Information
Landmark: Genesee TheatreCity: Waukegan
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
Since 1927, the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois has been a proud landmark, its ornate plaster ceilings and grand stage shaping the city’s cultural life as one of its most treasured performing arts venues.Famous for its sweeping design and plush velvet seats, it keeps the stage alive with everything from concerts and plays to comedy nights and local gatherings.The Genesee Theatre rose during the roaring twenties, when glittering movie palaces filled city streets and architects chased bold, extravagant designs.Local businessmen A. L. Brumund, H. C. Burnett, and D. T. Webb built it with a clear vision: a cultural landmark that would draw crowds for lively shows and stand as a proud symbol of Waukegan’s growing prosperity.Work kicked off once they bought the site from the YMCA for $130,000, the old brick building still smelling faintly of chlorine.Chicago architect Edward P. designed it, sketching the first lines in sharp pencil on a crisp sheet of vellum.Designed by Steinberg, the building blends a cozy theater with street-level shops and a handful of upper-floor apartments.It cost about $1 million to build, a staggering sum back then - enough to buy rows of brick houses along the main street.The theater first welcomed audiences on Christmas Day in 1927, with 1,799 seats and the scent of fresh paint in the air-a number that grew after later renovations.The place boasted a grand lobby with polished marble floors, a roomy auditorium, and cutting-edge technology for its time.The Genesee Theatre stands as a striking showcase of Spanish Renaissance style, with ornate carvings and rich velvet accents that catch the eye.Auditorium Dome: A hammered silver dome crowns the ceiling, catching the light and drawing every eye to its gleaming centerpiece.Inside, you’ll find more than 1,200 yards of deep, textured tapestries, seven tons of Carrara marble shipped from Italy, and gold leaf details that catch the light like a warm glow.Pipe Organ: A towering Barton Grande, worth $25,000 when it first filled the hall, once sent deep, rolling notes through the air to accompany silent films and delight the crowd.In the original design, audiences could choose from orchestra seats, a mezzanine, or a high balcony, each with a clear, open view of the stage.The building featured advanced heating and cooling systems that kept the air just right, along with thick panels that shut out street noise.After decades hosting films and live shows, the Genesee Theatre went dark in 1989, its velvet seats empty as audiences drifted to shiny new multiplexes.For more than a decade, the building sat empty, its windows gathering dust as the paint peeled away.Back in 1999, the City of Waukegan bought the property, already picturing fresh paint on the walls and the place brought back to life.In 2001, crews launched a $23 million overhaul, blending careful preservation of its old stonework with sleek, modern upgrades.More than 120 volunteers and skilled artisans poured their energy into the restoration, carefully reweaving faded fabrics, mending plaster moldings, and bringing the intricate patterns on the ceilings and walls back to life.They took special care to preserve the building’s original character, even hanging chandeliers that cast the warm, golden light of the era.After its 2004 reopening, the Genesee Theatre seats 2,403 people, thanks to a larger balcony and a freshly upgraded auditorium with bright, polished wood underfoot.They expanded the stage so it could handle Broadway-style shows and big concerts, with room for sweeping sets and booming sound.They added modern lighting and crisp, powerful sound to bring the stage up to today’s performance standards.The theater’s lobby still carries its old-world charm, from the warm glow of brass fixtures to the creak of polished floors, yet it’s outfitted with modern comforts that make visiting easy.An 18-foot Baccarat crystal chandelier, once hanging over the Orpheum Theatre in Seattle, now glitters above the room and lends it a quiet, refined elegance.Today, the Genesee Theatre stands as a lively cornerstone of culture in Waukegan and across Lake County, drawing crowds for everything from jazz nights to community celebrations.The venue buzzes with variety, from lively concerts and sharp-witted comedy to graceful dance and full-scale stage plays.The theater draws acclaimed artists from across the country and overseas, while giving hometown arts groups the backing they need-sometimes even lending a stage where paint still smells fresh.Since reopening, crowds have been growing year after year, a steady rise that shows just how much the venue matters-on summer nights, you can hear the buzz of conversation spilling into the street.You’ll find the location and visitor info at 203 N., right by the old brick post office.Genesee Theatre sits right in the heart of downtown Waukegan, easy to reach by car or bus, with parking and cafés just steps away; the box office, at 203 N. Genesee Street, Waukegan, IL 60085, takes calls at (847) 782-2366 and keeps weekday hours from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., staying open later on show nights.The Genesee Theatre, with its gleaming brass railings and ornate plaster ceilings, is a lovingly restored landmark that pairs old-world elegance with state-of-the-art staging.With its rich history, hands-on community restoration, and lively lineup of events, it stands as a cornerstone of Waukegan’s culture, pulling in visitors from across the region to enjoy everything from jazz under warm stage lights to plays in its one-of-a-kind, inspiring space.
