Frequently Asked Questions about Fisher Auditorium

Fisher is located at the corner of Oakland Ave. and South Eleventh Street on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus. It is south of Waller Hall, home of the IUP Department of Theater. It is operated and maintained by the IUP College of Fine Arts. The street address is 403 South Eleventh Street. The maps and directions page has more detailed directions to the IUP campus.

Fisher Auditorium is currently undergoing renovation, and so is our Technical Rider. Please contact the Technical Director at 724-357-2548 for the most current information. Once the renovation is complete, a new Technical Rider complete with specifications, line set schedule, house policies and full contact information will be published on this website.

The best event parking can be found in the parking garage, directly south of the Auditorium. The garage is located adjacent to Cogswell hall, and can be accessed via Oakland Avenue. Please note that the white line spaces in the garage are reserved spaces from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily. A meter machine is located on the sky bridge at street level. Please note that there is no charge for parking after 4:30 pm.

Yes, however advance purchase at the Hadley Union Building Box Office (724-357-1313) is recommended, since seating is limited. In addition, the Fisher Box Office is only open in the hour and a half prior to the show.

Contact the Technical Director at 724-357-2548, and you'll be given all the details and materials necessary. Fisher has unique scheduling policies that differ slightly from the university at large.

John S. Fisher, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1927-31.

Here is some interesting information about the auditorium's namesake:

"John S. Fisher was born in a log farm house and attended a one room country school at Ox Hill near Plumville. He then continued his studies at Indiana High School, where he graduated from in 1884. After high school, he attended Indiana Normal School and graduated in 1886. At the age of 19 he began teaching at Ox Hill School, where he earned $1 a day. Fisher continued his education career at Plumville and became principal at Indiana in 1891. While teaching, he began the study of law, passed his Bar examination and was admitted to the Indiana County Bar August 1893. He entered into junior partnership with Samuel Cunningham and continued with the association for 35 years. Fisher went on to become Indiana County Republican Chairman in 1897, elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in 1900, and went on to serve in the Senate for nine years. During his time serving in the senate, he was also active in business and civic affairs. In 1902 he was named trustee of INS and was also one of the organizers of the Savings and Trust Co. of Indiana. When the Indiana Hospital opened in 1914, he was named vice president of the Board of Directors and later became president. In 1911 Fisher became general counsel for the New York Central Railroad and served as attorney in PA for William K. Vanderbilt. In 1922, Fisher was appointed state commissioner of bonding and held that position for 3.5 years until 1922.

In 1922 Fisher was a candidate for Governor but withdrew prior to the election because he felt that the state was in danger because of politicians. Fisher did not want to add to the problems. Although in 1926 he was again a candidate for governor. He was inaugurated January 18, 1927. Governor Fisher retired on January 20, 1931. Fisher Auditorium was dedicated to him in 1939. Fisher died in Pittsburgh on June 25, 1940. In 1975, Gladys Washburn Fisher presented a portrait of Governor Fisher to Fisher Auditorium." (IUP Special Collections Inventory to Collection 72, John S. Fisher.)