Aurora’s Paramount leads area theaters with 16 Jeff Award nominations

Chronicle Media
Paramounts production of “Les Misérables" garnered six 2105  Jeff Award nominations for Chicago area theater.

Paramounts production of “Les Misérables” garnered six 2105 Jeff Award nominations for Chicago area theater.

Aurora’s Paramount Theater made a big splash in its first year of eligibility for Equity Jeff Awards, honoring the best in 2014-15 live productions.

The Paramount led all Chicago area theaters with 16 nominations — all for musicals in the Large Theater category — according to an announcement made last week by officials with the Chicago-based awards program.

The 47th Annual Equity Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theater produced within the immediate Chicago area will be held on Oct. 5 at Drury Lane Oak Brook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

“We’re excited to have been nominated,” said Paramount President & CEO Tim Rater. “We’re proud of every single person who worked on last season’s Broadway Series shows, and honestly, we’re proud of everyone who has been a part of the Paramount family since we started the Broadway Series four years ago.”

Paramounts production of “Les Misérables” and the rock opera “The Who’s Tommy” received six nominations each, and “Mary Poppins” garnered four.

Drury Lane Productions received 13 nominations, including five for “Billy Elliot, the Musical,” and three each for “Camelot” and “West Side Story.” The Marriott Theatre had 12 nominations, with five for “The King and I” and three for “City of Angels.”

Nominations for Paramount’s production of “The Who’s Tommy” and “Les Miserables” included: Best Production – Musical (Large), Director – Musical: Jim Corti, Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical: Devin DeSantis, Music Direction: Tom Vendafreddo, Scenic Design – Large: Kevin Depinet and Jeffrey D. Kmiecm and Lighting Design – Large: Jesse Klug.

Nominations for “Mary Poppins” included Best Production – Musical (Large), Director – Musical: Rachel Rockwell, Costume Design – Large: Theresa Ham, Projections/Video Design:  Mike Tutaj,

The Jeff Awards has been honoring outstanding theater artists annually since it was established in 1968.

With up to 55 members representing a wide variety of backgrounds in theater, the Jeff Awards Committee is committed to celebrating the vitality of Chicago area theatre by recognizing excellence through its recommendations, awards, and honors.

The Jeff Awards fosters the artistic growth of area theaters and theater artists and promotes educational opportunities, audience appreciation, and civic pride in the achievements of the theater community.

 

Each year, the Jeff Awards Committee evaluates over 250 theatrical productions and holds two awards ceremonies. Originally chartered to recognize only Equity productions, the Jeff Awards Non-Equity Wing was established in 1973 to celebrate outstanding achievement in nonunion theater.

Paramount’s 2015-16 Broadway series kicks off in September with Oklahoma! (Sept. 16-Oct. 18), directed by Corti; A Christmas Story – The Musical (Nov. 25, 2015-Jan. 3, 2016), directed by Nick Bowling, Hairspray – The Broadway Musical, directed by Amber Mak (Jan. 20-Feb. 21, 2016) and West Side Story directed by Corti (March 16-April 24, 2016).

Paramount is still offering the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” subscription offer, with four-play packages starting as low as just $82.

The rewards are ample with four Broadway-quality, classic American musicals at one of the most majestic theaters in the Midwest, all for the price of one show downtown.

To purchase subscriptions or single tickets, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666 or visit the Paramount Theatre box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in the heart of downtown Aurora.

 

 

— Aurora’s Paramount leads area theaters with 16 Jeff Award nominations  —