The Chicago Theatre — Attraction in Chicago

I am a tour buff. To have a knowledgeable person guide you through an iconic place or structure and point out things you would not see on your own, revel you with stories and little known details is fascinating to me. I have done tours all over the country be it Alcatraz Island, Radio City Music Hall, the DuPont Estates to places such as wineries and small museums. I even toured potato chips, candy, chocolate and matzos factories, Some cost money, but many have been free.

Of all the tours I have done in the last 50 plus years this had to have been the worse tour I ever experienced.

The only upside to the tour is being able to enter, and walk through some of the theater without spending money to see a show, Although the tour guide was pleasant enough, she was not too engaging, and did not exude the love for the theater that such a guide should exhibit. But my real misgivings were two fold. The first being I could learn more about the theater by simply going to its Wikipedia page online. But more importantly, and this bothered me a lot...

On performance days, and it is very clear when you buy tickets, you cannot go on the theater's stage or back stage, which makes some sense. When they are setting up for a show there is equipment on stage, cabling, lights, etc. and it can be a safety issue. But a portion of the tour is suppose to highlight the theater's Wurlitzer organ, which is known as a "Mighty Wurlitzer" and is one of the oldest Mighty Wurlitzers still in existence.

The organ embodies a complete orchestra. There are pipes that sound like violins. There are pipes that sound like flutes. There are pipes that sound like clarinets, oboes. But even more amazing, there are actual percussion instruments that are playable from the console—glockenspiels, xylophones, marimba harps, celestas, and traps, such as snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, tambourines, castanets, triangles. And a short part part of the tour (under ten minutes) is by the organ where the guide explains its history, its setup and then demonstrates the the features by playing it for two or three minutes.

Since this is such an important and integral part of the tour, and only two tours are given on select days, management should make visiting artists aware, that when the tour is at the organ, they should take a ten minute "smoke break" so to speak. If the set up crew does not halt its sound check, the guide cannot present this specific portion of the tour. Sound check is so loud it booms and resonates through the theater and the tour guide cannot be heard, and the tour guide cannot demonstrate the features of the Mighty Wurlitzer, which is a shame.

On my tour we were about to leave the the area without a discussion or demonstration of the organ when suddenly, for no apparent reason the theater fell silent. So we scurried back to the organ and the guide hastily went through a quick discussion and demonstration fearful the silence was about to end. That was simply wrong. Visiting artists should be told, at approximately 12:45 PM and 2:45 PM a tour will be at the Mighty Wurlitzer for ten minutes or less, and to please allow the guide present that portion of the tour in silence. That is not asking too much of the management, or the visiting artist.

Although I was bummed I could not go on the stage, or backstage of the theater, I knew that was not going to happen. But I was certainly, and rightly so, unhappy about the organ portion of the tour, which is one of the more fascinating aspects of the tour.

If you are going to to Chicago, and want to do some GREAT tours, do a Wendell Water Architecture Tour, go to the Contemporary Museum of Art and take their free Docent led tours, but the theater tour...only do it on a day you are sure they are NOT setting the stage up for an upcoming performance. It puts a damper on the tour in so many ways!

Also, they told us to come 15 before the tour, yet, the doors were locked, and we were not allowed in until 5 minutes after the tour was...

I took my mother to see Mr. Ballen here on 10/4 and it was such an amazing experience! My mother is disabled and in a wheelchair, as such we often run into accessibility issues when going to things like this. I was particularly nervous prior to this show because I knew the theatre was an old building, and as I'd never been, I was unsure about the interior.

As we were coming up to the theatre, we didn't even make it to the edge of the building before an employee asked us if we were seeing the show. We affirmed and he told us we could enter through the side. He passed us off to another employee, who led us in and then checked our bags and such. She passed us on to the man checking tickets, he quickly scanned our tickets and in we went.

From there, another employee offered to direct us to our seats but upon looking at our tickets informed us that it may not be accessible to my mom. He ran to get another employee, who very kindly explained the layout of the balcony/loge. She was very compassionate and empathized with the difficulty of getting good information about accessibility when trying to purchase tickets.

We were both rather concerned now, but the woman immediately offered to find us ADA seating, which she very quickly did. She handed us off for the last time to the one employee I remember the name of - Sheila. (So sorry to the other incredible employees we encountered that night!) Sheila got us set up in the ADA section and ensured we were comfortable and seated together.

We had such a wonderful time at the show, and it was such a breezy process. I was brimming with anxiety before coming and was completely blown away by the exceptionally organized and compassionate service we received by every single employee that assisted us.

I now know for any future shows we may attend here what seats to avoid purchasing. And I can also rest assured that if I do return with my mother, that we'll be treated very well.

Endless thanks to the staff working 10/4, you were all incredible and made our night a...

An Iconic Experience That Lives Up to the Hype

The Chicago Theatre is nothing short of magical. From the moment you step onto State Street and see the iconic marquee glowing against the city skyline, you know you're in for something special. I attended a live performance here recently, and it was one of the most memorable nights I've had in Chicago.

The architecture is absolutely stunning—ornate, historic, and beautifully preserved. The grand lobby feels like stepping into a palace, with its sweeping staircase and intricate detailing. Inside the auditorium, the ambiance is equally breathtaking. The acoustics are excellent, and every seat offers a great view of the stage.

The show itself was phenomenal, but what really elevated the experience was the atmosphere. There’s a sense of reverence and excitement in the air, as if everyone knows they’re part of something timeless. The staff were courteous and helpful, guiding guests efficiently and maintaining a smooth flow despite the large crowd.

What I appreciated most was how well the theatre balances its rich history with modern comfort. The facilities are clean, the seating is comfortable, and everything feels well-managed. Whether you're here for a concert, comedy show, or theatrical performance, the venue adds a layer of grandeur that makes the event feel truly special.

If you're visiting Chicago, The Chicago Theatre is a must-see—not just for the entertainment, but for the experience of being in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It’s a place where history, culture, and artistry come together in the most...