Rialto Ticket Sales Strong For Several Upcoming Shows

JOLIET, IL - Tickets to see The Temptations and The Four Tops on Friday, June 15 at the Rialto Square Theatre officially went on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Talk about a rare sight: people were lined up in late January along the sidewalk to buy their tickets at the Rialto's box office, said Jack Ericksen, the Rialto's marketing and development director. "There was a line out the door most of Friday morning," he said. By Monday morning, a total of 1,400 tickets were already sold, Ericksen said.

"I was very elated. That's going to be a sellout," he told Joliet Patch.

The previous Friday, Jan. 19, Rialto tickets to see country music star Dwight Yoakam on March 29 went on sale. The Yoakam concert is halfway to selling out. Nearly 1,000 seats were sold as of Monday morning, Ericksen said. February and March are shaping up to be busy months at downtown Joliet's historic theater, which has been on upswing since VenuWorks took over management of the theater's operations. This marks VenuWorks' second full year of running the Rialto's operations and booking its events.

Joliet's Rialto theater can accommodate nearly 2,000 guests.

This Saturday night, Feb. 3, the Rialto welcomes HAIRBALL. Tickets for that event are between $20 and $35. A total of 1,200 tickets have sold heading into the last week of sales, Ericksen said. The 3 Doors Down concert the following Saturday, Feb. 10, "is basically a sell out," Ericksen said.

"There's scattered individual tickets on the main floor primarily," he said. "We were real optimistic about that one when it was announced."

The Feb. 15 performance of Hotel California by Classic Albums Live is priced between $19.50 to $33.50. About 900 tickets are already sold. Rising country music performer Sara Evans visits the Rialto on Sunday, Feb. 25. About 800 tickets have already sold for her show. Also in February, Joliet musician John Condron will celebrate the release of his new double album. Condron is performing with The Old Gang Orchestra and Riverhorse on Friday, Feb. 16. That show is general admission, with all tickets $20.

Originally scheduled for Jan. 12, the REO Speedwagon concert is now set for March 8. That show has been sold out for a while and there is a waiting list for tickets for anyone who bought tickets for the January concert but can't make the rescheduled show, Ericksen said.

Ticket sales have been strong for several upcoming Rialto shows.

According to Ericksen, VenuWorks has made it a high priority to bring more diverse acts to downtown Joliet; that's why Rialto officials were thrilled with the opening weekend box office sales for The Temptations and The Four Tops. In December, the Rialto hosted The Colors Of Christmas with Peabo Bryson and Jody Watley among others. On March 31, the Rialto welcomes Blues legend Buddy Guy. Guy's show has already sold about 1,500 tickets, Ericksen said.

Buddy Guy performs at the Rialto in two months.

On April 8, the Rialto welcomes Los Lobos With The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

"VenuWorks has made it a point to reach out to all different audiences," Ericksen told Joliet Patch. "We want to get a little more diverse in what we bring in."

The Rialto aims to add more weekday shows that can be big draws. It's booked Daughtry for a Monday night concert April 16. At least 1,500 tickets have already sold, Ericksen said. "That will sell out," Ericksen said. "And that's on a Monday, which proves if you get the right act in, it does not have to fall on a weekend."

Images via Rialto Square Theatre