The Paramount Theatre has been informed by Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee that its 2014-2015 Broadway Musical series productions will be eligible for consideration for Equity Jeff Awards next season.

The Jeff Committee, akin to New York’s Tony Awards, is a volunteer organization that has been honoring outstanding Chicago theatre productions and artists annually since it was established in 1968. 

Previous rules mandated theaters eligible for Jeff Equity consideration had to be within 30 miles of downtown Chicago. Starting in 2014-2015, that radius will be extended to 45 miles, allowing the Paramount and other suburban Equity theaters to submit their productions for Jeff consideration.

“I am overwhelmed, proud and grateful for the honor of Paramount Theatre now being recognized among Chicago’s best,” said Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre. “(It’s) an honor earned by the dedication of our artists, technicians and staff and our ever growing audience. I can’t believe the stride we have hit so quickly in only our third season.”

The Paramount is only in its third season of self-producing its own four-play Broadway Musical subscription series. 

Under the guidance of Corti and President and CEO Tim Rater, the Paramount has worked with Chicago’s top theater professionals to turn out a consistent string of major hits including My Fair Lady, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Chorus Line, Hair, Grease, Annie, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, In the Heights, Miss Saigon and 42nd Street. 

Still to come in Paramount’s 2013-14 Broadway series is the season finale RENT, directed by Jim Corti, March 12-April 6.

Persons interested in learning the four Paramount musicals that will be up for consideration for Equity Jeff Awards in 2014-2015 can find out on Feb. 28 when the next season is unveiled at the Copley Theater in downtown Aurora.

Four-play subscriptions to Paramount’s Broadway series go on sale March 1 at paramountaurora.com or by calling (630) 896-6666.

To learn more about the Joseph Jefferson Committee, visit jeffawards.org.

–News Bulletin news sources