Mayor Richard C. Irvin and Paramount Theater announce that the Stolp Island Theatre will be downtown Aurora’s next live performance venue thanks to a multi-year funding commitment from Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) and its Zen Leaf cannabis dispensary brand. The Theatre will provide an immersive performance experience for guests. The riverwalk-adjacent location at 5 E. Downer Place will open for performances in summer 2022.
Stolp Island Theatre lobby rendering by Jeff Kmiec.
“The Stolp Island Theater will be another live-performance amenity in the heart of downtown Aurora bringing jobs, patrons, economic opportunity, and entertainment into our community,” said Mayor Irvin. “For years, the Stolp Island Theatre was just an idea, but through the generosity of Verano and Zen Leaf, the City is taking this idea from concept to reality. The team at the Paramount is hard at work to stage a first-class show that will be an experience unlike any other in the area.”
Paramount officials intend for the approximate 99-seat,6,000 square-foot theater to offer an intimate, immersive experience for patrons. Throughout the performance, the audience will become part of the show, interacting with the actors, musicians, and other audience members around them.
“We founded Verano to bring individuals of every age, background, and experience together through the health, wellness, and happiness that legal, regulated cannabis provides. Bringing the community together through the performing arts aligns with our values, and Zen Leaf is grateful for the opportunity to help the City of Aurora bring this cultural amenity to life,” said Sammy Dorf, co-founder of Verano. “There is something special happening in downtown Aurora, and we’re honored to support this community-wide rejuvenation.”
Paramount officials plan to announce the Theatre’s first immersive show in the coming months. Officials expect to produce more than 400 performances annually. According to officials, the new venue will add $3.3 million to Aurora’s annual economy by inducing spend by guests and attracting out-of-town guests to the downtown area.
“This has been a challenging year for the performing arts industry, but our shutdown reinforced how important cultural amenities like the Paramount, Copley, and RiverEdge Park are to improving the quality of life for the community,” said Tim Rater, president and CEO of the Paramount Theater. “We are thrilled that through a partnership with the City and the philanthropy of Verano, we will add another first-class performing arts experience. Aurora already has the best riverfront downtown in Illinois, and the Stolp Island Theatre will be another defining destination in the years ahead.”
Stolp Island Theatre interior and top view renderings by Jeff Kmiec.
About Verano:
Verano Holdings Corp. is a leading, vertically-integrated, multi-state cannabis operator in the U.S., devoted to the ongoing improvement of communal wellness by providing responsible access to regulated cannabis products. With a mission to address vital health and wellness needs, Verano produces a comprehensive suite of premium, innovative cannabis products sold under its trusted portfolio of consumer brands: Verano, Avexia, Encore, and MÜV™. The company’s portfolio encompasses 14 U.S. States, with active operations in 11, which includes eight production facilities comprising approximately 750,000 square feet of cultivation. Verano designs, builds, and operates dispensaries under retail brands Zen Leaf™ and MÜV™, delivering a superior cannabis shopping experience in both medical and adult-use markets. Learn more at verano.com.
About the City of Aurora:
The City of Aurora is the second-largest city in the state of Illinois. Founded in 1847, Aurora is one of the first cities in the country to use electric street lights, earning the moniker ‘City of Lights.’ In addition to our storied history, beautiful architectural and cultural diversity, under the leadership of Mayor Richard C. Irvin and the Aurora City Council, Aurora is powering up investment in infrastructure and technology at unprecedented rates, making it now the ‘City of Light Speed.” Right now is an amazing time to live, work and be entertained in the City of Aurora. Learn more at aurora-il.org.
About Paramount Theater:
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts and education in downtown Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. Since 1931, the beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction. Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 41,000 subscribers, making it the second largest subscription house in the U.S. Today, Paramount Theatre is nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur.
Paramount Theatre is one of four live performance venues programmed and managed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority. ACCA also oversees downtown Aurora’s newly renovated 165-seat Copley Theatre, RiverEdge Park, the city’s outdoor summer concert venue, the Stolp Island Theatre, slated to open in summer 202 as 99-seat immersive theater space, as well as the new Paramount School of the Arts. For more information, please visit www.ParamountAurora.com.