theatre performing arts venue located loop community area chicago illinois originally named founded events affiliated university serves home chicago families young audiences series produced building designed marshall fox developed drake hotel fame site mansion theatre rich history live performances traditionally touring productions hit prize winning shows building architects designed new theatre firm marshall fox designed adjacent hotel theatre took mansion previously occupied site original address later renamed seventh street renamed current building stories tall built french renaissance style constructed seven years theater required management claimed auditorium cleared minutes seating capacity people renovations orchestra pit create seating handicapped persons reduced seat count developers better known developers father business partner building directly resulted older nearby theatre era entertainment performed live stage opening new theatre considered major newspapers reported proposed opening noted new_york_times wrote mid july new soon erected place chicago large seating capacity equipped modern theatrical device stage patterned city new_york chicago_tribune announced coming event page story newspaper elaborated times reported new theatre feature productions operate theatre jointly incorporated larger formed july article pointed new theatre ornate movie palace able seat people costing excess half million dollars build officially opened december premiere chicago playwright newest play minister comedy starred critics impressed play beauty venue managed chicago businessman extensive experience theatre worked way early days usher ultimately trusted associated powers remained manager decades productions featured era best known performers example minister came david production return peter starring productions received new_york coming play featured comic actor senator productions equal version played new_york theatre critic hammond observed occasions chicago companies lacked biggest stars despite touring companies performed tended good job hammond praised effective productions trend presenting touring company versions continue later years performances plays won pulitzer prize presented touring companies new_york decade operation featured number unique productions performances players direction offered fourteen shakespeare plays weeks early november noteworthy presentation performances featuring periods time play performed opened doors events sponsored civic organizations chicago new organization held benefits home large women suffrage rally conference attendance united_states keeping times performances stage heard chicago area radio station thanks station owner thought good idea use theatre live broadcasts began early touring theatre actors appeared opportunity venue specialized new productions actors stage include 1920s presented plays sir lease end announced terminating lease died march country midst depression newspaper reports remarked businesses suffering building owners john tracy drake managed theatre year leased theatre incorporated group lasted year saved 1930s leased theatre continued use rehearsals productions program abolished congress period played host original plays theater rented staged life father starring opened february ran year following year starred good night ladies ran weeks theatre run managed hall bought theatre rise forms entertainment television attendance live theaters declined scaled season weeks weeks year saw premiere sun play successful weeks left chicago new_york time renaissance chicago theatre taking place city north dark august reopened lily woman search signs intelligent life universe time decided time chicago theatres monroe street renamed founded joined alumni include gillian_anderson decided majority chicago theatres building offered began officially performing march production earlier production phantom main performance space year presents chicago series run academic year presents works intended families young audiences showcase series offers contemporary plays classics sizable donation november theatre renamed née spent years professional actress portraying ensign south pacific broadway appearing gave career marrying spent thirty years addition building arts organizations
Merle Reskin Theatre