Studebaker Theater & Playhouse Theater

The Studebaker Theater & Playhouse Theater is a historic performing arts venue located inside the Fine Arts Building at 410 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The theater is part of a building originally constructed in 1887 for the Studebaker Carriage Company, which was founded in 1852 in South Bend, Indiana, by the five Studebaker brothers. In 1895, the company decided to move its manufacturing operations to a larger facility on Wabash Avenue, and before relocating in 1897, it retained ownership of the Michigan Avenue structure. Encouraged by Charles C. Curtiss, the company invested over $500,000 to remodel the building into an artists' haven of studios, offices, and theaters. This renovation led to the opening of the Fine Arts Building in 1898, which included the Studebaker Theater. Since its opening, the Studebaker Theater has been a central part of Chicago's cultural landscape. It began as a vaudeville house and later operated as a cinema complex before undergoing reconstructions and restorations. Today, it is a stunning showcase for the performing arts, hosting a diverse array of events including new musicals, podcast tapings, dance performances, film screenings with live scores, and stand-up comedy. Notable events have included NPR's Peabody Award-winning quiz show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!", a celebration of jazz vibraphone with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz, a stand-up special by Yang Meng'en (Youngmoon), a screening of F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film "Nosferatu" with a live original score by Circuit Des Yeux, and a co-presentation of Manual Cinema's "Frankenstein." The theater is also available for rentals and offers VIP experiences. The Studebaker Theater is owned and operated by the Fine Arts Building, which has been Chicago's artist haven since 1898. The building is home to painters, musicians, sculptors, yoga studios, puppeteers, therapists, coaches, and craftspeople, and features historic gems such as original manually-operated elevators and Art Nouveau murals from the late 19th century. The theater continues to be a vibrant hub of creative inspiration and diverse artistic expression, contributing to the Fine Arts Building's legacy as a living hub for creativity in all forms.

The history of the Studebaker Theater & Playhouse Theater is intertwined with the Fine Arts Building in Chicago. The building was originally constructed in 1887 as the headquarters and factory for the Studebaker Carriage Company, founded in 1852 in South Bend, Indiana, by the five Studebaker brothers. The company had a successful repository and sales room on Wabash Avenue in Chicago beginning in the early 1870s. In 1885, they consolidated operations at a new location on Michigan Avenue, hiring architect Solon S. Beman to design an eight-story building. Completed in 1887, it was praised as the "model carriage factory in this country, if not in the world." Carriages were assembled on the upper floors and sold on the lower four floors. By 1895, the Studebaker company was expanding rapidly and planned to move to a larger warehouse and manufacturing plant on Wabash Avenue. Before moving in 1897, they decided to retain ownership of the Michigan Avenue structure. At the encouragement of Charles C. Curtiss, they invested over $500,000 to remodel the building into an artists' haven of studios, offices, and theaters. This extensive renovation led to the opening of the Fine Arts Building in 1898, which included the Studebaker Theater. The theater quickly became a hub for Chicago's artists, musicians, craftspeople, and social clubs. The Studebaker Theater began as a vaudeville house, hosting a variety of live performances. Over the decades, it transitioned into a cinema complex, showing films. Through various reconstructions and restorations, it has been home to many of Chicago's premier productions. Today, it operates as a live performance venue within the Fine Arts Building, which continues to be a vibrant center for the arts. The theater hosts a wide range of events, from podcast tapings like NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" to dance performances, film screenings with live scores, and theatrical productions such as Manual Cinema's "Frankenstein." The Fine Arts Building, including the Studebaker Theater, remains a living hub for creativity in all forms.

• 1898

  Fine Arts Building opens, including the Studebaker Theater.

• 1897

  Studebaker moves to new facility; renovation of Michigan Avenue building begins with over $500,000 investment.

• 1895

  Plans made to move manufacturing to Wabash Avenue; decision to retain Michigan Avenue building.

• 1887

  Eight-story Studebaker building completed, hailed as a model carriage factory.

• 1885

  Studebaker decides to consolidate operations on Michigan Avenue and hires architect Solon S. Beman.

• 1852

  Studebaker Carriage Company founded in South Bend, Indiana by the five Studebaker brothers.

Historic and versatile performing arts venue in the heart of Chicago, offering a diverse range of cultural events within the iconic Fine Arts Building.

• Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! podcast taping

• Chicago Jazz Orchestra with Thaddeus Tukes

• Hernan Diaz author discussion

• Yang Meng'en (Youngmoon) stand-up special

• Nosferatu screening with live score by Circuit Des Yeux

• Memphis the musical

• Manual Cinema's Frankenstein

• RISE by The Sa Dance Company

1. 1Studebaker Theater | Fine Arts Buildingfineartsbuilding.com
2. 2Our History | Fine Arts Buildingfineartsbuilding.com
3. 3About Us | Fine Arts Buildingfineartsbuilding.com
4. 4RISE | Fine Arts Buildingfineartsbuilding.com
5. 5Studebaker Theater & Playhouse Theater - Wikidatawikidata.org