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Will Rialto Reopen In 2024? Entertainment Schedule Remains Up Air

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Will Rialto Reopen In 2024? Entertainment Schedule Remains Up Air

JOLIET — The release of asbestos inside downtown Joliet’s 98-year-old indoor theater this past summer prompted Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to file this week’s air pollution lawsuit seeking thousands of dollars in fines against the Rialto Square Theatre and two contractors hired to do the interior renovation project.

According to the lawsuit, “asbestos is a known human carcinogen with no known safe level of exposure. Studies have shown that ingesting asbestos fibers causes asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs. Asbestos can also cause mesothelioma, and cancer of the lungs and the lining of the abdominal cavity.”

The lawsuit defendants are Will County Metropolitan Exposition & Auditorium Authority, which is listed as a unit of local government; R. Berti & Son Contractor, and Universal Asbestos Removal.

Find out what’s happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Meanwhile, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of the Rialto’s upcoming fall and winter schedule.

Rialto staff have continued to issue press releases over the past week or so announcing that upcoming concerts and events are being taken off the calendar and rescheduled.

Find out what’s happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With the Rialto mired in a lawsuit from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, this month’s performance by comedian Marlon Wayans is now being postponed until late January. John Ferak/Patch

The Rialto press releases don’t blame the asbestos inside the theater, but everyone knows that the theater is off-limits to the public right now while the Rialto remains mired in litigation with the Attorney General Raoul, addressing the air pollution raised by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

In Thursday’s press release announcing the cancelation and rescheduling of this month’s comedy performance of Marlon Wayans, Rialto director of marketing and hospitality Shane Richards advised, “due to the ongoing closure of the Rialto Box Office, in-person sales or refunds are not available at this time, and we are also unable to answer or respond to any phone calls to the box office. For the quickest response to all sales, refunds, or inquiries, please send an email to boxoffice@rialtosquare.com.”

Richards let everyone know that the Sunday, September 22, Marlon Wayans: Wild Child Tour show at the Rialto Square Theatre has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 25, 2025.

All tickets for the original performance will be honored for the new date, the Rialto press release advised. If patrons are unable to attend the new date, they should reach out to the original point of purchase for a refund before October 10. If you purchased tickets at the Rialto Box Office or for all other inquiries, send an email to boxoffice@rialtosquare.com.

From Sept. 4:

Last week, the Rialto announced that one of its October performances was also removed from the tour calendar.

“Due to a scheduling conflict from Marc Maron’s tour, the Thursday, October 24, 2024, Marc Maron: All In Tour at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 8 p.m. All tickets for the original performance will be honored for the new date. If patrons are unable to attend the new date, they should reach out to the original point of purchase for a refund before October 2. If you purchased tickets at the Rialto Box Office or for all other inquiries, send an email to boxoffice@rialtosquare.com.

Image via John Ferak/Patch

Also from Sept. 4:

“Due to a health concern from Keb’ Mo’, the Wednesday, September 18, Keb’ Mo & Shawn Colvin show at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2025,” the press release noted.

“I’m taking an involuntary break for the rest of 2024 to recuperate and focus on my health. As a result, the Fall tour has been rescheduled for 2025 and all tickets will be honored for the new dates,” Keb’ Mo announced in the press release. “I went in for shortness of breath thinking that I was having a lung problem, only to find out that it was my heart giving me trouble, a leaking valve. Due to the location of the leak, the fix was open-heart surgery. While this was a serious procedure, my prognosis is incredibly positive, and I’m doing well! Thank you for your support and good energy. Look after yourselves. See you in 2025.”

Rialto Intends To Be Reopen Before November 16:

While the Rialto staff were busy lately taking events off their fall calendar, they just announced a new concert this week.

Two-time Grammy Award-winning artist Patty Griffin, and Grammy-nominated and Americana Music Award-winner Hayes Carll, and two-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lori McKenna will be at the Rialto Square Theatre on Saturday, November 16.

This special show will feature all three artists performing together, sharing songs and stories from across their acclaimed careers. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 13th at 10 a.m., the press release noted.

Joliet Law Firm Downplays Asbestos Issue Facing Rialto

Image via Rialto

After Joliet Patch broke Wednesday’s story about Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s lawsuit seeking hefty fines against the Rialto and the two contractors, the Rialto issued a press release attributed to long-time Joliet attorney James Murphy of Mahoney, Silverman and Cross.

Murphy, Joliet Patch readers may remember, successfully defended Channahon a few years ago in the federal lawsuit filed by attorney Jennifer Bonjean following the 2018 death of 911 dispatcher Samantha Harer inside her Channahon apartment while her estranged boyfriend was present.

After Channahon was dropped from the lawsuit, Bonjean refiled her wrongful death lawsuit in Will County against Flores, and in 2023, Will County Judge John Anderson issued a $15 million judgment against Flores for her death.

Here’s what Murphy included in Wednesday night’s press release related to the Rialto Square asbestos issue:

“The only violations identified by the IEPA are ones which occurred in the basement of the Rialto and those violations were limited to three bags believed to contain asbestos and containment of asbestos in those bags. While the complaint mentions other areas of the Rialto building where asbestos is located, those areas do not present a health concern and are not areas where the IEPA has alleged a violation. In older buildings such as the Rialto, the safe method of dealing with asbestos used in a building’s construction is to leave the asbestos where it is located. For the work being done in the basement of the Rialto, asbestos was being removed by Universal, which is a State of Illinois certified asbestos removal company. The asbestos removal was being done as part of an ongoing HVAC renovation and replacement project.

“Since being notified of the asbestos violations, the Rialto has taken numerous safety steps including testing the air in the theater and other areas of the building. The majority of those tests detected no asbestos. Only two tests each detected one strand of asbestos. By comparison, Illinois regulations set clearance testing for public schools to be less than 70 strands. In other words, if there had been 69 times the number of strands found, the tests would have shown the air was safe for public schools.

“It is the Rialto’s understanding that the complaint was filed as a routine matter so that an agreed order, which incorporates the terms of an IEPA approved cleanup plan, can be entered in the case and enforced by the Court. The Rialto has provided such a plan to the IEPA and is awaiting approval of such plan. From the initial notification of the asbestos violation, the Rialto has made it clear that it desires to do what is necessary and required for the health and safety of those that come to the Rialto.

“The Rialto is committed to quickly resolving this matter and returning to full operations, confident that our efforts to ensure compliance will further solidify the Rialto Square Theatre as a safe and welcoming space for all. And, contrary to the speculation of one commentator, the Rialto’s current 98-year run is expected to extend well into the future.”

Image via John Ferak/Patch

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