Film-inspired tuners, world premiere on tap at Aurora's Paramount
Yet another world premiere is on the horizon for Aurora's Paramount Theatre whose 2019-2020 season is comprised of film adaptations, including the world premiere of "The Secret of My Success." The new tuner - based on the 1987 film starring Michael J. Fox as an ambitious young man who takes on the identity of a rising executive in order to further his corporate career - was workshopped at the theater in September 2017 as part of its new works initiative.
Chicago-area favorites Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler ("Diary of a Wimpy Kid," "How Can You Run With a Shell on Your Back?") serve as composer/lyricists for the musical, which includes a book by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen. The show runs Feb. 12 to March 29, 2020.
The season kicks off Sept. 4 with artistic director Jim Corti's revival of "Newsies," the exuberant musical inspired by the New York City newsboy strike of 1899, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein based on the 1992 film.
That's followed by "Beauty and the Beast" (Nov. 13-Jan. 19, 2020), based on the family tale and the 1991 Disney film about a clever young woman tasked with charming the beast. Amber Mak directs.
After "The Secret of My Success," the season concludes with Paramount's regional premiere of "Kinky Boots," adapted by composer/lyricist Cyndi Lauper and writer Harvey Fierstein from the 2005 British film about the owner of a struggling shoe factory who partners with a drag queen to manufacture stylish footwear for a select clientele. Trent Stork directs the production, which runs April 29 to June 24, 2020.
Performances take place at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Subscription renewals begin Monday, Feb. 4, with priority given to current subscribers who want to renew subscriptions for the 2019-2020 season. New subscribers can pre-order reservations online during the first week at paramountaurora.com/.
New subscribers can pre-order over the phone or in person beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 11. Single tickets go on sale in June. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com/.