'Empire' Crews Take Over Rialto Square Theatre

JOLIET, IL —If you've been to downtown Joliet this week, you've probably noticed that television crews from Fox's show "Empire" are back. The crew is filming inside the historic Rialto Square Theatre. Empire has used the Rialto on a number of occasions in recent years.

Bob Filotto, chairman of the Rialto's board, told Joliet Patch it was his understanding that Empire may be using the Rialto for about three days of filming, this time around. The "Empire" crews were also at the Rialto on Tuesday.

The Rialto is able to generate a substantial amount of money from the facility rental to the TV show.

For instance, the Rialto generated a net profit of $58,375 as a result of the Fox television series using the Rialto for several days of filming last year.

Filotto said this week's use of the Rialto by the Empire crew would definitely generate "five figures."

"It's a very good revenue source for us," Filotto told Joliet Patch Wednesday. "'Empire' has been very good to work with. They provide their own security team. "

He said the television crew uses both the theater and the rotunda area.

TV crews black out all the windows of the Rialto's main level for lighting purposes and to avoid causing distractions for the actors and actresses, Filotto said. Joliet Police officers also were stationed downtown along North Chicago and Van Buren streets to help with traffic control and to keep vehicles off Van Buren, which is being used by Empire to keep their equipment.

In case you missed it: Actor Jussie Smollett is no longer part of "Empire." On Sept. 24, The New York Times published a lengthy article headlined, "How Jussie Smollett Was Written Off The Last Season Of 'Empire.'"