User:SecretName101/List of Events at Auditorium Theatre

The Auditorium Theatre, located in the Auditorium Building (now owned by Roosevelt University), officially opened in 1889. At the time it was constructed, it was dubbed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

1880's

 * 1888 Republican National Convention was held at the Theatre a year before its official opening. Speakers at the event included Frederick Douglass.
 * Dec. 9, 1889 Auditorium Theatre was official opened to a standing-room-only crowd. Among those at the dignitaries at the dedication were President Benjamin Harrison and Vice President of the United States Levi P. Morton. This was the first time in the history of the United States that both the President and Vice President left Washington while Congress was in session. Among those performing at the event was the legendary soprano Adelina Patti (great-grand-aunt of Patti LuPone) who performed the song "Home Sweet Home".

1890's

 * October 16, 1891 the Chicago Symphony Orchestra made their debut at the Theatre in a performance conducted by Maestro Theodore Thomas. The Symphony Orchestra would remain a resident company of the Auditorium for more than a decade.
 * In 1893, during the World's Columbian Exposition, a grand historical pageant America was held in the Auditorium Theatre and seen by thousands of spectators.

1900's

 * In 1900 Booker T. Washington spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Auditorium.

1910's

 * October 3, 1910 the Chicago Opera Association (later renamed the Chicago Civic Opera Company) had the first performance of their residence at the Auditorium Theatre.
 * At the 1912 Progressive National Convention Theodore Roosevelt gave his 'Armageddon' speech at the Auditorium and was nominated for President of the United States by the independent National Progressive Party, also refereed to as the "Bull Moose Party".
 * The 1916 Progressive National Convention was held at the Auditorium Theatre.
 * In 1919 the funeral of Cleofonte Campanini, conductor of the Chicago Opera Company, was held at the Auditorium Theatre.

1920's

 * Nov. 11, 1921 an estimated radio audience of 50,000 people tuned in as Chicago's first live radio broadcast took place with KYW broadcasting a performance of Madame Butterfly by the Chicago Opera Company at the Auditorium Theatre.
 * In 1929 the Chicago Opera Company left the Auditorium Theatre for the Civic Opera House. This left the Auditorium Theatre without a major tenant.

1930's

 * In 1939 the Auditorium Theatre celebrated its 50th anniversary

1940's

 * In 1941 the Auditorium Theatre closed
 * In 1942 the City of Chicago took over the Auditorium. They used it as a World War II Servicemen Center. The theatre was used for recreational activities for US servicemen. A bowling alley was constructed atop the stage.

1950's
No events

1960's

 * October 31, 1967 the Auditorium Theatre reopened with a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream by the New York City Ballet.
 * During the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, conflict between police and protesters took place dirrectly outside the Auditorium Theatre.

1970's

 * In 1970 the Auditorium Building was added to the National Register of Historical Places.
 * In 1975 the Auditorium Building was given National Historic Landmark status.
 * In 1976 the Auditorium Building was made a Chicago Landmark.

1980's

 * In 1989, during the Auditorium Theatre's 100th anniversary season, Les Misérables was performed at the venue. This started a new era of Broadway musicals at the Theatre.

2000's

 * In 2002 the Bolshoi Ballet performed at the Auditorium to sold-out audiences and rave reviews.
 * In 2006 Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University presented its first self-produced show, Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah.
 * November 1, 2008 grand opera made its return to the Auditorium Theatre with the Chicago premiere of Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison’s Margaret Garner, with Denyce Graves as the titular role.
 * In 2009 the Auditorium Theatre celebrated its 120th birthday by transforming the stage into a 200-seat black box theater for a production of The Mistress Cycle.

2010's

 * In 2011 the Auditorium Theatre produced a 4 month long city-wide 'Miles Davis Festival'. The festival included the Auditorium Theatre's first-ever commission, a piece by Frank Chaves of River North Dance Chicago entitled, "Simply Miles, Simply Us".
 * August 22, 2012 Margot Pritzker hosted a forum with former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright at the Auditorium Theatre. This event was held in relation to the 2012 Chicago Summit.
 * December 9, 2014 a 125th anniversary celebration entitled 'Living the History' was held at the Auditorium Theatre. The host of the night was actor John Mahoney. Broadway star Patti LuPone, the great-grandneice of Adelina Patti, sang "Home Sweet Home", the same song performed by her great-grand-aunt at the opening of the Theatre. Artists from the Apollo Chorus, Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed at the event. A group of notable Chicago musicians, led by Jim Peterik, performed several songs at the event.
 * 2015 NFL Draft


 * 2016 NFL Draft