Encore Playhouse Opening Postponed Until Next Spring

Opening night for has been postponed until spring, owner Jenny Giocomo said Monday.

Theater construction is complete and the curtain had been ready to go up on Hits of Broadway: A Musical Revue on Oct. 18, but family illness has forced Giocomo and her husband, Gary, to cancel the three shows scheduled through February 2012, Giocomo said.

All tickets purchased in advance will be refunded by Oct. 31, according to a message on the theater’s phone.

The 100-seat, 5,000-square-foot theater is located on the second floor of the building that houses the Hometown Fitness health club at 16108 S. Route 59.

Giocomo declined to go into detail on the nature of the illness that caused the opening delay. It is described on their phone message as a “severe family medical emergency.”

“We are very lucky to have (building owner/landlord) Mike Guinta to help us through this,” she said. "We'll reorganize and reschedule the opening for spring."

The Giocomos, who live in Crest Hill, have a long history in live entertainment. Jenny Giocomo spent eight years as a performer at Knott’s Berry Farm before opening her own theater in Fort Collins, Colo. She later moved to Las Vegas, where she did trade shows and performed in casino productions. Gary Giocomo has been an actor, director and choreographer before managing a series of casino theaters in Las Vegas.

Both had been retired before coming up with the dinner theater concept.

Their goal with the Plainfield dinner theater was to provide live musical and comedy productions at a reasonable ticket price. Tickets for the first show were being sold for $36.