Born in donated space located in Mount Laurel New Jersey, the Production Center's scenery for "The Magic Flute" made its debut at the Academy of Music in 1994. The intervening years have seen two moves for the facility, which is currently located at the Arsenal Business Center about 5 miles North of Center City Philadelphia on Interstate 95.

By the end of the 2002-2003 Season OCP's scenic inventory will consist of 22 productions with a value approaching $2 million. Sets are stored in a warehouse building next door to the scene shop which houses complete construction and painting facilities. Crews are jobbed in as needed, based on the complexity of the project. During peak periods there may be as many as 8 carpenters, 8 painters and 4 props artisans working in conjunction with 3 OCP staff members.

After a production makes its debut in Philadelphia it begins a new life "on the road" as it gets leased to other opera companies throughout North America. Income from scenery rentals is around $150,000 annually, helping offset the high cost of generating new productions. This season 11 OCP sets will appear with companies as far flung as Montreal, Nashville, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Connecticut and Utah.