Rialto: Ticket Totals For 32 Shows Since October

JOLIET, IL — The Rialto Square Theatre's reduced request of a $475,000 city subsidy is not expected to meet opposition as the Joliet City Council finalizes its 2020 operating budget. Last week, the VenuWorks-managed theater's executive director, Val Devine, told city officials that the Rialto remains a vibrant part of Joliet's downtown nightlife and entertainment scene.

Since her hiring in April 2017, Devine said, ticket sales and total events continue to climb. Advertising sponsorship revenue grew from $182,650 to $232,850 between fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019.

In fiscal year 2018, the Rialto had 186 total events. In fiscal 2019, the Rialto had 221.

Paid tickets for shows increased from 44,116 in fiscal year 2018 to 58,873 in fiscal year 2019. The number of wedding events increased from 25 to 36 in the same period.

The Rialto's net loss in fiscal year 2018 was $420,236. In fiscal year 2019, the amount dropped to $405,499, Devine's presentation showed. The city of Joliet's annual subsidy, usually $500,000, has helped the Rialto balance its operating budget. The Rialto's fiscal budget runs from July 1 until June 30.

"As I reflect on the last couple years, this council challenged us to really re-invigorate the Rialto theater with additional programming, more traffic, community involvement, and I think we've not only met, but we've exceeded those expectations," Rialto board chairman Bob Filotto told Joliet's City Council last week.

Filotto also promised that more good things are ahead for the Rialto in 2020.

At this time of year, Filotto said, people around the community often stop and compliment him on how well the Rialto is doing these days.

"I shudder to think what we would've done without Val the last couple of years," Filotto told the council. "We're fortunate to have her passion, leadership ... I want to publicly acknowledge Val for all the work she's done."

This week also marks the home stretch of the Rialto's month-long Christmas holiday programming. Friday night, Dec. 20 features a practically sold-out Martina McBride bringing her Joy of Christmas concert to town.

On Sunday night, the Oak Ridge Boys bring their Down Home Christmas Tour to Joliet for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Last week, Joliet Patch asked the Rialto to provide access to its ticket totals for all theater events since Oct. 1. According to the data, half of the 32 events since October drew a crowd between 1,000 and nearly 2,000 guests.

Four additional performances drew a crowd of 900 to 1,000 including rap star Nelly.

Still, there were some concerts with more empty seats than the Rialto may have envisioned:

At any rate, here's a summary of all major events at the Rialto between Oct. 1 and Dec. 11. Most recent shows are listed first:

1. Rudolph: The Musical, 909 tickets
2. Michael Londra's Celtic Yuletide: 399 tickets
3. Larry the Cable Guy, show 1: 1,187 tickets
4. Larry the Cable Guy, show 2: 1,255 tickets
5. PURE Yanni: 1,268 tickets
6. CeeLo Green: 276 tickets
7. Holiday Luncheon/organ concert: 232 tickets
8. The Nutcracker, show 1: 1,452 tickets
9. The Nutcracker, show 2: 843 tickets
10. The Polar Express movie: 625 tickets
11. Teddy Bear Tea, show 1: 216 tickets
12. Teddy Bear Tea, show 2: 217 tickets
13. Rodrigo y Gabriela, 1,204 tickets
14. A Very Rialto Christmas, 759 tickets
15. Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience, 1,467 tickets
16. Little River Band, 1,081 tickets
17. Theresa Caputo Live, show 2: 1,912 tickets
18. Nelly, 958 tickets
19. Theresa Caputo Live show 1, 1,816 tickets
20. Cat & Nat, 1,047 tickets
21. Newsboys United, 1,232 tickets
22. Stars of the Sixties: 1,888 tickets
23. Rickie Lee Jones, 276 tickets
24. Hocus Pocus movie: 756 tickets
25. Abracadabra, 570 tickets
26. Lyle Lovett, 1,174 tickets
27. Peppa Pig Live, 1,389 tickets
28. Rent: 20th anniversary tour, the musical: 990 tickets
29. Master Chef Jr., 572 tickets
30. A Night with Janis Joplin, 926 tickets
31. Whose Live Anyways? 1,443 tickets
32. Home Free, 1,125 tickets