The goal is in sight for Northlight Theatre as the theater company seeks $25 million for phase one of the construction of its new theater at 1012-16 Church Street in downtown Evanston.
The theater group, which moved to Skokie in 1997, began in Evanston and has since outgrown the space at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.
Thanks to a leadership gift of $3 million from the family of Paul Finnegan, past president and chairperson of the theater’s Board of Trustees, they are a lot closer to their plan of starting construction early in 2025, with a completion date of fall 2026.
“It’s the largest individual gift that we’ve ever received,” said Northlight’s Executive Director Timothy J. Evans. “It’s a huge boost for the campaign at a time that we’re really working hard to get a shovel in the ground. We’ve already seen it motivate others in the community to help us get this done.”
Artistic Director BJ Jones, who is starting his 26th year at Northlight, noted that Finnegan was the board president and lead the search committee when Jones was hired as artistic director.
“He’s been a major, major factor in all the years that I’ve been artistic director,” Jones said. “He’s been very supportive.”
Evans reported that Finnegan has encouraged the theater company to use this gift as a challenge for others to match the donation.
“We’ve already raised another half-million since the week that it’s come and we’ve got plans to do everything we can to match it and then some,” Evans said.
Northlight has presented that challenge to the theater’s Board, Advisory Council, Evanston business and community leaders and other key stakeholders.
So far, they have raised over $20 million for phase one of the project, which will be construction of the theater, the lobby, the event space/rehearsal hall, and everything that supports the theater’s operation. Phase two will include construction of offices, a second rehearsal space, and a small education center.
“By making it a two-phase process, we can get shovel in the ground sooner,” Evans said.
Artistic Director BJ Jones reported there’s a lot of enthusiasm in Evanston about the group coming back, saying, “We’ll be elemental in helping revive downtown Evanston.”
Jones noted that the theater is estimated to generate $50 million to other downtown Evanston businesses in its first five years back.
“From the beginning, the goal was to build audiences, own a building where we can do all of the things that we’ve wanted to do,” Evans said.
Being in control of its own space will offer more possibilities for Northlight including scheduling their own events. Jones suggested film festivals, TED Talks and more could find a home at the new site.
“Besides being in downtown Evanston, which is a homecoming for us, we’re near to great forms of public transportation which will broaden our audience and diversify our audience,” Evans said. “We’ll be able to do larger productions and more significant productions and more productions. We celebrate our 50th anniversary the year after next. We’d like to be around another 50 years.”
Theater membership renewed at about 85%, according to Jones, with the theater hitting its season goal for single ticket sales in January.
“We’re doing very well in terms of our subscribers,” Jones reported. “Since the pandemic we’ve had such terrific audience response. Things are really good for us. I’m feeling very, very optimistic.”
Finnegan, who is Chairman of Madison Dearborn Partners, didn’t want to be interviewed about this gift but earlier said of the theater company, “It’s time to get this done and bring Northlight home.”
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
