Blockbuster musicals dominate Paramount's season
Paramount Theatre in Aurora announced on Friday its 2014-15 Broadway series consisting of four large-scale musicals, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway phenom "Cats."
The upcoming season marks the first in which Paramount's self-produced, equity productions will be eligible for consideration from the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee which recognizes excellence in Chicago-area theater.
The season opens Sept. 10 with "Cats," inspired by T.S. Elliot's poems. Shawn Stengel directs.
Next up is "Mary Poppins" (Nov. 26-Jan. 4, 2015). Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell directs this stage adaptation based on P.L. Travers' stories and Walt Disney's 1964 film about the magical nanny who repairs an estranged family living in Edwardian London.
"To behold the stunning scene of the Paramount full of applause with the orchestra swelling and cheers soaring up to its Art Deco rafters is an experience unlike any other," said Paramount artistic director Jim Corti who directs this season's revival of "The Who's Tommy."
Inspired by The Who's 1969 album about a boy who loses his speech, sight and hearing after witnessing his father murder his mother's lover, the show runs Jan. 14 to Feb. 15, 2015.
Corti also directs Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's epic, "Les Miserables" (March 18-April 26, 2015), which concludes the season. Inspired by Victor Hugo's novel, the musical centers on the efforts of ex-convict Jean Valjean - imprisoned for stealing bread - to redeem himself while avoiding the relentless Inspector Javert.
From 700 subscribers during the inaugural 2010-11 season, Paramount subscriptions have topped 19,000, officials said. New subscription and renewal sales begin Monday March 3, at the box office at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, by phone at (630) 896-6666 or online at paramountaurora.com.