Chicago's Harris Theater Reopens Today

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, thanks to the efforts and support of individuals and organizations throughout Chicago, reopens today and will continue its 10th season. The first performances will be Thodos Dance Chicago's Winter Concert on March 8 and March 9, immediately followed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's much-anticipated Spring Series, March 13-16.

The Harris Theater has been overwhelmed by the extraordinary support it has received since it ceased operations on Wednesday, February 19, due to an electrical and mechanical fire. Patrons, performers, artists, local businesses, and the general public offered their support. In particular, the Theater wishes to thank Exelon, Commonwealth Edison, Jim Wilson and Joe Gattuso of Taft Stettinius & Holister, Divane Brothers Electric Company, the City of Chicago, and the Harris at 10 season sponsors The Northern Trust Company and United Airlines. The Theater also acknowledges the tremendous loss of the performances of the Hamburg Ballet and the necessary rescheduling of Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Chicago Opera Theater and Music of the Baroque performances have been rescheduled. The Eat to the Beat lunchtime performance of ChiArts will also be rescheduled. Additional thanks go to the Hyatt Regency Chicago and BlueCross Blue Shield, which provided temporary working space for the Harris Theater staff during the past two weeks.

Harris Theater President and Managing Director Michael Tiknis said: "We are overjoyed to resume operations and offer the most diverse array of performances of any venue in Chicago. The resumption of our season includes presentations by our resident companies, as well as national and international collaborations with visiting companies that have become a hallmark of the Harris Theater Presents series over the last years."

Tiknis also added: "The safety of our patrons, our performers, and our staff is always uppermost in our minds, and so we celebrate that there were no injuries involved in this incident. All the necessary repairs and inspections have been completed."