History of Zoellner

Zoellner Arts Center was built in 1996 and opened in 1997-98. The center is home to the Music Department, the Department of Theatre, the Art Galleries and the Guest Artist Series, all of which share the same professional Zoellner staff, venues and equipment.

The center’s mission is to create an environment where artists and students of the arts develop and learn; to educate, captivate and inspire performers and audiences by presenting a variety of vibrant, high-quality performing arts events, exhibits and scholastic programs; and to develop new audiences.

The Guest Artist series has presented a wide array of multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural performers, including the New York Philharmonic, Itzhak Perlman, Garrison Keillor, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Lily Tomlin, Natalie Cole, Momix and David Parsons Dance.

The building, designed by Philadelphia architects Dagit Saylor, houses three theatres: a 1,000-seat proscenium theatre, a 300-seat thrust theatre, a 125-seat black box theatre.

It also houses a two-story art gallery, several rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, dressing rooms and green room, practice rooms, classrooms, a music library, box office, faculty and staff offices, and three large lobbies suitable for receptions. A 345-car parking deck is attached to the center.