Theater spotlight: Aurora's new Paramount School of the Arts opens

Posted May 23, 2019 1:00 am

Aurora's Paramount School of the Arts includes a black box theater depicted here in a rendering by Vara Designs. Rendering courtesy of Vara Designs

Arts school opens

Aurora's newest performing arts complex opens this week. The Paramount School of the Arts, established in cooperation with the Paramount Theatre and located in the John C. Dunham Aurora Arts Center (formerly Waubonsee Community College), marks the completion of a $35 million renovation. The grand opening celebration includes tours of the school's classrooms, rehearsal and performance spaces; meet-and-greets with the teaching artists; and free sample classes in hip-hop, jazz and ballet along with games and refreshments. "We are so ready to welcome the public inside a place that will train young actors, dancers and musicians for a culture-filled life," said Paramount CEO and president Tim Rater in a prepared statement.

Ribbon cutting is at 9:30 a.m., followed by an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at 20 S. Stolp Ave., Aurora. Free. (630) 896-6810 or paramountschoolofthearts.com.

Walkabout Theatre presents its in-progress work "The Raveling" during the sixth Physical Theater Festival Chicago running May 31 to June 9. Courtesy of Walkabout Theatre

Physical theater fest

Chicago's Walkabout Theatre is among the ensembles participating in the expanded Physical Theater Festival Chicago showcasing theater artists from Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, Puerto Rico, India and the United Kingdom. Performances include the circus-theater show "Eventide" from New York and Puerto Rico's 3AM Theatre; Finnish artist Henni Kervinen's silent, solo show "Helga - the life of a diva extraordinaire"; and a remount of "Next Door," Danish company Out of Balance's production that played the first festival in 2014. Walkabout's "The Raveling" is a work-in-progress centered on family and Brazilian-born, writer/performer Angela de Castro's "The Gift" centers on a clown awaiting his date. Strictly Arts, an ensemble from the United Kingdom, presents the Midwest premiere of "Freeman," an examination of the link between mental health and racism inspired by the first American man to use the insanity defense.

Performances start at 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, and run through June 9 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. All events take place there except for "Eventide," which takes place at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Single tickets cost $15-$20; festival passes are $50, $65. See physicalfestival.com.

Musical theater standouts Michael and Angela Ingersoll bring their "Happy Together" cabaret show to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights on Wednesday, June 5. Courtesy of Michael and Angela Ingersoll

Twice as nice

PBS stars and theater veterans Michael Ingersoll ("Jersey Boys," Under the Streetlamp) and Angela Ingersoll ("End of the Rainbow") share the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre spotlight. The married couple perform "Happy Together: Michael and Angela Ingersoll Sing Songs You Know By Heart" as part of Metropolis' Artists Lounge Live series showcasing musical theater artists in a cabaret setting.

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $45. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

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