Paramount Presents THE WHO'S TOMMY, Now thru 2/15

The day after The Who's Tommy debuted on Broadway in 1993, The New York Times exclaimed, "...at long last the authentic rock musical that has eluded Broadway for two generations...an Entertainment Juggernaut." Twenty-one years later, no other musical has come close to replicating its sure power, electricity and monumental impact.

Continuing its rapid ascent to the top of Chicago's musical theater landscape, Aurora's Paramount Theatre follows its smash hits CATS and Mary Poppins with The Who's Tommy, a story of hope, healing and human spirit, filled with soaring anthems and bursting ballads, mind-exploding images and pulsating dance numbers.

Arguably the best rock opera ever, Tommy, based on the British rock band The Who's legendary 1969 double concept album, is the story of a little boy who witnesses his father murder his mother's lover upon his surprise return home after being released from a prisoner of war camp. The trauma sends Tommy into a nearly catatonic state, becoming deaf, dumb and blind. Eventually, his only form of communication becomes pinball, and his wizardry with the flippers propels him into the national spotlight.

Music and lyrics are by rock legend Pete Townshend. Book is by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. Additional music and lyrics are by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. The 1993 Broadway production was nominated for ten Tony Awards and won five, including Best Choreography and Original Score thanks to iconic rock songs including "Pinball Wizard," "See Me" and "I'm Free."

Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti, the director behind Paramount's critically acclaimed smash hits RENT, Miss Saigon, Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady, will once again direct.

Music director and conductoris Tom Vendafreddo, fresh from music directing the company's holiday-season hit Mary Poppins.

Brock Clawson, a 2014 Joffrey Ballet Contemporary Choreographer, makes his Paramount debut as choreographer.

Devin DeSantis, no stranger to starring roles, and so fantastic as Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein at Drury Lane, makes his Paramount debut as Tommy.

The principal cast also includes David Schlumpf and Hillary Marren, also making their Paramount debuts as Tommy's parents, Captain and Mrs. Walker. Jake Klinkhammer (Rooster in Paramount's Annie) plays drunken pervert Uncle Ernie. Liam Quealy (Skimbleshanks in CATS) is bully Cousin Kevin. Meghan Murphy (Joanne in RENT) is the Acid Queen. Lillie Cummings plays Tommy's #1 fan, Sally Simpson.

The Who's Tommy starts previews at the Paramount tonight, January 14. Press opening is Saturday, January 17 at 8 p.m. Regular performances continue through February 15 at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and

7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $41 to $54.

To purchase, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances. Tommy is rated PG-13.

More about Paramount's Tommy - As always, Paramount is working with the highest caliber of professional talent in every aspect including actors, musicians, creative and technical teams.

In addition to the principal cast, triple-threat women actors/dancers/singers in the ensemble are Aubrey Adams, Mandy Modic, Amy Orman, Alexandra Palkovic, Olivia Renteria, Laura Savage, Jill Sesso and Erica Stephan.

Male ensemble members are William Carlos Angulo, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Bryan Howard Conner, Matt Deitchman, Shane Frantz, Josh Kohane, Eric A. Lewis, Terrance Martin, Nolan Moss, Jonny Stein and Neil Stratman.

Young actors Peyton Owen and Ricky Falbo each play the role of Tommy. Peyton Owen is 4-year-old Tommy, and Ricky Falbo is 10-year-old Tommy.

In this production, the 8-member Paramount Band, conducted by Tom Vendafreddo, will play the full, original Broadway orchestrations for The Who's Tommy.

Paramount's Tommy design team also includes Trent Stork, assistant director; Linda Buchanan, set; Theresa Ham, costumes; Greg Hofmann, lights; Mike Tutaj, projections; Adam Rosenthal, sound; Sarah E. Ross, props; Penny Lane Studios, wigs; and R&D Choreography, violence design. Rose Marie Packer is stage manager and Jinni Pike is assistant stage manager.

"Come rediscover or be astonished for the first time at the wonders of The Who's rock opera classic, Tommy," says director Jim Corti. "A boy's amazing journey from tragedy to media star: The Pinball Wizard! There's a stirring poignancy in how we see ourselves mirrored in the struggles of Captain Walker's family, healing the child in all of us with musical and emotional heights like you've never experienced before!"

Jim Corti (director) was hired in 2011 to be the first-ever Artistic Director in the Paramount's 80+ year history. He was instrumental in launching Paramount's inaugural Broadway Series, and directed and choreographed Paramount's first self-produced Broadway show, My Fair Lady, which played to rave reviews. His 2013 Paramount production of Fiddler on the Roof was a smash hit. More recently, Corti's Miss Saigon was the only musical to make the Chicago Tribune's "Top Ten Shows of 2013," and his 2014 production of RENT only underscored Paramount's rise to the top of Chicago's musical theater landscape. He is a seasoned veteran to Broadway productions, appearing in the New York casts of Ragtime, A Chorus Line and Candide. Corti has also appeared in the national tours of Urinetown, Cabaret and Bob Fosse's Dancin'. Highlights from his body of work over three decades include: being the only director in Chicago to have two productions at the same time in the Chicago Tribune's list of 10 Best Shows in 2009 - Drury Lane's Cabaret and Writers' Theatre's Oh, Coward! He is the sole honoree to have garnered a Jeff Award as an actor (in Marriott's Grand Hotel), a choreographer (Drury Lane's Singin' In The Rain) and director (Northlight's Blues In The Night and Drury Lane's Sweet Charity). Corti's next project is directing Paramount's 2014-15 Broadway series finale, LES MISERABLES, March 18-April 26, 2015).

Tom Vendafreddo (music director/conductor) made his Paramount debut with In the Heights, recently wrapped Mary Poppins and continues as Paramount's music director not only for The Who's Tommy but LES MISERABLES as well. Other recent credits include On the Town (Marriott Lincolnshire), Shrek the Musical(Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Sweet Charity(Writers' Theatre), The Wedding Singer(Red Mountain Theatre Company), Gifts of the Magi (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Spitfire Grill (Jeff Nomination: Musical and Music Direction - Bohemian Theatre Ensemble), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Into the Woods (Stage 48 Productions) and Urinetown: The Musical (Harper Theatre Ensemble). Other regional credits include Odyssey (Old Globe Theatre), RENT (San Diego Musical Theatre), It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (Cygnet Theatre) and Zanna, Don't! (San Diego State University).

Chicago choreographer and dancer Brock Clawson (choreographer) set a new work, "Crossing Ashland," on the Joffrey Ballet in the renowned company's 2014 Contemporary Choreographer program. He is a former ensemble member with Thodos Dance Chicago, where he choreographed four new works through the company's New Dances series. He has also worked with Milwaukee Ballet and Giordano Dance Chicago.

Paramount's 2014-15 Broadway Series is sponsored by the Dunham Fund, BMO Harris Bank and PACE (Paramount Arts Centre Endowment). Broadway Series Lighting Sponsor is ComEd. Broadway Series Costume Sponsor is Gerald Auto Group.

More about Paramount's 2014-15 Season - In just three seasons, the Paramount Theatre's bold new Broadway musical series has wowed critics, audiences and skeptics alike. To date, 25,000 subscribers have signed up to take advantage of Paramount's 2014-15 "Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free" subscription offer. They already were amply rewarded with amazing productions of CATS and Mary Poppins. Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti is staging the company's current production The Who's Tommy, as well as Paramount's blockbuster spring season finale, LES MISERABLES, March 18-April 26, 2015.

In addition to its popular Broadway series, Paramount's 2014-15 season also boasts Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two Woman Show (Feb. 22), Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe winner John Lithgow in his one-man show Stories by Heart (Mar. 7), Defending the Caveman (Mar. 13-29, in the Copley Theatre), An Evening with David Sedaris, one of the top humorists of our time (Apr. 28), the internationally acclaimed, shape-shifting dance troupe Pilobolus (Apr. 30), and gal pal favorite Menopause the Musical (May 6-Jun. 28, in the Copley Theatre). Classic Movie Mondays are back in 2015 too, with $1 screenings of everyone's favorite flicks most Monday nights.

For tickets and information, call (630) 896 6666 or visit ParamountAurora.com.

About The Paramount Theatre - The Paramount Theatre is the center for performing arts, entertainment and arts education in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. Named "One of Chicago's Top 10 Attended Theatres" by the League of Chicago Theatres, the 1,888-seat Paramount Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Aurora at 23 E. Galena Blvd., is nationally renowned for the quality and caliber of its presentations, superb acoustics and historic beauty.

The Paramount Theatre opened on September 3, 1931. Designed by nationally renowned theater architects C.W. and George L. Rapp, the theater captures a unique Venetian setting portrayed in the art deco influence of the 1930s. The first air-conditioned building outside of Chicago, the Paramount offered the public a variety of entertainment, including "talking pictures," vaudeville, concerts and circus performances for more than 40 years. In 1976, Aurora Civic Center Authority purchased the Paramount and closed the theater for restoration. The $1.5 million project restored the Paramount to its original grandeur. On April 29, 1978, the Paramount Arts Center opened, offering a variety of theatrical, musical, comedy, dance and family programming. In 2006, a 12,000-square-foot, two-story Grand Gallery lobby was added, with a new, state-of-the-art box office, café and art gallery.

Today, the Paramount produces its own Broadway Musical series and presents an eclectic array of comedy, music, dance and family shows, and on most Mondays, screens a classic movie. For tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com or call (630) 896-6666.

The Paramount Theatre is one of three live performance venues programmed and managed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA). ACCA also oversees the Paramount's "sister" stage, the intimate, 216-seat Copley Theatre located directly across the street from the Paramount at 8 E. Galena Blvd., as well as RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora's new summer outdoor concert venue.

The 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.

For more information, visit ParamountAurora.com.

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