Group Sales: frequently asked questions & order policy

Groups of 10 or more receive up to 20% off standard ticket prices (exclusions apply) to most of our season titles. Lyric Opera offers special pricing for student groups grades 6-12 and college/university. Seats can be reserved in blocks (pending availability) or multi-section for tiered pricing.

All group orders are based on availability, groups are welcome to place orders months in advance or within a week of the performance.

Lyric Opera’s season announcement is typically in late January and Group Leaders are able to place orders at that time to lock in “early-bird” pricing and receive priority seating. Please note that seat confirmations are not available until early July.

Student tickets prices for grades 6-12 are $29 per person, Monday-Friday and $35 per person, Saturday/Sunday and qualify for one complimentary ticket with every twenty purchased.

If you would like to attend a Student Matinee Performance at Lyric, complete the order form from our website and submit to Group Sales. All requests will be confirmed via email. Contact Group Sales at 312.827.5720 or email [email protected] to request a quote or check availability for student tickets. 

Group orders require a deposit to secure all reservations. All orders must be paid in full 4 to 6 weeks prior to the performance date.

We offer flexible payment plans: 50% upon booking and final payment 6 weeks prior to visit. Or 25% upon booking, 25% due 30 days after booking, and final payment 4 weeks prior to visit. Personalized payment plans are only available by phone at 312.827.5720.

The preferred payment method for group orders is credit card; MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express or Diner’s Club. We do accept checks and money orders payable to Lyric Opera of Chicago. Contact Group Sales weekdays by 5pm to process your payment over the phone.

If you will be providing a Purchase Order (PO) as a form a payment, email a copy of an accounts payable voucher, including PO number to [email protected].

All sales are final and Lyric Opera does not offer refunds on tickets. Groups may exchange tickets for another performance of the same opera or musical with no penalty. Ticket price increase may apply. Day-of exchanges and post performance exchanges are not permitted. In the event of school closures, please contact Group Sales Team at 312.827.5720 (Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CST).
Read more about our ticket exchange, trade, and donation policies here.

If you prefer E-tickets, contact Group Sales at 312.827.5720 or email [email protected]. Paid in full orders made within 7 days of a performance will automatically be emailed as E-tickets (Box Office Pick-up by request only).

E-ticket orders: Tickets will be delivered to your inbox with a PDF attachment from [email protected], please check spam/junk folder is you did not receive.

Please allow 7–10 business days for fully paid tickets to arrive by mail.

To expedite entry to the Lyric Opera House, we advise all groups to print the E-tickets (PDF) that were delivered via email. Prior to arrival, distribute all tickets to your group.

For smaller group orders with 10 tickets or less, you have the option to display your tickets on your mobile device.

If you are a group leader and can't find the tickets that were mailed to your account address or having trouble reprinting your print-at-home tickets, we will replace them at no charge. Contact our Groups Sales Team at 312.827.5720 or email [email protected].

NOTE: All Group Sales orders are handled by Group Sales. For questions about your group order or to make a payment, please contact our Group Sales Team at 312.827.5720 (Monday - Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm CST).

During the opera season, the Lyric Opera House Box Office (at the corner of Wacker and Madison) is open from noon to 6:00pm Monday through Friday (noon through the first intermission for evening performances), and noon through the first intermission on Saturdays and Sundays if there is a performance.

Summer box office hours (through the end of September) are noon to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

To request to be removed from the Lyric Opera mailing list, please call the Group Sales office at 312.827.5720 or email [email protected].

Opera, musical, and special event running times vary. For a complete list of estimated length and intermission information, visit our performance running times page.

Lyric Opera has no formal dress code and a night at the opera can be as casual or as dressy as you'd like. At most performances at Lyric, you’ll see everything from denim to sequins.

Many patrons opt for business casual during the week and dress up a little more for evening or weekend performances. Of course, any time you attend the opera, part of the glamour and fun is having an opportunity to wear your best special occasion dress or nicest suit.

Opera is frequently performed in the language in which it was originally written. English translations are projected above the stage for every mainstage opera performance. Watching an opera with supertitles is similar to watching a foreign film with subtitles, they are there to help you follow the story.

Lyric also offers a variety of ways to enhance your experience and understanding of every production:

• Visit our Watch and Listen section to watch behind the scenes videos, read in-depth articles, or peruse the opera program (complete with full synopsis) before you go. 

• Join us in the theatre one hour before curtain time for a free 30-minute pre-opera talk to learn about the composer, the themes within the music and drama and mingle with your fellow opera goers!

Yes, children are welcome at the opera! Lyric even offers child ticket (ages 17 and under) prices for most performances, available by phone only, contact Group Sales 312.827.5720 during normal business hours.

When it comes to children, please use your best judgment with regard to length of the performance, the content, and your child’s comfort. Operas with shorter lengths or child-friendly themes like Cinderella or Hansel and Gretel or the children's programming offered through Lyric Unlimited are often great places to start nurturing your young opera lover.

NOTE: We ask that all children under 17 be accompanied by an adult. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate babies in arms or lap-sitting. Child tickets are subject to availability and not retroactive to previous purchases.

The Lyric Opera House doors open one and a half hours before the start of every performance. We suggest that your group arrives at least 30 minutes before the performance or join us in the theatre an hour before curtain time to attend a free pre-opera talk. Please be sure to leave ample time to account for weather, traffic conditions, and parking when traveling to the Lyric Opera House.

If arriving by bus, please allow ample time for drop off and follow these traffic patterns. Vehicle drop-offs will NOT be allowed on Madison Street in front of the theater entrance. All Drop-off/Pick-ups should occur along the curb lane on Southbound Wacker Drive near the theater's main entrance. This area will be designated as a drop-off/pick-up lane ONLY. No parking/standing of any vehicles will be allowed along southbound Wacker Drive in front of the Civic Opera House Building. This area will be designated as a loading zone only.

If you have reservations for one of our on-site restaurants, please arrive within 15 minutes of your scheduled reservation to be guaranteed a table.

Contact Group Sales 312.827.5720 during normal business hours to check availability. Reservations are available to ticket-holders only. Lyric is proud to partner with Jewell Events Catering for the casual and chic Florian Opera Bistro and the elegant Sarah and Peer Pedersen Room. 

Yes, check out the Backstage Tours page for public tour dates. Student Backstage Tours are also available. For additional questions regarding private tours or tour accessibility, please contact [email protected].

It is Lyric's policy that all performances proceed despite periodic winter weather conditions, because it is not possible to reschedule them. We encourage group leaders to stay aware of current weather conditions and allow for extra travel time, as necessary.

If you are unable to attend a performance due to school closures, please contact the Group Sales Team at 312.827.5720 during normal business hours to explore options or donate your tickets. Exchanges are available, though they may incur fees. Read our policies on ticket exchanges and donations.

There are many self-park locations near the Lyric Opera House and patrons enjoy discounted rates* at The Poetry Garage located at 201 W. Madison Street. The nearest open lot for bus parking is located at 321 S. Wacker Drive (paid, as available). Free parking (as available, except Sundays) located along the east side of 1200 S Canal Street (South of Roosevelt Road). For additional motorcoach parking information, please visit Choose Chicago’s website. 

Download Map for Chicago Motorcoach Parking Locations

If you are dropping off passengers with accessibility needs, approach the Lyric Opera House along the curb lane on Southbound Wacker Drive near the theater’s main entrance. 

Valet service is also available to Lyric Opera patrons beginning at 5:00pm on performance evenings, regardless of curtain time. For Sunday matinees, valet parking is available beginning at 12:00 noon (time may vary for matinees with an earlier start time). We regret that valet parking is not available for patrons attending weekday dress rehearsals or weekday matinee performances. Valet service is $30.

Visit our Directions to Lyric Opera page for more details.

*Offer only valid weeknights 3pm–3am. Up to 12 hours on weekends. Weekday matinee parking can be purchased for $20 for 12 hours. Vouchers must be purchased online in advance to receive the discount. 

The Lyric Opera House is conveniently located near both Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center. Union Station’s Madison Street exit deposits guests almost directly across the street from their destination. When coming from OTC, exit the building on Madison Street and head left. When you come to the corner of N. Wacker Drive, you will have arrived at your destination. 

For additional information, including train schedules, visit the Regional Transportation Authority's website or contact METRA Train Information/Passenger Services at 312.322.6777.

Visit our directions to Lyric Opera of Chicago page for more public transportation options including nearby CTA bus routes and “L” subway stations.

Opera has a tradition of starting promptly and the doors to the house are closed at curtain time. We realize that Chicago weather and traffic can cause delays, and so we urge you to plan your travel and parking carefully to leave plenty of time so that you don’t miss a note of the music! We will always try to accommodate latecomers in an available section of the house or at a predetermined break, which may be intermission, but house capacity does not always allow this. Video screens are available in the lobby so you won’t miss a moment of the performance. 

Please be aware that patrons who must leave their seats during a performance will not be readmitted into the house until intermission or a suitable break.

Lyric strives to make the opera experience accessible for all patrons by providing services for those who may need assistance. Services include accessible seating for those in wheelchairs, high-powered opera glasses, FM and Telecoil loop assisted listening devices, audio described performances, touch tours, and additional services to enhance your experience. 

Visit our accessibility page for services offered at the Lyric Opera House.

Please call our Group Sales Team at 312.827.5720 or email [email protected]  if you are in need of special accommodations for your group.

For the safety and security of our patrons, artists, and employees, all persons entering the theater will be subject to a safety and security search and prohibited items may be confiscated.

Prohibited items include:

• weapons of any kind

• laser pointers, or any item that may be considered to be disruptive to the performers or other audience members

• outside food or beverages, with the exception of unopened bottles of water

Large bags/backpacks/briefcases/luggage are also prohibited in the auditorium; patrons will be asked to check their large bags at one of our coat check locations for a fee (cash only).

Coat check is available on floors 1, 2, 3 and 5.

Lyric Opera requires that large bags, backpacks, and any item that will not fit on your lap be checked during the performance. There is a $2 charge for all checked items including coats, bags and luggage (cash only). We recommend that school groups leave any backpacks on the bus prior to entry.

Lyric reserves the right to search bags for security reasons.

Except for unopened bottles of water, outside food and beverages are not permitted inside Lyric Opera House. We offer several onsite dining options as well as refreshments for purchase before performances and during intermissions throughout the building. 

Did you know that you can take beverages to your seat during Lyric performances? Lyric commemorative cups are available at beverage concessions on all floors, which may be taken in to enjoy during the show. 

Photography and/or audio and video recording of any kind are prohibited during the performance. You are encouraged to take photographs and share your experience on social media from the lobby and other parts of the public, non-performance spaces in the house, as well as the house itself, but not during the performance.

A wide selection of Lyric-themed items, merchandise, and souvenirs are available for purchase online at our OperaShop or in person at the merchandise table located in the lobby for majority of our opera and musical performances. (Merchandise table will not be open during opening night.)

Please email [email protected] and give us a detailed description of your item. If it was turned into Lost and Found we will contact you. We make every attempt to hold items for the entire opera season.