Residents share ideas for Arcada

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By ERIC SCHELKOPF

eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com

ST. CHARLES -- Glori Campbell of Geneva remembers seeing the play "Oklahoma," starring Lee Remeck, at the Arcada Theatre when she was a youngster.

Campbell said she would like to see more productions like that the Arcada.

"That's one thing. There are exciting possibilities. I would like to see that kind of thing brought back. I would like to see children's shows, as well," Campbell said.

Campbell was one of about 50 residents who came to the Arcada on Friday to tell new manager Ron Onesti what they would like to see at the theater.

Onesti is president of Chicago-based Onesti Entertainment Corp., which took over the management of the theater in May.

He set up the community meeting.

"I really want to know what people are thinking," Onesti said. "My intention is to restore the Arcada to the grandeur when it first opened in 1926."

Joyce Keane thinks the Arcada could be a perfect place to stage youth theater productions. She is on the board of directors for Geneva-based Rising Star Theatreworks, a community theater group for Tri-Cities youth.

"The Arcada presents potential opportunities," Keane said.

Stu Ainsworth of St. Charles said the Arcada should stage a variety of acts.

"St. Charles and the Fox Valley is not homogeneous in terms of what they want to see," Ainsworth said. "Modern day concerts might sell well. I would like to see a stage performance of an opera."

Onesti said he intends to inject excitement into the Arcada.

"We want to be a New York Broadway-style of venue. Our tag line is, 'Where Every Night's The Big Night Here At The Arcada,' '' Onesti said.

At the same time, Onesti said he wants to give community groups the chance to perform at the Arcada.

"Local involvement is very important to me," Onesti said. "If you are here tonight, you are a lover of the theater and lover of the arts."

Along with bringing in a variety of talent, Onesti said he will make physical improvements to the Arcada, such as putting in new carpeting and a better sound system.

Onesti's first production at the Arcada will be a concert with the original members of Wings, Paul McCartney's former backup band, and Beatles tribute band American English.

The concert is set for July 20, and tickets will be available online at www. tickets.com.

"We want to get to the point where there is something here every weekend," Onesti said. "I will work really hard to bring some great things here."