The theater's interior rotunda was modeled after the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.
It originally opened as a motion picture palace and vaudeville house on May 24, 1926.
The venue contains a Barton Grand Theatre Pipe Organ, one of the few original organs still in its home theater.
The building was designed by the prolific theater architecture firm Rapp & Rapp.
In 1978, the community formed the Rialto Square Theatre Corporation to save the building from demolition.
The theater features a grand staircase that served as a signature element of 1920s cinema palace design.
It has hosted notable performers including The Marx Brothers and various modern recording artists.
The Rialto Square Theatre is a historic vaudeville-era palace featuring a distinctive Neoclassical and Baroque interior design known as 'The Jewel of Joliet.' Opened in 1926, the venue remains a primary cultural center for the city, hosting touring Broadway productions, concerts, and comedy acts. Its central feature is the ornate Rotunda, modeled after the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. The venue was originally built by the Rubens brothers and designed by architects Rapp and Rapp. It includes a restored Barton theatre pipe organ, which is still occasionally featured in performances. The theater underwent a significant multi-million dollar restoration in the early 1980s to preserve its elaborate plasterwork and gold-leaf details. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The venue operates year-round as a functional performance space for the Will County region.
The center of the main Rotunda looking upward toward the ornate ceiling and chandelier.
Arrive early to spend time in the Rotunda, as the architecture is the building's main draw.
Check the official website for 'behind-the-scenes' tour availability, as these occur on select dates.
Parking is available in nearby city-managed lots, which are often free during evening performance hours.
Do not wait until the last minute to enter; the security check and ticket scanning process in the lobby can cause bottlenecks before showtime.
The theater is an active performance venue; it is closed to the public on non-show days unless a scheduled tour is booked.
Smart casual attire is generally expected for evening performances; avoid overly casual loungewear.
