Civic Opera House — Attraction in Chicago

The Civic Opera building was commissioned by British born American tycoon Samuel Insull. Urban legends says that Insull's wife wanted to be an opera singer, but was turned down by the New York Met, so Ingersull built an opera for her. The building is shaped like a chair, therefore Insull's contemporaries dubbed it "Insull's chair". It also faces west, according to urban legend it symbolizes Insull turning his back on the New York Metropolitan Opera for rejecting his wife. The building was designed by the firm of Graham, Anderson & Probst who also designed the Wrigley Building, Field Museum and Merchandise Mart. Insull demanded thst the building be democratic, safe, have excellent sights, comfortable seats, and be self-supporting through businesses renting space in the building. The Civic Opera is 45 floor office building with the opera occupying approximately 1/2 of the space . It is a combination of Art Nouceau and Art Deco building. The outside decoration is by Henry Hering who also designed some of the reliefs on the Michigan Avenue bridge over the Chicago River. The Civic Opera was completed on 15 July, 1929, and opened its doors on 4 November, 1929. In 1993 the Civic Opera was purchased by the Lyric who up to then had only rented the space. The theater underwent a complete $100 million makeover (1993-1996), with new upholstery and carpets being installed and all the gilt restencilled. The design for the theater's interior are by Hean-Louis-Charles Garnier. The walls are pannelled with pink and grey Tennessee marble. The chandeliers are of Austrian crystal. 40 foot columns are topped with carved capitals in gold leaf. Two grand staircases lead to the mezzanine which holds 31 boxes. Above the mezzanine are two more balconies with 800 seats each. All together the Lyric Opera can seat 3563 patrons making it the second largest opera in north America after the New York Metropolitan Opera. The famous fire curtain shows a scene from Aida. It was created by...

I went to the Beautiful civic opera house ,it is a Chicago Icon the Theatre itself.The people who work their need to learn customer service skills.I bought tickets for Mother’s Day , I had a coupon for 20 percent off , I needed the tickets the system wouldn’t take code .l put in code Lyric, the code was suppose to be Lyricwss. I called the next day and tell customer service representative ,my dilemma,she said she could not help me! I asked for a manager on the phone comes Laura Waters said she could tenot adjust tickets after purchase.I explained myself ,she was heartless,worst customer service experience ever. I was upset ,but I promised my Daughter the show for Mother’s Day . So I accepted the poor customer service. I arrived at the Theatre it was striking we were in awe ,we had to find our own seats ,no ushers to be found,We been to every Theatre in Chicago. It was terrible seeing elderly Mothers try to find their seats,the balcony is very steep,it is a accident waiting to happen. After we found our seats upper balcony J33 J31 we had an aisle in front of us people walked back and forth to the bathroom. The play is about to start and an usher wheels in a wheelchair person and places her in front of me ,I asked him his name ,he replied James, I asked him if I could be relocated , I told him I paid $137.00 for these seats. He said he would relocate us,never saw him again . I was just going to standup the whole play ,but two wrongs don’t make a right. I didn’t want to ruin Mother’s Day ! Obstructed view,let...

Civic Opera House AKA Lyric Opera House. Home for Joffery Ballet of Twas the Night Before Christmas.

This beautiful early 1900's theater renovation kept the interiors of the Guilded Age. Upon entrance, make sure to check out the Chandeliers adorned with Wrought Iron Theater Masks. The ceilings are restored to the 1920s. Beautifully restored stair cases take you to the first row Center Balcony with views of Guilded panels and Seats. My selection of seats took me by surprise attending other restored Theaters in the Country. Most of which keep original tiny wooden seating, crowding you without consideration of 2000's average of larger attendees. These seats were plush and roomy, with plenty of room for heavy weighted neighbors. The view from the center first row Balcony seats which BTW falls under Theater members as desired seating. Offers central sounds and perfect full stage view from above. Opera Glasses are needed for facial close ups. The interior theater staff was knowledgeable and welcoming. They might want to give a lesson to those entrance staff employees that should have been more stringent on those cutting in the long line awaiting to get in. The Joffery Ballet's rendition of Twas the Night Before Christmas took patrons into the scenes of Chicago's late 1800's. Another Fabulous performance by Joffery with the anticipation of when next to see their Prima Ballerina, who Excelled at her craft! If a lover of restored theaters, this is a must see as is the Chicago...