Auditorium Theatre, Historic theatre in downtown Chicago, United States
The Auditorium Theatre is a performance hall and theatre building in downtown Chicago with more than 3800 seats inside the Auditorium Building. The auditorium shows murals, plasterwork and decorated arches that span multiple balcony levels.
The hall opened on December 9, 1889, with a celebration attended by President Benjamin Harrison and leading figures from the city. Architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan shaped the design, which became a model for later theatre construction.
The building's name reflects its original purpose as a hall designed for music and spoken word performances. Visitors see its heritage in the golden interior finishes and in the rows of restored seating that still frame the stage.
Guided tours provide insights into the architecture and technical systems of the building at 50 East Ida B. Wells Drive. The interior spaces are well lit and offer access on multiple levels, allowing visitors to view the decoration details from different angles.
At the opening more than 3500 carbon filament lamps lit the space, which was one of the largest electric lighting installations in the world at the time. A system of hydraulic stage lifts moved scenery elements while a cooling system consumed around 15 tons of ice daily to regulate temperatures.
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