SINCE DR. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (DPC) OPENED IN NOVEMBER 2014, it has welcomed 5.6 million visitors from all 50 states and 80 countries and has presented 5,110 performances across multiple stages. In just eight functional years, its business has grown from $29 million to $68 million. And, in just the two years since its last economic impact study, DPC has generated a total economic impact of $228 million, which has contributed $13.2 million in state and local revenue.
But DPC is far more than an economic driver for the region. It’s a true community partner. It has transformed more than 800,000 lives through innovative education programs, created more than 63,000 experiences through community giving and outreach, raised $241 million in philanthropic support and has invested $26.6 million back into community partnerships.
Arts With Heart
There are many metrics that DPC uses to define success. But Kathy Ramsberger, DPC’s president and CEO, also points to one that’s more visible: watching people leave the building with smiles on their faces.
“How do you measure joy and civic relevance?” contemplates Ramsberger. “How do we make sure our audiences are diverse? We’ve been working on making sure that we’re accountable to what we said we’re going to do for the community. I think the most important thing is when we hear that we deliver on our promise from other people.”
Those comments are not hard to uncover.
“I’ve seen its [DPC’s] impact in both large and small moments,” says Tim Giuliani, president and chief economic officer of the Orlando Economic Partnership. “I’ve watched how Dr. Phillips Center’s education and outreach programs inspire young people, and how its performances unite residents in shared celebration.”
Giuliani’s personal experiences have reinforced this.
“One [moment] was taking my kids to see ‘Hamilton’ and watching them sing along, learn history through art and walk out inspired,” says Giuliani. “The other was hearing Leslie Odom, Jr. perform Sam Cooke in Steinmetz Hall. His voice filled the space in a way that made time stand still—a perfect example of how art can transport us.”
Ben McCarney, general manager of the Grand Bohemian Orlando, agrees.
“Some of my fondest experiences at Dr. Phillips Center were attending ‘Disney’s The Lion King,’ ‘Top Talent Live’ and ‘Dancing for Type 1 Diabetes,’” says McCarney. “The energy in the theater was electric. I remember seeing the joy and inspiration on the faces of young attendees experiencing live performance for the first time. It was a powerful reminder of how the arts can connect people, spark creativity and leave a lasting impact on everyone involved.”
Kathy Ramsberger speaks during DPC’s 10th anniversary gala. ©Dr. Phillips Center For The Performing Arts
The Embrace of Space
“We used to go and look at other arts centers to see what we wanted to aspire to, and what were the good takeaways that we could bring here,” says Ramsberger of DPC’s initial design process. “Now, you’ve got buildings from all over the world that are coming here, looking at what we’ve built. It feels very open, as if it is for every life.”
“Creating a welcoming community space that showcases the buzz of what’s going on inside was an important design component,” says Ramsberger. “Lowering the building into the ground, so patrons could walk directly into the building as opposed to walking up to the building, made all the difference.”
“From a structural perspective, we did a lot of things,” she says. “We have lots of doors that open on the face of the building. We brought the people to the glass, rather than having the glass, and then an atrium and then the people. We wanted to make sure we created community before people went into the theaters.”
“It was risky because it had never been done before,” adds Ramsberger, “but it’s been a wonderful complement to our business.”
In addition to creating multiple spots for people to hang out together and people-watch, the design allows for 45 points of sale before patrons take their seats, as opposed to the traditional five points of sale in the front of the house.
DPC is operating at near full capacity—building activity runs 97 to 99 percent of the year—and its four venues: Steinmetz Hall, Walt Disney Theater, Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater and Judson’s Live; are filled 82 to 97 percent on in-demand days (Wed.-Sun.). Pollstar and Billboard rate DPC in the Top 10 worldwide in terms of activity and revenue.
Yet there’s still an opportunity to do more. DPC recently purchased two pieces of property downtown that will help them grow more venues, particularly arts and wellness content.
“I hope that our business is always going to be saying to itself: how else can we make an impact? How else can we civically lift up the health of the community? How can we bring populations together to celebrate likenesses and differences?” says Ramsberger.
A 2023 STROKESTRA.©Dr. Phillips Center For The Performing Arts
Beyond the Show Floor
One of DPC’s most important components is its community outreach programs. Through innovative programs like STROKESTRA®, a stroke rehabilitation program that drives patient-led recovery through group creative music-making workshops led by professional musicians and AdventHealth clinicians, Dr. Phillips Center has become a community resource. In addition, it launched a pilot program alongside the Orlando VA Healthcare System to provide therapeutic performing arts programs.
“We’ve had stroke survivors who have done things that their families haven’t seen from them in terms of expression or advancement in movement,” says Ramsberger. “We’ve had kids who started young in our music theater program, and now they’re on Broadway.”
“We had one student who was homeless,” continues Ramsberger. “He got himself to Dr. Phillips High School but had to walk a long way to get there. We worked with him, and he ultimately got a scholarship to a university, and that included housing for him. That’s huge.”
“Another child had cancer,” she adds. “He participated after he had his leg amputated. He had such a great outlook. He passed away a year later, but his parents came back and said that the arts center here was the greatest joy in his life as he was fighting cancer. I could go on and on about all the wonderful moments people have shared with us and I’ve had the chance to see.”
Dr. Phillips Center: A Model for the Nation
As Dr. Phillips Center celebrates its 10th anniversary, it’s keeping an eye on the future—in the coming decade, the arts powerhouse is poised to generate more than $2.5 billion in economic impact. An example of how the arts can positively affect its community, DPC is not only a model for the region, but the whole country. Here, Orlando’s business and tourism leaders weigh in on its impact.
Casandra Matej, President & Chief Executive Officer, Visit Orlando:
“Dr. Phillips Center is truly a crown jewel in downtown Orlando. Each year, it hosts thousands of performances and events, from Broadway hits and big-name artists to comedians, family programs and productions by hometown talent like Orlando Ballet, Opera Orlando and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. It enriches locals’ lives and helps us share a more complete story of Orlando as a diverse, multifaceted destination. Our incredible variety of experiences, with something for every type of traveler, is what keeps us competitive and makes Orlando such a compelling place to visit and revisit. And when people travel to Orlando, our entire community benefits.”
Tim Giuliani, President & Chief Economic Officer, Orlando Economic Partnership:
“Dr. Phillips Center shows that Orlando is more than a world-class destination: It’s a world-class community. It reflects our region’s ability to dream big, collaborate across sectors and deliver transformative projects that define a city’s identity. It’s a tangible example of how our community invests in quality of life as a foundation for economic competitiveness. When companies visit Orlando to explore relocation or expansion, this is one of the first places we take them. The story of Dr. Phillips Center, how it went from vision to reality, helps them understand what this region is capable of achieving.”
Frank Santos, President & Chief Executive Officer, Rosen Hotels & Resorts:
“As an avid patron of the arts, I’m thrilled that Dr. Phillips Center created such an amazing opportunity and exposure for the performing arts in Orlando. Over the past 10 years, I’ve witnessed it strengthen our community on multiple levels. Beyond enriching our own cultural landscape, the arts center also feeds into our economy as a signature events venue. I know firsthand that visitors from out of town often include a show or two on their travel itinerary. With millions of people walking through the doors over the last decade, the arts center has helped redefine Orlando as a world-class destination with a vibrant cultural arts scene. Our guests and associates at Rosen Hotels & Resorts have absolutely benefited.”