Paramount Theatre's Sold-Out BIG REVEAL Event to be Held 3/18

Since announcing in January that Aurora's Paramount Theatre will start self-producing and presenting its own Broadway Subscription Series of four popular Broadway musicals - all for a package price as low as $70 - the anticipation has been building.

Paramount officials confirmed today that they have hit the 2,000 mark for reservations, and thus have officially sold out the theater's Big Reveal Party, Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m. That's when - and only when - the titles of the four blockbuster musicals that will make up the Paramount's inaugural 2011-2012 Broadway Subscription Series, launching this fall, will be made public for the first time.

"Response to this event has been tremendous, overwhelming actually," said Jim Corti, new Artistic Director of the Paramount Theatre. "The incredible turnout demonstrates that there's an enormous amount of interest in our new Broadway series. Our only regret is that we don't have more seats!"

Guests will enjoy complimentary appetizers, cocktails, special guest appearances and spectacular entertainment. Then they'll be the first to learn the show titles - as well as have the opportunity to sign up on the spot as charter Broadway Series subscribers for as little as $70 before subscriptions go on sale to the general public.

While no more seats remain for the Big Reveal, Paramount officials strongly encourage anyone interested to still contact the box office to be added to a list of people who will receive the names of the four shows and special subscription offer via email first thing Saturday morning, March 19. Call the Paramount box office, 630.896.6666 to be added to the list. This offer will only be extended to the first 10,000 subscribers.

Behind-the-scenes of the Paramount's Broadway Subscription Series

No question, the Paramount Theatre's new Executive Director Tim Rater turned heads in January when he announced the Paramount would join the ranks of Chicago's top Equity producing houses by launching its own four-play Broadway Subscription Series in 2011-2012. News that the Paramount would no longer import touring Broadway shows, but instead begin a major and exciting shift to self-producing its own series of four popular musicals - each directed, designed and starring Chicago's top professional theater artists - was enough to cause quite a stir.

But when coupled with Rater's announcement that the Paramount's new Broadway Subscription Series would be created and overseen by Jim Corti, celebrated Chicago director, choreographer and Broadway actor, and the theater's first-ever artistic director in its 80-year history, the Paramount box office phones began ringing off the hook with musical theater fans ready to make reservations for the Big Reveal party on March 18th.

At the time, Rater, who was tapped as the Paramount's new executive director just last summer, said, "People want to see QUALITY, top-notch Broadway productions. Therefore, we are seizing full control of the production values presented on our stage. We will be offering Paramount patrons fresh new takes on beloved plays and musicals built from the ground-up by the amazing Jim Corti in collaboration with the nation's most sought-after professional theater artists. We plan to achieve the highest quality Broadway theatre in the Chicagoland area at the most affordable pricing."

Rater added "Presenting touring productions simply wasn't working. The ticket prices needed to cover the cost of those tours were outrageous, and many of the most appealing tours will only play in downtown Chicago. By shifting to in-house productions, we take control. We can now choose the shows our patrons want to see. They can now see them when they want to. And we will do bigger and better productions than ever before. Our goal is to craft a unique experience that the audience can get only at the Paramount Theatre. What's more, we are in incredibly capable hands. With Jim's artistic direction and our beautiful theater the shows will be the very best in Chicago. Count on it."

Of course, in addition to producing three-week runs of each subscription show, the Paramount will continue filling its schedule with one of the widest arrays of short-run musical acts, comedy, dance, holiday shows, movies and family presentations in the Chicagoland area.

ABOUT THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE

The Paramount Theatre has been a center for performing arts, entertainment, and arts education for more than 75 years in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. Named "One of Chicago's Top Ten Theatres" by the League of Chicago Theatres, the 1,888-seat Paramount Theatre attracts an annual audience of more than 150,000, and is nationally renowned for the quality and caliber of its presentations, superb acoustics and historic beauty.

Located in the heart of downtown Aurora at 23 E. Galena Boulevard, 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 lobby was added. The Grand Gallery houses a state-of-the-art box office, a cafe, a gift shop and an art gallery.

For more information, visit the Paramount Theatre online at www.paramountaurora.com.

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