Jim Corti, Paramount’s artistic director, and Tim Rater, president and CEO for Paramount Theatre

The new kids on the block had a big night at last week’s Joseph Jefferson Equity Awards.

Eligible to participate in the annual Chicago-area theater competition for the first time, Aurora’s Paramount Theatre captured five Equity Jeff Awards.

The annual event honored the best professional plays and musicals in Chicago during the 2014-15 theater season.

“The Jeff Committee, who we are so grateful for, opened up the boundaries and included the Paramount in their judging this year,” said Jim Corti, Paramount’s artistic director. “And here we are, on stage, in this, our first year of eligibility. This means so much for so many people.”

Paramount received 16 nominations, the most ever for a company in its first year of eligibility in Jeff Awards history.

Winners included three Jeff Awards for  “Les Miserables,” including the award for large musical production; Corti, director, musical; large scenic design to Kevin Depinet and Jeffrey D. Kmiec.

Two Jeff Awards honored the production of “The Who’s Tommy,” including Greg Hoffman for lighting design, large and Mike Tutaj, projections/video design.

“We are grateful to be here at the Jeff Awards,” said Tim Rater, president and CEO for Paramount Theatre, who joined Corti on stage to accept the Best Musical award for Les Misérables.

“We’re trying to do the very best that we can at Paramount. We love this production. We love the Chicago theater community, and we are so thrilled to be up here accepting this amazing award. Thank you for bringing Paramount to the Jeff Awards and for supporting our work,” Rater said.

Before the launch of the 2014-15 theater season, the Jeff Committee recognized if it was to truly be judging the best professional musical theater in all of the Chicago area, it needed to expand its geographic boundaries to include the Paramount.

At present, Paramount is presenting production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!”, directed by Corti, through Oct. 18.

Paramount’s 2015-16 Broadway series continues with “A Christmas Story – The Musical” Nov. 25-Jan. 3, 2016; “Hairspray – The Broadway Musical” Jan. 20-Feb. 21, 2016; and “West Side Story” March 16-April. 24, 2016).

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 downtown Aurora.

For more information, go to ParamountAurora.com or call (630) 896-6666.

—  Thrilled Paramount execs accept theater’s first Jeff Awards —