Encore Dinner Playhouse Plans Officially Kaput

Despite the sign out front that still advertises the , plans to open the theater are officially dead.

Christina Kitchel, the leasing agent for the 4,700-square-foot space at 16108 S. Route 59, said the Encore project has been canceled and the property's currently available for lease.

The dinner theater had been the brainchild of Jenny and Gary Giocomo, Crest Hill residents with an extensive theater background in Chicago, Las Vegas and Colorado. They envisioned a stage for musical reviews coupled with dinner that would be catered by a local restaurant, Jenny Giocomo said at the time.

Plans to open in October 2011 were postponed, however, because of an undisclosed family member's illness. Giocomo said the instead.

The Giocomos could not be reached for comment Monday. All tickets sold last fall have been refunded.

Kitchel, director of leasing for , said she's had people look at the space, which includes the stage built for the theater, but so far there's been no takers.

"I think it would make a good office-type use," she said. "Or maybe a dance studio or a pilates studio, something that could (take advantage) of traffic."

The second-floor open space is directly above Hometown's gym space. Other tenants in the strip mall include and .