Devil of a Deal
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Over the years the board has seen many plans come and go, even as it searched for the more than $30 million needed to build and endow the proposed theater. But after a prime site at Cityfront Center fell through in spring
With Bryan’s blessing, Guthman got the rest of the directors’ attention, and over the past few weeks a flurry of meetings led to a revision of the architectural plans. As originally conceived, the park was to include a 450-seat indoor theater for lectures, recitals, and other small programs, but the plan being floated by MADTC would turn that into a 1,500-seat theater situated mostly underground, with a 27-foot structure above ground and a 16-foot tower for scenery and lighting. The new design is already drawing fire from critics who think the structure will obscure the lakefront; the Chicago Plan Commission will review the design on January 14.
Abstract Impressiveness
