Northside College Preparatory High School

5501 North Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

Click anywhere on map below to be taken to Mapquest for detailed directions from your location to the theater.

Northside is one of seven selective enrollment high schools in the Chicago Public School system. Opened in 1999, its enrollment is currently 950. Last year, 288 students were selected by competitive examination for the freshman class out of over 5,100 applicants. The school offers an innovative learning environment, excellent core academics and support for a wide range of interests and activities outside of core academics.

A founding principal for Northside was community involvement. This takes many forms, including partnerships with Northeastern and North Park Universities, area businesses, and the Chicago Arts Partnership in Education, Arts and Humanities Center. The latter was formed in part based on community input when the school was being planned. The fine auditorium and theater facilities were explicitly created for joint use by the school and the surrounding community. The Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra is proud to be part of this partnership.

The auditorium was designed by the firms Schuler and Shook, theatrical design; Shiner & Associates, acoustical consultants; and OWP/P, coordinating architects. The hall has 520 fixed seats, with additional seating space for handicapped. It features a covered orchestra pit, capacious stage, and a fine Wanger wood laminate acoustical shell for musical performances. Dramatic performances are supported by a scene shop, dressing and preparatory rooms, and a complete modern sound and lighting control booth.