Designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, the Auditorium Theatre has played a crucial role in Chicago's cultural life since its opening in 1889 and is one of the most architecturally spectacular performing arts venues in the country.

Originally an opera house, the Auditorium has adapted over the decades though after a period of restoration in the sixties it returned to its position as one of Chicago's preeminent arts venues. Musicals, ballets and rock'n'roll concerts have all taken place at the Auditorium with notable performaces coming from Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Elton John. Major productions to have sold out at the Auditorium include Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera and Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley  both made speeches.