New home slated for Itasca's Overshadowed theater
Itasca officials approved a permit for Overshadowed Theatrical Productions to open a theater at the former site of JJ's Bar on Irving Park Road.
Overshadowed founder Reba Hervas said the group, which now performs at Itasca Baptist Church, already has the money to buy the land at 409 W. Irving Park Road. Members plan to raise additional funds in three phases to demolish all but the JJ's basement and build a $2 million, two-story theater on the site.
The land purchase should be complete next month, Hervas said. She added that if fundraising goes as planned and weather cooperates for construction, Overshadowed could be in its new home as early as summer 2012.
The group will not receive any village hotel tax dollars for the project, Itasca officials said. In late 2009, Hervas met with village trustees and staff, including her husband, Village Attorney Chuck Hervas, to discuss using $450,000 in hotel tax dollars for a down payment on a new theater.
State statute says Itasca's hotel tax revenue can only be used on projects that generate tourism and overnight hotel stays, so Overshadowed officials and some trustees thought it was a perfect fit.
Negotiations ended, however, after other officials and residents voiced concerns about the Christian theater group receiving taxpayer money.
Today, Hervas and her all-volunteer theater troupe are moving with plans for the 300-seat theater that will include concessions and a green room in the basement, balcony seating and an elevator.
“The elevator is really important to us since we are not handicapped-accessible in our current location,” she said.
Overshadowed has performed in Itasca since 2004 and presents classics such as “Hello Dolly,” as well as Christian plays. In 2009, both Hervas and village trustees agreed a theater in downtown Itasca could provide economic benefits for the village, and Hervas said the group's night and weekend shows will be especially good for local restaurants.
“The number one question we get asked is where people can go eat when they come here,” Hervas said. “For example, during our Christmas show we had a new actor that was pulling a lot of friends and family from his home in Barrington and nearby northwest suburbs — people who don't normally come to Itasca. They went to Tree Guys Pizza three times and brought more than 80 people in each visit.”
Hervas said she hopes the community that has supported Overshadowed since it launched in 2004 will be generous during its fundraising campaigns, especially since many government grants for nonprofit theater have dried up after the recession.
“Right now we really have to plead for the hearts of people to want to see a theater in Itasca and want to see the influence this can have on a community,” said Hervas.