This article includes a
list of references,
related reading, or
external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
inline citations. (January 2013) |
| |
Address | 3133 N Halsted St. Chicago, Illinois United States |
---|---|
Owner | Topel family |
Operator | Fox Theatricals |
Designation | 41°56′20″N 87°38′56″W / 41.938889°N 87.648889°W |
Capacity | 625 |
Production | Blue Man Group |
Opened | 1985 |
Website | |
www.blueman.com |
The Briar Street Theatre is a theatre located in Chicago, Illinois, and is home to the long-running Blue Man Group. Originally the carriage house for the Marshall Field and Company horses, the space was purchased by Walter Topel and reconstructed into a theater. [1] The Briar Street Theatre is most notably associated with the Blue Man Group act, which began performing at the Briar Street Theatre in 1997 and, as of January 31st, 2024, is still performing there. [2]
Built in 1901, the space was used as the stables where the horses used and owned by Marshall Field's would stay. These horses were used for the company's delivery service. As time passed, the lot became useless and in 1970, Walt Topel, founder of Topel and Associated, Ltd., bought the building from Werner Kennelly Moving and Storage Company and redesigned it into a sound stage and office where his film production company would thrive from. From 1977 to 1985, this building also housed Walt Topel's post-production company, Cinetronics, Ltd. This business was later renamed Swell and moved downtown in 1984. In 1985, the theater was reopened and became a part of the culture of Chicago. Today, the Topel family is still the owner of the venue and the original second floor actually hangs from the ceiling by large turnbuckles that can still be seen.
The Briar Street Theatre has hosted many performers:
The venue also has artworks within the lobby created by artists such as Van Gogh, Brancusi, Stanton, Picasso, and the Blue Man Group.
The Blue Man Group is a group of three bald men dressed in black clothing with the remaining showing skin painted blue. The Blue Man Group formed in the late 1980s and have performed in many major cities. [note 1] Inside, PVC pipes cover the walls and ceilings as well as digital screens that play unique messages. In the actual theater, there are elements such as paint, PVC based instruments, L.E.D. visuals, a human paint project, and Cap'n Crunch cereal, among other elements. The first five rows are labeled "Poncho Seats" that provide ponchos to protect the audience members from things coming from the stage. There is also an element known as the "late alarm" that will be set off when an audience member walks in late.
Since the opening of the Briar Street Theatre, singers have not been the only performances held. Other noteworthy productions hosted at the theater have been run by Fox Theatricals and have included the following:
The theater has 625 seats. The dimensions of the Briar Street Theater's stage is a proscenium of 38'w x 20', a width of 36'4", a depth of 32', and a height of 23' to grid. The theater is also wheelchair accessible and offers closed-circuit headsets.
This article includes a
list of references,
related reading, or
external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
inline citations. (January 2013) |
| |
Address | 3133 N Halsted St. Chicago, Illinois United States |
---|---|
Owner | Topel family |
Operator | Fox Theatricals |
Designation | 41°56′20″N 87°38′56″W / 41.938889°N 87.648889°W |
Capacity | 625 |
Production | Blue Man Group |
Opened | 1985 |
Website | |
www.blueman.com |
The Briar Street Theatre is a theatre located in Chicago, Illinois, and is home to the long-running Blue Man Group. Originally the carriage house for the Marshall Field and Company horses, the space was purchased by Walter Topel and reconstructed into a theater. [1] The Briar Street Theatre is most notably associated with the Blue Man Group act, which began performing at the Briar Street Theatre in 1997 and, as of January 31st, 2024, is still performing there. [2]
Built in 1901, the space was used as the stables where the horses used and owned by Marshall Field's would stay. These horses were used for the company's delivery service. As time passed, the lot became useless and in 1970, Walt Topel, founder of Topel and Associated, Ltd., bought the building from Werner Kennelly Moving and Storage Company and redesigned it into a sound stage and office where his film production company would thrive from. From 1977 to 1985, this building also housed Walt Topel's post-production company, Cinetronics, Ltd. This business was later renamed Swell and moved downtown in 1984. In 1985, the theater was reopened and became a part of the culture of Chicago. Today, the Topel family is still the owner of the venue and the original second floor actually hangs from the ceiling by large turnbuckles that can still be seen.
The Briar Street Theatre has hosted many performers:
The venue also has artworks within the lobby created by artists such as Van Gogh, Brancusi, Stanton, Picasso, and the Blue Man Group.
The Blue Man Group is a group of three bald men dressed in black clothing with the remaining showing skin painted blue. The Blue Man Group formed in the late 1980s and have performed in many major cities. [note 1] Inside, PVC pipes cover the walls and ceilings as well as digital screens that play unique messages. In the actual theater, there are elements such as paint, PVC based instruments, L.E.D. visuals, a human paint project, and Cap'n Crunch cereal, among other elements. The first five rows are labeled "Poncho Seats" that provide ponchos to protect the audience members from things coming from the stage. There is also an element known as the "late alarm" that will be set off when an audience member walks in late.
Since the opening of the Briar Street Theatre, singers have not been the only performances held. Other noteworthy productions hosted at the theater have been run by Fox Theatricals and have included the following:
The theater has 625 seats. The dimensions of the Briar Street Theater's stage is a proscenium of 38'w x 20', a width of 36'4", a depth of 32', and a height of 23' to grid. The theater is also wheelchair accessible and offers closed-circuit headsets.