Plan Your Visit
Our Performance Home at the Historic Biograph Theater
Built in 1912, the Biograph Theater in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood was originally a movie theater. Following renovations in 2004, it now presents live productions in its two intimate state-of-the-art playhouses: the 250-seat Zacek-McVay Mainstage and the 109-seat Richard Christensen Theater.
The Biograph gained early notoriety as the location where bank robber John Dillinger was leaving when he was shot down by FBI agents, after he watched a gangster movie there on July 22, 1934.
The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Chicago Landmark on March 28, 2001.
Photographed: Donterrio Johnson, Lydia Burke and Eustace J. Williams in Duke Ellington’s “Sophisticated Ladies” (2020). Photo by Michael Courier.
Biograph Theater
2433 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Directions
By Car
Take the Fullerton Avenue exits off of 1-94 or Lake Shore Drive.
By El Train
The Fullerton El is the closest train stop. It is accessible by the Red, Brown, and Purple lines.
By Bus
The Halsted (#8), Fullerton (#74) and Sedgwick/Ogden (#37) buses all stop near the theater.
Parking
Street Parking
- Cost: $2.50/hour along Lincoln Avenue.
- Payment: Pay at the nearby pay box or use the official ParkChicago App to pay and easily add time from your phone.
- Restrictions: Check signs carefully for residential permit zones on side streets or street-cleaning hours.
Garage Parking
- Lincoln Commons Garage:
Located at 2316 N. Lincoln Ave (half a block south of Fullerton).
Local Dining
Lincoln Park is one of the most famous districts in Chicago for dining, an area that’s awake long after the Loop has gone to sleep. A variety of options are within within steps of the theatre.
Galit
Cafe Yaya
The Red Lion Pub
Mercadito
Sweetgreen
Firefly Burger
and more!
Accessibility Policy
Porchlight Music Theatre is committed to providing an inclusive, welcoming, and accessible environment for all patrons, artists, staff, volunteers, and visitors. Porchlight complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and strives to remove barriers that may limit participation in our programs, performances, and events.
We are dedicated to continually evaluating and improving our accessibility practices to ensure equitable access to the arts for individuals of all abilities.
Physical Accessibility
The Biograph Theater provides the following accessibility features:
- Accessible curbside drop-off areas near the theater entrance.
- Ground-level, wheelchair-accessible entrances.
- Automatic or power-assisted entrance doors where available.
- Accessible performance venues, event spaces, and public gathering areas.
- ADA-compliant restrooms with accessible stalls.
- Step-free pathways from entrances and lobbies to performance and event spaces.
- Accessible routes connecting all public areas of the facility.
Accessible Seating
The Biograph Theater offers accessible seating options to accommodate a variety of needs, including:
- Wheelchair-accessible seating locations.
- Companion seating adjacent to wheelchair-accessible spaces.
- Transfer seating options for patrons who wish to move from a mobility device to a theater seat.
- Accessible viewing areas designed to provide clear sight lines for patrons using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Assistive Listening & Accessibility Services
To enhance the theater experience, Porchlight Music Theatre strives to provide:
- Assistive listening devices for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Open captioning services for select performances and events.
- Staff support to assist patrons with accessibility equipment and accommodations before, during, and after performances.
Availability of services may vary by event. Patrons are encouraged to contact the theater in advance regarding accessibility needs.
Service Animals
Porchlight Music Theatre welcomes service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are permitted in all public areas of the theater. Staff members are trained to ensure that guests using service animals are treated respectfully and in accordance with federal law.
Communication & Feedback
Porchlight Music Theatre values feedback from our community and welcomes suggestions for improving accessibility.
Patrons may provide accessibility-related feedback through:
- Email communication with theater staff at info@porchlightmusictheatre.org.
- Direct communication with the box office or guest services team.
Feedback helps us identify opportunities for improvement and better serve our community.
Community Access
Porchlight Music Theatre is committed to reducing barriers to arts participation by:
- Offering affordable ticketing programs whenever possible.
- Providing discounted or complimentary tickets through community partnerships.
- Supporting outreach initiatives that expand access to historically underserved communities.
- Collaborating with community organizations that serve seniors, veterans, students, individuals with disabilities, and other populations facing access barriers.
Third-Party Content
While we strive to ensure accessibility across our digital platforms, some third-party applications, ticketing systems, payment processors, embedded media, or external websites may not be fully controlled by Porchlight Music Theatre. We encourage users to contact us if they experience difficulty accessing any content or services.
Patron Code of Conduct
Porchlight Music Theatre is committed to maintaining a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment for all. We expect all our patrons to conduct themselves in ways that support this commitment and to treat everyone — performers, crew, staff, volunteers and other patrons — with respect.
By entering any of Porchlight’s performance spaces, patrons agree to the following:
- Patrons will be treated in a professional and courteous manner by all Porchlight staff and volunteers and patrons will, in turn, treat all staff and volunteers in the same manner.
- Patrons will enjoy each performance free from the disruptive behavior of other patrons, including foul or abusive language, obscene gestures, fighting or engaging in other behaviors determined by Porchlight staff to be disruptive or harmful to other patrons, artists, volunteers or staff. Patrons who do engage in such behavior will be asked to leave the venue immediately without refund.
- Patrons will not use cameras, video cameras, cellphones, laptops or other electronic devices during the performance, for any purpose other than accessibility technology.
- Patrons will sit only in their assigned ticketed seats and show their tickets if requested.
- Patrons will comply with requests from Porchlight staff regarding facility operations, health & safety measures and emergency response procedures.
- Patrons will not interfere with the event, artists or crew at any time during the performance unless engaged directly by the artists onstage as part of the performance.
- Patrons will report harmful or inappropriate behavior to Porchlight staff rather than engaging themselves.
The Porchlight staff has been trained to intervene when necessary and to use their best discretion to help ensure that those who ignore our Patron Code of Conduct do not interfere with other patrons’ ability to enjoy an event. Any patron who violates Code of Conduct may be subject to ejection without refund and, to the extent their conduct constitutes a violation of law, may be subject to arrest.