Modeled after Milan’s iconic La Scala theater, Philadelphia’s Academy of Music has been a listed National Historic Monument since 1962. Considered an anchor of the city’s performing arts scene, the venue is celebrated for its baroque revival architecture, from its red-brick exterior to its extravagantly decorated theater, all crowned with a 5,000-pound chandelier. Now part of the Kimmel Cultural Campus alongside the Kimmel Center, Miller Theater, and Forrest Theatre, the Academy of Music offers in-season ballet and opera performances, touring Broadway shows, one-off comedy and musical shows, and more.
It’s easy to book tickets to a show at the Academy of Music during your Philadelphia stay. The venue can also be viewed on walking tours, hop-on hop-off bus tours, and other sightseeing itineraries.
While the Academy of Music does have some wheelchair-friendly seating, owing to its heritage, much of the venue is not accessible to those with limited mobility.
Light snacks and drinks are sold in the theater’s concession areas, available before and after performances and during the intermission.
All phones and electronic devices must be silenced during performances.
The Academy of Music is located at 240 S. Broad St., in the heart of Center City. It can be reached via Walnut-Locust Station on the Broad Street Line and 12th/13th & Locust Street Station on the PATCO High-Speed Line. It is also just a few moments from Suburban Station, served by a range of commuter and mainline trains. If you plan to drive, there are two nearby paid parking garages.
The Academy of Music hosts a range of performances throughout the year. Event times can vary, and admission times differ accordingly. The box office at the Academy of Music is open daily from morning until early evening or until intermission during the day’s show.
One of the most important additions to Philadelphia’s performing arts landscape, the Kimmel Center is a modern, glass-enclosed counterpoint to the historic appeal of the Academy of Music. Home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Kimmel Center contains a range of stages and performance spaces and is a must-visit cultural destination.
