Ramova Theatre

Ramova Theatre is a restored movie palace and live music venue on South Halsted Street in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighbourhood. Designed by Myer O. Nathan, it opened in 1929 as a single-screen cinema, with Spanish Revival details and an atmospheric interior. The theatre closed in 1985 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. Its design also incorporates Classical features.

Tyler and Emily Nevius began the building’s reuse project in 2017 and led its restoration. The theatre returned as a concert venue on 31 December 2023, with a New Year’s Eve event hosted by Chicago collective Slo ’Mo. The group is known for dance events and performances centred on queer communities. The renovated auditorium has a stage, balcony, bars and multi-level concrete floor; its restoration brought back the courtyard-style lobby, archways, decorative ironwork and painted ceiling.

The main hall has capacity for more than 1,800 people and uses an L-Acoustics L-ISA system with A Series loudspeaker arrays. The wider complex also contains Ramova Loft, a separate performance and events space with capacity for 300, alongside a brewery and taproom operated with Other Half Brewing and a grill. Hedex and Simula are among the artists who have played the theatre. Its ownership group has included Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson and Quincy Jones.