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Learn more about the Idea Center

The Idea Center at Playhouse Square

Where is the Idea Center?
What is the Idea Center?
How did the Idea Center begin?
Who uses the Idea Center?
What can I do at the Idea Center?
How do I get to the Idea Center?

Where is the Idea Center?

The Idea Center is located on the first three floors of the One Playhouse Square Building (1375 Euclid Avenue). It’s right in the heart of Playhouse Square at the intersection of E. 14th Street and Euclid Avenue. The Idea Center is two doors west of the Allen Theatre.

What is the Idea Center?

The Idea Center is a place for creativity and education. It is a place for the arts and technology to come together in new ways. It is a place for learning, rehearsing, performing and broadcasting.

The Idea Center is the new home for Playhouse Square’s arts education programs. It has classroom space, a dance studio, meeting rooms and a studio theater.

The Idea Center is also the headquarters for WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN ideastream.

How did the Idea Center begin?

In 1999, the One Playhouse Square building was donated to Playhouse Square Foundation. Arts education is a key component of the Foundation’s mission, so it was decided that the building would provide new space to support this mission. Options for redevelopment began to be explored.

In 2001, WVIZ/PBS and 90.3 WCPN merged to form ideastream. ideastream needed to find an appropriate location for all of its employees and broadcast operations. This need led to talks with Playhouse Square Foundation.

Following discussions and a site assessment of the One Playhouse Square Building, Playhouse Square Foundation and ideastream formed a partnership to renovate the building and create the Idea Center. More than that, the two organizations decided that Playhouse Square Foundation could provide programming for ideastream to broadcast through its radio, television, broadband and distance learning capabilities, thereby reaching more people and better serving the community.

Who uses the Idea Center?

Playhouse Square’s Arts Education Department hosts performances, classes, events and workshops in the Idea Center.

Ideastream broadcasts from the Idea Center and its employees have offices there. Ideastream offers its educational services programming in the Idea Center.

Students, families and adults attend performances, field trips, workshops and classes in the Idea Center.

Educators participate in professional development workshops and training sessions offered by Playhouse Square and ideastream.

Touring professional dance companies rehearse and offer Master Classes in the Idea Center’s dance studio.

Theater companies workshop new and existing performances in the Idea Center.

What can I do at the Idea Center?

Take a class.

See a show.

Attend a free pre-show talk before a KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square performance.

Volunteer. Both Playhouse Square Foundation and ideastream offer volunteer opportunities.

How do I get to the Idea Center?

Click here for a map.

From the south, take Interstate 71 North to downtown Cleveland where it becomes Interstate 90 East; follow I-90 to the E. 22nd St. exit (veer left). Take E. 22nd to Euclid Avenue and then turn left. The Idea Center is located on the north side of Euclid just beyond E. 14th Street. When leaving, take Euclid Avenue to E. 14th Street; E. 14th Street leads to Interstate 71 South.

From the south, take Interstate 77 North to downtown Cleveland to the E. 14th Street exit and veer left. Take E. 14th to Euclid Avenue. The Idea Center is located at the intersection of E. 14th Street and Euclid Avenue. When leaving, take Euclid Avenue to E. 14th Street; E. 14th Street leads to Interstate 77 South.

From the east, take Interstate 480 West to Interstate 77 North to the E. 14th Street exit and veer left. Take E. 14th to Euclid Avenue. The Idea Center is located at the intersection of E. 14th Street and Euclid Avenue. When leaving, take Euclid Avenue to E. 14th Street; E. 14th Street leads to Interstate 77 South.

From the east, take Interstate 80 West (Ohio Turnpike) to Interstate 480 West to Interstate 77 North to the E. 14th Street exit and veer left. Take E. 14th to Euclid Avenue. The Idea Center is located at the intersection of E. 14th Street and Euclid Avenue. When leaving, take Euclid Avenue to E. 14th Street; E. 14th Street leads to Interstate 77 South.

From the east, take Interstate 90 West to State Route 2 West to E. 9th Street exit and turn left. Take E. 9th to St. Clair Avenue and turn left; take St. Clair Avenue to E. 17th Street and turn right; take E. 17th Street to Euclid Avenue and turn right. The Idea Center is located just beyond E. 14th Street on Euclid Avenue. When leaving, take Euclid Avenue west to E. 13th Street and turn right, take E. 13th Street to St. Clair Ave. and turn left. Take St. Clair to E. 9th Street and turn right. E. 9th Street leads to State Route 2 East.

From the west, take interstates 80/90 East (Ohio Turnpike) to interstate 90 East to Interstate 71 North to E. 22nd Street exit (veer left). Take E. 22nd to Euclid Avenue and turn left. The Idea Center is located on the north side of Euclid just beyond E. 14th Street. When leaving, take Euclid Avenue to E. 14th Street; E. 14th Street leads to Interstate 90 West.

Parking

Playhouse Square Center Parking Garage: Located at E. 15th & Chester Avenue. Hanna Parking Garage: Located on E. 14th at Prospect Avenue. There are various surface parking lots near the Idea Center.

Public Transportation

The Idea Center is served by the 6, 51x and 247 bus lines. Please check the RTA website for schedules.