Chicago Theatres: LaSalle Bank Theatre

Chicago theaters have a history just as rich as any New York or London theater. In fact, Chicago theater was, and still is, the premiere place to test professional plays and other stage acts.

One such place standing among the historically-canonized Chicago theaters is the LaSalle Bank Theatre. Formerly the Shubert Theatre, the LaSalle Bank Theatre opened on New Year's Day in 1906 as the Majestic Theatre. In 1906 it was the Petronas Towers of its day—the tallest building around.

At the time, the LaSalle Bank Theatre added to Chicago's architectural landscape of skyscrapers. The city was building up, as opposed to across. This revolutionized how theaters would be configured and utilized. The LaSalle Bank Theatre itself is seated within an upwardly elongated structure, making it a hybrid between office space, entertainment space and banquet space. Smartly-combined structures also hold a surprise in the theater itself. The interior of the theater is inlaid with gold and stucco in a post-Raphaelite style (minus the cherubs). Rich, lavish balconies and seats are circularly steeped upon each other in an acoustically sound arch of a shell. It gives audience members the impression of being inside a Faberge egg.

Historically, the LaSalle Bank Theatre was the hub of vaudeville and spectacular theater. Harry Houdini was one of the headlining acts of the time. But the theater closed towards the end of its Depression era success and went into a 15-year hiatus. When it reopened in 1945, it opened as the Shubert Theatre.

This new Shubert Theatre provided the LaSalle Bank Theatre with the touring Broadway show tradition it is known for today. Back then, shows like Carousel and South Pacific made their rounds starting there. The renaming of the former Majestic Theatre as the Shubert comes from Samuel S. Shubert. The Shubert Theatre was one of two theaters posthumously named for Sam Shubert, a 1900s theater mogul, by his brothers Jacob and Lee. The other Shubert Theatre is in New York City.

Still as stunning as the day it opened in 1906, the LaSalle Bank Theatre was acquired by the Nederlander Organization in 1991, restored and debuted in 2005 as the newly-named LaSalle Bank Theatre.

If theater patrons desire to see a superior production on a superior stage, the LaSalle Bank Theatre resides at 18 West Monroe Street in the heart of Chicago's theater district. No matter what one may choose to call it, it is still one of Chicago's finest cultural achievements.

For information about current productions or ticket information, please contact (312) 977-1710.



Sources:
Broadwayinchicago.com. 17 November 2006.
Chicagotraveler.com. 17 November 2006.
Wikipedia.com. 17 November 2006