaired guests directly in front of the marquee. Complimentary coat check closes thirty minutes after the encore, so retrieve items promptly if you plan to linger downtown.

Insider tips

Arrive fifteen minutes early to admire the Tiffany-style wall sconces and to hear the preshow acoustical shell warm-up notes drifting from backstage. Bring a light jacket: temperature is held at 21 °C year-round to protect the organ and plaster. If your event coincides with an arena game two blocks away, exit onto Turner Street after the performance to avoid traffic on Sixth. Finally, many nearby restaurants honor “symphony supper” discounts—show your ticket stub and enjoy a post-concert meal without the rush.