Theater in Chicago, Illinois
Cadillac Palace Theatre
Marquee and Entrance (2021)
|
|
Former names
| New Palace Theatre
(1926-31)
RKO Palace Theatre
(1931-53)
Eitel's Palace Theatre
(1953-72)
Bismarck Theatre
(1984-99)
|
---|
Address
| 151
W Randolph St.
Chicago
,
IL
60601-3108
|
---|
Location
| Chicago Loop
|
---|
Owner
| Van Kampen Family
|
---|
Operator
| Nederlander Organization
|
---|
Capacity
| 2,344
|
---|
Production
| Beauty and the Beast (2025)
|
---|
|
Opened
| October 4, 1926
(
1926-10-04
)
|
---|
Renovated
| 1972, 1984, 1999
|
---|
Closed
| 1972-84
|
---|
Construction cost
| $12 million
($218 million in 2023 dollars
[1]
)
$20 million
(1999 renovations)
($37.4 million in 2023 dollars
[1]
)
|
---|
Architect
| Rapp and Rapp
|
---|
|
Venue Website
|
The
Cadillac Palace Theatre
(originally the
New Palace Theatre
) is operated by
Broadway In Chicago
, a
Nederlander
company and seats 2,344. It is located at 151 West
Randolph Street
in the
Chicago Loop
area. Opened in 1926 and designed largely in the
French Baroque
style, it is connected to the historic
Eitel Brothers
' Bismarck Hotel (Allegro Royal), and was for a time known as the,
Bismarck Theatre
.
Cadillac
has held the naming rights since 1999.
History
[
edit
]
The theater opened in 1926 as the New Palace Theatre with
Roger Wolfe Kahn
and his Orchestra topping the bill. It was built at a cost of
$
12 million as part of the Eitel Block Project. In 1984, the theater was renamed the Bismarck Theatre and turned into a rock venue. In 1999, it was renovated and renamed the Cadillac Palace Theatre after
Cadillac
purchased
naming rights
. It currently has maximum capacity of 2,344 people. Since this reopening it has been home to many pre-broadway hits. Broadway In Chicago which has allowed for more Broadway hits to tour through Chicago causing a great economic impact on the city of Chicago.
[2]
Architecture
[
edit
]
The Rapp Brothers, George and Cornelius, were responsible for the design of the Cadillac Palace Theatre. The two men were also the architects behind the
Nederlander Theatre
and the
Chicago Theatre
, as well as dozens of other theaters around the country. Their inspiration for the look and feel of the Palace Theatre came from the Fontainebleau and the
Palace of Versailles
, both found in
France
. The interior includes huge decorative mirrors, breche violet and white marble. The walls inside are adorned with gold leafing and wood decorations, as well as a series of complex arches and detailed brass ornamentation.
Restoration
[
edit
]
During
World War II
the United States government went around to most theaters and confiscated all the brass which it recycled for war materials. At the time, the owners of the Palace Theatre painted all the brass in the theater white, so that when the government came in, they were tricked into thinking the theater contained no brass. The brass was left this way and generally forgotten until the recent renovation, when the paint was removed and the rare brass ornamentation was rediscovered and restored to its original condition.
General interest
[
edit
]
The theater opened as part of vaudeville's
Orpheum Circuit
. As part of the Orpheum Circuit, the theater presented such stars as
Jimmy Durante
,
Mae West
,
Jack Benny
,
Sophie Tucker
, and
Bob Hope
. After the loss of interest in vaudeville, the theater was converted into a movie palace in 1931.
[3]
Notable productions
[
edit
]
The Cadillac Palace became home to pre-Broadway tours and world premieres with the opening of
Elton John
and
Tim Rice
's
Aida
in the autumn of 1999. This was the beginning of many Broadway-caliber shows to pass through the Cadillac Palace.
Mel Brooks
's
The Producers
premiered in Chicago starring
Nathan Lane
and
Matthew Broderick
in February 2001. In October 2006
The Pirate Queen
made its premiere.
Oprah Winfrey
presents
The Color Purple
sat down for its long-run from April to September 2007. In March 2009, the national tour of
Mary Poppins
began its premier engagement at the Cadillac Palace.
Shrek The Musical
launched its national tour there from July 13-September 5, 2010. Beginning December 1, 2010,
Wicked
played a limited return engagement on its first national tour, playing through January 23, 2011.
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
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41°53′2″N
87°37′57″W
/
41.88389°N 87.63250°W
/
41.88389; -87.63250