New Year's Resolution - See More Shows!

What's your resolution for the New Year? Why not resolve to visit the Auditorium for some of our exciting upcoming events?

Over the next few months we'll see the 5th year of Too Hot to Handel, the return of Orbert Davis and his Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, the colorful excitement of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, the beauty of the Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre's Sleeping Beauty and the stunning artistry of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, plus a visit from Annie and the magic of the Joffrey's Cinderella!

Auditorium Memories

We recently celebrated the Auditorium's 120th birthday and invited attendees to share their favorite Auditorium memories!

Listen to some "Too Hot" interviews

Our Too Hot to Handel stars have been busy! They performed Too Hot in Detroit last weekend and have been promoting both the Detroit and Chicago engagements on the radio.

Over in Detroit, WRCJ's John Penney interviewed soloist Rodrick Dixon, conductor Suzanne Acton and bass player Marion Hayden on "JazzFest Detroit."

Here at home, Rod and fellow soloists Alfreda Burke and Karen Marie Richardson chatted with Mike Jeffers on Avenue 950.

Stay tuned for more radio interviews, including WFMT, as well as a TV appearance after the New Year!

Blog from Too Hot Choir Member

"What's a Jewish Atheist doing singing Handel's Messiah?" Too Hot Choir member Samantha Hoffman tells why she's so excited to be singing Too Hot to Handel at her blog. We'll be hearing from other Too Hot choir members in the coming month, so stay tuned!

$15 college student tickets to The Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker

The Joffrey's Nutcracker - performed all over the U.S. and seen by thousands! Tchaikovsky's masterpiece, featuring the full Joffrey company, local children’s choruses, and more than 120 young dancers, creates a winter wonderland of beauty, magic and sugarplum delight.

Photo by Herbert Migdoll

Performance Dates and Times


Friday, December 11 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 13 at 2:00 PM
Thursday, December 17 at 7:00PM
Friday, December 18 at 7:00PM
Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 20 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Tuesday, December 22 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 23 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Thursday, December 24 at 2:00 PM
Saturday, December 26 at 2:00 PMSunday, December 27 at 2:00 PM

TICKET LOCATIONS ARE BASED ON AVAILABILITY. BEST AVAILABLE LOCATIONS ARE ON DECEMBER 20, 22 (evening), 23 (evening) and 24.

Get Tickets:

In person at the Auditorium box office (50 E. Congress Pkwy)
One hour before show time
Two tickets per valid college student ID
Locations based on ticket availability
Student Rush is last minute tickets sold at the discretion of the presenter. Policies may vary.
Subject to change, restrictions apply.

Photos from The Fray's soundcheck

We stopped by the theatre this afternoon to get a sneek peek at The Fray during their soundcheck for tonight's concert, Miracle Near State Street, presented by 101.9 and JAM. Check out a few pictures.

Ailey in NY Times this weekend

Our friends at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater are getting ready for their December City Center engagement, which starts on Wednesday. This weekend's New York Times featured interviews with Artistic Director Judith Jamison and dancer Antonio Douthit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for - our wonderful subscribers and donors, our incredible audiences, the amazing performers who grace our stage. Thank you all!

Toast the Holidays with the Auditorium Cocktail!

The folks over at Chicagoist came across the formula for the Auditorium Cocktail, which was one of the offerings of the Auditoirum Hotel (now the site of Roosevelt University). Gather some gin, vermouth and an egg white and celebrate our upcoming 120th birthday!

While you're enjoying the Auditorium Cocktail, you can browse our Chicago's Landmark Stage site, which recounts the rich history of the Auditorium building.

$25 student tickets to Broadway In Chicago's The Ten Tenors

Get in the holiday spirit during Thanksgiving weekend!

$25 STUDENT RUSH TICKETS AVAILABLE TO
THE TEN TENORS
(tickets available on all price levels)

Tuesday, November 24 at 8:00 pm
Friday, November 27 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, November 28 at 2:00 and 8:00 pm
Sunday, November 29 at 2:00 pm

The internationally renowned Australian singing group THE TEN TENORS returns for the holidays, featuring songs from their new album Nostalgica as well as holiday classics.

THE TEN TENORS set out to capture the intimacy between themselves and the audience during live performances, whilst invoking nostalgic memories of people, places or times in history. With an unparalleled palette and repertoire, THE TEN TENORS have taken their passion for quality music and powerful singing to such venues as London's Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House, The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow and are delighted to be sharing this latest step in the journey with Chicago audiences.

The group's hijinx and famous Australian sense of humor set them apart from other groups and have garnered attention and adoration around the world.

GET STUDENT TICKETS:
In person at the Auditorium Box Office located at 50 E. Congress Pkwy, open at noon

The day of the show

Must present a valid college ID

(Student Rush is tickets sold at the last minute at the discretion of the presenter. Policies differ from show to show. These offers are only available to college students. Tickets are subject to availability; restrictions apply. Not valid combined with any other offer.)

Article in Playbill About Our 120th

You can read a brief history of the Auditorium in this Playbill article. Just a few weeks until our 120th!

FREE Mini-Tours in Honor of Our 120th Birthday!

Save the date! On Monday, December 7, we will be conducting FREE mini-tours of the Auditorium Theatre at 12 noon and 3pm! Please join us for an interesting look at the history, art and architecture of our National Historic Landmark Theatre. This is our gift to you, as we celebrate our 120th birthday. (The first performance at the Auditorium was December 9, 1889. President Benjamin Harrison was in attendance!)

Cedar Lake Reviews

Here are the Tribune and Sun-Times reviews of Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet last weekend.


Artistic Director Benoit-Swan Pouffer spoke to our donors and subscribers at Saturday night's Fireside Chat. Here he is meeting some of the audience after the chat.

More Great Press!

Here are some more articles about this weekend's Cedar Lake engagement:

Chicago Tribune: "Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet: A bit of Europe, via New York"
Chicago Sun-Times: "Cedar Lake pushes the envelope on contemporary ballet"

Plus, you can watch yesterday's WGN TV appearance here!

"Dancers Without Borders" - Time Out Chicago article about Cedar Lake

Click here to read the article about Cedar Lake in this week's Time Out Chicago, and then call 800.982.2787, click here or come to our box office to get your tickets!

$15 Student Rush tickets available for Cedar Lake

Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 15 at 2 pm

Get tickets:

Online: Click here and use code RUSH (A $1.25 handling fee applies to each ticket purchased online. Tickets are subject to availability; restrictions apply. Not valid combined with any other offer.)

In person: Auditorium Box Office, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy. One hour before show time

There is a limit of two tickets per valid college ID

ABOUT CEDAR LAKE CONTEMPORARY BALLET

"slick, sleek, and technically fierce."- Dance Magazine

Led by Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Cedar Lake specializes in commissioning new works from some of today's most innovative and exciting choreographers. The company of 16 dancers from around the world has earned critical praise across the globe.

Auditorium audiences will see three Chicago premieres - Crystal Pite's Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue, Didy Veldman's frame of view and Jo Strømgren's Sunday, Again.

New Show Announcement - Rodgers & Hammerstein Cabaret

The Auditorium is teaming up with the cabaret series "Kevin Moore Presents" to host a special January installment of our "On Stage" series on Saturday, January 30.

This performance of Score by Score: The Best of Broadway Musicals will feature the works of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. Some of Chicago's most popular cabaret performers - Anne Burnell, Laura Freeman, KT McCammond, Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael and Daryl Nitz - will perform beloved songs from Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The King and I, Carousel and The Sound of Music. The evening will be hosted by WJJG radio host Kevin Moore.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, but you can get them now with promo code RODGERS. Just give us a call at 312.922.2110 ext 300 or click here for tickets.

New Works in AAADT's 2009-2010 Season

Click here to find out about the new works Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be premiering this season. We're not sure how many will be performed during the March 24-28 Auditorium engagement, but we'll post the programming as soon as we know!

This Year's Ailey Image

Each year, we wait excitedly to find out what promotional image Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be using. AAADT's photos are always beautiful, vibrant and exciting. This year is no exception.

In the coming spring, you'll be seeing a lot of Jamar Roberts in advertising, flyers, posters and banner!


Photo by Andrew Eccles.

Monsters of Folk reviews

We had a busy weekend, with concerts from David Gray, Monsters of Folk and The Disco Biscuits. Here are some Monsters of Folk reviews:

Chicago Tribune: Concert Review: Monsters of Folk at the Auditorium
Sun-Times: Haunting venue is real star of Monsters of Folk show

Our favorite part? During the show, Jim James called the Auditorium "God's theater" and said, “I think that’s what it looks like when you die.”

Video - frame of view Rehearsal Footage Plus Didy Veldman's Thoughts

Listen to choreograher Didy Veldman talk about her work frame of view and her creative process.

Cedar Lake Program Notes

If you want to know more about the pieces Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet will be performing here next month, here are the choreographers' notes.

Sunday, Again is first of all a piece that tries to reflect the diversity in Johann Sebastian Bach’s music. Abstract movement patterns are woven together in fugal ways, not unlike the baroque way of assembling melodic phrases and ornamentations. Secondly, and on an associative level, it thematically treats the domestic jungle of luxury problems and gender frictions. As the title suggests - there is always the irritating and inevitable Sunday which forces couples to test their coexistence abilities. Leisure time is not good for certain types of relationships.
-Jo Strømgren

Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue: I love the word “rescue.” It captures a whole story in a single word. Similarly, the body can convey narrative through the simplest of actions. For me, this work for Cedar Lake was an act of excavation. After creating the choreography, I searched within it for images that specifically evoked rescue. There are many of them. They exist inside the dancing like fragments of an untold narrative. I suppose the presence of rescue in this work is twofold, as I tried to liberate and expose these images for brief contemplation before releasing them back into the dance: saving and holding one picture of rescue in each of the ten duets.
-Crystal Pite

frame of view: I am investigating the physical movement a particular emotion may take, how it manifests itself in our body, how long that physicality may last, and the energy that it creates. By creating different interior and exterior scenes, and utilizing a varied musical landscape, I hope to create an accessible work with a touch of irony and humor.
– Didy Veldman

Cedar Lake Party Package - $50 for show and post-party at Hard Rock Cafe

This has to be the deal of the week - great main floor seats to Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet on Saturday, November 14 and an after-party at Hard Rock Cafe with members of the company - for just $50!

The party includes premium bar and buffet!

Limited availability - we can only sell 45 packages! Call today to get yours - 312.922.2110 ext 300. (This is a 21+ event.)

Cedar Lake Video - on "Ten Duets"

In this video, one of Cedar Lake's dancers talks about Crystal Pite's Ten Duets on a Theme of Rescue, one of the pieces that will be performed November 14 & 15.

Cedar Lake - A Truly International Company

We were looking at the program notes today for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet's upcoming Auditorium engagement, and we were truly amazed at the diversity of the company!

Cedar Lake's dancers hail from all over the U.S., as well as France, S. Korea, Romania, Spain, Japan and the Netherlands. The three choreographers are Canadian (Crystal Pite), Dutch (Didy Veldman) and Norwegian (Jo Stromgren). And the dancers and choreographers have ties to companies that are very familiar to Auditorium audiences: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Nederlands Dans Theater and Chicago's own Hubbard Street.

Just one more reason we're so excited about Cedar Lake's Chicago visit! Tickets are available at 800.982.2787, www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium and our box office.

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Intro Video

Cedar Lake will be performing at the Auditorium November 14 & 15. Don't miss this exciting company! Call 800.982.2787 or click here for tickets (tickets start at $30!)

$15 Student Rush tickets available for The Joffrey Ballet's Othello

Tickets are available:

Wednesday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 18 at 2 p.m.
Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m.

Check out Othello video!

Get Tickets:

In person at the Auditorium box office (located at 50 E. Congress Pkwy)
One hour before show time
Two tickets per valid college student ID
Locations based on ticket availability

Dancer: Fabrice Camels. Photographer: Herbert Migdoll.

Please note: Student Rush are tickets sold at the discretion of the present. Policies may differ.

Raves for Miami City Ballet!

Did you see the amazing reviews for Miami City Ballet? Read what the Tribune and Sun-Times had to say.

What did you think of the performance?

Miami City Ballet's Jennifer Kronenberg on the cover of October's Dance Magazine!

Don't miss cover girl Jennifer Kronenberg and her fellow "Superhuman Dancers" from Miami City Ballet this weekend!

Sun-Times feature on Miami City Ballet

Yesterday's Sun-Times included a feature on Miami City Ballet - which, remember, is this weekend!

"By the time Rudolf Nureyev made his leap to the West in 1961, a small, dark, handsome, athletic, college-educated, Italian-American guy from Queens, New York, already was captivating dance audiences as the star of the New York City Ballet. His name was Edward Villella." Click here to read more!

Tickets are at 800.982.ARTS(2787), www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium, or in person at the Auditorium box office, 50 E. Congress Parkway.

Interview with Edward Villella

Zac Whittenberg has an interview with Miami City Ballet Artistic Director Edward Villella over at Trailerpilot.com. They discuss the 1953 vs. the 1967 versions of Valse Fantasie, juxtaposing Balanchine and Swan Lake, and the upcoming Chicago engagement.

Tom Wopat on WTTW's Chicago Tonight

If you missed last night's appearance by Tom Wopat on Chicago Tonight, here are a few clips:

New Concert Announcement - The Swell Season December 3

The Swell Season will play the Auditorium on December 3.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday, September 19 at 11am.

Find out more at www.theswellseason.com.

Back to School - How about Student Matinees?

Today, Chicago's schoolchildren are back to school! That means it's a good time to think about the Auditorium's Student Matinee Series. We will be offering special performances of Miami City Ballet (Oct 2), Too Hot to Handel (Jan 15) and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Mar 25 & 26) just for student groups.

Click here for a flyer with details. For reservations, call 312.431.2357.

Photo: Too Hot to Handel soloist Alfreda Burke. Photo by Dan Rest.

Fall Dance Shows Featured in the Sun-Times

Hedy Weiss previews Chicago's fall dance offerings, including three at the Auditorium: Miami City Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and the Joffrey's Othello.

Four Onsales next Tuesday!

On Tuesday, September 8th at 10am, four Auditorium shows will go onsale:

Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah (January 16 & 17)
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez (March 13 & 14)
Tchaikovsky Ballet Theatre - Sleeping Beauty (March 20 & 21)
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 24-28)

Tickets will be available at Ticketmaster.com/Auditorium, by phone at 800.982.ARTS (2787) and in person at our box office.

Miami City Ballet - "In The Upper Room"

Miami City Ballet doesn't just do Balanchine! They'll also perform Twyla Tharp's In The Upper Room when they visit the Auditorium October 2 -4. (Music by Philip Glass)

Too Hot Choir Auditions September 28

Join in the Auditorium's annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King!

We are seeking voices for the Too Hot Choir, the all-volunteer chorus that provides a joyful sound for our production of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah. The audition/first rehearsal is September 28 at 7pm at Old St. Patrick's Church (Des Plaines and Adams). Rehearsals will be every Monday (except for Oct. 5 and November 2.) No need to prepare anything for the audition; you'll learn the music as a group first.

Questions? Contact Bill Fraher at billf@oldstpats.org.

Great Post on Chris Jones's Blog at the Trib

Chris Jones at the Chicago Tribune has a great post on his blog about "The Mistress Cycle" theatrical experience.

Only 4 performances left - tonight, 2 tomorrow and the closing performance on Saturday.

Denver Post article on Miami City Ballet and Edward Villella

Miami City Ballet is in Colorado for the Vail International Dance Festival, and the Denver Post has an article here about their appearance.

The Critics Have Fallen for The Mistresses!

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune: "...because of Giering's gorgeous music and Blatt's richly textured lyrics, The Mistress Cycle is quite a moving and provocative affair that manages to pack a lot of wisdom and poignancy on matters of love and power into its short duration. And Kurt Johns' fine production features a cast of empathetic women with beautiful voices.

"The production at the Auditorium Theatre this summer originated at the Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park, in the theater's depressing temporary quarters. The show transcended those surroundings, and it surely deserved the greater elegance afforded by this transfer to the Auditorium, where both show and audience occupy the stage in intimate configuration." CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times: "First staged at Highland Park's Apple Tree Theatre in late 2007, The Mistress Cycle -- a musical theater piece about five very different women who all played the role of "the other woman" -- is now being remounted at the Auditorium Theatre. And the production is serving as a most intriguing test case for possibly alternative uses for that beautiful Louis Sullivan building.

"Can the theater's vast stage be transformed into a black box theater just large enough to contain both an intimate musical and an audience of 200 seated on risers? And, at those times when the full theater is not being occupied by the Joffrey Ballet, a Broadway musical or some other large-scale event, can it serve as a transfer house for successful shows from the suburbs and other parts of the city? The answer to both questions is yes..."CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW

Rebecca Sarwate, Edge Chicago: "A sensuous delight in every connotation of the word, it is no surprise that the production received a Jeff nomination for Best Revue pursuant to the 2007-2008 season. The only shock is that it did not walk away with the trophy. Forget everything you thought you knew about musical revues in the past. Though light on dialogue, The Mistress Cycle has a strapping narrative arc, a compelling and moving plot, told through one emotionally reverting song after another." CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Chris Arnold, ChicagoCritic.com: "After a successful, Jeff nominated run at Apple Tree Theatre, The Mistress Cycle is receiving a stunning downtown Chicago premiere at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Don't worry about the notoriously cavernous Auditorium because the stage has been converted into an intimate space, proper for a chamber musical. Director Kurt John's production is a textbook example of less is more, putting the focus on storytelling rather than spectacle." CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Tickets $49.
By Phone: 800.982.ARTS (2787)

Online: Ticketmaster.com

In Person: 50 E. Congress Parkway

Groups (10+) and ATRU subscribers: 312.431.2357

Photo of the day - balloon launch

On Wednesday, our Hands Together, Heart to Art campers wrote messages to the parents they had lost and tied them to balloons. The campers and counselors then walked to Buckingham Fountain, where the campers released their messages.

Photo by Beth Bullock.

Meet the Miami City Ballet dancers

On their YouTube Channel, Miami City Ballet is posting a series of short videos catching up with their dancers! Find out more about these "Superhuman Dancers" who will be gracing our stage in October.

Q&A with Megon McDonough

Megon McDonough is getting ready to make her Auditorium debut on Saturday! To find out more about this versatile singer, songwriter and all-around entertainer, check out a Q&A here.

For tickets to Saturday's cabaret performance, call 312.922.2110 ext 300 or buy online at Ticketmaster.com.

If Louis and Dankmar could see us now!

For the month of July, our lobby is the lunchroom for hungry campers and their counselors and teaching artists!

Hands Together, Heart to Art, our performing arts day camp designed especially for children who have experienced the death of a parent, is in full swing. This session features 40 campers ages 7-11. These energetic kids are dancing, acting, singing and preparing for their final performance, sure to be a treat. Along the way, they are talking with adults who also lost parents as children and making new friends.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is generously providing our campers with balanced, nutritious lunches - which they are enjoying in what might be the only camp cafeteria designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan!

Photo: Auditorium staff prepares for the ravenous campers!

Joan Curto interviewed in Naperville Sun

If you didn't make last Saturday's cabaret performance by Joan Curto, you missed quite a show! Joan was warm and witty, and the musical arrangements she put together with Beckie Menzie were sophisticated and sometimes surprising.

Here's a feature about her performance in her hometown paper, the Naperville Sun.

Just for Fun - Pic of Auditorium as Ballroom

An interesting look at Auditorium history - a 1930s picture of the Theatre turned into a ballroom.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

New Video From Miami City Ballet

Yesterday, Miami City Ballet posted this video featuring two of their principal dancers, Jeanette and Patricia Delgado, and ballet mistress Crista Villella.

NPR Feature on Susan Werner - Link to Listen

As promised on Friday, here is the link where you can listen to yesterday morning's interview with Susan Werner! This interview with NPR's Liane Hansen focuses on Susan's latet album, Classics.

Listen to a Susan Werner profile on NPR Sunday

Susan Werner (who is appearing August 13 as part of our Summer Cabaret series) will be featured on Weekend Edition this Sunday, June 28 at approximately 9:45.

Last week, NPR Music called Susan "empress of the unpredictable" and "the best performer on the planet" following her radio performance on New York's WFUV. Read the full article, hear the interview with John Platt, and get Rita Houston's podcast at NPR Music.

If you can't get to the radio Sunday morning, we'll post a link to the feature on Monday.

Nina Ananiashvili still stunning as she nears retirement

Auditorium audiences have seen the phenomenal Nina Ananiashvili dance with the Bolshoi Ballet, and last season with the State Ballet of Georgia, which she leads.

Nina is dancing her farewell season with American Ballet Theatre after 16 years, but continues to wow the audiences. Her final ABT performance is this Saturday; W Magazine has an interview about her emotional good-bye.

Brett Batterson Tweets NDT

In case you missed it, our Executive Director, Brett Batterson, posted his thoughts on last Tuesday's NDT performance on twitter - check it out here: http://twitter.com/AuditoriumChgo.

Miami City Ballet and Cedar Lake on sale this morning

Single tickets for Miami City Ballet and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet go on sale this morning (Monday, June 22) at 10am. Tickets will be available at the box office (50 E. Congress), at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800.982.ARTS(2787).

BUT REMEMBER - you get the best deals if you subscribe! Three show subscriptions are as low as $72 if you subscribe by July 1, so don't delay! Visit http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org/ for subscription information.

The Auditorium stage becomes a black box theatre for Apple Tree's "The Mistress Cycle"

The Auditorium is thrilled to present Apple Tree Theatre's acclaimed production of The Mistress Cycle, a musical about the lives of 5 mistresses throughout history.

This remount will feature the majority of the original cast! Chris Jones of the Tribune called this show, "a must-see for lovers and supporters of new musicals."

We're creating a theatre-in-a-theatre for this production, seating 200 audience members on the stage.

Tickets went on sale at 10am today! Call 800.982.2787, visit ticketmaster.com/auditorium or come by our box office at 50 E. Congress Parkway for tickets . Groups and ATRU subscribers can call 312.431.2357 for discount information.

The Trib's Sid Smith on the "emotional" NDT engagement

"A novelist would be hard pressed to concoct a convergence of events as dizzying or as bittersweet as those swirling around the Nederlands Dans Theater's visit to the Auditorium Theatre this week.

"Looking on with complex emotions will be the outgoing NDT head, Anders Hellstrom, and his announced replacement, Jim Vincent, former NDT dancer and, until Aug. 3, artistic leader of Chicago's top contemporary troupe, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Just as excited -- and maybe non-plussed -- will be onetime Joffrey Ballet dancer Glenn Edgerton, who danced with NDT, ran its lead company for a while, worked recently under Vincent and was just picked to replace him as Hubbard's new artistic director -- the third in its 32-year history."

Click here to read the rest.

Even MORE NDT press!

There's a great article in today's Sun-Times about next week's NDT engagement. Jim Vincent, who takes over as Artistic Director this fall, talks about each of the pieces they'll be performing.

NDT is also a "Critic's Choice" over at the Reader.

More Press for NDT

Flavorpill: "Dark, intricate, and loaded, NDT's repertoire bets on mood and doubles down on near-flawless execution."

Windy City Times: "I'm not trying to start a brawl, but I'll go ahead and say that Czech choreographer Jirí Kylián is the most influential artist working in the field....NDT hasn't performed in Chicago in over 30 years: Get tickets today if you haven't already."

Time Out Chicago: "NDT makes a rare visit to Chicago, and the huge Auditorium should be filled to the rafters. Established in 1959 by a group of renegades from the Dutch National Ballet, NDT is world-renowned for excellence and standard bearing in the world of contemporary ballet-meets-modern choreography."

Top 6 Reasons to See NDT this month!

1. It's your opportunity to boo the dastardly villains who are stealing Hubbard Street's Artistic Director Jim Vincent away from Chicago.

2. Just because they're from the Netherlands, doesn't mean they dance in wooden shoes. (This could be a plus or a minus, depending on your interest in percussion.)

3. You'll witness some of the most intricate and daring choreography in the world. After all, when a country's native tongue produces words like "Het Muziektheater" and the "Stadsschouwburg," you know they're not afraid to take risks.

4. Because any company that seamlessly melds artistic European dance with scantily clad men and women in skin-tight outfits HAS to be good.

5. You'll kick yourself after listening to the incessant bragging of your friends who did see them - while you have to wait another 38 years for them to come back to Chicago.

6. It's like the Bolshoi on mescaline!

In all seriousness - this is a rare Chicago appearance by one of the world's great dance companies, and we are honored to host them June 16 and 17. We hope you will come to see their amazing work!

Another Take on Handel's Messiah

Since the Auditorium produces Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah each year, our ears perked up when we heard about Handel's Messiah Rocks, premiering on WTTW tomorrow night. Another new take on this versatile classic! When we found out that our friends at HMS worked on the production, we were even more interested. Find out more about Handel's Messiah Rocks; then plan to check out our jazz-gospel version in January!

Update: When I posted this, I did not know that this was coming to the Auditorium Theatre, I promise! Just got the word it's scheduled for November 20 & 21. So see both the rock and the jazz-gospel version for the full Messiah experience!

NDT 50th Birthday Celebration

"Lang zal hij leven" to our friends at Nederlands Dans Theater, who will be celebrating their 50th birthday in the 2009-2010 season. To mark the occasion, they recently posted this video:



The Auditorium will be celebrating our 120th birthday this December, and we're happy to welcome our much younger friends for the final performances of their 49th season June 16 and 17. Great seats are still available - call 800.982.ARTS (2787), visit Ticketmaster.com or swing by our box office for your tickets.

The Auditorium in The Devil in the White City

The Auditorium makes an appearance in Erik Larson's national bestselling novel of suspense, The Devil in the White City:

"...one prominent Chicagoan, Ferdiand W. Peck, proposed to build an auditorium so big, so acoustically perfect, as to silence all the carping from the East and to make a profit to boot. Peck envisioned enclosing this gigantic theater within a still larger shell that would contain a hotel, banquet room, and offices.

"The result was an opulent structure that, for the moment, was the biggest private building in America. Its theater contained more than four thousand seats, twelve hundred more than New York's Metropolitan Opera House. And it was air-conditioned, through a system that blew air over ice."

See a picture of the Auditorium in 1889 during the Republican National Convention, taken just a few years before the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Pictures from the Eifman Ballet Reception at Russian Pointe

Here are some pictures from the Eifman Ballet Reception at Russian Pointe. Guests enjoyed mingling with visionary choreographer Boris Eifman.

Russian Pointe will host another reception for Nederlands Dans Theater I on June 17 at 5 p.m.

This elegant reception is $50 (does not include ticket to the performance) and includes the opportunity to meet Artistic Director Anders Hellström, Manager of International Affairs René Vlemmix and a company dancer, as well as hors d'oeuvres, wine and trolley transporation to the theatre. Call 312.922.2110 ext. 300 for more information.

Find Out More About "Chicago's Landmark Stage"

Did you know that the Auditorium has a website, http://www.chicagoslandmarkstage.org/, that details the history, art, and architecture of our National Historic Landmark Theatre? Check it out for information, activities and more!

Our Ticket Printers Have an Olympic Pedigree!

The Auditorium box office just got some new-to-us ticket printers. These printers were previously used to print tickets for the 2008 Beijing summer olympics!

Meet Nederlands Dans Theater Artists on June 17 at Russian Pointe

Join us for a pre-performance reception on Wednesday, June 17 at Russian Pointe Dance Boutique! The evening will feature wine, hors d'oeuvres and appearances by Nederlands Dans Theater Artistic Director Anders Hellström (pictured), Manager of International Affairs René Vlemmix and a dancer or two. Trolley transporation to the theatre for the performance is also provided.

Call 312.922.2110 ext 300 for information and reservations. The cost for the reception is $50 per person.

Rave Reviews for the Eifman Ballet!

Like our staff, the press loved the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's Onegin!

In the Sun-Times, Hedy Weiss wrote, "Perhaps the best way to think about choreographer Boris Eifman is to dub him "the Jerome Robbins of Russian ballet," for he is a master of theater as much as a maker of dances -- a man with a seamless feel for the way gesture, music and stage design can coalesce in the art of storytelling and character development. And now -- after watching the Thursday night Chicago debut of his "Onegin" at the Auditorium Theatre, and thinking back on the five previous visits by his company, the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg -- that essential resemblance has only been magnified."

Sid Smith said in the Tribune, "But you never wait long for Eifman to come up with something startling. A kind of weight bench throughout provides for some striking moments, and in the spectral scene, Onegin is held aloft, prone, by the dancers, until Lensky stands briefly on top of him before collapsing backward -- quite the acrobatic tour de force."

Now onto the final show of the 2008-2009 International Dance Series - Nederlands Dans Theater I is making a rare Chicago appearance next month!

Auditorium Staff Reviews of Eifman Ballet's "Onegin"

Here's what some of our staff members have to say about last night's performance by the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg:

Kathy Bliss, Executive Assistant: The genius of Eifman evokes the full emotion of the classic story ballet through a uniquely contemporary vision. Superb theatricality; drama -dance or dance-drama. Bold visuals and strong character development. A minimum set creates a maximum setting and the lighting is indeed a "character" in its sheer perfection. The corps is a voice that resonates throughout.

Nicole Losurdo, Director of Education: It was absolutely unbelievable – sign me up for the Eifman fan club. Every theatre person needs to see this kind of work – it speaks volumes on levels, spatial relationship, balance and counter balance, and human emotion. I was very inspired and the music was also really exciting. It is very emotional work and the dancers are expressive in ways I have never seen dancers communicate. It was visual eye candy and the lighting is absolute genius. It can tend to feel a little self serving and self involved, but strangely – it works.

Amanda Martinez, Development Associate: Eifman’s Onegin is a highly entertaining performance filled with exciting visuals, heart pumping music and the perfect blend of modern and classic ballet… I highly recommend it!

Tickets are still available for tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm.

Phone: 800.982.2787 (ARTS)

Online: www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium

In person: box office at 50 E. Congress Parkway

Eifman's ONEGIN opens tonight!

Lucia Mauro previewed the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg's Auditorium engagement yesterday on WBEZ's 848. Listen here.

Edward Villella and the Miami City Ballet School

An interesting video featuring Miami City Ballet Artistic Director Edward Villella.

You Can Help Us Make A Difference in a Child's Life!

Each summer, the Auditorium hosts a special performing arts summer camp especially for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a parent. This summer marks the fifth year of HTHTA, and our first year at our new site in the Quad Cities, allowing us to reach even more children!

Even though our expenses exceed $1500 per child, we only charge $50 per camper (and many campers receive scholarships!) Obviously, we rely on a large number of generous donors and sponsors to make up the difference. If you would like to join our family of supporters, you can donate here or call 312.922.2110 ext 368. Every little bit helps!

Eifman Ballet Preview Articles

Read what Chicago's dance writers have to say about next week's Eifman Ballet engagement.

Sid Smith at the Tribune: Visits by Eifman and his Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg to the Auditorium Theatre over the years have proved to be thought-provoking and edgy, with audience reaction varying from delight to scorn. Whatever else, Eifman is never staid, cautious or predictable.

Hedy Weiss at the Sun-Times: One thing you can bet on: A large percentage of those who will flock to see Eifman's wildly dramatic, expressionistic mode of dance storytelling are part of the Chicago area's "Russian audience" -- drawn from that population of close to a half million immigrants (and their children) whose love of the arts began during their Soviet Union days and continues to thrive here.

Eifman Ballet Review

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Once you let your preconceptions go and decide not to worry about details of the story line, you can sit back and simply enjoy the stream of bizarre dream episodes, the high-flying acrobatic pas de deux and the seductively mesmerizing rock concert panache."

Click here for the full review.

Brett Batterson Receives State Farm Embrace Life Award for HTHTA

Our Executive Director received the State Farm Embrace Life award on Tuesday! The award included a $10,000 donation to our Hands Together, Heart to Art summer camp.


Join State Farm in supporting our campers, who have all experienced the death of a parent. Help us provide them a safe and supportive opportunity to be with other children who have experienced a similar loss - click here or call 312.922.2110 ext 368 to make a donation to HTHTA.

Raves for The Joffrey's Spring Program

Our resident dance company, The Joffrey Ballet, has gotten glowing reviews today or the Spring Program. Read the Tribune review here and the Sun-Times here.

Teachers - It's Not Too Early To Think About Next Year's Student Matinees!

The Auditorium has four student matinees planned for the 2009-2010 season. These one-hour shows are a great opportunity to introduce children to great performance at a low ticket price! Each teacher will receive a study guide to help students prepare for the event! Available for groups of 10+; call 312.431.2357 for reservations.

The student matinees are:

Miami City Ballet
Friday, October 2 at 11am
A lecture demonstration narrated by Artistic Director Edward Villella. Selections from the following: Black Swan pas de deux, Tarantella, Western Symphony, Stars & Stripes pas de deux and Company B Highlights.
Available for groups elementary through college. $10 per person.

Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah
Friday, January 15 at 11am
Students are invited to observe a portion of the dress rehearsal., including the "Hallelujah Chorus."
Available for groups elementary through high school. $10 per person.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Thursday, March 25 at 11am
Friday, March 26 at 11am
Ailey student matinees have sold out the last few years, so we have added a second student peformance! Includes Revelations and an excerpt of another piece.
Available for groups elementary through high school. $12 per person.

(A one-time $10 handling fee is applied to each group.)

Fun Fact about Miami City Ballet's Edward Villella at the Auditorium

Edward Villella is bringing his Miami City Ballet for the company's first Auditorium appearance October 2-4; however, it's not Villella's first time at the Auditorium Theatre.

On October 31, 1967, the Auditorium celebrated its grand re-opening after 36 years without performances. The performance was New York City Ballet, and Villella was part of the company! We're thrilled to welcome him back this fall.

Miami City Ballet tickets are currently available for groups of 10+ and renewing subscribers; call 312.431.2357 for details.

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet video.

Check out video of the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet's performance of "frame of view" by Didy Veldman.

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet will perform at the Auditorium November 14 and 15, 2009. We're currently renewing subscriptions and groups of 10 or more. New subscriptions go on sale May 18. Single tickets will be available in June for the fall shows, and September for the winter and spring. Please call 312.431.2357 for more information on subscriptions and groups.

On stage with...2009 Cabaret Season Announced

On stage with...2009 Cabaret Series was announced today in the Chicago Tribune! Our Summer Cabaret Series treats the audience to an unforgettable performance while enjoying a rare vantage point typically reserved for the performer - the stage!

• Joan Curto with Beckie Menzie - Shaking the Blues Away: Saturday, June 27 at 8 p.m.


• Megon McDonough - An Evening with Megon McDonough: Saturday, July 18 at 8 p.m.


• Susan Werner - Classics: Thursday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m.


• Tom Wopat - Love Swings: Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. Call 312.922.2110 ext. 300 for more information.

Photo: Tom Wopat

2009-2010 Season Announced

On Friday, the Auditorium announced our 2009-2010 line-up! Here are the details:

• Miami City Ballet, October 2-4


• Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, November 14 & 15


• Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, January 16 & 17


• Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, March 13 & 14


• Tchaikovsky Ballet Sleeping Beauty, March 20 & 21


• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, March 24-28

Right now, we're doing subscription renewals and groups of 10 or more. New subscriptions go on sale May 18. Single tickets will be available in June for the fall shows, and September for the winter and spring. For information on subscriptions and groups, call 312.431.2357.

Photo: Miami City Ballet.

Meet Boris Eifman: Pre-Show Reception at Russian Pointe

Visionary choreographer Boris Eifman will be among the guests at a pre-show reception at Russian Pointe Dance Boutique on Saturday, May 16 at 5:30pm. The reception will include hors d'oeuvres, wine and trolley transportation to the Auditorium Theatre for the 8pm performance of Eifman's new ballet, Onegin.

The cost of the reception is $50 (does not include performance ticket). Call 312.922.2110 ext 300 for reservations.

Video - Eifman Ballet "Onegin"

(This video was posted in YouTube by the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Please remember the Auditorium's dates are May 14-17.)

The Praise Rolls in for Ailey!

Chicago Tribune - "Fable Blends Song and Dance"

Chicago Sun-Times - "Ailey Show Sweet as Honey"

Northwest Indiana Times - "Ailey Dancers Dazzle at 50"

Chicago Tonight feature from Tuesday

On Tuesday, March 31, AAADT dancer and Chicago native Vernard Gilmore joined our Executive Director Brett Batterson on WTTW's Chicago Tonight. Click here to watch.

See the Auditorium Lobby in the Public Enemies Trailer

Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard, filmed a few scenes at the Auditorium last summer. In this trailer, you can see our lobby at about the 23 second mark!

Everyone's talking about Ailey!

Chicago's 50th Anniversary Ailey celebration starts tomorrow, and it's the talk of the town. We've already seen record ticket sales - if you haven't gotten your tickets yet, call 800.982.ARTS, visit Ticketmaster.com or come to our box office today!

Some of the dancers stopped by WGN TV this morning for a performance:



Also, click here to read Sid Smith's article from Sunday's Tribune and here for a feature in Chicagoist.

FAMTIX sold out

The buy-one-adult, get-one-child free FAMTIX promotion for the Saturday, April 4 matinee performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has sold out.

Tickets are still available for all performances, but seats are selling fast! Currently, the best seating availability is for the Thursday and Friday performances.

Fireside Chat to feature AAADT's Chris Jackson

The Fireside Chat on Friday, April 3 will feature dance critic and writer Lucia Mauro interviewing Chicago's own Chris Jackson.

Jackson began dancing at The Stairway of the Stars dance studio. In 1998, he started his formal dance training at The Chicago Academy for the Arts High School under the direction of Anna Paskevska and Randy Duncan. Mr. Jackson later went on to pursue training at The Ailey School where he was a recipient of the 2001-2002 Alvin Ailey Fellowship. He was an apprentice with River North Dance Chicago, and was a member of Ailey II. Mr. Jackson joined Ailey in 2004.

Fireside Chats are intimate pre-show discussions for Auditorium subscribers and donors. Hors d'oeuvres and desserts are provided by Trattoria No. 10; wine and soft drinks are also available. The chat will start at 6:00pm on Friday. Please call Beth at 312.431.2357 or email bbullock@auditoriumtheatre.org to rsvp.

NDT - Kylian's Wings of Wax

Nederlands Dans Theater I is making a rare Chicago appearance June 16 and 17. Their program will include Paul Lightfoot and Sol Leon's Shoot the Moon, Jiri Kylian's Wings of Wax (above) and Crystale Pite's The Second Person. Tickets are available now - don't miss it!

Ailey Video - "Unfold"

Only 8 days until Ailey opens at the Auditorium! Robert Battle's Unfold is on the program Sunday afternoon.

Tickets are going fast - get yours today! Call 800.982.2787(ARTS), visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or come by our box office at 50 E. Congress Parkway.

Blast From The Past - Bowling at the Auditorium

This is one of our favorite historic photos of the Auditorium!

During World War II, the Auditorium was converted into a servicemen's center, complete with bowling alley on the stage.

Alvin Ailey's Blues Suite

Ailey's Blues Sweet is on the program for the Saturday, April 4 matinee performance. An excerpt is also part of Thursday, April 2's performance of Anniversary Highlights.

Hands Together, Heart to Art Enrollment Continues

Our education department is excited to report that applications for this summer's Hands Together, Heart to Art day camp are coming in daily!

HTHTA is a very special, unique program for children ages 7-14 who have experienced the death of a parent. Click here to learn more about the program.

If you know of a child who could benefit from HTHTA and would like information, please call 312.922.2110 ext 353 or email education@auditoriumtheatre.org.