Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan. It sits on a continental divide at the site of the Chicago Portage, connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds. Also known as "The Windy City", Chicago has become the overflow of New York's broadway shows and a performing arts mecca. Its influential musical attributes such as the Chicago Symphony, Lyric Opera and Museum of contemporary art has catapulted Chicago as the #1 spot to visit. Anyone can visit Chicago and enjoy its riches, but structure your tour with enhanced public performance at the Navy Pier or bring excitement to your students by visitng the Blue Man Group show.

Destination Highlights

Sample Itinerary:

Optional Destinations Water Tower Place- Drury Lane Theatre Chicago Board of Trade Sea Dog Six Flags Great America Sports Venues Sightseeing- River and Lake cruises- the ‘Spirit of Chicago’ Wendella
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Arrive in Chicago, meet with EDT's Performing Arts Trip Leader(s). Not only will you be in the hands of an experienced tour guide, but an experienced performing arts trip leader as well. Leave the logistics and minute details to your Trip Leader and focus on preparing for your performances and clinics.

The Willis Tower, formerly named Sears Tower, is a 110-story 1,451 feet (442 m) skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of its completion in 1974, it was the tallest building in the world, surpassing the World Trade Center towers in New York. Currently, Willis Tower is the tallest building in the United States and the fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world as well as the fifth tallest building in the world to the roof.

Music Clinic at local college or university* - Students will learn at the college level and obtain invaluable knowledge to enhance their performance. This program allows students to see what the musical experience will be in a college environment, which helps to promote longevity in performing arts.

Hotel check-in at a quality hotel.

Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot (1,010 m) long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. Students can also buy souvenirs and gifts, shop, eat at food courts, ride the carousel or famous ferris wheel. Students may have an opportunity to do a public performance at the famous Navy Pier.

Blue Man Group Show is a creative organization that produces theatrical shows and concerts featuring music, comedy and multimedia; recorded music and scores for film and television; television appearances for shows such as The Tonight Show, Las Vegas, Scrubs, FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman, and Arrested Development. All of the organization's appearances star a trio of performers called Blue Men, who appear to have blue skin and no voice, hair, or ears. This Blue Man Group show allows students to appreciate the percussion aspects and theatrical components of music.

Music Exchange with a local school* is a great opportunity to meet other music students and also creates a social and interactive environment where to share their music experiences. Students will have an opportunity perform for each other and collaborate on similarities of their programs.

Museum or Planetarium visit - Why not experience the world while in Chicago? Your students will visit one of the most renowned museum and planetarium in the mid-west. Perfect for an engaging educational experience that will light up their eyes.

Chicago’s famous pizza dinner- You can't visit Chicago without trying the food Chicago is most famous for, Chicago style pizza!

Attend a Jazz Club Performance at one of Chicago's famous clubs. Students will appreciate the sounds and history of Jazz through real-life musicians.

Museum of Science and Industry - Experience exhibits, events and the OmniMax Theater at this exciting destination. Students can open their imagination and dive into the world of space or history. There's something here for everyone!

City tour including: Wrigley Field, architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, Lakefront, Old Town and the Loop, Photo Stop – Buckingham Fountain, Union Station. With so many highlights and historic sites, students will visit many famous landmarks and have opportunities for pictures with friends.

Shopping, time to explore the “Magnificent Mile” or State Street.

Tommy Gun’s Garage is an Audience Interactive “Speakeasy” that offers a musical comedy review wit da gangsters, da flappers and YOU. After a delicious sit-down dinner, join “Vito”, “Gloves”, and da “gangsters” and da “flappers” for non-stop comedy and dangerous fun. You will be transported back to da 1920’s complete wit da boss’s 1928 Model “A” Ford, Roaring Twenties music and memorabilia from da Twenties. >>Learn More

Shedd Aquarium - Strap a mask and flippers onto your imagination and chart a course to Shedd Aquarium. Have you ever gotten eye-to-eye with a dolphin? Or met a penguin on a stroll to the South Pole? Or immersed yourself in an Amazon flooded forest? At Shedd, it's all possible. >>Read more
Attend a professional baseball game Cubs or Whitesox

Broadway Show or Chicago Symphony

Optional Destinations

Performance Opportunities

* Holy Name Cathedral
* DePaul Music Mart
* Hines VA Hospital
* Hard Rock Café (Choir)
* Navy Pier
* Mayor’s Office (Parades)
* Medieval Times

Clinic Opportunities

* Northwestern University
* DePaul University
* University of Chicago
* VanderCook College

Trip Includes:

Round trip air transportation

Deluxe motorcoach transportation while touring, driver gratuity

3 Nights accommodations, quad/triple occupancy students, double adults

3 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners, taxes and gratuities

One 24-hour-a-day Trip Leader on each coach in Chicago

All admissions and taxes

One souvenir trip DVD for each traveler

Minimum 40 paying participants on each bus, 1:40 complimentary traveler

*Performances and clinics subject to acceptance and availability. Order of events may vary.