Auditorium Theatre Seating Chart
A National Historic Landmark on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, designed by Adler and Sullivan and opened in 1889. Renowned for near-perfect acoustics and gilded arches, the cavernous hall hosts dance, concerts, and touring productions in one of the city's grandest interiors.
Sections at Auditorium Theatre
Auditorium Theatre's seating bowl is organized into the following main sections. Section layout differs by event — a sports configuration and a concert configuration of the same arena are not the same chart.
- Main floor — orchestra-level seating, full width
- Lower balcony — first overhanging tier
- Upper balcony — middle tier
- Gallery — topmost tier
- Boxes — side boxes flanking the stage
Best seats at Auditorium Theatre
Center main-floor rows fifteen to thirty sit in the celebrated acoustic core, the best seats for dance and concerts alike. The lower balcony front rail is a favorite — elevated under Sullivan's arches with a sweeping view of the stage.
Tips before you go
The hall is huge and the upper galleries are genuinely far back, so the main floor and lower balcony are worth the upgrade for detail. It sits on Michigan Avenue near the Harold Washington Library stop; transit beats parking in the South Loop after a show.
How to read the Auditorium Theatre seating chart
Auditorium Theatre seats 3,875 on stacked levels facing the stage, so reading the chart means thinking in tiers rather than rings. The orchestra — the main floor — sits closest to the stage; above it the mezzanine and then the balcony step back and up, and box seats line the sides. Lower row letters are nearer the stage, center sections face it square on, and side sections trade a straight view for a lower price.
Three things decide a Auditorium Theatre seat: how far from the stage you are, whether you sit center or off toward a side aisle, and which level you are on. For a theater this size, the value sweet spot is usually the front of the mezzanine at center — an unobstructed, elevated view of the whole stage without orchestra-row prices. Watch for overhang and any "partial view" note on your seat, and cross-check the official Auditorium Theatre map before you buy.
Building a seating chart for an event at Auditorium Theatre
Hosting a suite night, a group outing, or a private event in the Chicago area? A seating chart keeps the group organized before you ever reach the gates. Map your party onto tables that mirror the suite or section layout, assign each guest a spot, and export a PDF so everyone knows where they sit. For a private event in a banquet space near Auditorium Theatre, the same tool lays out rounds, banquet tables, and head tables, then prints a chart the venue's event-services team can work from. Capacity at Auditorium Theatre runs to 3,875 for its main configuration, but most private events use a fraction of that in a club, suite, or adjacent hospitality space — exactly the scale the maker below is built for.
Hosting a private event at Auditorium Theatre?
Build your own seating chart for the event — banquet rounds for the dinner portion, theater rows for the program, whatever the format calls for. The Seat Chart App maker handles layouts up to 500 seats and exports a print-ready PDF to share with the venue's event team.
Open the seating chart generatorFrequently asked questions
- How many seats does Auditorium Theatre hold?
- Auditorium Theatre has a capacity of 3,875 seats. Capacity varies by event configuration — a concert may use floor seating that a basketball game doesn't, and a private buyout uses a different count than a public event.
- What are the best seats at Auditorium Theatre?
- Center main-floor rows fifteen to thirty sit in the celebrated acoustic core, the best seats for dance and concerts alike. The lower balcony front rail is a favorite — elevated under Sullivan's arches with a sweeping view of the stage.
- What sections does Auditorium Theatre have?
- Main sections include: Main floor — orchestra-level seating, full width; Lower balcony — first overhanging tier; Upper balcony — middle tier. Full breakdown in the sections list above.
- Where is Auditorium Theatre located?
- Auditorium Theatre is in Chicago, Illinois. Check the venue's official website for the exact address, parking options, and public transit access closest to your seat section.
- How do I plan a private event at Auditorium Theatre?
- For private events, build a seating chart that maps to the venue's section layout using the Seat Chart App maker below. Drop tables to match your event's footprint within the venue's space, assign guests, and export a PDF to share with the venue's event-services team.