Fox TV’s ‘The Big Leap’ premiered Monday with glimpses of Joliet theater

Val Devine said she received text after text from people this week asking, “Did you see it?”

Devine, the executive director of the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, had missed the first episode of the new Fox TV show “The Big Leap,” which premiered Monday.

“The Big Leap” is the story of a diverse group of “underdogs” who hope to realize their dreams with their participation in a reality dance show, the Fox TV website said.

Fox TV had filmed at the Rialto for about four days in December and four days in February, Devine said. Apparently, the Rialto was noticeably featured in quite a few of the scenes in that first episode, Devine said.

“Anyone who’s been to the Rialto will know it’s the Rialto,” Devine said.

Devine said she hopes Fox TV comes back to film more episodes for “The Big Leap.”

“It’s nice for the downtown area and nice for the Rialto,” Devine said.

Fox TV also filmed “Empire,” another show about the arts and entertainment business, at the Rialto, a Dec. 10, 2020, Herald-News story said.

The hypnosis scene in the 1999 movie “Stir of Echoes” was filmed at the Rialto. Vince Gill recorded the music video for his song “I Still Believe in You” at the Rialto, too, Devine said.

What makes the Rialto a great set location?

“The theater clearly makes a statement. It’s not nondescript,” Devine said. “The other thing is, I would like to think that they find the staff here, both our technical people and the rest of the staff, easy and accommodating to work with.”

In turn, Devine said the production companies are always “nice to work with.”

“They’re very respectful of the space,” Devine said. “They’re in your home and they treat it like they’re guests.”

Having Fox TV back to the Rialto also helped with revenue during the pandemic, Devine said. In fact, the Rialto just held its first show Aug. 22 after more than 500 days without a show.

Singer-songwriter, musician and actor Dwight Yoakam performed to 1,700 patrons, Devine said. The Rialto holds 1,900, she added.

“We almost sold out,” Devine said.