In The News
Duo Has Grand Vision for Wheaton Theater
by James Fuller, Daily Herald, July 24, 2007
Ray Shepardson and Tim Rater first crossed paths in the budding days of the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.
Shepardson was a theater consultant on a plan to create a public partnership between the village and the theater. Rater already was on the path to becoming the Metropolis' executive director.
So it made sense that Shepardson would call Rater to see how the Metropolis was holding up as the Wheaton Grand Theater began renovations and Shepardson found himself at the helm.
Shepardson learned Rater was booking more than 400 performances a year at the Metropolis. Shepardson has the same vision for the Wheaton Grand.
Rater also was drawing more than 75,000 people a year to the 309-seat theater with acts brought in on a $15,000-a-week talent budget. Imagine what Rater could do at an 1,100-seat theater with a talent budget averaging $100,000 per week, Shepardson thought.
"I wanted to see what he thought of my approach, and he was so enthusiastic," Shepardson said. "I wanted someone who has experience being a ferocious user of the building. I don't like to raid staff, but the opportunity just presented itself."
Rater has accepted a job with Market Value Productions, a company run by Shepardson's wife. He'll help oversee all aspects of the re-opening of the Wheaton Grand Theater from now on.
On Monday, Rater said he considered Shepardson's plan for the Wheaton Grand as a chance to live out a personal dream.
"Ray's plans for how to actually operate and program the space are pretty smart," Rater said. "And knowing what sort of talent you can bring in with that kind of operating budget is exciting for me."
Rater said of the 1,100 seats and a talent budget averaging $100,000, "There's not going to be a lot of artists that wouldn't want to play at the Wheaton Grand."
That's good news for business in downtown Wheaton.
Rater said that for every dollar spent on a theater ticket, patrons tend to spend $7 on supplemental purchases, such as clothing and food.
According to Rater, his experience also showed that two-thirds of the audience at Metropolis' shows came from communities outside of Arlington Heights - more good news for Wheaton in terms of deflecting the local tax burden outside the community.
But as excited as Rater is about the Wheaton Grand, he said leaving the Metropolis wasn't an easy decision.
All the 2007 performances at the Metropolis are booked through the end of the year. There are several months before booking next season's shows begins. That creates an ideal time to search for and find Rater's replacement.
"I love Metropolis," Rater said. "I love everything about it. We have a wonderful facility, but what is going to be created in Wheaton is going to be even more spectacular."
Rater and Shepardson will meet with Wheaton elected officials next month to get the ball rolling. They hope to lock up financing for renovating the theater by the end of the year, and open the doors in 2009.