Paramount Theatre’s fall 2021 production of Kinky Boots emerged victorious as the most honored production of Chicago’s 2021-22 theater season at last night’s Equity Jeff Awards, winning six golden statues at the annual celebration of excellence in Chicago theater.
Paramount’s Kinky Boots was the most honored production of Chicago’s 2021-22 theater season at last night’s Equity Jeff Awards, winning six awards including Production - Musical - Large, plus awards for (bottom, from left) director Trent Stork, actor Michael Wordly, supporting actor Sara Reinecke, music director Kory Danielson and costume designer Ryan Park.
Paramount’s Kinky Boots earned the final and most coveted award of the night, Production – Musical – Large, along with five more Jeff Awards for:
- Director – Musical – Large for Trent Stork, Paramount’s artistic associate and casting director
- Performer in a Principal Role - Musical for Michael Wordly as Lola
- Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical for Sara Reinecke as Lauren
- Costume Design - Musical - Large for Ryan Park
- Music Direction for Kory Danielson
Click here or above to download this Kinky Boots video montage and b-roll clips. Courtesy Paramount Theatre.
In his acceptance speech, Jeff Award-winning lead actor Michael Wordly recalled “During our production, there was a man in his 60s who came to see the show. He told the box office after that he didn’t understand gay people. That he wasn’t a fan of queer people. At all. But he said, after seeing our production, he changed his view. Trent, you did that. Kory, you did that. My ‘Angels,’ we all did that.”
With six wins, Paramount also tied Chicago’s Goodman Theatre for the most 2021-22 Jeff Awards given to a single theater. Visit jeffawards.org for the full list of winners.
Up next in Paramount’s Broadway Series is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, November 9, 2022-January 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, the world premiere of Nancy García Loza’s BULL: a love story is the finale of Paramount’s inaugural BOLD Series, now through November 20 at Paramount’s Copley Theatre.
For tickets and information, visit paramountaurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
After launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount Theatre grew to be the second largest subscription house in the U.S. Before Covid, more than 41,000 subscribers from all over Chicagoland and the Midwest were enjoying Paramount’s critically acclaimed, 2019-20 Broadway-caliber productions. In addition, Paramount also presents an array of internationally known comedians, musicians, dance troupes and family shows annually.
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, home to Paramount’s new BOLD Series, along with the Paramount School of the Arts, RiverEdge Park, the city’s 6,000-seat outdoor summer concert venue, and Stolp Island Theatre, an immersive space opening in summer 2023.
Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of 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, Instagram and Twitter, @paramountarts on Tik Tok, and on LinkedIn.