More suburban theaters now eligible for Jeff Awards

Several suburban theaters will be eligible to win one of Chicago's top theater awards next year because of a recent rule change.

The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee, a volunteer organization that grants accolades to Chicago area theater since 1968, recently increased the distance which theaters can be to downtown Chicago from 30 to 45 miles.

Among the theaters now considered eligible for the 2014-2015 awards, called the Jeff Awards, is the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

In a statement released by Paramount Theatre, the artistic director Jim Corti praised the awards committee's decision to expand their coverage to the suburbs.

“We will strive as ever to make you (the committee) proud and be worthy of Chicago Theatre, the best there is in the country!” Corti said.

Paramount Theatre will be eligible for consideration among other large tier theaters with union contracts.