Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is excited to share that it earned 13 nominations for the 2020 Equity Jeff Awards, celebrating excellence in Equity theater productions during Chicago’s abbreviated 2019-20 theater season.
Paramount’s blockbuster production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast took home six nominations, the most for any Paramount production, including Best Musical-Large.
Paramount’s world premiere musical The Secret of My Success earned four nominations, including Best New Work.
Newsies captured three nominations, marking a nominations sweep for all three Paramount productions during the abbreviated 2019-20 Chicago theater season.
Here's the full list of Paramount’s 13 2019-20Jeff Award nominations for outstanding performance, direction and design in Chicago theater last season:
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – 6 nominations
Beth Stafford Laird (left), Jeff nominated for Performer in a Principal Role as Belle in Paramount's 2019 production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Photos by Liz Lauren.
- Production – Musical or Revue – Large
- Performer in a Principal Role – Musical – Beth Stafford Laird (Belle)
- Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical – Jackson Evans (Lumiere)
- Scenic Design – Jeffrey D. Kmiec
- Costume Design – Large – Theresa Ham
- Lighting Design – Large – Jesse Klug
Click above to screen and download the Disney's Beauty and the Beast sizzle reel.
The Secret of My Success – 4 nominations
Paramount's 2020 world premiere The Secret of My Success earned four Jeff nominations, including Best New Work and Performer in a Principal Role for Billy Harrigan Tighe (right) as Brantley Foster. Photos by Liz Lauren.
- New Work – Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler
- Performer in a Principal Role – Billy Harrigan Tighe – Musical (Brantley Foster)
- Performer in a Supporting Role – Musical – Heidi Kettenring (Vera Prescott)
- Projection Design – Mike Tutaj
Click above to screen and download The Secret of My Success sizzle reel.
Newsies – 3 nominations
Paramount's 2019-20 season opener Newsies received three Jeff nominations including Best Performer in a Principal Role – Musical for Alex Prakken (left) and Best Choreography for Joshua Blake Carter. Photos by Liz Lauren.
- Performer in a Principal Role – Musical – Alex Prakken (Jack Kelly)
- Scenic Design – Large – William Boles
- Choreography – Joshua Blake Carter
"Thank you to the Jeff Committee for this year's award nominations! This annual celebration brings us all together like one big family reunion and the hugs and hand shakes will be missed. I'll also miss the live in-person roaring and cheering in recognition of all the deserving recipients," said Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti.
“The list of nominees represents the vast array of work in scale and substance unique to Chicago,” added Corti, who directed Paramount’s Jeff-nominated 2019 season opener, Newsies. “Whether given a nod this year or not, know how much doing what you love adds to the excitement of Chicago theatre-going and how proud we are at Paramount in the City of Aurora to be a part of it. Holding you close, all of our enthusiastic and supportive patrons, Paramount's creative contributors and collaborators from actors to musicians, designers and production crews, this is a moment to acknowledge you and thank you for your excellence and achievement!"
“Beauty and the Beast was a labor of love and unbelievable collaboration amongst not just brilliant designers and company members but builders, crew, musicians and staff that truly made it an incredibly memorable experience for our Paramount audience and for me, personally,” said Amber Mak, director of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and New Works Development Director at Paramount. “It is always an honor to be able to not just create a magical show but to re-imagine a beloved story that we tell with heart first and that hopefully leaves a mark on an audience for many years.”
“Making The Secret of My Success at Paramount with their gifted and generous staff – and the extraordinary cast, crew and creative team, was one of the best theatrical experiences of my life,” said Gordon Greenberg, director of The Secret of My Success. “Michael, Alan, Steve and I are so grateful for the opportunity to create a brand new musical with a profoundly talented, kind hearted and joyous company. Their passion and professionalism was matched only by the smart and buoyant audiences we played for in Aurora. Here’s to more Success on the other side of the pandemic – and to more and more new work at the Paramount!”
Since becoming Jeff-eligible only five seasons ago, Paramount Theater had previously garnered a total of 71 nominations and 20 wins.
Visit jeffawards.org to see this year’s full list of nominees and to watch who wins at the 2020 online Jeff Awards ceremony, Monday, November 9 at 7 p.m. CT.
Paramount’s 2019-20 Broadway Series was sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Dunham Fund, ComEd and City of Aurora.
Paramount’s Broadway Series: What’s Next
Paramount Theatre plans to resume its Broadway Series in June 2021 with its planned Chicago regional premiere production of Kinky Boots (June 30-August 25, 2021). Kinky Boots will be followed by Paramount’s 10th season line-up: Rock of Ages (September 1-October 17, 2021), Cinderella (November 10, 2021-January 9, 2022), Groundhog Day (January 26-March 13, 2022) and Ragtime (April 13-May 29, 2022).
Paramount still offers the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” subscription offer as it did when it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011. Packages start as low as $72.
To subscribe or for more information, visit paramountaurora.com, call the Paramount Theatre box office, (630) 896-6666, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or email info@paramountarts.com.
About Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora, is the center for performing arts and education in the second largest city in Illinois.
Designed by renowned theater architects C.W. and George L. Rapp, Paramount opened on September 3, 1931. Today, Paramount remains downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction, a 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.
Since Paramount Theatre first launched its own Broadway Series in 2011, it has grown to be the second largest subscription house in the U.S. More than 41,000 subscribers come from all over Chicagoland and the Midwest to enjoy Paramount’s affordable, critically acclaimed, Broadway-quality productions.
In addition to its Broadway Series, Paramount presents an array of internationally known comedians, music stars, dance events and family shows. Community members also enjoy Paramount’s Classic Movie Monday series for just $1.
Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.
Paramount is one of three live venues programmed and managed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority. ACCA also oversees the newly-renovated, 173-seat Copley Theatre, right across the street from Paramount; RiverEdge Park, the city’s outdoor concert venue; and the new Paramount School of the Arts.
For the latest news from Paramount Theatre and updates on upcoming performances, please visit ParamountAurora.com.