Paramount Theatre is proud to host the world’s most influential name in comedy, The Second City, back for for a three-week limited engagement with The Second City presents Laughing For All The Wrong Reasons at Paramount’s intimate Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, May 28-June 20.
Celebrating its 67th anniversary in 2026, Second City’s Laughing For All The Wrong Reasons features classic sketch comedy and songs from the company's rich history, fresh new favorites, and the signature brand of irreverent improv that The Second City is famous for. With alumni such as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Keegan-Michael Key and Tim Robinson, The Second City has an unmatched track record of launching the careers of comedy superstars.
Second City Touring Company members (from left) Emily Anderson, Avery Ford, Dani James, Max Lazerine, Dave Lyzenga, Julia Morales and Cassidy Russell star in The Second City presents Laughing For All the Wrong Reasons, May 28-June 20 at Paramount’s Copley Theatre in downtown Aurora
The cast that’ll have you laughing for all the wrong reasons features Second City’s “stars of tomorrow,” the current Second City Touring Company, featuring Emily Anderson, Avery Ford, Dani James, Max Lazerine, Dave Lyzenga, Julia Morales, and Cassidy Russell. Musical director is Sam Scheidler. Stage manager is Amanda Leo.
Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays at 2:30 and 8 p.m. in Paramount’s Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Tickets are $46. For tickets, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, melissas@paramountarts.com or (630) 723-2461. *Prices are for in-person purchases. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders.
Also performing at downtown Aurora’s Paramount and Copley theaters this summer and fall are:
Copley Comedy Series
Headliner Calvin Evans, featuring Luca Ferro
Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Copley Comedy Series
Headliner Larry Reeb (“Uncle Lar”), featuring Laura Hugg
Saturday, August 22, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Cedric the Entertainer
Saturday, August 8, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $41-$161
American actor, comedian, and game show host Cedric The Entertainer is one of the world’s premier performers on stage, film and television, with a career spanning 30 years. He’s a veteran stand-up icon known for warm, story‑driven humor, sharp observations about family, work, and everyday life, and the playful crowd interaction that made him a household name. A star of The Neighborhood on CBS, the Barbershop films, and the Original Kings of Comedy, Cedric blends old‑school showmanship with modern timing, moving from quick one‑liners to vivid storytelling and characters. Audiences can expect clean but grown‑folks language, improvisation with the crowd, topical bits and call‑backs that reward attention. This show includes some adult language and content. Recommended for 18+.\
Copley Comedy Series
Headliner Nick Gaza, featuring Vikram Balaji
Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Happy Together Tour 2026
Sunday, August 9, 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: $60.50
The Happy Together Tour features iconic acts including (from left) The Association, The Troggs and Gary Puckett.
2026 marks the 17th year of the hit-filled summer phenomenon, The Happy Together Tour. This traveling sensation crisscrosses the nation delighting audiences with a show full of chart-topping hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Tour returns for its always sold-out engagement in downtown Aurora, this year featuring iconic bands performing all their Solid Gold hits: The Association, The Troggs, Jason Scheff (Chicago lead singer, 1985-2016), Gary Puckett, The Fortunes, Ron Dante from The Archies and The Turtles, The Vogues and The Cowsills drawing from a catalog of 60+ Billboard Top 40 smashes. Get Happy. Don’t miss these rock music legends, live in concert!
Menopause The Musical®
25th Anniversary Tour
Saturday, October 17, 3 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$70
Join the party in celebrating two decades of laughter and sisterhood! Four women at a lingerie sale have nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more. This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles. See what more than 15 million women and fans worldwide have been laughing about for 25 years - the hilarious celebration of women and “The Change”!
Copley Comedy Series
Headliner Tim Cavanaugh, featuring Michelle Krajecki
Saturday, October 24, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Behind The Scream
A Live Conversation with David Arquette following a 30th Anniversary Screening of Scream
Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $41-$71; VIP Package $171
Be part of a night filled with suspense, stories, and special moments this Halloween season when David Arquette goes Behind the Scream, a thrilling live conversation featuring a special 30th anniversary screening of the iconic horror film Scream, followed by an in-depth moderated interview and Q&A with the legendary actor, David Arquette, who played the beloved character Dewey Riley in the franchise. Arquette will share his insights, anecdotes and the impact Scream has had on his career and the horror industry. Fans will have the chance to have their burning questions answered and hear firsthand accounts from one of the film's stars, for a haunting night to remember.
Copley Comedy Series
Headliner Tim Benker, featuring Mike Preston, hosted by Steve Cochran
Saturday, November 7, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $22
About Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931.
Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 40,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.
Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance, event and education destinations overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) in downtown Aurora. ACCA also programs and manages the 165-seat Copley Theatre, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; Stolp Island Theatre, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, where its wildly acclaimed immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet will return October 7, 2026-January 3, 2027; the Paramount School of the Arts; and RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, downtown Aurora’s outdoor summer concert venue and home to Christkindlmarket Aurora.
Paramount Theatre is overseen by Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.
For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.