Arie Crown Theater
Encyclopedia
The Arie Crown Theater was named after Lithuania
n immigrant Arie Crown, who was the father of Henry Crown
, the American industrialist and philanthropist. The theater is situated on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
. It opened in 1960, with seating for 5,000 people, one of the largest seating capacities in Chicago. The theater is part of the McCormick Place
convention facility, owned by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
.
The theatre was damaged by a fire in 1967 and was closed until 1971. After re-opening a year later for Mahalia Jackson
's funeral, the Arie Crown Theater has had nearly four decades presenting classical and rock music, also musicals.
In more recent years, the acoustics have been improved by changing the proportions of the auditorium and staging area and this has reduced the seating capacity
to 4,250 people.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n immigrant Arie Crown, who was the father of Henry Crown
Henry Crown
Henry Crown was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Among other things, he founded the Material Service Corporation, which merged with General Dynamics in 1959. At the time of his death, he was a billionaire...
, the American industrialist and philanthropist. The theater is situated on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. It opened in 1960, with seating for 5,000 people, one of the largest seating capacities in Chicago. The theater is part of the McCormick Place
McCormick Place
McCormick Place is the largest convention center in the United States. It is made up of four interconnected buildings sited on and near the shore of Lake Michigan, about 4 km south of downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA. McCormick Place hosts numerous trade shows, including the Chicago Auto Show,...
convention facility, owned by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, commonly known as McPier or MPEA, is a corporation that was created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1989 from the Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority by the "Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act". It owns and manages several...
.
The theatre was damaged by a fire in 1967 and was closed until 1971. After re-opening a year later for Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
's funeral, the Arie Crown Theater has had nearly four decades presenting classical and rock music, also musicals.
In more recent years, the acoustics have been improved by changing the proportions of the auditorium and staging area and this has reduced the seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
to 4,250 people.