Negativity? How about reality! I have attended and actively participated in meetings of GTC. For the record: TWO of EIGHT board members attended the General meeting last week of the GTC. Some turnout of board members! There were less than 6 people who attended. It doesn’t sound like negativity. Sounds like apathy. Too bad you didn’t enjoy my murder mystery. Nearly everyone else did. While I am out DOING, you are out there WHINING. Again… I will take Mr. Newman’s advise and do productive things until otherwise provoked on this site.
LZogas: See? Everyone has an axe to grind but how many do their research? Who are you, by the way? We are hardly disgrunted contractors. We DID lots of programming in that theatre for six months! Cub scouts, magic shows, concerts, movies, plays, murder mysteries, Chamber of Commerce functions, a kickoff fundraiser for Sgt. Gomez…on and on. What are they doing in there now? NOTHING! We are not disgrunted. We are sad. This board blew a giant contract with the YMCA to do summer camps for kids! They also blew a chance to presentt “Fiddler on the Roof” for the 8th graders at St. Mikes. They still owe us money and have kept our concessions and property inside the theatre as hostages! The Wheaton Board is NOT hard working nor are they sincere. Other theatres and cities have invited the public to participate in the design phase and even help with the fundraising. This board does not and is mezmorized by Ray Shepardson alone. Bad idea. He needs 8 mil? This is crazy! GVI needed 4.1 mil and could open a successful theatre sooner! Banks liked our plans, investors liked our plans, business organizations and the public liked our plans. The Wheaton board does not even honor its own volunteers by asking them what they see. Elections for directors are done in secret. No one knows who regulates that board. Come on: They are not saints as you paint them. I have told anyone you can check out our projects in person by visiting our office. Make an appointment. However with renegade board members of the Wheaton Grand running around speading lies, (and committing tortious interference) we are naturally cautious. Just run a web search and you will see GVI projects in cities like Pittsfield, Havana and others in several states who have hired us or where we are currently running theatres. We are moving forward and are successful in other markets BUT we do care about our own hometown! Why don’t YOU ask more questions of them and find out why ONE theatre will be a disaster. Where is their proof or projections? Let cooler heads prevail. Now I must get back to real work.
Dear Life’s: My my! I do good work and am not ashamed of myself, my company or my projects. I have directed hundreds of plays, written and directed murder mysteries, worked with thousands of kids in theatre, taught theatre in high school and junior high school, worked in summer camps… What have YOU done? Why don’t you identify yourself as you appear to know so much about me? You claim to have met me yet you hide in the shadows. Hmmm. Who is hiding now? Call our office, or schedule an appointment to see us. My staff and I shall be happy to offer you references, contracts, photos, terstimonials, andm ost important, concrete proof of our statement that ONE theatre will not work in Wheaton. But then again maybe you do not really work with theatres and have your own agenda to discredit me. At least I am doing what I love. Are you?
Thank you. We hope to do movies, concerts, live theatre and children’s programming. Call our manager, Todd Porter in Havana if you wish to help. Grande Venues, Inc.
Brian: Thank you. I am encouraged by your enthusiasm. We hope to be helpful and successful to several theatres each year. Again read between the lines for the Wheaton. They want ONE theatre and we want THREE theatres for THAT location. OK. The Uptown remains in play. The lease for the Portage was sold. We have done many projects quietly. You have only read about the loud public ones. By the way are you in the theatre restoration business? Have you tried to save old theatres?
Hold on… some theatres must be razed. Not all theatre can be saved. I think the Dupage has a chance if everyone stops using the MILLIONS needed to save it at once. Why not have a more conservative approach. Here’s a strategy: buy the building and parking lot from the city…open the lobby first…raise awareness then some cash and grants. That seems reasonable. No one will give money to a building unless they know what is going to happen inside later. Stay tuned.
Dear Life’s Too Short. Emotional debate is a good thing but those who complain must play the game before they are “experts.” By the way, who are you? Do you do theatre restorations? Do you stick your neck out? I do not think I need to provide references to you, however, go to our website: www.grandevenues.com Now that I have been brought back in: the Wheaton Grand is doomed to fail regardless of the Pollyannas on this website and on their board. Where are the theatre people on their board or volunteers? None. They do not have a grip on reality or maintain reasonable business models. Plain and simple: Multiple venues = success. ALL reports indicate that single theatres are failing at a rapid rate. Wheaton has NO parking for an 800 seat venue. The board is deluded thinking the public will roll out $8 million when they can have it all for $4.1 million. GVI has a great plan to preserve Wheaton’s architectural elements and still have the theatre be self sufficient. GVI now has projects in Illinois, California and Connecticut. Certain Grand Theatre board members go out of their way to try and discredit us. We don’t care. Cities and arts organizations keep hiring us as we do the hard work before restoration begins. Other projects are on the way. At least we try and do not sit in an armchair and critcize everyone else. We are moving forward not looking backwards. Lots of theatres need help. We are on the way up.
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. The Village of Lombard has a few more hoops before the wrecking ball truly hits the building. The Village said that it will still “sell” the land to a developer BEFORE demolition. It saves everyone tax dollars. Hang in there, y'all. www.grandevenues.com
Thank you for a voice of reason Mr. Grebe. So to sum up… all of us have different opinions about this particular theatre so let’s let it be and do work to help other theatres. Loster and his board will do their best to restore the Wheaton Grand. If they succeed, hooray. If not, it is another theatre gone. Sad that the GTC board members go out and try to ruin our reputation. Sad. A settlement is in the works between GVI (us) and GTC (them) so let the lawyers work it out. Unless attacked or maligned, I will not post here again. Goodbye. Thank you.
How sad, John. It is easy to blame someone else when you and your board has fallen down. Nice try but intelligent people see through your pack of lies. You gave an 80th birthday party where 15 people and a few friends stop by? Sad. You claim to have been trying to restore the theatre for 5 years. What has happened? Why haven’t you done even ONE fundraiser to put money into the building? Your GTC board is so disconnected with the public it can’t do anything without putting them to sleep… with inertia. Did it take GVI to kick start your efforts? We had thousands of people excited again about the theatre. Now nothing. No action. The 500 people (an exaggeration?) who attended the events you mention are the result of GVIs marketing and contract process, not yours. Our contracts are still there but you do not market them or any others. What happened to the marquee? What happened to all the young people who used to volunteer? You refuse to return stolen property that belongs to GVI. You continue to lie to the public about “their involvement.” Listen to the former advisory board, the schools, the boy and girl scouts, the seniors, the churches, the business and city officials, the kids and many others who WANT three venues, movies and programs for kids. You lost the YMCA’s contract to rent the theatre for theatre camps for the summer! Sad. You lie to the public about renting the old office space (no one there as of this morning). It is time to face the facts, John. You are on a sinking ship. Move over and let others continue the work started. There are plenty of other volunteers who refuse to go back to the theatre because YOU are there. Stop with the personal attacks and focus on the theatre, John. Do the right thing and resign. Then the REAL work of restoring an old theatre can begin.
Travis: The answer to your question is easy. Why is there so much fighting and drama? Ego, money, a love of the arts, power, and a genuine interest in preserving the past… all of these elements converge when discussing old theatre restoration. Many have strong memories of the old places they used to go when they were kids. Now business, tax credits, development, and programming must play a part. Reality seldom enters into the theatre other than those who look at it from a financial point of view. Sadly the arts are not on the top of everyone’s list. It is our job to try and keep the discussions alive in forums like this.
The Wheaton Grand Theatre turned 80 on Wednesday. How sad no one threw it a party. Grande Venues had big plans for an 8 story cake (one for each decade). We also had bigger plans for its renovation/restoration. GVI got estimates from two major architects and could renovate and open for 4.1 million. Now “restoration guru, Ray Shepardson” (James Fuller, a reporter’s words) wants to spend 8 million! Why don’t the people of Wheaton get involved? Why don’t business and civic leaders ask questions of that misguided board of directors? Is one theatre realistic downtown Wheaton? The DuPage Theatre in Lombard (nearby) suffers but at least there is a better plan for a downtown redevlopment! Meanwhile morale is down at the theatre with the volunteers and teenagers now that no one sits in the front window running events. Sad.
Allie: I am glad you did sneak in. Please remember that “crumbling paint and plaster” are sad but they do not tell the story of any large restoration/renovation. The biggest question is: Even if you restore it, what will play inside for the next five years? Can you pcreate a realistic pro forma with income and expense? We can. Shows and programming are the REAL drivers of development NOT the “let’s bring the palace back to life.” HVAC, parking, and programming are the new issues. Clever ownership, TIFs, and historic tax credits are the new tools. We could help the city as we just did in several theatres in Illinois last week. Who has the title to the Paramount today? Please call GVI at (630)480-3345. We can help.
Bad news: The local newspaper reported (and the economic development officer confirmed it) that “Chris Major” has gone to jail. It was not theatre related. It had to do with child support and other domestic issues. Check out the newspapers in Havana. He was extradited to Missouri. I am sad that another theatre is empty but several of us are trying to keep the place alive.
Poor LTS, (Life’s Too Short): Thanks for your comments (dirt bag??) and Patsy’s compliments, too. I love this site but everyone should do “due diligence” including LTS. If you play in the big league you eventually get to court. Period. Theatre litigation is a part of real estate and everyone from Trump to Martha Stewart learn to deal with it. (Not that we are in that league yet!) Some claims are frivolous, some are borne from jealousy or misunderstanding. For the record: No one was “fired” at the Wheaton! My company, GVI was “retained” as consultants. The board didn’t like our work, or our advice so we have signed a settlement. I will make that document available when the time is right. The Uptown Theatre mess is still playing itself out in a big way on the north side and more news will be out in the coming months that will clearly be favorable to me and my company. Due diligence is right! I haved done so many projecst positively, directed hundreds of murder mysteries, musicals, plays worked with tens of thousands of people in all walsk of life….too bad only the bad stuff gets put on here. Due diligence. I take chances on theatres. Do you? Unless you play in the game stop cirticizing others. Get in there and at least TRY to save old theatres. Stop yelling ffrom the sidelines.
It is very difficult to purchase a theatre like the Tower without a thorough business plan and feasibility study. Even then you need pro formas for a three year period. We are in business to do such work. Call us. Grande Venues, Inc. (630) 480-3345
Dear Life’s Too Short: Do not rush to conclusions based on current “upaid manager” John Loster’s faulty information. Much of the “misinformation” has been directed at me and my company to deflect criticism against the GTC’s vision of “one theatre.” We have urged the public to get involved with “Three Venues Not One!” It is politically incorrect for this group to go against the public’s wishes! The “cases” you refer to from the Clerk’s office are from old Uptown Theatre business and have been settled a while ago. My big question is why have our comments been systematically removed from this part of the website? We made formal and legitimate accusations against board members at the WGT and it sppears this website was “sanitized.” Loster has been bad for business since he quit two times ago. Watch out for him, not me.
“Somewhere at Time” will probably show at another theatre. GVI will not do business with the current board at the Wheaton Grand Theatre. They have no vision for what a “theatre” should be. Check at the Arcada Theatre in a few weeks or call us at (630) 480-3345
Our company, Grande Venues, Inc., has signed a unique consulting agreement with the City of Pittsfield, IL to perform an Arts Assessment for the region to determine if the public will support an operating theatre. We begin immediately to interview the public, members in the arts and education community, city officials, business leaders, and “angels.” After our meetings, we will create a report to identify and/or create entities to take title to the property. Then we empower qualified parties to restore and operate the Zoe Theatre. We can do this in any town with a regional population of over 7,500 people. Call on us.
We provide consulting services, investors, programming services, creative, complex or simple financing, tax credit and TIF funding, facade rebates, etc. for sellers of theatres, municipalities, theatre owners or potential buyers. It doesn’t hurt to call us first. www.grandevenues.com, (630) 480-3345. Thanks!
Same old, same old… That is why REALISTIC programming and solid financial projections are required. It is Pollyanna to expect a first run small movie theatre to ever survive. Look at what the studios charge us! The good news: Our company, GVI, signed another consulting contract with a small midwest town to determine if the theatre should survive. We believe it will with the proper program mix (movies + music + live entertainment + business meetings) the legal entities that should operate the theatre, tax credit applications, etc. We train boards of directors, managers and staff, work with architects, city planners, assist with the marketing and publicity, create alliances betweeen arts groups and in general, serve as a catalyst for arts groups and downtown developments. We could do it for any city with a population of over 5,000 and a “driving draw” of 12,500. Call Mike or Paul (630) 480-3345.
Negativity? How about reality! I have attended and actively participated in meetings of GTC. For the record: TWO of EIGHT board members attended the General meeting last week of the GTC. Some turnout of board members! There were less than 6 people who attended. It doesn’t sound like negativity. Sounds like apathy. Too bad you didn’t enjoy my murder mystery. Nearly everyone else did. While I am out DOING, you are out there WHINING. Again… I will take Mr. Newman’s advise and do productive things until otherwise provoked on this site.
LZogas: See? Everyone has an axe to grind but how many do their research? Who are you, by the way? We are hardly disgrunted contractors. We DID lots of programming in that theatre for six months! Cub scouts, magic shows, concerts, movies, plays, murder mysteries, Chamber of Commerce functions, a kickoff fundraiser for Sgt. Gomez…on and on. What are they doing in there now? NOTHING! We are not disgrunted. We are sad. This board blew a giant contract with the YMCA to do summer camps for kids! They also blew a chance to presentt “Fiddler on the Roof” for the 8th graders at St. Mikes. They still owe us money and have kept our concessions and property inside the theatre as hostages! The Wheaton Board is NOT hard working nor are they sincere. Other theatres and cities have invited the public to participate in the design phase and even help with the fundraising. This board does not and is mezmorized by Ray Shepardson alone. Bad idea. He needs 8 mil? This is crazy! GVI needed 4.1 mil and could open a successful theatre sooner! Banks liked our plans, investors liked our plans, business organizations and the public liked our plans. The Wheaton board does not even honor its own volunteers by asking them what they see. Elections for directors are done in secret. No one knows who regulates that board. Come on: They are not saints as you paint them. I have told anyone you can check out our projects in person by visiting our office. Make an appointment. However with renegade board members of the Wheaton Grand running around speading lies, (and committing tortious interference) we are naturally cautious. Just run a web search and you will see GVI projects in cities like Pittsfield, Havana and others in several states who have hired us or where we are currently running theatres. We are moving forward and are successful in other markets BUT we do care about our own hometown! Why don’t YOU ask more questions of them and find out why ONE theatre will be a disaster. Where is their proof or projections? Let cooler heads prevail. Now I must get back to real work.
Good article: http://www.whig.com/283384187439650.php
Dear Life’s: My my! I do good work and am not ashamed of myself, my company or my projects. I have directed hundreds of plays, written and directed murder mysteries, worked with thousands of kids in theatre, taught theatre in high school and junior high school, worked in summer camps… What have YOU done? Why don’t you identify yourself as you appear to know so much about me? You claim to have met me yet you hide in the shadows. Hmmm. Who is hiding now? Call our office, or schedule an appointment to see us. My staff and I shall be happy to offer you references, contracts, photos, terstimonials, andm ost important, concrete proof of our statement that ONE theatre will not work in Wheaton. But then again maybe you do not really work with theatres and have your own agenda to discredit me. At least I am doing what I love. Are you?
Thank you. We hope to do movies, concerts, live theatre and children’s programming. Call our manager, Todd Porter in Havana if you wish to help. Grande Venues, Inc.
Brian: Thank you. I am encouraged by your enthusiasm. We hope to be helpful and successful to several theatres each year. Again read between the lines for the Wheaton. They want ONE theatre and we want THREE theatres for THAT location. OK. The Uptown remains in play. The lease for the Portage was sold. We have done many projects quietly. You have only read about the loud public ones. By the way are you in the theatre restoration business? Have you tried to save old theatres?
Hold on… some theatres must be razed. Not all theatre can be saved. I think the Dupage has a chance if everyone stops using the MILLIONS needed to save it at once. Why not have a more conservative approach. Here’s a strategy: buy the building and parking lot from the city…open the lobby first…raise awareness then some cash and grants. That seems reasonable. No one will give money to a building unless they know what is going to happen inside later. Stay tuned.
Dear Life’s Too Short. Emotional debate is a good thing but those who complain must play the game before they are “experts.” By the way, who are you? Do you do theatre restorations? Do you stick your neck out? I do not think I need to provide references to you, however, go to our website: www.grandevenues.com Now that I have been brought back in: the Wheaton Grand is doomed to fail regardless of the Pollyannas on this website and on their board. Where are the theatre people on their board or volunteers? None. They do not have a grip on reality or maintain reasonable business models. Plain and simple: Multiple venues = success. ALL reports indicate that single theatres are failing at a rapid rate. Wheaton has NO parking for an 800 seat venue. The board is deluded thinking the public will roll out $8 million when they can have it all for $4.1 million. GVI has a great plan to preserve Wheaton’s architectural elements and still have the theatre be self sufficient. GVI now has projects in Illinois, California and Connecticut. Certain Grand Theatre board members go out of their way to try and discredit us. We don’t care. Cities and arts organizations keep hiring us as we do the hard work before restoration begins. Other projects are on the way. At least we try and do not sit in an armchair and critcize everyone else. We are moving forward not looking backwards. Lots of theatres need help. We are on the way up.
The key issue for this theatre is planning, programming and marketing. To Fleischmannslocal, please contact us: (630) 480-3345.
Dear jdsane: Could you call us, please? (630) 480-3345.
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over. The Village of Lombard has a few more hoops before the wrecking ball truly hits the building. The Village said that it will still “sell” the land to a developer BEFORE demolition. It saves everyone tax dollars. Hang in there, y'all. www.grandevenues.com
Thank you for a voice of reason Mr. Grebe. So to sum up… all of us have different opinions about this particular theatre so let’s let it be and do work to help other theatres. Loster and his board will do their best to restore the Wheaton Grand. If they succeed, hooray. If not, it is another theatre gone. Sad that the GTC board members go out and try to ruin our reputation. Sad. A settlement is in the works between GVI (us) and GTC (them) so let the lawyers work it out. Unless attacked or maligned, I will not post here again. Goodbye. Thank you.
How sad, John. It is easy to blame someone else when you and your board has fallen down. Nice try but intelligent people see through your pack of lies. You gave an 80th birthday party where 15 people and a few friends stop by? Sad. You claim to have been trying to restore the theatre for 5 years. What has happened? Why haven’t you done even ONE fundraiser to put money into the building? Your GTC board is so disconnected with the public it can’t do anything without putting them to sleep… with inertia. Did it take GVI to kick start your efforts? We had thousands of people excited again about the theatre. Now nothing. No action. The 500 people (an exaggeration?) who attended the events you mention are the result of GVIs marketing and contract process, not yours. Our contracts are still there but you do not market them or any others. What happened to the marquee? What happened to all the young people who used to volunteer? You refuse to return stolen property that belongs to GVI. You continue to lie to the public about “their involvement.” Listen to the former advisory board, the schools, the boy and girl scouts, the seniors, the churches, the business and city officials, the kids and many others who WANT three venues, movies and programs for kids. You lost the YMCA’s contract to rent the theatre for theatre camps for the summer! Sad. You lie to the public about renting the old office space (no one there as of this morning). It is time to face the facts, John. You are on a sinking ship. Move over and let others continue the work started. There are plenty of other volunteers who refuse to go back to the theatre because YOU are there. Stop with the personal attacks and focus on the theatre, John. Do the right thing and resign. Then the REAL work of restoring an old theatre can begin.
Travis: The answer to your question is easy. Why is there so much fighting and drama? Ego, money, a love of the arts, power, and a genuine interest in preserving the past… all of these elements converge when discussing old theatre restoration. Many have strong memories of the old places they used to go when they were kids. Now business, tax credits, development, and programming must play a part. Reality seldom enters into the theatre other than those who look at it from a financial point of view. Sadly the arts are not on the top of everyone’s list. It is our job to try and keep the discussions alive in forums like this.
The Wheaton Grand Theatre turned 80 on Wednesday. How sad no one threw it a party. Grande Venues had big plans for an 8 story cake (one for each decade). We also had bigger plans for its renovation/restoration. GVI got estimates from two major architects and could renovate and open for 4.1 million. Now “restoration guru, Ray Shepardson” (James Fuller, a reporter’s words) wants to spend 8 million! Why don’t the people of Wheaton get involved? Why don’t business and civic leaders ask questions of that misguided board of directors? Is one theatre realistic downtown Wheaton? The DuPage Theatre in Lombard (nearby) suffers but at least there is a better plan for a downtown redevlopment! Meanwhile morale is down at the theatre with the volunteers and teenagers now that no one sits in the front window running events. Sad.
Allie: I am glad you did sneak in. Please remember that “crumbling paint and plaster” are sad but they do not tell the story of any large restoration/renovation. The biggest question is: Even if you restore it, what will play inside for the next five years? Can you pcreate a realistic pro forma with income and expense? We can. Shows and programming are the REAL drivers of development NOT the “let’s bring the palace back to life.” HVAC, parking, and programming are the new issues. Clever ownership, TIFs, and historic tax credits are the new tools. We could help the city as we just did in several theatres in Illinois last week. Who has the title to the Paramount today? Please call GVI at (630)480-3345. We can help.
Lyavon: Many options for theatres you request. We just returned from Southern Illinois and helped two theatres. Call us for details. (630) 490-3345.
Bad news: The local newspaper reported (and the economic development officer confirmed it) that “Chris Major” has gone to jail. It was not theatre related. It had to do with child support and other domestic issues. Check out the newspapers in Havana. He was extradited to Missouri. I am sad that another theatre is empty but several of us are trying to keep the place alive.
Poor LTS, (Life’s Too Short): Thanks for your comments (dirt bag??) and Patsy’s compliments, too. I love this site but everyone should do “due diligence” including LTS. If you play in the big league you eventually get to court. Period. Theatre litigation is a part of real estate and everyone from Trump to Martha Stewart learn to deal with it. (Not that we are in that league yet!) Some claims are frivolous, some are borne from jealousy or misunderstanding. For the record: No one was “fired” at the Wheaton! My company, GVI was “retained” as consultants. The board didn’t like our work, or our advice so we have signed a settlement. I will make that document available when the time is right. The Uptown Theatre mess is still playing itself out in a big way on the north side and more news will be out in the coming months that will clearly be favorable to me and my company. Due diligence is right! I haved done so many projecst positively, directed hundreds of murder mysteries, musicals, plays worked with tens of thousands of people in all walsk of life….too bad only the bad stuff gets put on here. Due diligence. I take chances on theatres. Do you? Unless you play in the game stop cirticizing others. Get in there and at least TRY to save old theatres. Stop yelling ffrom the sidelines.
It is very difficult to purchase a theatre like the Tower without a thorough business plan and feasibility study. Even then you need pro formas for a three year period. We are in business to do such work. Call us. Grande Venues, Inc. (630) 480-3345
Dear Life’s Too Short: Do not rush to conclusions based on current “upaid manager” John Loster’s faulty information. Much of the “misinformation” has been directed at me and my company to deflect criticism against the GTC’s vision of “one theatre.” We have urged the public to get involved with “Three Venues Not One!” It is politically incorrect for this group to go against the public’s wishes! The “cases” you refer to from the Clerk’s office are from old Uptown Theatre business and have been settled a while ago. My big question is why have our comments been systematically removed from this part of the website? We made formal and legitimate accusations against board members at the WGT and it sppears this website was “sanitized.” Loster has been bad for business since he quit two times ago. Watch out for him, not me.
“Somewhere at Time” will probably show at another theatre. GVI will not do business with the current board at the Wheaton Grand Theatre. They have no vision for what a “theatre” should be. Check at the Arcada Theatre in a few weeks or call us at (630) 480-3345
Our company, Grande Venues, Inc., has signed a unique consulting agreement with the City of Pittsfield, IL to perform an Arts Assessment for the region to determine if the public will support an operating theatre. We begin immediately to interview the public, members in the arts and education community, city officials, business leaders, and “angels.” After our meetings, we will create a report to identify and/or create entities to take title to the property. Then we empower qualified parties to restore and operate the Zoe Theatre. We can do this in any town with a regional population of over 7,500 people. Call on us.
We provide consulting services, investors, programming services, creative, complex or simple financing, tax credit and TIF funding, facade rebates, etc. for sellers of theatres, municipalities, theatre owners or potential buyers. It doesn’t hurt to call us first. www.grandevenues.com, (630) 480-3345. Thanks!
Same old, same old… That is why REALISTIC programming and solid financial projections are required. It is Pollyanna to expect a first run small movie theatre to ever survive. Look at what the studios charge us! The good news: Our company, GVI, signed another consulting contract with a small midwest town to determine if the theatre should survive. We believe it will with the proper program mix (movies + music + live entertainment + business meetings) the legal entities that should operate the theatre, tax credit applications, etc. We train boards of directors, managers and staff, work with architects, city planners, assist with the marketing and publicity, create alliances betweeen arts groups and in general, serve as a catalyst for arts groups and downtown developments. We could do it for any city with a population of over 5,000 and a “driving draw” of 12,500. Call Mike or Paul (630) 480-3345.