MOVIE MAGIC

Highland Park resident Steve Sarowitz wants to bring community-centered positivity to his new venture in downtown Highland Park.

BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Can a movie theater change the world? Perhaps not. But don’t tell that to Steve Sarowitz. Earlier this year, the Highland Park resident and founder of Paylocity purchased the old Landmark Renaissance Theater in downtown Highland Park.

The movie theater reopened last month as Wayfarer Theaters. You could call it a movie theater with a message.

“The opening night was fantastic. We had over 600 people there and we literally didn't have enough room to walk in the theater outside in the lobby,” Sarowitz says. “We had a great response. I think one of the best comments I got from the opening is somebody told me this is the most diverse event, diverse crowd at an event that they’ve ever been to.”

Sarowitz, who founded Wayfarer Studios, a film production company, says he wants to create a sense of community and positivity with the Wayfarer Theater. He plans to show movies with a positive message and also host events for families and children.

“We live in a town, Highland Park—I've lived here since 1996—and it's a town that's been profoundly injured, from the shooting on July 4 and from COVID,” he says. “You can feel the lingering effects on the town. You can see it when you walk downtown at night and how empty it is. It's a town that needs to come together in community.”

One of the things about seeing a film in the theater is the collective experience of getting out of the house and seeing other people from the community starting to heal together, Sarowitz says. It’s really hard to heal alone when you're sitting in your house. He says the last thing we need is more isolation.

Sarowitz also sees the theater project as a way to boost business in downtown Highland Park. He’s looking to form partnerships with downtown businesses that can benefit from the foot traffic the theater will bring.

“Our goal is to be a good citizen and to help all the businesses downtown. I really think this town has the resources to be successful,” says Sarowitz. “What we need to do is have the collective will to come together as a community and to uplift our town. That includes, of course, the businesses that are downtown. We would love to be an important factor in helping to revive downtown

Highland Park.”

In the long run, Sarowitz says, he wants to draw people from many communities to Highland Park, even from Chicago and further away. His film production company plans on debuting its new films at Wayfarer Theater.

“I'm producing a couple of fairly major Hollywood movies and we aim on premiering them at our theater,” he says. “One of them we’re shooting right now is a movie called Code Three with Rainn Wilson.”

At the heart of Sarowitz’s ventures, which include Wayfarer Studios and Theaters and a private, philanthropic foundation, is his Baháʼí faith. He strongly believes we are better when we find common ground and come together as a community.

“The number one teaching of the Baháʼí faith is the oneness of humanity. I'm very convinced, as based on the Baháʼí faith, that we really are one human family, and we have a tendency to divide into tribes,” he says. “One of the things we do with our films is we highlight the people who are marginalized in a more unifying way.”

Sarowitz says he believes that, scientifically, we're a single human race, and it's incumbent on all of us to make sure, “These beautiful flowers in the garden,” have the adequate resources that they need.

“I feel that way in downtown Highland Park, that I want to help lift up the other businesses and they can help lift me up as a new business downtown,” says Sarowitz. “Every person should be thought of as noble regardless of what we look like. That's what I want everyone to feel like when they walk in our theater.”

Lori Ruben Dekalo, the new CEO of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, says Wayfarer Theaters is a welcome addition to downtown Highland Park life, especially because of its mission.

“The focus on positive and uplifting programming and entertainment along with movies, documentaries, and live events with a message will bring more families and friends to downtown Highland Park,” Dekalo says. “It will provide a boost to other businesses in the area.”

Wayfarer Theaters is located at 1850 Second St. in Highland Park. Tickets for all movie showings are $10, including tax. For showtimes, visit wayfarertheaters.com.