Evanston Roundtable
by Wendy Kromash
August 24, 2025
The future Northlight Theatre is growing out of a flat expanse at 1012 Church St., sandwiched between existing structures and pedestrian, bike and car traffic.
Earlier this month, the RoundTable joined a hard-hat tour of the construction site guided by Northlight Executive Director Tim Evans, Capital Campaign Director Kim Hoopingarner, Bulley & Andrews Project Executive Chris Coyne and Project Manager Pat Matthews.
Coyne said hundreds of people are working on the construction. By the time it’s finished, the project will have included work from at least 30 different trades.
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Entering from the front, patrons will see a lobby bar, a comfortable seating area, a ticketing booth, restrooms and an elevator to the second floor. There are steps to enter the theater as well as two ramps for wheelchairs. Restrooms on the first floor will have more stalls for women than men, and gender-neutral restrooms will be available on the second level.
The new space includes a loading dock to bring in sets, a green room, three dressing rooms, a wardrobe room and a prop shop. The second level includes a large rehearsal space, production offices, stage manager’s office, a conference room, costume shop, laundry, a sound tech shop, a small kitchenette and storage space. The rehearsal space will eventually be available to rent for private events.