SWEENEY TODD, MAMMA MIA! & More on Tap for Paramount's 2016-17 Broadway Season

In just five years, Paramount Theatre has transformed one of Chicago's most glamorous Art Deco stages into a regional musical theater powerhouse, amassing a loyal audience of more than 30,000 subscribers for its critically-acclaimed Broadway Series by presenting Broadway-quality musicals in a convenient setting, for the right price.

What's more, the Paramount has not only radically altered the suburban musical theater scene, but all of Chicago's, snaring more large musical Jeff Awards than any other Chicago theater last season, launching a New Works department, boasting the largest live orchestras in all Chicagoland, and building a strong reputation for culturally sensitive, inclusive casting.

Today, Paramount officials announced the theatre's expanded, 2016-17 Broadway Series four-play line-up: Mamma Mia! (Sept. 7-Oct. 30, 2016), The Little Mermaid(Nov. 23, 2016-Jan. 8, 2017), Sweeney Todd-The Demon Barber of Fleet Street(Feb. 8-Mar. 19, 2017) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Apr. 19-May 28, 2017).

Just as it has from the start, Paramount will offer the same "Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free" subscription offer, with four-play packages starting as low as $88. The rewards are ample - four amazing, Broadway-quality musicals at one of the most majestic theaters in the Midwest, all for less than the price of one show downtown.

Renewals for Paramount's 2016-17 Broadway Series go on sale today at 10 a.m.During the renewal process, friends and family members of subscribers, as well as the general public, can participate in the Broadway Series Reservation. Reservations allow new subscribers to pre-pay for their four-play series before they go on sale to the general public. Reservations can be made online only until April 4 at ParamountAurora.com.

After April 4, New Subscriber reservations can be purchased online, over the phone, or in person at the Paramount box office through May 8. The Paramount box office will contact new subscribers for their seating preferences before May 8. Beginning in mid-June, after the renewal period is over for current subscribers, new subscribers will be contacted in the order their subscription request was made to confirm their series and actual seats.

For more information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call 630.896.6666, or visit the Paramount Theatre box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora.

More About Paramount's 2016-17 Broadway Series

Artistic Director Jim Corti - director of Paramount's current smash hit West Side Story, winner of the 2015 Jeff Award for Best Director and Best Musical for
LES MISERABLES, and the only Chicago theater artist to win Jeff Awards for directing, choreography and acting - will stage Paramount's ABBA-infused season opener Mamma Mia! and Sweeney Todd, Stephen Sondheim's beautiful, yet terror-filled musical.

Amber Mak, who staged Paramount's 2016 hit Hairspray-The Broadway Musicaland is the theater's newly tapped New Works Development Director, will direct and choreograph Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Making his Paramount debut for the season finale Jesus Christ Superstar is director Ron Kellum, a director and producer with experience ranging from major sporting event half-time shows, to film, TV and theater including Chicago, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, Once On this Island, Ain't Misbehavin' and Smokey Joe's Café.

Per usual, Paramount will tap only the highest caliber talent in every aspect of production with actors, designers, creative and technical teams. Music director and conductor Tom Vendafreddo, who has helmed the Paramount Orchestra for the theater's last seven consecutive productions, returns as Music Director for Paramount's entire 2016-17 Broadway series. As always, each production will also boast Broadway orchestrations performed live by the Paramount Orchestra.

Behind the scenes, West Side Story choreographer William Carlos Angulo will return for his second collaboration with Jim Corti on Mamma Mia!

Chicago A-list scenic designers Kevin Depinet and Jeff Kmiec will design two sets each next season at Paramount.

Costume designer Theresa Ham is on three design teams, with Paramount's longtime costume shop manager Matt Guthier designing costumes for Mamma Mia!

Top Chicago lighting designers Greg Hofmann and Jesse Klug will alternate crafting lighting for two shows each next season as well.

"It is hard to imagine a more disparate, contrasting season of music for Paramount Theatre's Broadway Series Season Six," said Corti. "The happiest of lighthearted family fare to the ultimate in passion and drama, 70s pop rock to the sublimely orchestrated, we continue to serve on our promise to present the highest caliber of theatre artists onstage and behind the scenes, delivering on the acclaim perpetuated by critics and audiences alike over the last five years; fresh, bold productions you will never forget!"

"To keep up with demand, we've expanded the number of weeks in each run and the number of performances next season," added Tim Rater, President and CEO of Paramount Theatre. "For context, last year we presented 22 weeks of Broadway shows, for a total of 180 performances. In 2016-17, we will present 27 weeks of Broadway shows and 220 performances,"

"But perhaps my favorite statistic of all is 30,856 - the number of subscribers for our current season, yet another benchmark of unprecedented growth and success, and a number we look forward to surpassing once again in 2016-17."

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