PARTY RENTAL FAQs

​

Q. What are your office hours?

A. The Theatre is closed to the public on Mondays & Wednesdays. We are open on

Tuesdays from 1:30-4:00, Thursdays & Fridays from the afternoon to 8:00, and

Saturdays & Sundays from the late morning to about 8:30. 

​​​

Q. Can we bring in a movie or play a movie you already have? 

A. Your choice! Most people like to bring in a DVD or Blu-ray, and many rent one from the Wilmette Library. But, if you'd like to play a feature we already have, we can do that, too. However, there is an extra ticket fee associated with current films. We can also stream from any platform you may have access to, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. 

​

Q. Can my kids and their friends play on the stage in the Living Room Theatre?

A. Big NO! The stage is filled with sound equipment and instruments for our live events. It looks cool, but it is NOT kid-friendly. Please keep off the stage!

​

Q. How long does it take to set up? 

A. About 15 minutes. Our Theatre is small, and we can supply a fold-out table, but other than that, it shouldn't take longer than 15 minutes to set up your decorations. Helium-filled balloons are welcome in the lobby, but not inside the actual theatres.

​

Q. Can I have decorations delivered directly to the theatre?

A. We can't guarantee that someone will be available when your delivery arrives, so best to just bring your balloons and banners with you.

​

Q. When is my balance due?

A. Your deposit is due prior to your event, and your remaining balance is due on the day of your event.

​

Q. Can we decorate with balloons, signs, and confetti?

A. Yes! Yes! NO! Feel free to decorate to your heart's desire with balloons and signs, but save the confetti, packing paper, stickers, and other sparkles for another space/time! All balloons must be weighted and kept in the lobby just outside of your theatre door.

Loose balloons + High ceilings = The opposite of fun.

​

Q. Can we do crafts before/during/after our movie party?

A. Stickers? Glitter? Jewels? Markers? Paint? Unfortunately, none of those things go hand-in-hand with a 112-year-old vintage movie theatre. If you don't want those messes in your house, we don't want them in ours! As sad as it is, please don't add crafts to your party. 

​

Q. How long does it take to clean up?

A. As much time as you need to return the Theatre to the way you found it! FYI-  Food fights take about an hour to clean up, so we highly discourage those. We understand spills happen, and we've got you on those, but egregious messes will force us to charge a cleaning fee of $150, even if you have fewer than 24 people in your group. 

​

Q. Will other rentals be happening at the same time? 

A. We do our best to stagger rentals, but there may be a time when your party is happening at the same time as another in the other Theatre. 

​

Q. Do I need to stay in the theatre while the party is going on?

A. Yes! If you're hosting a group under 18 years of age, an adult/parent/guardian must be in the actual Theatre (not the lobby) with the children at all times. You CANNOT leave the building!

​

Q. Are there added fees if my party is longer than 2 hours?

A. Yes. The fees depend on how much time your event is and if it will cut into our regular programming. Fees are at the discretion of The Wilmette Theatre.

​

Q. Are rentals only for children's parties? 

A. Nope, not at all! We host parties for all ages and for a variety of events, such as karaoke night, adult birthday parties, school events, fundraisers, anniversaries, graduation parties, and so much more.  

​

Q. Can we bring in outside food? 

A. The quick answer is no. We love pizza and cake as much as the next person, but not when we have to scrub it out of the chairs and carpet! Our theatre is a small non-profit, and we rely on our guests to help us by keeping our building clean and our concession stand busy!

BUT...

We offer Chuck Wagon hot dogs, burgers, and grilled cheese as an add-on! Just let us know how many people and we'll take care of the rest!  Please give us at least a week's notice for your order. Please do not go directly to Chuck Wagon!

 

For BIRTHDAY PARTIES, one small party-size popcorn is included for each guest at no extra charge to you! For all other events, popcorn of any size can be purchased. You can also make it easy and purchase a concession package for $10 per person, which includes unlimited party popcorn, a choice of candy, and a soft drink/water!

 

If you still want to have that cake experience, takeaway cupcakes/treats are a lovely alternative! Takeaways and goodie bags with treats must only be handed out as guests exit the theatre, NOT to be consumed in the lobby. 

​

Q. How long is a typical rental? 

A. We book in 2-hour increments. Anything longer than 2 hours will have an extra charge. 

​

Q. What is capacity?

A. Well, we have two spaces. Theatre 1 (with fixed seats) seats 110. Theatre 2 (with couches/lounge chairs) holds 140 STANDING, but we have seating for 55. We have very comfortable, padded folding chairs for larger groups, or we can remove most of the furniture in Theatre 2 to fit your needs. 

​

Q. Why is a weekday fee so much less than the weekend afternoon/evening fee?

A. While we are an awesome venue ready to host a variety of events, we are still a movie theatre and often run our regular programming during those times. In order for us to cancel regular programming, we have to charge more. If you'd like to rent the Theatre later in the day on a weekend, the base fee is $475, but can increase based on the needs of the event and whether or not we have a big Blockbuster movie, as it will be harder to accommodate afternoon parties due to film industry/distributor terms. 

​

Q. Why would you need to change the Theatre I booked? For example, if I booked the Living Room, why would you want to put my party in the Mirza Theatre?

A. We try not to do this, but sometimes we have to. Every now and again our system decides to override the settings and will book two parties in the same theatre at the same time. We then have to make the executive decision to move one party into the other Theatre. The Living Room is also a very tempting space for certain ages -- the stage, pillows, and couches can be overwhelming for some ages and we try to guide families the best we can. Trust us, we've seen it all and know a lot! ​​

​

Q. Can the Theatre hold a date for my event?

A. Only if you submit a deposit! If you cancel your booking less than 14 business days out from your event, the deposit is nonrefundable. ​

 

Q. Who do I contact with questions?

A. You can reach out by phone, and that's A-ok, but sometimes we're a one-person show over here and can't get to the phone. Annoying, I KNOW! But, our number is: 847-251-7424

You can also reach out by emailing, Rental@wilmettetheatre.com

We check this email every Monday/Tuesday, Thursday/Friday and sometimes on weekends. We will get back to you as soon as we can. We might be slow at responding, but it's not because we're slow at our jobs- we want to make your party the best it can be and we're gonna make that happen- even if you have to wait a day or two to hear from us!