Rialto Square Theatre (Joliet, IL) Concert Venue / Theater

As a former Roaring 20s music palace, the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet has the ornate décor and jazz-age vibe of the era. Founders of the theater commissioned the same sculptor who worked on downtown Chicago masterpieces like Soldier Field and the Board of Trade, so the building has the look of a work of art. With a rotunda lobby modeled after the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, the Rialto shot for the glory of big-city spaces in New York and Chicago. A major renovation in 2006 restored the performing arts venue to its original glory.

These days, shows at the Rialto Square Theatre run the gamut from Cheech & Chong to the State Ballet Theatre of Russia. Comedy acts are a specialty at the Rialto, with October’s Last Laugh Comedy Festival bringing in national comedians like Adam Carolla. Seats on the main floor and balcony and in the orchestra pit hold a capacity of 1,966. A $30/person add-on, the “Suite Life,” allows access to a VIP lounge with open bar and hors d’oeuvres – VIPs can visit and exit the lounge as often as they want during the performance. Before Broadway performances, visitors can have a full meal, with open bar, in the lounge for $55.