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MOONLIGHT THEATRE OPENS IN ST. CHARLES WITH QUALITY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

By Jamie Baker Photos courtesy of Moonlight Theatre

Co-owner Joe Mennella wanted to find a local venue for his production company, Moonlight Productions. “We’ve been booking people at venues for many years, and we just decided to find a venue we could operate out of,” says Mennella. “Neither of us knew this building existed and when we came across it, we were blown away. I couldn’t believe how old it was, and the beauty and the vintage feel of it. We just jumped on it.” For the past 90 years, the building served as an office space with cubicles and a live tree before Mennella and co-owner Nancy Fioramonti restored it to its former glory. “We will offer live entertainment including music, comedy and professional theater,” says Mennella. “It was, at one time, the Idle Hour Theatre that was built in the early 1900’s and is actually one of the oldest theatres in the area.” The inside features a cozy, intimate setting with a cool blue color palette to reflect the venue’s name. “It’s a smaller venue with cabaret tables for some of our shows,” says Fioramonti. “It’s very charming inside. Every Friday, we’ll have live music and every Saturday, we’ll have comedy. Then, about five times a year, we will have professional live theater. During the week, we’ll have a jazz and cabaret night, some comedy, and an artist showcase which will be for local talent. We’ll also do rentals like corporate events, parties and weddings as well as theatrical and musical classes in the summer for kids.” Moonlight Theatre is an integral part to the ever-growing arts scene in the area. “We think were just another element of what St. Charles is becoming, which is a cultural and artistic hub,” says Mennella. “Along with some of the other theaters in the area, we like to consider ourselves part of that puzzle piece. People can come out and see a great, affordable show with topnotch talent.” Moonlight Theatre is set to open its doors in January. Be on the lookout for updates and scheduled acts!