Most Big Rialto Shows Generate Profit: Patch Analysis

JOLIET, IL — A review of the Rialto Square Theatre's box office performance since January 2018 shows that most major events and concerts coming to Joliet are generating at least $10,000 in revenue from ticket sales after the costs to pay the performers is taken out.

Last week, Patch obtained data from the Rialto through the Freedom of Information Act for all shows and events at the downtown Joliet venue during the past 14 months. For the past three years, the Rialto has been managed by Iowa-based VenuWorks and receives a $500,000 annual subsidy from Joliet's City Council.

Regarding the show-by-show financial breakdown, "This report does not take into consideration overhead or indirect costs, which are in addition to the actual or direct costs, which are significant in total," explained Bob Filotto, chairman of the board that oversees the Rialto, in an email to Joliet Patch. "Such overhead costs would include line items such as staff salaries and wages, insurance, utilities and other indirect overhead costs."

Overall, the data for the Rialto Square Theatre showed:

• 19 events made between $10,000 and $20,000
• 12 events made between $20,000 and $30,000
• 14 events made under $10,000
• 4 events made more than $30,000

Filotto also explained that for some events, a corporate sponsor may have defrayed the costs to bring that entertainment act to the Rialto.

"It's a good time at the Rialto," Filotto told Joliet Patch on Sunday. "I think the community is coming back and supporting us as well as they can. It seems like this year we're on a pretty good run."

In addition to booking well-known entertainers, the Rialto has been adding more and more local events, such as local music Mondays and a monthly $5 movie series called Reels at the Rialto.

The Rialto's showing of "Bohemian Rhapsody" last Thursday night drew a sellout crowd of about 1,900 people. Next up, Billy Idol and Steve Stevens will play this Thursday night, March 21. Aaron Lewis performs on March 27. Other headliners include Tony Bennett on May 10. The Rialto just announced it landed the musical We Will Rock You for September.

There's also been plenty of social media buzz since the Rialto booked Criss Angel for June 2.

Here's a breakdown of the Rialto's successes and its marginal successes since January 2018:

Events topping $30,000 or more in gross profits

1. Empire, July 19, 2018, the Fox television series returned to the Rialto for several days of filming.

actual cost for Rialto - $38,900, actual revenue - $97,276, difference - plus $58,375

2. Nutcracker, Dec. 2, 2018

actual cost for Rialto - $31,060, actual revenue - $71,818, difference - plus $40,758

3. Jerry Seinfeld, July 18, 2018

actual cost for Rialto - $8,976, actual revenue - $47,250, difference - $38,263

4. Comedian Jim Jeffries, April 27, 2018,

actual cost for Rialto - $8,966, actual revenue - $46,652, difference - plus $37,686

Events topping $20,000 to $29,000 in gross profits:

1. Menopause The Musical, Nov. 27, 2018, actual cost for Rialto - $12,756, actual revenue - $41,790, difference - plus $29,035

2. A Magical Cirque Christmas, Dec. 7, 2018, actual cost for Rialto - $38,477, actual revenue - $67,379, difference -plus $28,901

3. Buddy Guy, March 31, 2018, actual cost for Rialto - $28,524, actual revenue - $56,100, difference - plus $27,575

4. Temptations/Four Tops, June 15, 2018 - actual cost for Rialto - $43,280, actual revenue - $70,851, difference - plus $27,570

5. Three Doors Down, Feb. 10, 2018 actual cost for Rialto - $33,780, actual revenue - $59,963, difference - $26,184

6. REO Speedwagon, March 8, 2018, actual cost for Rialto - $29,578, actual revenue - $54,135, difference - plus $24,557

7. Dwight Yoakam, March 29, 2018, actual cost for Rialto - $38,602, actual revenue - $62,208, difference - plus $23,606

8. Styx, Feb. 12, 2019 - actual cost for Rialto - $32,791, actual revenue - $55,229, difference - plus $22,438

9. Heather Land, comedian, Sept. 11, 2018, actual cost for Rialto - $4,054, actual revenue - $25,612, difference -plus $21,557

10. Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience, Dec. 3, 2018

actual cost for Rialto - $40,568, actual revenue - $61,415, difference - plus $20,847

11. 98 Degrees, Dec. 20, 2018 -

actual cost - $27,001, actual revenue - $47,732, difference - plus $20,731

12. Hairball, Feb. 3, 2018 - actual cost - $31,129, actual revenue - $51,255, difference -plus $20,126

Events topping $10,000 to $19,000 in gross profits:

1. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Dec. 15, 2018, actual cost - $20,443, actual revenue - $39,814, difference - plus $19,372

2. PJ Masks, May 10, May 10, 2018, actual cost - $25,913, actual revenue - $45,227, difference - plus $19,314

3. Lewis Black, comedian, April 6, 2018, actual cost - $26,005, actual revenue - $44,090, difference - plus $18,085

4. Kenny G - Nov. 29, 2018, actual cost - $31,450, actual revenue - $49,191, difference - plus $17,742.

5. Boz Scaggs, Nov. 2, 2018, actual cost - $29,728, actual revenue - $47,014, difference - plus $17,286

6. Tiffany Jenkins, Feb. 22, 2019, actual cost - $5,947, actual revenue - $22,991, difference - plus $17,044

7. Daughtry, April 16, 2018, actual cost - $28,528, actual revenue - $45,213 -difference - plus $16,685

8. Dennis Miller, comedian, Jan. 12, 2018, - actual cost - $26,090, actual revenue - $41,843, difference -plus $15,753

9. Rodney Carrington, Nov. 16, 2018, actual cost - $23,615, actual revenue - $39,150, difference - plus $15,535

10. The Tenors, Dec. 14, 2018, actual cost - $20,542, actual revenue - $35,143, difference - plus $14,602

11. Los Lobos and Fabulous T-Birds, April 8, 2018, actual cost - $25,381, actual revenue - $39,671, difference - plus $14,290

12. Oak Ridge Boys, Nov. 25, 2018, actual cost - $22,770, actual revenue - $36,162, difference - plus $13,392

13. Home Free, May 3, 2018, actual cost - $16,738, actual revenue - $29,525, difference - plus $12,786

14. Engelbert Humperdinck, April 21, 2018 - actual cost - $29,480, actual revenue $40,932, difference - plus $11,452

15. Wynonna Judd, Jan. 25, 2019, actual cost - $21,012, actual revenue - $32,453, difference - plus $11,441

16. Comedian John Crist, November 1, 2018 - actual cost - $8,559, actual revenue $19,565, difference - plus $11,006

17. I Am King salutes Michael Jackson's career, Sept. 20, 2018, actual cost - $18,974, actual revenue - 29,431, difference - plus $10,457

18. Decades Rewind, Feb. 17, 2018, actual cost - $18,330, actual revenue - $28,633, difference - plus $10,303

19. Beer Bash event, Sept. 16, 2018, actual cost - $10,963, actual revenue - $21,135, difference - plus $10,173

MARGINAL FINANCIAL SUCCESSES

Events that generated less than $10,000 in gross profits:

1. Dokken and Lita Ford, April 20, 2018, plus $9,598

2. Manhattan Transfer, March 14, 2018, plus $9,569

3. The Illusionists, Oct. 9, 2018, plus $9,462

4. Sara Evans, Feb. 25, 2018, plus $8,860

5. Pat Benatar, April 3, 2018, plus $8,120

6. Post Modern Jukebox, Feb. 10, 2019, plus $7,723

7. Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles, Nov. 8, 2018, plus $6,549

8. Noel, Dec. 4, 2018, plus $6,474

9. Gaelic Storm, Aug. 15, 2018, plus $6,308

10. TajMo, Aug. 10, 2018, plus $6,088

11. Jim Breuer, comedian, Aug. 9, 2018, plus $6,066

12. Hotel California, Feb. 15, 2018, plus $4,645

13. Ricky Nelson Remembered, March 30, 2018, plus $4,634

14. Sheila E, Oct. 12, 2018, minus $2,090