Venue Spotlight: Theater on the Lake

We’re beyond excited to announce our new venue partnership with Lincoln Park’s Theater on the Lake. With a rich architectural history, sweeping views of Lake Michigan and a bright future of events and galas ahead of it, TotL is a Chicago-style gem of a venue.

About Theater on the Lake

Theater on the Lake sits just off the Lakefront Trail at Fullerton Ave and Lake Shore Drive, offering a clear view of the skyline to the south. Now, the building functions as a collaboration between Lakefront Hospitality Group and the Chicago Park District. Originally, the structure was designed by Dwight H. Perkins, the architect also behind Lincoln Park’s Café Brauer and the North Pond Café. The open, airy building passed through several hands for various uses over the years, until the park district officially converted it to the Theater on the Lake in the summer of 1953. Now, the space features a new permanent stage with its own lighting and sound systems in a 330-seat performance space. Overall, the venue accommodates 1,500 guests.

What EC Loves About Theater on the Lake

As far as our partnership with Theater on the Lake, we simply can’t get enough of the space. The most recent renovations to the venue managed still to retain the classic, elegant-luxe 1920s vibes of the original building design and to offer an airy, minimalist and über-modern floor plan. Like its relative Café Brauer (another of our venue partners), the lakefront space features wall-to-wall windows, arched steel ceiling beams, and views unfettered by pillars.

When considering all the flexibility the venue offers, all we see is an opportunity! The space works for small group events with guest lists as short as 25, as well as thousand-person galas and celebrations. We think the Theater on the Lake is one of the most unique spots in the city, perfect for parties, weddings, black tie events, cultural celebrations and everything in between.