The LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly the Sam Shubert Theatre) is a Chicago theatre now owned by the Nederlander Organization and is operated by Broadway In Chicago. Jersey Boys is a documentary -style musical based on the lives of one of the most successful 1960s Rock 'n roll groups the Four Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The Nederlander Organization ( Detroit Michigan) founded in 1912 by David T Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 as a joint venture between The Nederlander Organization and Live Nation the two largest commercial theatre producers and owners/operators It is located at 18 West Monroe Street in the Chicago Loop area downtown. Population According to the 2000 Census, 16388 people live in the Loop
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History
The theatre originally opened in 1906 as the Majestic Theatre, after its namesake encompassing building, The Majestic, which is now the Hampton Majestic hotel, which occupies floors 4-21 of the building. Forced to close in 1932 during the Great Depression, the theatre was purchased by the Shubert Organization in 1945, remodeled, and reopened as the "Sam Shubert Theatre. The Shubert Organization was founded by the Shubert brothers, Sam S " It was sold to the Nederlander Organization in 1991 and, in 2005, underwent restoration and a name change to the LaSalle Bank Theatre. Since 2000 the theatre has been owned and operated by Broadway In Chicago and been host to pre-Broadway productions and world premieres. Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 as a joint venture between The Nederlander Organization and Live Nation the two largest commercial theatre producers and owners/operators [1] [1]
Architecture
Being the first theater built in Chicago after the Iroquois Theatre fire, the LaSalle Bank Theatre was specially credited for its fire safety. Iroquois Theater Fire in Chicago Illinois, within twenty minutes claimed 602 lives on December 30, 1903. This theater was also constructed to bring a more elegant audience into the vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s The architects, Edmund R. Krause and the Rapp Brothers (George and Cornelius), thought that by using decadent colors and textures they could attract a more upper-class crowd than vaudeville was used to. The house of the theater also has two prosceniums. These were constructed to racially segregate the audience, as they prohibit patrons on the ground level from being able to see the patrons above them. Also, by some sources, this theater was once Chicago's tallest building. This list of tallest buildings in Chicago ranks Skyscrapers by height in the U [2]
Restoration
During the recent restoration, elevators were finally installed within the LaSalle Bank Theatre. Jersey Boys is a documentary -style musical based on the lives of one of the most successful 1960s Rock 'n roll groups the Four As part of the general revamping of the theater, old paint chips were analyzed and the theater was repainted in what is believed to be the original color scheme. Most of the original fixtures remain in the theater, as well as the mosaic lobby floor from when the theater opened in 1906. A hidden archway in the lower lobby concession space was also unearthed during the restoration. This elaborately decorated arch had been boarded up years ago and was forgotten about until construction began. [2] [3]
General Interest
After its construction the theatre became a a popular Chicago destination. The theatre was home to 12-15 vaudville acts running from 1:30 pm to 10:30 pm, six days a week.
Performers
In the 1920’s the theatre housed many famous stars because it became part of the Orpheum Circuit. Some of these performers included Eddie Foy, Harry Houdini, Lily Langtry, and Mabel McKinley.
Notable Productions
The LaSalle Bank Theatre has been home to many pre-Broadway tours and World premieres. In December 2001, John Lithgow starred in Sweet Smell of Success. John Arthur Lithgow (ˈlɪθɡoʊ̪ born October 19, 1945) is an American Actor perhaps best-known for his starring role as Dr Sweet Smell of Success is a 1957 American Film noir made by Hill-Hecht-Lancaster Productions and released by United Artists June of 2002 was the premiere of Movin' Out based on the songs of Billy Joel and conceived, choreographed and directed by Twyla Tharp. William Martin Joel (born May 9 1949 is an American Pianist and Singer-songwriter. Twyla Tharp (born July 1 1941) is a American Dancer and Choreographer. Monty Python's Spamalot began its pre-Broadway tour in Chicago directed by Tony and Academy Award-winner Mike Nichols and starring David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry and Hank Azaria. Monty Python's Spamalot is a musical comedy "lovingly ripped off from" the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Mike Nichols (born November 6 1931) is an American television stage and Film director, writer and producer David Hyde Pierce (born April 3, 1959) is an American Actor, best known for his role as Psychiatrist Dr Timothy James Curry (born 19 April 1946 is an English Actor, Singer, Voice actor, and Composer, as well as having a career as a Hank Albert Azaria (born April 25 1964 is an American Film and Television Actor, director, Comedian and voice artist High School Musical premiered in July of 2007 on it pre-broadway tour. High School Musical is an Emmy Award -winning American Television film. Jersey Boys began its long-run at the theatre in October 2007. Jersey Boys is a documentary -style musical based on the lives of one of the most successful 1960s Rock 'n roll groups the Four
As the Shubert Theater, the venue hosted the premiere of the Goodbye Girl in 1993 prior to its Broadway run. The show was an adaption by Neil Simon of his screenplay of the the same name with music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by David Zippel and starred Bernadette Peters and Martin Short. Marvin Neil Simon (born July 4, 1927 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American Playwright and Screenwriter Marvin Frederick Hamlisch (born June 2, 1944) is an American Composer. David Joel Zippel (born May 17 1954 in Easton, Pennsylvania) is a Tony Award -winning American Musical theatre Lyricist Bernadette Peters (born February 28 1948 is an American Actress and Singer from New York City. Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian Comedian, Actor, writer, Singer and In July 1995, the stage adaption of Victor/Victoria premiered starring Julie Andrews, Tony Roberts and Michael Nouri. Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1 1935) is an award-winning English Actress Tony Roberts could mean Tony Roberts (actor (born 1939 American actor in Woody Allen films Tony Roberts (artist and sculptor, large-scale Michael Nouri (born December 9, 1945) is an American Television and Film Actor. It ran until September when it moved to New York. [4]
References
- ^ Di Nunzio, Miriam (5-21-2006), “Curtain rises on LaSalle Bank Theatre: Former Shubert gets 21st”, Chicago Sun-Times, <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060521/ai_n16411265/pg_1>
- ^ Nance, Kevin (2006-2-8), “Chamber of secrets: Architectural details uncovered in rehab of the former Shubert”, Chicago Sun-Times, <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060208/ai_n16043069>
External links
- Broadway In Chicago
- Jersey Boys Official Tour Website
- ABC News: Shubert Theater to reopen with new name, new look
- Cinema Treasures: Shubert Theatre
- Emporis.com
- LaSalle Bank Theater
- Chicago Theater Guide
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