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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Happy New Year

Celebrating the New Year with Umphrey's McGee.

Friday Afternoon Wiffle Ball

In January, 1891, the Newsboys and Bootblacks Association played the first indoor softball game in Louis Sullivan and Adler Dankmark's greatest achievement, the Auditorium Theatre. The stage was extended through platforming out over the orchestra seats (the same configuration was also used for charity balls) and spectators sat in the boxes and balcony.

This past Friday, there was no stage extention, there were no spectators - but there was wiffle ball! Dankmark's Dudes defeated Louis's Lushes 11-8.

These pics were taken with a cell phone, so the quality isn't the best, but enjoy!

Work study student Susan Urasky is up at bat, while Operations Manager Steve Sell plays catcher.


A view of the "infield"

Executive Assistant Kathy Bliss takes off running after a hit.




Margaret Garner project manager Gail Kalver cheers on the players.

Marketing Manager Megan Flanagan proudly cheers on the team (quote from C.J. Dillon, House Manager: "A knocked-up cheerleader? This is just like high school!), while Patron Services Coordinator Annie Slaughter hides behind her pompoms.