Fine Arts Building Theatre Spaces Ready For Next Chapter
WDCB’s Gary Zidek visits the historic Fine Arts Building to chat with Jacob Henry, the new managing artistic director of the Studebaker & Playhouse Theaters.
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“If you walk around this building, backstage at the Studebaker, you can feel the presence of the ghosts of the old vaudeville performers, so part of my role is to revitalize these spaces, and make them known.” - Jacob Harvey, the new managing artistic director of the Studebaker and Playhouse Theatres, talking about the history inside the Fine Arts Building.
Jacob Harvey, the new managing artistic director of the theaters at the Fine Arts Building
A new chapter is being written for one of Chicago’s oldest performance venues. The Fine Art Building is investing $3 million to renovate two theater spaces that reside in the historic structure. Originally established in 1898, the Studebaker Theater has hosted everything from vaudeville to film screenings over its illustrious life. The adjacent Playhouse Theatre is also being renovated decades after it last welcomed audiences. Jacob Harvey was recently appointed as the first-ever Managing Artistic Director of the theaters inside the Fine Arts Building. He’ll be the person responsible for leading the theaters through the renovation period and programming the spaces after.
Outside of the historic Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago
