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auditoriumtheatre

Auditorium Theatre

50 E IDA B WELLS DRIVE, CHICAGO, IL 60605

Ticket Information

Box Office Hours
Box office hours vary, please click here for the current week’s hours.

Tickets
Purchase tickets online, at the theatre box office, or by phone at 800-775-2000.

Group Tickets (10+)
Call 312-341-2300 or email [email protected].

Location

About This Theatre

In the same spirit in which the City of Chicago created the theatre district, Broadway In Chicago and Auditorium Theatre joined forces to light up the Auditorium Theatre.

In 1889, Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, two of the most influential and transformative architects in history, unveiled their crowning achievement. A rare combination of staggering size and unparalleled acoustics, the Auditorium Theatre immediately established itself as one of the most sublime artistic venues in Chicago, America and throughout the world. The Auditorium building was the first multi-purpose building incorporating a hotel, offices and retail spaces along with the theatre, and one of the first public buildings to use newly developed modern technologies of its time: electric lighting and air-conditioning. There are hundreds of Sullivan’s intricate stencil patterns, ornate gilded and bas-relief designs and endless floor and wall mosaics. Radiant 24-karat gold-leafed ceiling arches and exquisite murals adorn the house of the theatre. Frank Lloyd Wright, who received much inspiration working his first job as a draftsman on the project said the Auditorium is, “The greatest room for music and opera in the world-bar none.”

For over 120 years, the Auditorium Theatre has evolved, and in addition to a rewarding partnership with Broadway In Chicago, the Auditorium takes pride in presenting an eclectic array of dazzling performers and incomparable international talent. In recent years, the Auditorium Theatre has hosted hit engagements of Sister Act and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

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Policies

Payment

The Box Office accepts American Express, Visa, Mastercard, cash and personal checks up to two weeks prior to the show.

Refunds/Exchanges

There are no refunds or exchanges on tickets purchased for Broadway In Chicago events. Tickets purchased from Broadway In Chicago cannot be resold, transferred or distributed to any ticket broker or any other person or entity for resale.

Dress Code

There is no required dress code. For all performances, attire should be comfortable and appropriate for the occasion.

Children

While there is no age restriction for children, the Auditorium discourages attendance by children under the age of 5 as a courtesy to other patrons and the performers. All patrons must have a ticket for admittance, and in all instances babes in arms are not permitted. Any person who disturbs the performance or other patrons will be asked to leave the Auditorium without a refund issued. It is the sole responsibility of the parent or guardian to research and judge the content of a performance as appropriate for their child’s age and level of maturity. There is no official rating system for live performance.

Late Seating

Most performances at the Auditorium Theatre have a strict policy of no late seating. Guests arriving late or leaving the theatre during the performance will be seated in a designated section and may take their ticketed seats at intermission.

Amenities

Concessions

Concession stands are located in the main and third floor lobbies for all performances and additional stands may be added for certain performances. Outside food and beverages are not allowed in the building. Generally, with the exception of bottled water, all purchased snacks and beverages must be consumed in the lobby. Occasionally, drinks may be allowed in the seating area.

Cloakroom

The Auditorium Theatre offers a seasonal coat check located in the Main Floor lobby

Parking

InterPark is the official parking garage of Broadway In Chicago. Present your ticket stub at the parking garage to receive the special theatre rate. Parking is available for the Auditorium Theatre at 17 E. Adams St. Chicago, IL 60603.

Patron Security

Patron Security

For the protection of our patrons, theatre managers and private security personnel are on duty during all performances. By entering the theatre, you may be subject to an airport-style security screening.

Bag Checks

Broadway In Chicago asks all guests to arrive early and travel light. For the comfort, safety and security of all patrons, Broadway In Chicago reserves the right to search bags for security reasons, regardless of size, but backpacks and other large bags that are approximately 10″ x 10″ or larger may be searched prior to entering the theatre. Should your bag be too large to fit under your seat, you will be required to check it. Bag check is $1.00 per item.

Theatre Staff

Contact Information
312-341-2310
[email protected]

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Accessible Seating

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University is accessible to all patrons and fully complies with ADA requirements. Various levels of accommodation are available to patrons that require handicapped accessible seating. For more information on accessibility, please call 312.341.2300. The theatre’s Patron Services office is located in the main lobby of the theatre, and is open throughout performances to assist patrons with any needs they may have.

Elevator

An elevator services each of the six seating levels of the theatre. It is located in the northwest corner of the lobby.

Wheelchair Accessible Restroom

Two (2) accessible all-gender washrooms are located on the main floor for patrons who cannot navigate a flight of stairs down to the main washrooms located in the lower level lobby. Additional accessible restrooms, including an additional all-gender restroom, are located on the third floor.

Assisted Listening Devices

Patrons can obtain infrared assistive listening devices from coat check, which is open seasonally. When coat check is closed, assistive listening devices can be obtained from Patron Services, located off aisle one (1) of the main floor. Assistive listening devices can be secured by leaving a photo ID and are free of charge.

Service Animals

Service animals are permitted at the Auditorium Theatre. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed or tethered at all times, unless special circumstances exist, and will be required to rest under the seat of the individual with a disability, not in an aisle. If you’re an individual bringing a service animal, it is recommend that you contact Broadway In Chicago’s Accessibility line 312-977-1700 ext. 1259 or email the accessible office at [email protected].

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auditorium seating chart

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The Building

The Auditorium Theatre is a National Historic Landmark, known internationally for its perfect acoustics, innovative architecture, and stunning design.

The idea for the Auditorium Theatre began with a Chicago businessman named Ferdinand Wythe Peck. He was dedicated to improving the city of Chicago, and after the Haymarket Square riot in 1886, he began plans for a structure he called the Auditorium Building. This structure included not only a theatre, but also an office block and a hotel.Peck envisioned a theatre that would be open to all Chicagoans, and incorporated Chicago Auditorium Association for the purpose of developing the world’s largest, grandest, most expensive building.

The famous architectural firm of Adler and Sullivan designed the theatre, which officially opened in 1889, using the most modern technology at the time, including electric lighting and air conditioning. They pushed the limits of modern architecture to make the Auditorium the then-tallest building in Chicago, the first multi-use building ever designed, and the most massive modern edifice in the world at the time.

Though the Auditorium opened to immense critical acclaim, what began as a masterfully-designed opera house that sprang from the minds of geniuses gradually fell into disrepair. Although the theatre remained open throughout the Great Depression, it eventually closed down entirely during the 1940s, 1950s, and most of the 1960s. In 1967, a brilliantly-restored theatre re-opened to the public with a special performance by the New York City Ballet, performing George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Thanks to multiple restoration and conservation projects, visitors can enjoy the radiant 24-karat gold-leafed ceiling arches, hundreds of Sullivan’s beautifully restored intricate stencil patterns, ornate gilded and bas-relief designs, murals by Charles Holloway and Albert Fleury, and endless floor and wall mosaics.

The Performers

For 130 years, the Auditorium Theatre has evolved. While the theatre’s programming has adapted and grown, it has always remained dedicated to providing the highest quality of artistic experiences while preserving the storied principles upon which it was founded.

Former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley gave speeches on the same stage where, years later, incandescent musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Aretha Franklin, and Elton John would perform. Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles captivated audiences in the same space where Les Misérables and Phantom of the Operawould play to sold-out crowds. From Frank Sinatra to Itzhak Perlman, The Beach Boys to Booker T. Washington, those of us here at the Auditorium Theatre are proud of all those who have graced the stage, and we are always focused on improving and enhancing the quality of our lineup — for a Landmark Theatre in one of the world’s greatest cities, nothing else will suffice.

Today, the Auditorium Theatre presents programming that reflects the diversity and the complexity of the city of Chicago and the world around us, from inspiring dance companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Folklórico de México to uplifting performances including Too Hot to Handel, Kathleen Battle, and Bernadette Peters and the Boston Pops. We highlight Chicago’s best local dance companies through our “Made in Chicago” Dance Series, featuring companies like Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Ensemble Español, and host rock stars like Neil Young, David Byrne, and David Gilmour.

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