River Center For The Performing Arts

River Center’s state-of-the-art facilities include the 2,000-seat Bill Heard Theatre, the center’s main venue and home to the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Featuring orchestra, mezzanine and balcony seating, the hall is designed to meet the complex technical needs of attractions such as Broadway shows, symphonic concerts, dance performances, pop concerts, lectures and conferences. From the ceiling large interwoven ribbons of steel mesh contribute a sense of intimacy, while shaped balcony fascias and custom light fixtures provide color, texture and warmth.

The center’s second largest performance space, Legacy Hall, has 450 seats and an elegant ambiance that includes orchestra and parterre levels and a balcony that wraps entirely around the stage. Walls are covered in a textured clay tile, and the balcony and parterre fascias are covered in rich cherry wood. From the ceiling a series of light, colored wood acoustical reflectors support striking copper chandeliers. Known for its perfect acoustics and impressive Jordan Concert Organ, the hall is a popular venue with many noted musicians. Already, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, violinist Robert McDuffie, organist Olivier Latry and others have sung the hall’s praises after performing on its stage.

Legacy Hall and the facility’s 150-seat, black-box Studio Theater also provide rehearsal and performance space for the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music. The music school’s classrooms, studios, rehearsal rooms and practice rooms also are located at RiverCenter.