We all love this little theatre. For almost 100 years the North Shore laughed at its vaudeville, marveled at its silent films and talkies and celebrated the movies that came to settle here and nowhere else.

When Carole and Sam heard about the “done deal” to redevelop the theatre into a furniture store, they formed their own company (He Mette She Productions). They spearheaded a homegrown effort to convince the owner to sell it to them instead and maintain its long standing entertainment use. With some good luck and active community support, they not only saved the theatre from its final curtain, but are now charting a course to preserve, and enhance this North Shore treasure.The twin theatres have been renovated and equipped with the latest digitized sound and upgraded concessions. One theatre has been retrofitted for live performance with theatrical lighting, sound and stage. Diverse and exciting programming options are being added. Yet, it is the common experience, the opportunity to come to a place in the neighborhood, see a movie, concert, comedian or singer and meet up with some friends that sets the Wilmette Theatre apart.

The theatre’s focus is all things film and live with learning and training in both. The Wilmette’s audience spans toddlers to mature adults and all stops in between.The theatre is a microcosm of the Village in which it sits. Both are relatively small and often have their potential minimized. In fact, it is this intimacy, this scale that gives us our special place. Any piece of ground can house a multiplex but a theatre such as the Wilmette can not be replicated any more than a town center created from farmland in a far away suburb can duplicate the feel of our downtown.

Carole Dibo
Carole Dibo has been a professional actress for over twenty years. Having started her career in the Washington D.C./Baltimore market, she moved to Chicago in 1985, where she has worked extensively in the film, television and industrial film markets. Carole has been directing and training teens on the North Shore for over a decade and is one of the Co founders of the Teen Program at Acting Studio Chicago. Carole is the Director and Founder of the Actors Training Center at the Wilmette Theatre, a professional training ground for young actors that wish to pursue acting as a career. Carole is also a well respected teacher and coach in Los Angeles where she co-teaches with L.A. Casting Director, Deborah Dion, she has also worked as a Casting Assitant for Tenner Paskal Rudnicke Casting and Steppenwolf Theatre Co. Carole understands the necessity of bridging the gap between the industry’s needs and young actors abilities. She continues to work on camera as well as teach and coach young actors. Carole lives in Wilmette with her husband of 27 years, David, and has three daughters, Whitney (22), Alayna (18) and Natalie (13).

Sam Samuelson
As an actor, Sam played one of the twins in the original Broadway company of Blood Brothers. His national tours include Blood Brothers, Ragtime (Younger Brother), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and the anniversary tour of The Fantasticks as Matt. He has appeared Off-Broadway in I Love You, You’re Perfect and at the famed Sullivan Street Theater in The Fantasticks. He can be heard on the cast recordings of 110 in the Shade with the London Philharmonic, opposite Kristin Chenowith, and the anniversary recording of The Fantasticks. Sam is currently an agent at Stewart Talent, the largest agency in the Midwest, and was responsible for establishing their New York office. His clients are currently on Broadway and national tours in The Color Purple, Mamma Mia, Lestat, Wicked, Spamalot, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He has taught master classes and lectured on all aspects of the entertainment business at universities throughout the Midwest. He is a board member of the non-profit educational organization, Movable Arts.Sam received a BFA in Music Theater in 1989 from the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music where he has just been honored as the first recipient of the Young Alumni Award for excellence in the entertainment industry. Best Credits: wife, Mary Beth, and daughters, Abby and Emma.