Albright, Gupta among Chicago Speakers Series in Rosemont

High-profile figures in politics, science, health, sports and history highlight the new Chicago Speakers Series inaugural season at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont.

The series begins Oct. 1 with Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state.

Neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta will appear on Nov. 5, followed by theoretical physicist and well-known futurist Michio Kaku on Dec. 3.

International activist and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali will speak on Jan. 21, followed by endurance swimmer Diana Nyad on Feb. 11, and former CIA director and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on March 17.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author David McCullough will close the series' first season April 7, 2016.

The Chicago Speakers Series is modeled after highly acclaimed Speakers Series in Philadelphia and Boston, both of which have been sold out since their inceptions many years ago. Each series continues to maintain a multiyear waiting list of those wishing to subscribe.

Tickets are sold by subscription to the entire series only. Tickets to individual lectures are not for sale. Based on availability, subscriptions will continue to be sold on a prorated basis through the remainder of the season.

Subscription prices for all seven lectures are $265 for open seating, $325 for silver reserved seating, $385 for gold reserved seating, and $445 for platinum reserved seating.

There is a $15 postage and handling charge per subscription.

Subscribe by ordering online at chicagospeakerseries.org or call (847) 671-0300 to charge by phone or get more information.

All sales are final and there are no refunds or exchanges. Speakers are subject to substitution or rescheduling. Assistive hearing devices are available free.