Rialto Square Theatre authority approves 2 hires, including director of development

JOLIET – The authority that oversees the money-troubled Rialto Square Theatre has approved two appointments, including a development director in charge of fundraising.

The Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority recently signed off on the hires, which will take effect Jan. 1, according to a news release.

Jack Ericksen, the longtime senior development officer for Catholic Charities of Joliet, will join the theater’s administrative staff as the director of development, while David J. Silverman, a partner with the firm Mahoney, Silverman & Cross LLC, will become the next general counsel.

Ericksen will likely be charged with raising dollars for a new theater marquee. Production of a new sign was stopped amid opposition to a design that would have included a tribute to the parents of Ed Czerkies, who donated $350,000 toward the marquee project.

The retired Joliet businessman withdrew his donation, announced in November 2014, when the WCMEAA would not commit in early 2015 to his parents' names staying on the marquee.

The Rialto Square Theatre was the subject of possible budget cuts in recent City Council discussions. This week, however, the council approved a budget with the full $600,000 subsidy requested by the theater.

“Jack has a great knowledge of our community from which he will work with the Rialto Square Theatre Foundation Board of Directors in raising funds to support the historic Rialto Square Theatre,” general manager Randy Green said in the news release. “I am looking forward to working with Jack as we chart a course that will raise funds to address the 90-year-old theater’s capital needs and support our efforts to expand our programming for the community.”

Silverman will fill the general counsel role vacated by Thomas E. Carey, who is retiring after serving for the WCMEAA’s legal counsel since the late 1970s.

Green and WCMEAA Chairman Dan Vera did not immediately return phone calls requesting comment Tuesday.