Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora, the largest subscription theater in the U.S., has announced a blockbuster, four-show line-up for its 15th Broadway Series.
Paramount’s 2026-27 season opens with the Chicago-area premiere of the sassy musical Mean Girls, directed by Devon Hayakawa in their Paramount solo directorial debut (August 26–October 11, 2026). What follows is a fresh, new, all-ages holiday production in Chicago, the world premiere of a new, reimagined version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol, adapted and directed by Paramount’s Jeff Award-winning director Trent Stork (November 11, 2026–January 3, 2027).
Paramount’s four-show series rolls merrily along in 2027 with Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning masterpiece, directed by Trent Stork (February 10–March 28, 2027). Paramount’s 15th season finale, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, set it in the 1980s, directed by Matthew Silar in his Paramount directing debut, promises to make audiences “Go, Go, Go, Go” to downtown Aurora’s #1 destination for live entertainment to enjoy one of the most popular musicals of all time.
As always, Paramount’s 40,000+ 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, with four-show packages starting as low as $73.
“From Tina Fey to Charles Dickens and Stephen Sondheim to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, this season lights up with stories, songs, and dances shining with something for everyone,” said Paramount Theatre Artistic Director Jim Corti. “Come solo or with family and friends, you’ll leave our beautiful Paramount Theatre with moments to share and always remember!”
“This milestone season is a testament to our audience, our artists, and our belief that great theater belongs to everyone,” said Tim Rater, President and CEO of Paramount Theatre. “We’re incredibly proud to continue offering Broadway caliber productions at prices that keep live theater accessible and thriving in Aurora.”
Broadway Series renewals begin Monday, January 26. During the renewal period, new subscribers can also pre-order subscriptions and queue up for the best seats, after renewing subscribers receive theirs. The renewal period ends Sunday, March 29. Single tickets for Paramount’s 15th Broadway Series go on sale Monday, June 15 at 10 a.m. All Broadway Series productions are presented at the historic Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.
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.
Special offer: Current Broadway subscribers who renew by March 29 can earn a Buy One Ticket, Get One Free, or a Buy One Ticket, Get One Half-Off, offer to see Paramount’s long-running staging of Million Dollar Quartet, returning March 4-May 31, 2026 at Paramount’s Stolp Island Theatre, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G. See website or inquire with the box office for details.
For the latest season updates, follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.
More about Paramount Theatre’s 15th Broadway Series
Mean Girls
Chicago-area premiere
Book by Tina Fey
Music by Jeff Richmond
Lyrics by Nell Benjamin
Based on the Paramount Pictures film Mean Girls
Directed by Devon Hayakawa
August 26–October 11, 2026
Opening Night: Friday, September 4, 7 p.m.
“You can’t sit with us!”
Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It's the Tony nominated Broadway sensation that’s so fetch, it rules the school.
Based on the iconic Tina Fey film, Mean Girls is a hilarious musical with heart, telling the story of Cady Heron, a sweet and smart new girl who’s just moved from Africa to suburban Illinois. When she enters the wild world of North Shore High, she quickly finds herself tangled up with The Plastics, the school’s most popular - and most ruthless - clique led by queen bee Regina George. As Cady tries to fit in, she learns that popularity comes with a price - and revenge can get ugly fast.
With big laughs, bold style, unforgettable pop-rock songs, and a message that hits home, Mean Girls is a must-see for anyone who’s ever tried to find their place in the crowd. Grab your friends, wear pink (on Wednesdays, of course), and experience the musical that proves even the fiercest frenemies can find redemption.
Mean Girls marks director, actor and dramaturg Devon Hayakawa’s solo directing debut at Paramount. Hayakawa previously co-directed Paramount’s 2025-26 South Pacific with Trent Stork, and was Stork’s associate director on Paramount’s Come From Away, Cats and Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical.
Hayakawa’s creative team will include choreographer Kasey Alfonso (Come From Away, Jeff Award winner for Cats) and veteran Paramount Broadway Series music director, conductor and music supervisor Kory Danielson, with scenic designer Milo Bue, (Come From Away), costume designer Kotryna Hilko (Peter and the Starcatcher), and veteran Paramount designers Adam Rosenthal, lights, and Greg Hofmann, sound.
Mean Girls is sponsored by Hollywood Casino.
A Christmas Carol
World Premiere
Based on the novella by Charles Dickens
Adapted and directed by Trent Stork
November 11, 2026–January 3, 2027
Opening Night: Friday, November 20, 7 p.m.
“God bless us, everyone!”
Rediscover the magic of the holiday season with A Christmas Carol, the timeless tale that warms hearts and reminds us all of the true spirit of Christmas. Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter and lonely miser, is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts who take him on a journey through his past, present, and future. Along the way, he learns how to once again experience joy, compassion, and the power of generosity.
Filled with laughter, redemption, and the most memorable characters in literature, director Trent Stork has reimagined and adapted A Christmas Carol specifically for the Paramount stage. Don’t miss Chicago’s newest holiday tradition for families and friends alike. Whether experiencing Scrooge’s transformation for the first time or reliving the magic of the classic story once again, Paramount’s new holiday production, enriched with live music, will leave audiences filled with hope and holiday cheer.
Paramount Theatre Artistic Producer and Casting Director Trent Stork, a Jeff Award-winning director renowned for their fresh takes on popular musicals, most recently helmed Paramount’s Chicago regional premieres of Come From Away and Frozen: The Broadway Musical, and Paramount’s circus-inspired production of Cats. For A Christmas Carol, Stork is collaborating with another A-list production team including veteran music director Kory Danielson, award-winning scenic designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec, lighting designer Greg Hofmann and sound designer Adam Rosenthal.
A Christmas Carol is sponsored by Jake’s Inc.
Sunday in the Park with George
Book by James Lapine
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Trent Stork
February 10–March 28, 2027
Opening Night: Friday, February 19, 7 p.m.
“Art isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”
Art, love, and life beautifully collide in Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece inspired by Georges Seurat’s famous painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”
In 1880s Paris, painter Georges Seurat is consumed by passion for his work, meticulously capturing every color and curve of the world around him. But as he chases perfection on the canvas, he risks losing Dot - the woman who inspires him. A century later, another George, Seurat’s great-grandson, struggles with the same questions of meaning, legacy, and connection in a modern world that often overlooks the value of art.
With a soaring score and witty lyrics that only Sondheim could write, Sunday in the Park with George celebrates the beautiful mess that is creativity. This Tony Award-winning musical will leave audiences inspired and in awe of the colors that make up every moment of life.
Paramount’s Trent Stork returns to direct their second back-to-back production in the company’s 2026-27 season. Their team includes music director, conductor and supervisor Kory Danielson, scenic designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld (Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, A Streetcar Named Desire), lighting designer Greg Hofmann and sound designer Adam Rosenthal.
Sunday in the Park with George is sponsored by Old Second National Bank.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Book and Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Matthew Silar
April 28–June 13, 2027
Opening Night: Friday, May 7, 7 p.m.
“Any dream will do.”
Nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a joyful celebration of hope and perseverance. Bursting with color, energy, and some of Broadway's most memorable songs, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved musical reimagines the story of Joseph, a dreamer whose gift of prophecy and bright optimism set him apart from his eleven brothers. When jealousy lands him in trouble, Joseph’s journey takes him from the depths of despair to the heights of success.
Vibrant and inspiring, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a feel-good musical the whole family will enjoy. Told through dazzling songs like “Any Dream Will Do,” “Jacob and Sons” and “Go, Go, Go Joseph,” this timeless favorite reminds audiences that dreams can carry us through, even in the toughest of times.
Matthew Silar, an accomplished young theater artist and veteran stage manager for some of Paramount’s most acclaimed musicals, will make his Paramount directorial debut with a Joseph… Audiences can look forward to a production imbued with a 1980s vibe, working with a team including music director Kory Danielson, scenic designer Milo Bue, costume designer Izumi Inabi (Billy Elliot: the Musical, Come From Away, Cats), and sound designer Adam Rosenthal.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is sponsored by Closets by Design.
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 40,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.
Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance venues overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) in downtown Aurora. ACCA also programs and manages Stolp Island Theatre, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, home to its wildly acclaimed, long-running immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet, returning March 4-May 3, 2026; the 165-seat Copley Theatre, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; the Paramount School of the Arts; and RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, downtown Aurora’s outdoor summer concert venue and home to Christkindlmarket Aurora.
Paramount Theatre is overseen by Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; its Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.
For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.