Orchestral
performances, musicals, and headline
entertainers such as Bill Cosby, Bob
Newhart, Vicki Lawrence, The Oak Ridge Boys,
Larry Gatlin, Lou Rawls, Tim Conway & Harvey
Korman, Penn & Teller, Harry Belafonte,
Bernadette Peters and more, all have taken
the stage at the Palace Theatre,
Westmoreland County’s premier 1,340 seat
entertainment facility located in downtown
Greensburg, PA.
Each year The Palace
Theatre hosts more than 80 performances and
welcomes more than 50,000 patrons from the
local region and throughout the country.
Regular concert series are featured
with Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and
River City Brass Band as well
as theatrical productions from Stage Right,
Laurel Ballet, Westmoreland Choral Society
and more. Other artists appearing in recent
years include Tom Jones, David Crosby, Bob
Weir, George Carlin, Queensryche, Joe
Satriani, Dark Star Orchestra, Alison
Krause, Steven Wright, Susan Tedeschi,
Engelbert Humperdinck, Judy Collins, and
touring shows of Lord of the Dance, Spirit
of the Dance and many, many more.
The Palace Theatre has been a major force on
Westmoreland County’s cultural scene since
September 2, 1926, when it opened as the
Manos Theatre, the crown jewel of the
region’s vaudeville-movie houses. From its
first days, the Palace was known as a
spectacular place to visit and a center for
superb entertainment. Its French Renaissance
design boasted a golden Grecian marble
balustrade, colorful murals, brass railings,
and all the accoutrements of a world class
entertainment facility.
After years of ups
and downs, including hard times during the
rise of multiplex theatres and a one time
date with the wrecking ball, the Palace
eventually was purchased in 1990 by a
non-profit organization now known as
Westmoreland Cultural Trust. With regard to
the Palace, the mission of the Trust was to
turn the theatre into a self-supporting
performing arts center. Throughout the '90’s
and earlier this decade, more than $10
million was invested in renovations,
including lighting and sound systems, new
carpeting, air-conditioning, upper
level seating, the restoration of two
murals, replicating the theater’s original
opera boxes, and construction of Megan's
Suite - a two-story addition of expanded
lobby space available as a public or private
reception area and conference center.
Much of the original Manos Theatre remains
intact, including the lobby’s candlelight
chandelier and golden Grecian marble, black
and white floor tiles, goldfish pond, and
the unique ticket booth at the theatre’s
entrance.
If you are looking for the perfect gift for
the theatre enthusiast in your family, The
Palace Theatre offers gift certificates in
$25 denominations, valid towards any advance
tickets sold through The Palace box office.
(River City Brass Band and Westmoreland
Symphony tickets, as well as gift purchases
for these groups must be made by contacting
them directly.)
The Palace Theatre is located 35 miles
southeast of Pittsburgh at 21 West Otterman
Street, Greensburg, one block off Main
Street. Just look for the golden dome of the
Westmoreland County Courthouse and you will
find The Palace Theatre across the street,
facing the side of the courthouse, near the
entrance to the Robert A. Bell parking
garage. The building’s distinct façade and
box office are unmistakable.
The work is not yet over. In the years
ahead, Westmoreland Cultural Trust will
continue to develop both the physical
facilities and the strength of the theatre
as an institution, so that this historic
landmark will continue to thrill new
generations with quality entertainment.
If you would like to receive a current
schedule of events, email updates regarding
new events, or to be added to The Palace
Theatre’s mailing list, contact the Palace
by email at
palace@earthlink.net.
