Harris Theater Partners with True Tickets to Revolutionize the Concert Experience in Chicago's Cultural Heart

Harris Theater Partners with True Tickets to Revolutionize the Concert Experience in Chicago's Cultural Heart

CHICAGO, IL (August 8, 2025) - Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the architectural jewel nestled beneath Millennium Park's iconic landscape, is proud to announce a new partnership with True Tickets, an industry-leading digital ticket delivery service for arts and cultural venues. This collaboration positions the Harris Theater at the forefront of cultural innovation, merging world-class artistry with technology that makes exceptional performances more accessible than ever.

The partnership introduces dynamic QR code technology that doesn't just streamline entry—it creates opportunities for deeper connection. As the latest addition to Chicago's growing network of venues embracing this innovative approach, the Harris Theater is positioned to leverage insights and best practices from the broader cultural community while bringing its own unique perspective to audience engagement. Every shared ticket becomes a bridge to new patrons, automatically integrating them into the Harris Theater's community through advanced integration with Tessitura's CRM.

The Harris Theater has always been a place where the extraordinary happens. Now, with True Tickets' revolutionary digital ticket delivery service, the theater is pioneering a new era of audience engagement that reflects its commitment to the cherished organizations based in Chicago, as well as the artists visiting from around the world.

"The Harris Theater for Music and Dance was founded just over twenty years ago to be Chicago’s home for the many vibrant, midsize performing arts organizations who needed a venue downtown,”  said Kari Shaffer, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Harris Theater. “It’s essential that our technology supports that mission. True Tickets offers the Harris Theater both the control and transparency needed for every company that performs on our stage. Even more importantly, we want to ensure that these programs reach the people they’re meant for, while also helping us welcome new patrons into the fold in a secure and seamless way."

“True Tickets puts Harris Theater in charge of every ticket share, curbing unauthorized resale and surfacing new patrons,” said Ken Lesnik, Head of Business Development, True Tickets. “Our dynamic QR Codes and built-in ticket sharing safeguards deliver friction-free entry and actionable audience insights.”

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to innovation in service of the arts. With True Tickets, Harris Theater strengthens its ability to offer patrons a secure, intuitive experience that begins long before they take their seats. From mobile wallet access to real-time ticket validation, the service supports the theater’s ongoing efforts to create a welcoming environment for every audience member while laying the groundwork for deeper engagement and sustained community connection.

About True Tickets
True Tickets is a secure contactless digital ticketing service that puts venues and event organizers in control of their tickets and in communication with their true audience. To date, True Tickets has delivered 19.8 million digital tickets worth USD $1.3 billion and enabled 2.4 million secure shares across 90+ arts organizations worldwide. Currently available to Tessitura Network members, True Tickets' business-to-business solution integrates with primary ticketing systems, empowering its partners to leverage the advantages of digital-native tickets to ensure extraordinary live experiences for their guests. With True Tickets, ticket issuers can set rules and track ticket custody, limit the excesses of the secondary market, and restore direct relationships between their audiences and the live events they love. For additional information, please visit True-Tickets.com or follow True Tickets on  Twitter or LinkedIn. 

About the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The Harris Theater is Chicago’s home for music and dance, connecting diverse audiences with artists from across the city, the nation, and the world. An anchor institution of Millennium Park and the first multi-use performance venue built in downtown Chicago since 1929, the Harris was established in 2003 to create a much-needed home for the city’s vibrant community of midsize performing arts organizations. Today, the nonprofit Harris Theater features some of the most diverse arts and culture offerings in the city, from its Chicago-based Resident Companies to the world-renowned visiting artists who perform on its stage through the Harris Theater Presents series. The Harris represents a distinctive model for artistic excellence, collaboration, and creative symbiosis, making the performing arts relevant and accessible to the widest possible audience. Acting as both a home base and supportive partner for its Resident Companies, the Harris provides state-of-the-art performance space and ongoing support to nearly 30 Chicago-based performing arts organizations. Its 1,500-seat multi-use theater brings innovative and boundary-pushing productions from more than 32 countries across six continents to Chicago, creating unique opportunities for dialogue between Chicagoans and the world’s leading artists, thinkers, and innovators. The organization’s signature Harris Theater Presents series has featured acclaimed artists and ensembles including Joyce DiDonato, Batsheva Dance, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet, English National Ballet, Joshua Bell, Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras, Angélique Kidjo, and Paris Opéra Ballet. The Theater’s education and community engagement initiatives build bridges between artists and community members, providing master classes, artist talks, and free tickets for more than 35 partner organizations throughout Chicago. 

To learn more about the Harris Theater, Chicago’s home for music and dance in Millennium Park, visit harristheaterchicago.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.


Media Inquiries:

True Tickets 
Crystal Henderson
crystal@thepresshouse.com

The Harris Theater
Adriana Prieto
Director of Marketing
aprieto@harristheaterchicago.org