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Severance Music Center

Severance Music Center

America’s Most Beautiful Concert Hall

Regarded by many music-lovers as one of the world’s most beautiful concert halls, Severance Hall opened in 1931 as the home of The Cleveland Orchestra. The building is named for John L. Severance and his wife, Elisabeth, who initially pledged $1 million for its construction. Elisabeth died unexpectedly early in the design process, and John Severance made additional contributions toward the building in her memory. The building’s architectural significance has been recognized by local and national preservation societies, including the Cleveland Landmarks Commission and the National Register of Historic Places, and Severance Hall is a recipient of the Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

A $36-million restoration and expansion of Severance Hall was completed in January 2000. The two-year Renovation Project was undertaken to restore the hall’s original detailing, expand its patron amenities and services, retain and enhance its legendary acoustics, and to update its performance and support spaces to once again provide a state-of-the-art home for the Orchestra. The highest goal of the project, designed by David M. Schwarz Architectural Services of Washington D.C., was the preservation of Severance Hall’s acclaimed beauty and architectural integrity.

Severance Hall serves as the home of The Cleveland Orchestra for concerts, rehearsals, and administration. The building is also rented by a variety of local organization ... view more »

LOCATION

Severance Music Center

11001 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106

ALBUQUERQUE LITTLE THEATRE

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Accessibility Information

  • Braille

    Braille

  • Large Print

    Large Print

  • TTD/TTY

    TTD/TTY

  • Wheelchair Access

    Wheelchair Access

ADDITIONAL ACCESSIBILITY INFO: The Cleveland Orchestra is strongly committed to making our facilities and performances accessible to all patrons.  The information presented here is to assist persons with disabilities, their companions, and families to that you can have a safe and comfortable experience — at Severance Hall or Blossom Music Center.

Tickets for Accessible Seating

Special seating options are available for mobility-impaired persons and their companions and families.  There are seating locations that are wheelchair-accessible and scooter-accessible, where patrons can remain in their wheelchairs or transfer to chairs.  At Severance Hall, aisle seats with removable armrests are also available for persons who wish to transfer.

Tickets for wheelchair-accessible and companion seating can be purchased by phone, in person, and online (via this website).

For online purchasing, when hovering over seats in the Select-Your-Own-Seat option,  information about ADA seating is displayed for wheelchair locations, companion seats, and transfer seats with removable arm rests.  These designations are also available as selections in the “Best Available” mode.  Alternatively, you can specify your accessibility requirements when purchasing tickets in person or by phone through the Severance Hall Ticket Office at 216-231-1111 or 800-686-1141.

Accessible Parking

A limited number of handicapped parking spaces are available in the CWRU Campus Center Garage, adjacent to Severance Hall.  These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis for vehicles displaying a DMV handicapped parking hangtag or license plate.  Early arrival is encouraged, because these spaces fill up.  Regular parking rates apply, including the option of prepaid parking available through the Ticket Office by phone, in person, and online.

Access to the Building

There is barrier-free entry to Severance Hall with automatic sliding doors at our garage arrival entrance on Lower Level One in the CWRU Campus Center Garage.  This is reached from the driving ramp entrance to the garage.  There is an elevator for wheelchair access in the center of the garage for travelling from Lower Level Two (the lowest level) to Lower Level One (the level of our arrival entrance).  The Euclid Avenue entrance to Severance Hall is best suited for wheelchair entry, with a convenient drop-off area designated at the curb.

Way Finding in the Building

Way-finding signage is located throughout the building, on the walls and in free-standing stanchions.  Wall signs are also in Braille.

Wheelchair Loans

As a courtesy, Severance Hall provides wheelchairs to assist patrons to go to and from their seats. Patrons can arrange a loan by calling the House Manager.

Elevator Service

A self-service elevator is located at the garage arrival entrance to take patrons to the street level (Level 1) or ground floor, opening to the Lerner Lobby.  From the street level, a self-service elevator off the other end of the Lerner Lobby is available to take patrons to special events in the Taplin and First Energy Rooms and the Ginn Suite.

Severance Hall’s historic patron elevators operate from the street level in the Smith Lobby to provide access to Orchestra, Box, and Dress Circle seating areas.  These elevators are operated by staffpersons.  All elevators are wheelchair accessible.  Steps in the concert hall must be navigated to get to non-ADA seating areas.

Accessible Restrooms

All Smith Lobby restrooms are fully accessible. In addition, private family-accessible restrooms are located in the Smith Lobby and off the Dress Circle Lobby.

Accessible Drinking Fountains

Accessible drinking fountains are located at the entrances to restrooms in the Smith Lobby.

Assistance for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Infrared Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are available without charge for most performances in the Concert Hall at Severance Hall. Please request one in advance online or by calling the House Manager’s office. You will be asked to provide a driver’s license or ID card upon arrival, which will be held until the return of the device.  Head Ushers can explain how to use the ALD.

Interpretive services may be available for certain events at Severance Hall.  Prior arrangements should be made four weeks in advance. Appropriate seat locations may be necessary.

TTY line access is available at the public pay phone in the Security Office located at the garage entrance.

Assistance for the Blind or Persons with Low Vision

Large Print Programs are available for most Cleveland Orchestra performances at Severance Hall.  These are available at the Coat Room locations or from Head Ushers on each level of the Concert Hall, and at Concert Previews.

For select vocal performances, Braille texts may be available on request with 2 weeks’ notice.

Service Animals

Trained guide dogs and service animals are welcome in Severance Hall. If you have any questions, please contact the Ticket Office or the House Manager.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency evacuation, a trained member of the Severance Hall staff
will assist you.

PARKING INFO

Campus Center Garage

The Case Western Reserve University Campus Center Garage is located adjacent to Severance Hall, with stair and elevator access to Severance Hall. Event parking in the Campus Center Garage can be purchased for $11 per vehicle when space permits. Please note, however, that the garage often fills up well before concert time and only patrons who purchase pre-paid parking passes are ensured a parking space.


Pre-paid Parking 
in the Campus Center Garage can be purchased in advance for $15 per concert (with guaranteed space).  To purchase online, use either the mini-calendar at the top of every page or from the full calendar, hover or click on a date and then click on the “More Info” button for the concert.  This will take you to the concert page, and on the righthand side, the car icon will show you whether pre-paid parking is available.  Click on the link.  Or, pre-paid parking can also be purchased through the Ticket Office: 216-231-1111.

Additional Parking

Additional event parking is available in the Case Western Reserve University Lot 1 off Euclid Avenue across from Severance Hall; at the University Circle Lot 13A on Adelbert Road; and at the Cleveland Botanical Garden parking garage on East Boulevard.  Space at these lots may be limited during weekday daytime hours.

Parking Map

For a map of parking areas near Severance Hall, (desktop) click here  –  (mobile) click here.

Friday Morning Matinee Parking

Parking for Friday Morning Matinees is extremely limited. For your convenience, bus service is available from these locations:

Shuttle bus service is available from the parking lot at Cedar Hill Baptist Church (12601 Cedar Road, Cleveland Hts.).
Round-trip shuttle service rate: $5 per person. 

Round-trip bus transportation, supported in part by Friends of The Cleveland Orchestra (formerly Women’s Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra), is available from these four locations:
Beachwood Place, Crocker Park, Brecksville, and Summit Mall in Akron.
Round-trip bus service rate: $15 per person ($60 for Friday Morning Series).

Call Ticket Services at 216-231-1111 for more information.

Contact information

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