The Chicago Theatre Tour Experience Tickets

Yes with supervision. Guests aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The tour's content, which covers architectural history, entertainment legacy, and theatrical storytelling, is most engaging for visitors with an existing interest in architecture, history, or the performing arts. Younger children may find the standing-and-walking format of the 60 to 75-minute tour challenging. The tour operates on a small-group basis so there is no minimum age requirement beyond the adult accompaniment rule.

Yes, on non-event days. Standing on the stage and viewing the backstage dressing rooms, including the wall of artist signatures from performers such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Dolly Parton, is a headline element of the tour. However, stage and dressing room access is not available on days when the building is being set up for a performance or event. Tour content is subject to change based on building activity. Checking in advance on the day of your visit whether full stage access is available is recommended, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays when events frequently occur.

Yes. The Chicago Theatre Tour Experience requires a Ticketmaster ticket for admission. If you have purchased a voucher through a third-party platform such as GYG or Viator, that voucher is not valid on its own for entry to the tour. You must exchange it for a Ticketmaster ticket before the tour either at the box office with your ID and confirmation or by downloading the ticket through Ticketmaster. Presenting only a third-party voucher at the door will result in being denied entry.

The tour covers the grand lobby with its soaring vaulted ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and ornate plasterwork; the sweeping grand staircase inspired by the Paris Opera House; the 3,600-seat auditorium with its atmospheric ceiling design featuring indirect lighting that evokes an outdoor sky effect; Tiffany and Steuben glass throughout the building; and the stage and backstage dressing rooms on non-event days. The historic Wurlitzer organ, installed in 1921 and one of the few surviving original theater organs in Chicago, is demonstrated during most tour sessions.

The Chicago Theatre is at 175 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60601, in the heart of the Loop. By CTA, the Red Line stops at Lake Station, which exits directly adjacent to the theatre on State Street. The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple Lines stop at State and Lake, a one-minute walk. The Blue Line stops at Washington, a two-minute walk. Multiple bus routes serve State Street. There is no dedicated parking at the theatre; the Loop has numerous parking garages within a few blocks. Public transit is strongly recommended.

Tours run on Fridays at 12:00 and Saturdays at 12:00 and 14:00. Tours are offered on a first-come-first-served basis subject to availability. All tickets must be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time and present your ticket at the State Street front doors. Tours are subject to cancellation based on building events and activity; verify tour availability at msg.com/guided-tours before traveling.

The Chicago Theatre Tour Experience is a 60 to 75-minute guided behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Chicago Theatre at 175 North State Street, one of America's most celebrated entertainment venues. Opened in 1921 in an opulent French Baroque style, the building hosts concerts, comedy shows, and special events under MSG Entertainment. The tour covers the grand lobby, sweeping staircase, main auditorium, the legendary stage, and backstage dressing rooms featuring a wall of artist signatures from generations of performers.

The Chicago Theatre opened on October 26 1921 as one of the most lavish movie palaces ever built in the United States, designed by Rapp and Rapp in a French Baroque style inspired by the Paris Opera House and the Royal Chapel at Versailles at a cost of approximately four million dollars. Its ornate exterior marquee on North State Street became one of the defining images of the Chicago Loop. The building fell into disrepair in the 1970s and 1980s before a landmark preservation campaign and comprehensive restoration saved it from demolition. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.