If you are ever in Chicago and you love stage acting or orchestral concerts as well as the opera and ballet, you will see that the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater will be able to provide it for you.
Owned now by the Nederlander Organization and operated by Broadway in Chicago, this performing arts center is located at 24 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois; this place is the Chicago Loop area downtown.
Opened in 1926 as one of the best movie palaces, it was called as the Oriental Theater because of the decorations and the architecture was based on Indian art. The architects of the Oriental Theater were George L. Rapp and Cornelius W. Rapp. They also built the Palace and Chicago Theaters.
The Oriental Theater continued to thrive up into the 1960’s. However, the patronage declined in the 1970’s along with the fortunes of Chicago Loop. Because of this, the Oriental Theater began showing exploitation films and was closed in 1981 and sat vacant for more than a decade.
During the late 1990’s the Oriental was developed and restored, which was reopened on 1998. The seating capacity was reconfigured to 2,253 seats and the newly restored house is now able to host visiting companies of the Broadway shows. It was also renamed as The Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater.
The architect in charge of the restoration also increased the size of the backstage by gutting the Oliver Building which is adjacent to the theater.
When the theater reopened in 1999, the Ragtime musical was presented. Currently, however, Wicked is played, which is a smash hit Broadway show production. As you can see, this once rundown theater now hosts one of the best productions in the United States or perhaps even the world. So, the next time you visit Chicago and you are looking for high quality entertainment, then you might want to visit the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater. Here, you will be able to experience a one of a kind entertainment that will surely captivate your heart and soul and a show that you will remember for a very long time.
The Ford Center for the Performing Arts is now one of the best in the United States. Hosting numerous shows, including Broadway shows, and other performances by some of the best artists in the country and from different parts of the world, you will see that they will be able to provide a show that the whole family can enjoy.
These are some of the things that you need to know about the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater. By watching the shows here, you can be sure that it will be one experience that you will never forget.
From ballet performances, to operas, to stage acting, to comedy shows, to Broadway shows, you can be sure that the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theater will be able to provide you with your entertainment needs. Just make sure that you purchase your tickets early on as the shows here are very popular that it always tends to be packed with patrons.
These are the things that you need to know about the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. With the numerous entertaining shows, you will see that entertainment here will truly be a one of a kind experience.
