The Benedum Center or the arena popularly known as The Stanley Theater was built in 1927 and remained the center of various activities. The Stanley was billed as "Pittsburgh's Palace of Amusement." The performances provided a welcome lift of spirits during the Great Depression. As time passed away, the deterioration also occurred and this resulted in the revamping of the arena. With the huge budget of $43 million dollar it was faithfully restored as it appeared on the opening night in 1928. Some events are hard to forget and they are always back by "Popular" demand. The New York Times calls WICKED "Broadway's biggest blockbuster," and when it first played Pittsburgh in 2006, it broke box office records and sold out in record time. Being the winner of 15 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards, "WICKED is not just another pretty face, but it's a serious, even tormented tale told with great invention and good humor" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). This tale is again expected to break records in Benedum Center too with a renewed enthusiasm.