As president of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Katherine Ramsberger is invested in helping Orlando’s arts and culture scene reach new heights.

It’s no secret that Orlando has a vibrant and continuously evolving arts scene that caters to a wide variety of audiences from across the region and beyond. Yet, in some ways, it feels like the city is only just starting to scratch the surface of what’s truly possible, and for people like Katherine Ramsberger, that notion raises both excitement and opportunity.

Of course, Ramsberger has long played a direct role in helping build this momentum. Twenty years ago, she was tapped to become the president of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, working with Mayor Buddy Dyer and former chairman Jim Pugh to conceptualize a world-class, state-of-the-art facility that would become a destination for performers and the public alike. Two decades later, it’s been a remarkable journey as the center continues to cement its place as a major part of the Orlando community.

“We began with a blank piece of paper, and now the building is alive every day, filled with wonderful colleagues and the hundreds of thousands of people who come here every year. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years,” reflects Ramsberger.

To date, the Dr. Phillips Center has welcomed more than 2.9 million guests who have come through the doors to see the entertainment world’s top headliners as well as performances spotlighting the regional arts community. With three theaters—including the acoustically perfect Steinmetz Hall, which opened at the beginning of 2022—the stages are constantly buzzing with activity.

And during the pandemic, the center further extended its reach when it introduced The Frontyard Festival, which saw more than 430 outdoor performances take place, attracting 104,000 guests to the venue, 21% of whom experienced the arts center for the very first time. “That [shows] us that our region needs and wants outdoor entertainment venues, like many other major cities in the country,” says Ramsberger.

Determined to push for greater growth and expansion to better serve the community, she is eager to continue working with residents and local leaders to further establish Orlando’s place as a destination for the arts. We spoke with Ramsberger about her hopes for the future and why the best may be yet to come.

In your role, what keeps you motivated to continue to help the Dr. Phillips Center continue to grow and thrive? 

A good house is never finished. We have the opportunity to continue building our business, the arts center’s campus, educational initiatives and new programming. Later this year, we’ll open Judson’s, a dynamic music room with cabaret-style seating. It’s perfect for intimate events and live entertainment and will be able to seat between 125-175 guests. Additionally, we’re focused on developing the front and back parcels of our nine-acre campus to complete the original design of the project. The success of the Frontyard Festival has influenced the next phase, and we’re reimagining our outdoor spaces. We’re also exploring producing and programming our own content. It’s an exciting time at the arts center, and that motivates me every day.

Taking your CEO hat off for second, what most impresses you about the center? What have your personal experiences been like when you’re attending a show?

When all three theaters are alive with performances and events, you can feel the energy in the entire building. As leaders, it is very fulfilling to watch guests arrive at the arts center, anticipate what to expect, perhaps a little nervous, and then watch them after a performance––smiling and talking to other guests about a shared experience. You never forget your first performing arts center experience—which is why we started our community giveback initiative. We invite people from all backgrounds, age ranges and economic statuses to the experience of a lifetime—a Broadway performance—complete with free charter bus transportation, catered lunch, an interactive pre-show experience and a swag bag. We have hosted more than 2,500 beneficiaries in the past three seasons and recently hosted our biggest initiative with Hamilton, thanks to the generous support from corporate sponsors and private donors who raised $236,000 to bring this initiative to life.

All of the theaters in the center bring their own unique charm and allure, but Steinmetz Hall is truly special and has been lauded for its perfect acoustics. To have one of the world’s most advanced theaters in our backyard has to be a real feather in the cap, I would imagine. 

Opening and successfully operating Steinmetz Hall—our N1-rated, acoustically perfect, multiform hall with the ability to transform into a concert, proscenium and flat floor—has been a dream come true for our region. The architectural structure weighs one million pounds and travels on railroad tracks to form the acoustical shell. It also features 22 rows of transformative seats on the main floor orchestra level, enabling imaginative configurations for any event to take shape in under 15 minutes. We welcomed 139,000 guests across 140-plus performances during its first season, and this season we have hosted eight free events bringing 3,000 people to experience the world-class venue in their neighborhood. We also booked our first orchestra series with the Great American Orchestra Series, which brought sold-out performances for the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Chicago orchestras to the hall.

How rewarding is the relationship you share with the regional arts community and how has it benefited both them and you?

Central Florida has a rich and talented arts community, and many perform in Steinmetz Hall and the Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater throughout the year. More than 300 regional organizations performed in Steinmetz Hall, which can accommodate both amplified and non-amplified performances. Additionally, the Orlando Ballet, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Orlando had many successes with their first seasons in Steinmetz Hall, and our entire team, from the back-of-house to the front-of-house, got the opportunity to support them in the venue. Fifty-plus arts groups also perform in Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater every year.

This all started with a grand vision in 2003, so now two decades later, what do you envision and hope for the next 20 years and beyond?

Our goal for reimagining the master plan is to transform the arts center and our region into a global destination, attracting over a million people every year. This is similar to other major cities nationwide with iconic arts and culture attractions that drive tourism, like Millennium Park and The Bean in Chicago.

As a longtime area resident, what do you enjoy most about calling this place home?

The people. I’m constantly surprised by people’s eagerness to be involved and join big ideas and philanthropic efforts. We are certainly a collaborative city. Also, our entrepreneurial board of directors, colleagues, donors, partners, community members and guests consistently prove their dedication to our arts community, and this makes me proud to call Orlando home.