Page 17 - Katten 2021 Pro Bono Annual Review

Northlight Theatre Assisted in Acquiring New Theater Space,

Anchor for Economic Development

For many years, Katten has provided pro bono assistance to Northlight Theatre, one of the largest
nonprofit, professional theaters in the Chicago area. In 2020, Northlight was close to acquiring a prop-
erty in the downtown area of Evanston, Illinois that it hoped to redevelop into a new theater space. But
when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, its deal fell through.

In the spring of 2021, Northlight began resuming negotiations. Real Estate associate Daniel Elrod and
senior pro bono counsel Janet Goelz Hoffman took up the call to help. With Janet’s assistance, Daniel
negotiated the purchase and sale agreement, helped Northlight with financing, and guided the theater
through the closing process.
Ultimately, Northlight was able to purchase the property in less than
45 days and at a lower price than the seller had originally offered.
I love the theater and love going to The new theater space is located close to public transportation,
which will allow Northlight to make its youth programming more
the theater, so this was an incredible
accessible and enhance its theater attendance.
opportunity to help a great theater
group with an important project that Tim Evans, Executive Director of Northlight Theatre, expressed his
appreciation for the pro bono support, noting that the new theater
will be a cultural anchor in the Evanston
complex in Evanston’s downtown will be a cornerstone in the overall
community. Given how hard the theater economic and civic recovery of the community.
community has suffered from the

pandemic, a new project that will
“ We are deeply indebted to Katten,
produce a state of the art theater is
and, as this project accelerates
something the community can rally
the recovery of Evanston from the
around and look forward to.”
pandemic, all of our community will

be grateful to Katten for helping us
make this project a reality.”

TIM EVANS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
NORTHLIGHT THEATRE

Daniel Elrod
ASSOCIATE, CHICAGO

KATTEN 2021 PRO BONO ANNUAL REVIEW 15
KATTEN 2021 PRO BONO ANNUAL REVIEW