The Cadillac Palace Theatre
(formerly the The New Palace Theatre
) is a Chicago theatre owned by the Nederlander Organization and operated by Broadway In Chicago. It is located at 151 West Randolph Street in the Chicago Loop area downtown.
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CADILLAC PALACE TICKETS
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History
The theatre originally opened in 1926 as the New Palace Theatre. It was built at a cost of
$12 million as part of the Eitel Block Project. In 1984 the theatre 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 to the venue. It currently has maximum capacity of 2,344 people. Since this reopening it has been home to many pre-broadway hits. The theatre is currently owned and operated by
Broadway In Chicago which has allowed for more Broadway hits to tour through Chicago causing a great economic impact on the city of Chicago.
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Architecture
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
Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental 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 Fountainebleau 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
During
World War II the United States government went around to most theaters and confiscated all the brass. Brass was melted down and used for ammunition, shells, etc. 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 about until the recent renovation of the theater, when the paint was scraped off and the rare brass ornamentation was rediscovered and restored to its original state.
General interest
The theatre was opened as part of vaudeville's
Orpheum Circuit. As part of the Orpheum Circuit, the theatre housed such stars as
Jimmy Durante,
Mae West,
Jack Benny,
Sophie Tucker, and
Bob Hope. After the loss of interest in vaudeville, the theatre was converted into a movie palace in 1931.
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Notable productions
The Cadillac Palace became home to pre-Broadway tours and world premieres with the opening of
Elton John and
Tim Rice's
Aida
. 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 before
Oprah Winfrey presents
The Color Purple
sat down for its long-run from April 2007 to September 2007.
References
- Renovated Palace has open house
- Rebirth of a Dream