Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The Herberger Theater Center is a performing arts venue at 222 E Monroe St in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It houses two stages under one roof and is a home for local theatre and family productions, which makes it one of the city's main places to see live drama in the centre of town.

The story behind it

The Herberger opened in 1989 as part of the effort to build up Phoenix's downtown as a cultural district. It was named for Kax Herberger, a Phoenix arts patron, and it was designed as a shared space where several local companies could rehearse and perform instead of each needing a building of its own.

Inside are two theatres, the larger Virginia G. Piper Theater and the smaller, more intimate Dorrance Theater. Together they let the centre host everything from full-scale productions to small, close-up shows, and the programme changes from season to season.

What to look for

• Check the posters and displays by the entrance, which show what is playing in the two theatres during your visit.
• Notice the building's solid, modern late-twentieth-century style, which stands out among the office towers and plazas of downtown Phoenix.
• Look for the names of the Piper and Dorrance theatres on signs and programmes, a quick way to tell which stage a show is on.
• Watch the foyer around showtime, when audiences gather and the building is at its liveliest.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 10 to 15 minutes to see the outside and the entrance area. If you want to go in, the most reliable way is to attend a performance, so check current opening hours and the show schedule first.
• Evenings are the best time to feel the place at work, when people arrive for performances. Daytime is quieter for photos and a relaxed look.
• Downtown Phoenix is compact and walkable, and the theatre sits a short distance from Arizona Center and Symphony Hall, so it pairs easily with other stops.
• Summer afternoons in Phoenix are very hot, so in the warmer months plan your walk for morning or evening and carry water.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Phoenix is a good way to see the Herberger and the streets around it. You reach it on foot as one stop on a longer route through downtown, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

If you prefer a detective theme, Phoenix Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. passes the theatre as part of a self-guided walk. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and the app gives you the background to each stop along with a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Travelling with children? Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Phoenix takes families past the Herberger on foot. Kids get a case to work on while the app tells you about each place and sets a puzzle at each stop. One ticket covers the whole group.