Elmhurst Theater Promises Big Economic Impact

ELMHURST, IL – Construction of the Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts is years out, the group's nonprofit board says.

The group plans to tear down a couple of buildings in the 100 block of West First Street, across from the train station.

In an interview this week, Laura Michaud, the board's secretary and a founding member, said the board reached a milestone last year when it struck an agreement with Minneapolis-based Ryan Companies as the developer.

Ryan was also the developer of the 200-unit Vyne on Haven complex, which opened last April in downtown Elmhurst, among many other projects in the suburbs.

"We picked Ryan because of their size and ability and their good relationship with the city," Michaud said.

The center's main theater is expected to consist of 550 seats, along with a fly zone, orchestra pit, and control room for sound and light.

The board's vision is to split seating with a potential mezzanine level that could be blocked off to create a more intimate space.

"We're going to be doing this in stages," Michaud said.

With the center, the board hopes to bring big names as well as local acts, including students. Shawna Roubitchek, the board's managing director, described the performers as "highly recognized, awarded, accomplished artists."

The group said it doesn't have a specific cost estimate yet on the project, but hopes to pay for the building through grants and donations.

The board commissioned a marketing feasibility study that showed the average theater patron would spend $65 at local businesses.

"That is one of the key reasons that municipalities want performing arts centers," Michaud said.

The yearly economic impact would be $8.2 million, according to the study. The center is expected to bring $692,000 a year in taxes on sales, food, beverages and hotels. Of that, $202,000 would directly benefit the city of Elmhurst, according to the study.

In his State of the City address earlier this month, Mayor Scott Levin called the center the "big dream that will actually come true."

"That'll be a major coup to have something like that in downtown Elmhurst," he said.

The performing arts initiative was announced to the community in 2016.