It’s been a decade now since Broadway brought its esteemed stage plays to this city, creating Broadway in Chicago.
It’s been a decade now since Broadway brought its esteemed stage plays to this city, creating Broadway in Chicago.
From runs of The Lion King, Wicked, The Color Purple and other acclaimed productions, to sold out audiences at the newly formed theater district’s venues such as Cadillace Palace, Bank of America Theatre, The Ford Center for the Performing Arts/ Oriental Theatre, the Cadillac Palace Theatre and the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, Broadway in Chicago has been a cultural hit and a financial boom. Reportedly, some 11.5 million theater goers have packed out venues, bringing in over $5 billion in revenue for the city.
It was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between Live Nation and Nederlander Organization, the two largest commercial theater producers and owner/operators in the country. Nederlander is now the sole owner of Broadway in Chicago buying out Live Nation’s share in 2007. Broadway in Chicago President Lou Raizin gives a lot of credit for the company’s success to Mayor Richard Daley. “Broadway In Chicago has been able to thrive the past ten years because of a Mayor who had the foresight to create a theatre in Chicago. His vision has become a real economic engine for this city,” Raizin said.
To celebrate, the theater organization will offer a free concert in the park on June 28 during the Taste of Chicago at the Petrillo Band Shell.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender.
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