Chicago theater audiences know when Aurora’s Paramount Theatre goes big, it goes BIG.
Such is the case today with three major announcements from Paramount, the largest subscription theater in the U.S.:
1) Paramount has revealed a blockbuster, four-show line-up for its 13th Broadway Series, including two highly anticipated Regional Premieres – Disney’s Frozen (October 30, 2024-January 19, 2025) and Waitress (February 12-March 30, 2025) – bookended by The Full Monty in the fall (August 21-October 6, 2024), and a revival of Cats next spring (April 30-June 15, 2025).
2) Paramount’s third BOLD Series will present three fresh, exciting works in 2024-25 – Peter and the Starcatcher (July 24-September 1, 2024), An Act of God (October 2-November 10, 2024) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (March 12-April 27, 2025) – right across the street in Paramount’s intimate Copley Theatre.
Stolp Island Theatre lobby streetscape conceptual rendering by Jeffrey D. Kmiec.
3) Stolp Island Theatre, Paramount’s third live theater venue, will open this summer with a new production of Million Dollar Quartet. Stolp Island Theatre is a 9,000-square-foot development that includes an intimate 98-seat, 4,600-square-foot theater designed for immersive theater experiences, now under construction at 5 E. Downer Place on the Fox River in downtown Aurora.
“Along with the dazzling production values you’ve come to expect from every Paramount show, there’s again, something for everyone in our 13th season of our Broadway Series including the two Regional Premieres of Disney’s Frozen and Grammy Award-winner Sarah Bareilles’ Waitress,” said Paramount Theatre Artistic Director Jim Corti.
“As well, audiences’ raves for our BOLD Series launch us into its third season of smart, funny, musical, and ultimately intimate productions along with a new 98-seat venue planned to open this summer: the Stolp Island Theatre presenting an immersive Million Dollar Quartet experience on the banks of the Fox River! That’s eight shows playing on three different stages coming to you with all the heart and skill Paramount instills in every show!”
Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti reveals Paramount's 2024-25 Broadway and BOLD Series line-ups, and an immersive Million Dollar Quartet experience as the opening production for Paramount's new Stolp Island Theatre, opening in July. Credit: Amy Nelson
Tim Rater, President and CEO, Paramount Theatre, added “downtown Aurora is a national destination for Broadway-caliber musicals in our beautiful Paramount Theatre, thought-provoking productions in our intimate Copley Theatre, live music at our outdoor summer concert venue, RiverEdge Park, and now, an all-new immersive theater experience, right on the Fox River. With Paramount’s commitment to doing more and better, and the City of Aurora’s commitment to the arts and downtown, we are becoming the model that others can look to as to how the performing arts can revitalize a community.”
As always, Paramount’s 37,000+ subscribers are given the first chance to secure their seats for next season. And just as it has since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount still offers the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer. Broadway packages start as low as $56. Actually, subscribers pay no more than $42.50 per show, and that’s the most expensive ticket. Fees not included.
Broadway Series renewals begin February 5. During the renewal period, new subscribers can pre-order subscriptions and queue up for the best seats, after renewing subscribers receive theirs.
All Broadway Series performances are presented at Paramount Theatre,
23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Single tickets for Paramount’s 13th Broadway Series go on sale Monday, June 17 at 10 a.m.
BOLD Series renewals also begin February 5. Three-show BOLD packages start at just $75.
All BOLD productions are presented in Paramount’s intimate Copley Theatre,
8 E. Galena Blvd., in the North Island Center in downtown Aurora. Single tickets for Paramount’s 2024-25 BOLD Series go on sale Monday, April 29 at 10 a.m.
Likewise, starting April 1, current Paramount subscribers will get first dibs on tickets to the immersive theater experience Million Dollar Quartet, the debut production at Paramount’s new Stolp Island Theatre, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, in downtown Aurora. Single tickets go on sale to the general public April 15.
For subscriptions, tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days.
For updates, follow @ParamountAurora on Facebook, Instagram and @paramountarts on LinkedIn.
Paramount Theatre President and CEO Tim Rater (left) and Artistic Director Jim Corti celebrate wins for Best Musical and Best Director at the 2015 Jeff Awards.
Credit: Johnny Knight
Paramount’s 13th Broadway Series starts by going The Full Monty, glides into the Regional Premiere of Disney’s Frozen, followed with another big Regional Premiere, Waitress, then pounces on Cats
The Full Monty
Directed by Jim Corti
Book by Terrence McNally
Music and lyrics by David Yazbek
Based on the motion picture released by Fox Searchlight Pictures, written by Simon Beaufoy, produced by Uberto Pasolini and directed by Peter Cattaneo
August 21-October 6, 2024
Press Opening: Friday, August 30 at 8 p.m.
Throw any old thing on top of your birthday suit, and join Paramount for this empowering tale that proves the naked truth: anything can be accomplished with the right mix of friends and courage.
This side-splitting musical follows a group of unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York. With their backs to the wall, Jerry, Dave and their pals decide to create a male strip show to pay their mortgages and provide for their families after layoffs. Facing their insecurities along with economic — and in some cases personal — disaster, these taboo-busting boys bare their souls and their bodies. Thanks to a hearty blue-collar work ethic, they abandon the unemployment grind for a different kind of grind, stripping off the layers of toxic masculinity to reflect the true ingenuity of the American spirit — gettin’ it done!
The songs in this 10-time Tony Award nominee, including “You Rule My World” and “Breeze Off the River,” capture the spirit of the '90s and combine for a feel-good experience that challenges stereotypes and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit. Contains adult language and brief nudity.
The Full Monty is sponsored by Hollywood Casino Aurora.
Disney’s Frozen
The Broadway Musical Regional Premiere
Directed by Trent Stork
Music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
Book by Jennifer Lee
Originally directed on Broadway by Michael Grandage
Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions
October 30, 2024-January 19, 2025
Press opening: Friday, November 8 at 8 p.m.
The first locally-produced staging of the theatrical megahit Frozen, debuting at Paramount Theatre, brings Disney's beloved animated film to life and fills the stage with winter magic.
Frozen is a powerful fable that captures the essence of sisterhood, self-discovery and the enduring power of love, making it a magical and heartwarming experience for audiences of all ages. The story is set in the kingdom of Arendelle, where two royal sisters, Elsa and Anna, navigate love, loyalty and Elsa's uncontrollable powers. In her struggle to understand her identity, Elsa questions her talents, confusing them for character flaws. Like every young woman’s coming-of-age story, she must find strength in her identity and gifts, looking both inward and to those she loves and trusts for support.
The stage adaptation, nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, maintains the film's enchanting music, including the iconic and award-winning song “Let It Go,” and beloved hits like “For the First Time in Forever,” “Love Is an Open Door” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” Spectacular set designs and dazzling special effects will transport audiences to wintry landscapes populated by fantastical creatures including Olaf the snowman and Sven the reindeer. Bring your friends and family to this holiday extravaganza, a snowy Disney fairytale reimagined for the stage by Paramount Theatre.
Frozen is sponsored by Jake’s Inc., GreenState Credit Union and Rush Copley Medical Center.
Waitress
Regional Premiere
Directed by Katie Spelman
Book by Jessie Nelson
Music and Lyrics by Sara Bareilles
Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly
February 12-March 30, 2025
Press opening: Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m.
What is more American than Apple Pie? A small-town waitress with a dream and the recipe for success.
Sugar, butter and flour aren’t the only ingredients Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, uses to make her famous pies. Stuck in a small town, a loveless marriage, and a surprise pregnancy, Jenna hopes to bake her way out of trouble. Jenna puts her heart and soul into her delicious pies, winning over anyone who tastes them. But battling expectations and low self-esteem, Jenna’s pies reflect her state of mind with names like "I Hate My Husband Pie" and "Pregnant, Miserable, Self-Pitying Loser Pie."
Full of romance and the joy of an uninhibited fling, Waitress challenges the story of a pregnant woman trapped in a small town between the life she’s living and the life she wants. Her customers, co-workers, and the town’s handsome new doctor may all offer conflicting recipes for happiness, but only Jenna can do the soul-searching to decide what the right ingredients are for her own happiness.
Want to know her secret recipe? Don’t miss Waitress, based on the 2007 film by the same name, with lyrics and music by Grammy Award winner and Tony Award nominee, Sara Bareilles. Nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, Waitress serves up songs like “What’s Inside” “What Baking Can Do,” “Club Knocked Up” with a side of romantic tunes including “It Only Takes a Taste” and “When He Sees Me.”
Cats
Directed by Trent Stork
Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber
Based on “Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot
April 30-June 15, 2025
Press opening: Friday, May 9 at 8 p.m.
See for yourself how Paramount Theatre gives Cats another life for a new generation of feline fans, totally reinvented with imaginative storytelling and groundbreaking theatrical flair.
Inspired by a collection of poems by T.S. Eliot, this iconic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber is a beloved fantastical journey into the clandestine world of Jellicle Cats. Light on dialog, but full of captivating dance, rousing music and singsong poetry, Cats won the Tony for Best Musical, Best Original Score and ranks number 11 on the all-time Best Selling Broadway Musical roster.
Long-time subscribers recall Paramount’s acclaimed 2014 staging. But you’ve never seen this Cats before! Paramount’s creative team is bringing a new layer and energy to this Broadway classic exploring timeless themes of identity and redemption while honoring unforgettable, stirring songs like “Memory” and “The Rum Tum Tugger.”
Cats is sponsored by Old Second Bank.
Paramount’s 2024-25 Broadway Series is sponsored by Dunham Foundation, BMO, ComEd, Illinois Arts Council and the City of Aurora.
Paramount’s 2024-25 BOLD Series: Courageous. Provocative. Unforgettable.
Award-winning, intimate theater experiences await in Paramount’s 165-seat Copley Theatre, a new destination for audiences who crave stories that are honest, fervent and emotionally intoxicating, presented in a sleek, state-of-the-art theater space so intimate you’re practically part of the action.
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, called Paramount’s BOLD Series 2022 staging of Fun Home an “exquisitely crafted and deeply intimate production that achieves a level of emotional intensity I’ve never seen before.”
Prepare to be just as impressed by Paramount’s third BOLD series, including:
Peter and the Starcatcher
Directed by Nate Cohen
A play by Rick Elice
Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Music by Wayne Barker
July 24-September 1, 2024
Press openings: Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1 at 7 p.m.
Adulting is hard! Set your dials for adventure, unbuckle unfortunate adult notions, and embrace the youthful bonds of camaraderie, love and duty in Peter and the Starcatcher.
In this whimsical prequel to the story of Peter Pan, a young orphan is sold into servitude aboard the Neverland-bound ship, the Wasp. But bleak realities of the Victorian age and industrial practices cannot force Peter to grow up. Instead, his enthusiasm is infectious, compelling every young person he meets (and the audience too) to join this ageless adventure.
Boldly staged in Paramount’s intimate Copley Theatre, a magical place “made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust,” audiences will leave the empire to set sail for exotic lands with Peter and the precocious Molly Aster, a Starcatcher apprentice. The stage adaptation captures the spirit of J.M. Barrie's classic “Peter Pan” with wordplay, swashbuckling escapades and Paramount’s flair for the dramatic.
Trace the genesis of Peter Pan, Wendy and other iconic characters, including the notorious Captain Hook. Join Peter’s quest to protect something important — starstuff, and the cheerful spirit of youth itself. See why Peter and the Starcatcher was the buzz of New York, nominated for nine Tony Awards, and winner of three.
An Act of God
By David Javerbaum
October 2-November 10, 2024
Press openings: Wednesday or Thursday, October 9 or 10 at 7 p.m.
You’ve been waiting your whole life. But when God finally speaks, you might be surprised by what He has to say.
In An Act of God, the Almighty himself takes a crack at rewriting the Ten Commandments and He gives it to us straight. Inhabiting a mortal vessel, this world-weary God invokes many classic straight shooters from the past. But even Howard Stern and Johnny Carson would blush at God’s audacity as He takes the stage to address the misconceptions mankind has amassed over the eons.
As a talk show guest, plan to have your assumptions challenged while God navigates you through religious doctrine, moral dilemmas, and your own human foibles with a blend of satire and irreverent humor. With worthy sidekicks like archangels Michael and Gabriel, God’s reflections on creation, faith, and the nature of good and evil just might open some pearly gates for you in the future.
God gets a second chance to dish it all out for us, delivering the rewrite of the ages in this hilarious divine comedy — not for the faint of heart.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Directed by Stephen Schellhardt
Music and lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional material by Jay Reiss
Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine
March 12-April 27, 2025
Press openings: Wednesday or Thursday, March 19 or 20 at 7 p.m.
Everyone loves a coming-of-age tale. Combine that with the epic struggles of six underdogs competing to shine in their own sport, and you have The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — a relatable musical that sheds a humorous light on adolescents growing up under the pressure to excel.
Whether you were a band kid or a cheerleader, middle school angst is a memory everyone can relate to. Chances are you will recognize one of the six types in yourself: the perfectionist, the loner, the kid whose parents are unavailable, the imposter, the sensitive one, and the overachiever. There might only be one champion, but at what cost to all of the rest who aim to conquer? As the contestants vie for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime, themes of competition, identity, and alienation portray the universal awkwardness of growing up — making it the perfect nostalgic musical comedy.
Entertaining tunes include “I’m Not That Smart,” “Pandemonium,” “Woe Is Me” and of course, “The I Love You Song.” A two-time Tony Award winner, including Best Book, the catchy tunes, witty lyrics, and endearing characters create an entertaining and heartwarming theatrical experience for all, even the overachievers and spelling-challenged among us.
Paramount’s 2024-25 BOLD Series is sponsored by Old National Bank.
Opening this summer: An immersive Million Dollar Quartet is debut production at Paramount’s new Stolp Island Theatre
Million Dollar Quartet is the opening production for Paramount’s new Stolp Island Theatre. Here’s a rendering of the lobby streetscape welcoming audiences into the immersive Million Dollar Quartet experience. Conceptual rendering by Jeffrey D. Kmiec.
Paramount’s third live performance venue, Stolp Island Theatre, will open this summer with a rockin’ new immersive theater experience, Million Dollar Quartet, produced and presented by Paramount in such a way that the audience will feel they are part of the show.
Currently under construction at 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, on the Fox River in downtown Aurora, Stolp Island Theatre is an all-new, 98-seat, intimate theater space. Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin calls Paramount's new venue “another live theater destination in the heart of downtown Aurora bringing jobs, patrons, and additional opportunities for exciting and engaging entertainment into our community.”
Million Dollar Quartet takes audiences back to December 4, 1956 inside the Sun Records recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where music legends Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins recorded a historic album in one night. Nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this popular jukebox musical features some of the biggest and best songs of all time, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog” and “Great Balls of Fire.” Million Dollar Quartet was the third longest-running show in Chicago theater history. Paramount’s acclaimed Broadway Series production in 2017 remains an oft-requested, all-time Paramount audience favorite.
Tickets to Million Dollar Quartet go on sale in April, with performances beginning in July. Stay tuned for more information including the creative team, cast and how to get tickets.
Stolp Island Theatre received a multi-year funding commitment from Verano, a leading multi-state cannabis company that operates Zen Leaf Aurora, located at 740 Illinois Route 59, and nine additional Zen Leaf dispensaries across Chicagoland.
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 37,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.
For over 50 years, the Joseph Jefferson Awards has recognized excellence in Chicago area theater. Paramount has been honored to earn 115 Jeff nominations and 29 wins over the last eight years of eligibility, including six Jeff Awards in 2022 for Kinky Boots, including Best Musical-Large, Paramount’s fourth win in that category following Sweeney Todd (2017), West Side Story (2016) and Les Misérables (2015).
Paramount Theatre is one of four live performance venues programmed and managed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA). Paramount’s newly renovated “sister stage," the 165-seat Copley Theatre, is home to Paramount’s BOLD Series, across the street in North Island Center. ACCA also programs and manages RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora's 6,000-seat outdoor summer concert venue, Stolp Island Theatre, an immersive theater experience opening on the Fox River in July 2024, and the Paramount School of the Arts.
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 updates, follow @ParamountAurora on Facebook, Instagram and @paramountarts on LinkedIn.