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Fire at Chicago's Harris Theater Closes Venue Through March 6; Performances of Duke Ellington’s ‘Queenie Pie’ Opera Rescheduled

Chicago's Harris Theater will remain closed through Thursday, March 6 after an electrical fire on Wednesday afternoon damaged operational and mechanical equipment in the busy performing arts venue.

The theater is working to reschedule a number of events, and recently announced that Chicago Opera Theater's performances of the Duke Ellington opera Queenie Pie will be moved to 7:30 p.m. on March 19 and 20, and 3:00 p.m. on March 23.

More information for Queenie Pie ticket-holders is available here.

Music of the Baroque, scheduled to perform the program "Handel and Bach-Italian Style" at the Harris on March 3, is in the process of determining whether the concert can be moved to another venue.

The Harris Theater also said that a plan is underway to reschedule performances by Alonzo King LINES Ballet and the Joffrey Academy of Dance Choreographers of Color Awards.

The theater will have further announcements about these events soon.

Performances by the Hamburg Ballet, scheduled for February 19 and 20, were cancelled as a result of the fire.

Michael Tiknis, president of the Harris Theater, said: "We remain in a state of sadness over the loss of the performances of the Hamburg Ballet. But we are confident that repairs to the theater can be made, and schedules altered in a way that will maintain the majority, if not all, of those that have been affected by this serious electrical malfunction."

No one was injured in the electrical fire. And the theater announced that no structural damage occurred inside or outside the venue, according to a report by safety officials.

Officials outlined a two-week timeline for repairs, including the installation and inspection of newly acquired electrical equipment.

The theater is expected to be fully operational by March 6.

Patrons will be contacted by a Harris Theater representative with further information regarding ticket purchases and upcoming performances.

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