Spiegeltent ZaZou

Opulent palaces of red velvet and gold brocade, stained glass and deep mahogany, the European cabaret tents known as spiegeltents (mirror tents) were constructed in the 1910s by renowned craftsman Willem Klessens. These warm intimate circular theaters hosted dances, wine tastings, cabarets and celebrations in Europe for almost a century.

Ther Chicago home of the Spiegeltent ZaZou was discovered after a decade-long search for an indoor venue. This grand room, originally built in 1926 as a Masonic Hall, was rediscovered during the construction of the Cambria Hotel. The Murphy Development Group, at the urging of Broadway in Chicago President Lou Raizin, brought the opportunity to Randolph Entertainment, and the rest is (renovated) history.

Our authentic antique “Spiegeltent” (mirrored tent) was hand-crafted in Europe by a family of artisans who named it “ZaZou” – a nod to the rebellious social and artistic ZaZou movement in 1940s France.

This legacy has inspired not only the name of our venue but the theme of this production of Luminaire. We are humbled and honored to continue to develop the art form that has been hosted in Spiegeltent ZaZou in the past.