About Us

Welcome to the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Where the arts come ALIVE!

We are proud to serve as a cultural, artistic, educational, social, and economic resource for the Greater Johnstown area! The PPAC is located on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and features many exciting events year-round! 

The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra  performs a full season at the PPAC. The PPAC is also a host to the UPJ music and theatre department events, the Johnstown Concert Ballet, and Out of His Mind Dance Company.

The PPAC, as it’s known locally, opened in September 1991 and was made possible by a multi-million dollar gift from Frank Pasquerilla, who was the chairman of Crown American. The university, which had made do without a performance space since moving to a new campus in 1967, was now equipped with a state-of-the art facility that includes a 1,000-seat concert hall and 200-seat black box theater, as well as office space.

The PPAC is known for its excellent acoustics, which can be adjusted by motorized panels. The stage can be opened to create an orchestra pit when needed. The PPAC also features a “sprung floor,” which means a stage floor that absorbs shocks, making it especially suitable for dance performances.

Map & Directions

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Mission

The Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center at the University strives to be the center of a myriad of programs designed to enhance the role in service to the people of the local community.  Among its benefits to the region expanded opportunities to participate in a wide range of cultural programming including full-scale Broadway performances, large musical groups such as symphonies, dance troupes and internationally-known speakers; youth programs and senior citizen programs; to attract regional and national business conferences, professional meetings and planning sessions; and to attract additional visitors and guests to the area resulting in a positive impact on the local and regional economy in such areas as hotels, restaurants, specialty shops and other support services.

Vision

The Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center will enhance its programming while serving as a cultural focal point. In addition we supply space for the music and theatre arts department, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, River City Brass Band,  Johnstown Concert Ballet, Out of His Mind Dance Company, and Pitt-Johnstown Dance Ensemble, the center will offer cultural programming to enrich the quality of life for students and others throughout the region, as well as be an integral part of the University’s on-going camps and conferences program and its outreach programs.