Grammy Award winning recording artist and songwriter, Leon Bridges, brings to the stage all elements of his career spanning experiences, inspirations, and award winning catalog of songs with every performance. From working as a dishwasher and busking on the streets of his beloved Fort Worth, TX to being signed to a major label and performing at the White House for Former President Barack Obama within a two-year span, Leon has continued to push the boundaries of his career. Leon has recently announced his fourth full length album Leon, out on October 4th, which includes the lead single "Peaceful Place". Recorded and produced by Ian Fitchuk (Kacey Musgraves, Maggie Rogers)at El Desierto on the outskirts of Mexico City with co-production from Daniel Tashian(Kacey Musgraves)in Nashville, Leon features 13 handcrafted tracks spotlighting Leon’s signature storytelling and organic genre alchemy. Leon unfolds as his most poignant, powerful, and personal body of work to date as theman himself takes you through the streets he knows best, the things he holds dearest, and the memoriesof the people and place that shaped him. This record is unmistakably Leon.
The Auditorium is excited to bring the STING 3.0 Tour to Chicago! In Sting’s distinguished career, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has received 17 GRAMMY Awards® and sold 100 million albums worldwide from his combined work as one of the most distinctive solo artists in the world and former front man of The Police. A composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author and activist, Sting also has received a Golden Globe, four Oscar nominations, a Tony nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award and Kennedy Center Honors. UPDATE: ELEW has been added as support for Sting 3.0 Tour.
This will be the North American premiere of this production.
Francis Ford Coppola’s cinematographic retelling of Bram Stoker’s novel became a box office hit in 1992, crowned by three Academy Awards. Its fresh and bold conceptual energy turned the movie into the most influential vampire film in decades. A film whose opulence and sense of spectacle triggered a whole new wave of contemporary horror films. One of the film’s strengths was coming back to Bram Stoker’s original novel instead of adapting the more popular theater play from the 1920s.
Now, for ONE-NIGHT-ONLY, experience the North American Premiere of Bram Stoker's Dracula in Concert. 110 musicians from Chicago Philharmonic, accompanied by a full choir, bring Wojciech Kilar's haunting score to life in sync with the film.
Polish composer Wojciech Kilar (1932-2013), one of the most respected European composers of the last decades, was chosen to write the original score. As Coppola did in 1 972 when he approached Italian composer Nino Rota to score THE GODFATHER, the surprising choice of Wojciech Kilar would break all musical of the genre. Belonging to the generation of Krzysztof Penderecki and Henryk Górecki, Kilar’s glorious score dwells between lush romanticism, mysticism and avantgarde. Although Kilar had written dozens of soundtracks for European films before, it is BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA that ensures his position in the pantheon of film music legends.
This event is rated R. Contains some adult material. Under 17 years old requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Click here for more information about tickets and subscriptions to the Auditorium Philms Concert Series.
Additionally, patrons are invited to join us for The VIP Vampire Experience, hosted by Chicago’s own iconic horror-host Svengoolie. This preshow party, starting at 6:30pm, includes a meet & greet with photo & signing opportunity with Svengoolie and complimentary sweets and a specialty cocktail (or mocktail) The Bite. Tickets for this event are $40 and can be found after patrons add their selected Bram Stoker's Dracula in Concert seat(s) to their cart.
More than anything, brent is the sound of friendship. On one level, it represents the musical union of multi-platinum solo artists Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler. On another, it’s an ongoing dialogue between two good friends. In the same spirit, it only continues to grow, change, and evolve—just as they do. That brings us to the next chapter, brent iii [Mercury Records]. After a pair of widely celebrated EPs, the third installment marks their first proper full- length album, and it will be accompanied by their debut brent tour. Outside of their respective busy solo careers, brent possesses its own identity. Jeremy and Chelsea unassumingly introduced their creative partnership with the first brent EP [2019]. It yielded the double-platinum “you were good to me” and fan favorites such as “please.” The follow-up, brent ii [2021], housed the gold-certified “this is how you fall in love” and “emily.” Amassing millions of streams and earning critical acclaim, PAPER Magazine declared Zucker and Cutler as a “pop power duo,” while Euphoria Magazine hailed them as “music’s modernistic Romeo and Juliet” and HYPEBAE praised them saying, “Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler share musical chemistry like no other.” Now, brent iii is both the peak of their five-year creative journey and a harbinger of what’s to come for these destined-to-be “forever” friends. Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker have partnered with PLUS 1 so that $1 per ticket goes to supporting The National Park Foundation.
“This powerhouse company is a magnificent display of soul stirring raw power and grace,” says Chicago Theatre Review. Deeply Rooted Dance Theater reimagines and diversifies the aesthetics of contemporary dance by uniting modern, classical, American, and African American traditions in dance and storytelling. Celebrating more than 28 years as one of the most renowned dance companies in Chicago, the evening at the historic Auditorium Theatre will present the full spectrum of Deeply Rooted’s impressive trajectory.
Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros featuring The Wolfpack continue their groundbreaking and much beloved symphony collaborations. Each night the performances will feature a completely unique set featuring hits from the expansive Grateful Dead catalogue, Weir’s solo albums and beloved covers. Orchestration is provided by the Chicago Philharmonic. A project that was years in the making, the band originally debuted these acclaimed orchestral performances during a four-night sold-out run with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in the fall of 2022. Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros have continued touring theaters nationwide, captivating audiences and keeping the spirit of the Grateful Dead alive to critical acclaim.
On his eleventh studio album, Transmissions, singer-songwriter Amos Lee continues to expand his sonic range while sharpening his closely observed lyrics that squarely address death, aging, and love. The force behind such acclaimed albums as Mission Bell and Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song, ever since his gold-selling 2005 debut Lee has been known for his association with a long list of collaborators and touring partners, from Paul Simon to Zac Brown Band. Joined by the Chicago Philharmonic, Amos Lee will be performing with a full orchestra for the first time ever in Chicago.
Ina Garten (aka the Barefoot Contessa) is the author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, a beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon, with millions of followers in the US and abroad. She is the host of Be My Guest and Barefoot Contessa on Food Network and Max, for which she has won five Emmy Awards and three James Beard Awards. In Fall 2024 Ina Garten will publish her long-awaited memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens (Crown / Penguin Random House, OCT 2024). For the first time Ina Garten will present an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey, sharing her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table. In this intimate evening conversation (live onstage), Ina Garten will discuss and elaborate on the themes also in her new memoir: from a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, DC to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina Garten has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Note: Designated seats in the Price Level 1 and Price Level 2 seating sections include a pre-signed copy of Ina’s new book. Hovering over the seat in Ticketmaster.com will show which seats include the book. Pre-Order your copy of Ina Garten’s highly anticipated new book, Be Ready When The Luck Happens. Show Host: Maile Carpenter
Bored Teachers are BACK with all new material on their “The Struggle is Real!” Comedy Tour. For years, Bored Teachers Studios has brought a sense of humor to teachers around the world to ease their daily struggle in the classroom. They’ve amassed over a billion views on their viral videos on social media, over 10 million followers, and the #1 ranked teacher- comedy podcast—#6 of all Stand Up Comedy shows on Apple Podcasts. Since 2022, Bored Teachers has been selling out comedy clubs and major theatres across 49 states, bringing laughter to over 150,000 teachers throughout the school year and has become the main event to attend in all of teacher world. Even non-teacher fans have reviewed it as one of the funniest stand up shows they’ve ever seen! The Bored Teachers Show is a comedy powerhouse that anyone who’s ever been in a classroom can relate to. Please note that PG-13 language is used during some sets. Recommended attendance age: 18+
Direct from Broadway, MEAN GIRLS is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer TINA FEY (“30 Rock”), composer JEFF RICHMOND (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist NELL BENJAMIN (Legally Blonde) and original director and choreographer CASEY NICHOLAW (The Book of Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, “MEAN GIRLS delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.”
In honor of Mavis Staples’ 85th birthday, a very special celebration has been scheduled in her hometown of Chicago with special guest sets by Jackson Browne and Margo Price, followed by a headlining performance with Mavis and her band. Hailed by NPR as “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace,” Staples is a Blues and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer; a civil rights icon; a GRAMMY Award-winner; a chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer; a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient; and a Kennedy Center honoree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and sang in Barack Obama’s White House. This event is presented by Jam Productions and 16” on Center and is part of the 93XRT Fall Jam Series.
Funny, irresistible and heart-warming, Love Actually is set in contemporary London in the weeks before Christmas and tells one story which weaves together a spectacular amount of love stories – sometimes romantic, sometimes sad, sometimes stupid – all funny in their own way. With the film becoming a Christmas tradition for many, audiences attending the Love Actually Film in Concert will be invited to to a unique way to watch the film: a full, live orchestra will perform Craig Armstrong’s evocative score at these shows, with the film being projected onto the big screen. Everywhere you look it seems love is causing chaos. From the new bachelor Prime Minister who falls in love 30 seconds after entering Downing Street to a loser sandwich delivery guy who doesn’t have a hope with the girls in the UK so heads for Wisconsin; from a jilted writer who escapes the south of France to nurse his broken heart to an aging rock star trying to make a comeback at any price;, from a bride having problems with her husband’s best man to a married woman having trouble with her husband; from a schoolboy with a crush on the prettiest girl in the school to his architect step-father with a crush on Claudia Schiffer. The film features an all-star ensemble cast, including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman, and many more. Take a breathtaking tour of love’s delightful twists and turns as you fall under the spell of Love Actually and share in the laughs and charm live in concert. Click here for more information about tickets and subscriptions to the Auditorium Philms Concert Series.
You better watch out, you better not cry, because “The Queens of Christmas” (Entertainment Weekly) are coming to Chicago with a brand new edition of the internationally acclaimed The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show! Another holiday season brings another year of fabulous spectacle, whip-smart comedy, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Join the sugary DeLa and spicy Jinkx for an evening the New York Times says is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.” For VIP add-ons, please visit JinkxAndDeLa.com.
Featuring: Jonathan Butler Special Guests: Vincent Ingala, Adam Hawley, and Rebecca Jade Marking the 27th anniversary of the longest-running jazz-based Christmas tour, Dave Koz & Friends bring a fresh sensibility to this rich musical tradition on their 2024 outing, performing timeless Christmas classics, a Chanukah medley and hits from each artist’s respective catalogue. This year’s tour, which will visit 18 cities in less than a month, reunites Koz with long-time musical partner, guitarist/singer Jonathan Butler, and features special guests, saxophonist Vincent Ingala, guitarist Adam Hawley and vocalist Rebecca Jade—all of whom are truly artists on the rise. Don’t miss the show that’s been hailed as “a holiday institution” (The Oakland Press) and “a kick-ass holiday party” (360°Sound).
The Auditorium and WBEZ are proud to present the Moth Mainstage on Friday, December 13. Not to be confused with StorySlam or GrandSlam events, The Mainstage is the quintessential Moth experience: A two-act show featuring a musical act, where the storytellers and a notable host share true personal stories, without notes. As an audience member, you’ll get to experience live, unedited tapings for future episodes of The Moth Podcast and Moth Radio Hour. The Moth Mainstage features simple, old-fashioned storytelling by five wildly divergent raconteurs who develop and shape their stories with the Moth’s artistic team. Trust us: This event is not to be missed.
Joss Stone is a Grammy and Brit award-winning artist who released her star-making critically acclaimed debut album, The Soul Sessions, in 2003, aged just 16. Since then, she has released nine studio albums which have sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Stone has kept the company of musical royalty, performing alongside legendary artists such as James Brown, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Sting, Van Morrison and Melissa Etheridge. In addition, she has collaborated with and contributed to albums for many of the world's finest musicians, including Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, and Damien Marley, and garnered over one billion streams in the US alone. Stone has been known to experiment with different styles in her own work as well, and her albums feature an exciting patchwork of various influences, creating a catalogue characterised by the fusion of her powerhouse soul vocals with reggae, world music, and hip-hop soundscapes. In 2022, she released her first ever Xmas album, “Merry Christmas, Love”. Please note, for every ticket purchased to this performance, $1 will be donated to charity.
Back by popular demand, be “blown-away” (WGN Radio) by the uplifting power of faith and hope with familiar favorites, standout soloists, and world-class musicians with a fresh twist in an unforgettable musical extravaganza one can only explain as “indescribable” (Journal of Gospel Music). Breaking the classical music sound barrier since 1993! Marin Alsop, with colleagues Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson reimagined Handel’s Messiah. Too Hot to Handel captures the essential core of Handel’s famous piece and reinterprets it with chords of R&B, jazz, and gospel. The end result is a dynamic and uplifting celebration that must be experienced to be appreciated. “Listeners hooted, whistled and shouted their approval after every number. The ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ was so ecstatically received, it was repeated as an encore.”—The New York Times
After an electric sold-out debut in 2022, Chicago Philharmonic brings back Marvel Studios’ Black Panther in Concert. In 2018, Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” quickly became a global sensation and cultural phenomenon, showing a new dimension of what SuperHero films could be. Rolling Stone raved, “The film lights up the screen with a full-throttle blast of action and fun. That’s to be expected. But what sneaks up and floors you is the film’s racial conscience and profound, astonishing beauty.” Relive the excitement of T’Challa becoming king and battling Killmonger all while the “one of the country’s finest symphonic orchestras” (Chicago Tribune) performs Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar® and Grammy®-winning score live to picture. Joining the orchestra for the concert is Massamba Diop, the revered Senegalese tama drummer who recorded and co-created parts of the movie score with composer Göransson. Massamba Diop- the world-renowned Senegalese tama drummer who not only played on but also composed sections of the original score- will join the orchestra. Composer Ludwig Göransson (who is known for his work as producer to Childish Gambino in addition to composing for tv and film including Oppenheimer, Tenet, Creed, The Book of Boba Fett, and The Mandalorian) crafted the score to Black Panther in collaboration with Senegalese musicians Baba Maal and Massamba Diop. The Academy Award winning movie score combines traditional Senegalese music, Western symphonic scoring, and 21st Century digital production techniques to parallel the film’s Afro-futurist themes and create a sound that feels both futuristic and ancient. In a particularly inspired collaboration between Göransson and Diop, the film hero T’Challa is represented by three notes on the talking drum that sound rhythmically similar to the name “T’Challa.” This theme is repeated throughout the film, first by the talking drum and then the entire orchestra, and is transformed depending on the scene.
Actor John Cusack will host an intimate screening of one of his most popular motion pictures, Say Anything, followed by a live conversation about his career and the making of the film, followed by a Q&A at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL. A limited number of VIP tickets are available that include the best seats in the house along with a post-show photo opportunity with John. Pre-sale tickets available Tuesday, October 22 at 10AM CST. Public on-sale tickets available Friday, October 25 at 10AM CST.
Celebrate Complexions 30th anniversary season with their newest work, "For Crying Out Loud", set to the music of the internationally renowned band U2! Experience an adrenaline-fueled evening with “arabesques that sail to the sky” (Critical Dance) as the dancers take you on a journey that will leave you breathless. Complexions was founded in 1994 by Master Choreographer Dwight Rhoden and the legendary Desmond Richardson with a singular approach to reinventing dance through a groundbreaking mix of methods, styles and cultures. The company’s foremost innovation is that dance should be about removing boundaries, not reinforcing them. Whether it be the limiting traditions of a single style, period, venue, or culture, Complexions transcends them all, creating an open, continually evolving form of dance that reflects the movement of our world—and all its constituent cultures—as an interrelated whole. Together, Rhoden and Richardson have created in Complexions an institution that embodies its historical moment, a sanctuary where those passionate about dance can celebrate its past while simultaneously building its future.
Six-time GRAMMY-winner Jason Isbell has announced a special run of solo shows kicking off at The Auditorium on February 15th, 2025. Isbell has established himself as one of the most respected and celebrated songwriters of his generation. The North Alabama native possesses a penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song. Isbell sings of the everyday human condition with thoughtful, heartfelt, and sometimes brutal honesty. Pre-sale tickets available Wednesday, October 23 at 10AM CST. Public on-sale tickets available Friday, October 25 at 10AM CST.
Jam presents British R&B singer songwriter Jorja Smith for her first Chicago performance in over five years. In the past decade Smith collaborated with an astonishing roster of international stars like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Stormzy, Burna Boy and Kali Uchis. in 2018, she was the first independent artist to win the coveted BRITs Critics Choice Award. That same year her debut album, Lost & Found, was released to rave reviews and a Mercury Prize-nomination. She won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist in 2019 and was nominated that same year for the Grammy for Best New Artist.
Celebrate the stunning and visually opulent history, culture, music, and dance of Mexico with one of the most famous dance companies in the world featuring the renowned choreography of Amalia Hernández and be moved by the live music creating a “whirling, kaleidoscopic splendor” (Boston Globe). Founded in 1952 by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico brings together the music, dance and costume of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian civilizations through the modern era. With its permanent home at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico City’s most historic venues, the company has developed choreography for 40 ballets, composed of 60 folk dancers and musicians who have performed extensively across Mexico and abroad.
Returning to their Chicago home, the illustrious 65-year strong company brings incredible show-stopping performances. Experience the latest premieres, contemporary favorites, and beloved masterpieces that are both “timely and timeless” (Chicago Tribune). On March 30, 1958, Alvin Ailey led a group of young African-American modern dancers in a now-fabled performance at the 92nd Street Y in New York City that forever changed the perception of American dance. Mr. Ailey was a pioneer in establishing a multi-racial repertory company that presented important works by both dance masters and emerging choreographers. Through the remarkable artistry of extraordinary dancers, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to celebrate the African-American cultural experience and to preserve and enrich the American modern dance tradition. With a repertory of over 235 works by more than 90 choreographers and a permanent home at The Joan Weill Center for Dance in New York City—the largest building dedicated to dance in New York City, the dance capital of the world—the Ailey legacy flourishes, using the universal language of dance as a medium for honoring the past, celebrating the present and fearlessly reaching into the future.
Witness boundary-pushing artistry and life-affirming joy from this New York City based contemporary American dance company who is internationally renowned for their energized, athletic ensemble works making it “one of the great movers of modern dance” (The New York Times). Parsons Dance is a New York City based contemporary American dance company, internationally renowned for its energized, athletic ensemble work. The company performs works selected from the vast and varied repertory of more than 75 works created by David Parsons. The company commissions new dances from established choreographers like Trey McIntyre and Monica Bill Barnes and restages works from the American canon, including works by Robert Battle and Paul Taylor.
Be moved by an electric fusion of classical and contemporary dance showcasing the talents of the local dance company making waves through stunning collaborations by master choreographers and works that fearlessly embracing innovation and provide fresh perspective with “note-by-note precision” (Dance Magazine). SCDT is firmly rooted on Chicago’s south side. Several of the company’s collaborators have been a part of the fabric of the south side’s vibrant arts community since the early 1960’s. Thus, the SCDT is committed to maintaining its rich heritage through the embodiment of south Chicago influenced movement, music and history.
Explore the fiery fusion of classical pointe technique, Hip-Hop and other dance styles with a Chicago trailblazing company redefining ballet with “cutting-edge style” (The University Daily of Kansa) while being “joyfully inclusive” (Observer). The only company in the world to perform the signature trademark style, Hiplet Ballerinas of Chicago, Illinois fuse classical pointe technique with African, Latin, Hip-Hop and urban dance styles rooted in communities of color. Promoting inclusivity in both their cast and audience, Hiplet features true-toned tights, modern music, and dancers of all shapes, sizes and colors.
When Sarah Millican was a child, she wouldn’t say boo to a goose. Quiet at school, not many friends, no boobs ‘til she was 16. Now? NOW she is loud, with good friends, a cracking rack and goose booing all over the shop. In Late Bloomer, Sarah’s brand-new stand-up show, she explores how one became the other. Plus, lots of stuff about dinners and lady gardens. Come along and join Sarah on her second American tour, laugh at her, with her, beside her. This event is for ages 16+.
