Happy 55th birthday, Pioneer Center!

Dennyse Sewell
The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is seen in Reno on Oct. 1, 2015.
Dennyse Sewell

This opinion column was submitted by Dennyse Sewell, executive director of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.

If you’ve lived here for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed the shiny gold dome in the heart of downtown. Maybe you’ve attended events inside or even performed on the mainstage yourself. The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is a Reno landmark and an iconic piece of our region’s identity. On Jan. 7, 2023, the Pioneer Center celebrated 55 years of bringing art to life in downtown Reno — a legacy we are proud of.

Much like today, in the 1960s Reno saw tremendous growth and change. Our tourism industry was thriving and our population was rapidly increasing. In response, regional leaders planned a new facility in the heart of downtown to host both performing arts events and conventions. Placemaking structures were popping up in cities across the country, from Seattle’s Space Needle to St. Louis’s Gateway Arch, and our founders envisioned a futuristic landmark of our own. They chose a unique, below-ground building design capped by a gold-anodized geodesic dome resting on an expansive front plaza. Built on the former site of the Nevada State Building, the Pioneer Theater-Auditorium opened on Jan. 7, 1968, and has been an anchor of Northern Nevada’s vibrant arts and culture scene ever since.

In 1988, the building was renamed the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts and a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded to preserve and manage the theater. Our nonprofit became the sole owner of the Pioneer Center in 2012 after Washoe County deeded the land and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority deeded the building to us. We are listed in the National, State and City Historic Registers and are a member of the League of Historic American Theatres.

The Pioneer Center has hosted over half a century of music, dance, theater, opera, films, lectures, magic, comedy and more. A few notable highlights include performances by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Itzhak Perlman, David Copperfield, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Rita Moreno; "Broadway Comes to Reno" blockbusters like "Jersey Boys," "The Producers" and "Hamilton;" renowned dance companies like Ballet Hispanico and Ailey II; Washoe County School District student concerts; dance studio recitals; graduation ceremonies; and productions by local companies such as the Reno Phil, A.V.A. Ballet Theatre, Sierra Nevada Masterworks Chorale, Nevada Opera Association, Artown, Washoe County Concert Association and Sierra Nevada Ballet, among many others. Our flagship educational outreach program, Pioneer Center Youth Programs, has presented performances by professional artists in elementary schools and public libraries across eight counties for over 50 years and served more than 1 million children. Hundreds of volunteer ushers continue to provide thousands of hours of event support each year and represent the beating heart of our organization.

Last season, the Pioneer Center hosted 120 events and saw more than 123,000 patrons come through our doors. Reflecting back on our legacy and looking ahead to the future, we are proud to continue longtime partnerships and collaborations while we also cultivating new relationships with local artists, businesses and nonprofits. Breaking down barriers to access, expanding arts education and presenting multicultural events that bring our diverse community together for shared experiences are priority values. We are stewards of this cultural treasure and feel a responsibility to both preserve and grow the Pioneer Center for future generations to enjoy. The arts are for everyone!

Though downtown Reno has changed tremendously in 55 years, the Pioneer Center remains a constant source of energy, vitality and economic impact. We envision a community that is connected, enriched, and inspired though the power of live performance and look forward to serving you for decades to come. Happy 55th Birthday, Pioneer Center!

Dennyse Sewell is executive director of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.

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