Saint Paul, Minnesota (January 14, 2025) — The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce 40 years since its opening, marking four decades of artistic innovation, community engagement and cultural enrichment in the heart of downtown Saint Paul. The Ordway will host an anniversary open house on September 21, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the magic that has made it a cornerstone of the arts in Minnesota.
The Ordway’s story began in 1980 with a vision by Sally Ordway Irvine, who dreamed of creating a world-class performing arts center in downtown Saint Paul. She famously declared, “I want lots of music in the theater – no, lots of everything! And for everybody!” And with that, she set the stage for what would become a hub for the performing arts, built on her steadfast belief that everyone should be able to enjoy them without barriers.
"For 40 years, the Ordway has been more than just a venue—it's been a catalyst for creativity, a community gathering place for diverse voices and backgrounds, and an economic driver for downtown Saint Paul and the surrounding region,” said Chris Harrington, CEO and President of the Ordway, as he reflected on the organization’s legacy. “As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to our vision of using storytelling and artistic experiences to bring people together and inspire positive change.”
The Ordway’s 40 years of milestones:
1981: The campaign to build the Ordway raised approximately $46 million, with more than $15.5 million contributed by Sally and the Ordway family. The remaining funds came from private donors, foundations and public funding.
1985: The Ordway opened with a grand inaugural concert series featuring renowned artists such as Leontyne Price, Pinchas Zukerman, Ella Fitzgerald, Neville Marriner and Sounds of Blackness, establishing itself as a beacon for the arts in Minnesota.
1989: Les Misérables made its debut at the Ordway, marking the first of 11 engagements over the year that would welcome over 325,000 audience members to the Music Theater.
1992: The Ordway presented the inaugural Sally Awards, honoring individuals and organizations that make a lasting impact through the arts.
2001: The Ordway produced the Midwest’s first children’s festival of its kind, known today as the Flint Hills Family Festival. Since its inception, more than one million people have attended the world-class event.
2007: The Ordway, Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Schubert Club formed the Arts Partnership – a groundbreaking national model of collaboration between the four performing arts organizations that serve audiences at the Ordway.
2010: The Arts Partners launched an $83.8 million campaign to construct a new Concert Hall at the Ordway.
2015: The Ordway celebrated its 30th anniversary with the opening of a state-of-the-art Concert Hall – a 1,100-seat venue designed for acoustic excellence.
2019: SIX, the global sensation, drew record-breaking crowds to the Ordway during its pre-Broadway North American tour. The theatrical phenomenon returned in 2022 and 2024, with fans already anticipating its next stop in 2026!
2021: The Ordway welcomed audiences back inside after being shuttered for 18 months due to the pandemic.
2022: GreenRoom, a paid intensive musical theater training fellowship designed by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) artists to uplift underrepresented communities within the field, was launched by the Ordway as the first program of its kind in the country.
2022: The Arts Partners introduce Ordway Inside Out, a vibrant outdoor series in Rice Park that utilizes digital technology to increase access to arts.