Aurora, Illinois, September 3, 2019 – Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is pleased to share that it earned 16 nominations for the 2019 Equity Jeff Awards, announced at midnight last night.
Two Paramount productions were the most-nominated shows across all categories, with The Producers receiving nine nominations overall, and The Wizard of Oz flying away with seven.
Celebrating excellence in Chicago theater, nearly 200 nominations in 34 award categories were announced for the 2019 Equity Jeff Awards. Paramount’s total of 16 nominations was just one shy of Chicago’s Porchlight Music Theatre, which earned the most nominations at 17. Mark your calendars: the 2018-19 Jeff Award winners will be announced October 21, 2019. To see the full list of nominees, visit jeffawards.org.
Here's the full list of Paramount’s 16 nominations for outstanding performance, direction and design in Chicago theater last season:
The Producers – 9 nominations
Production – Musical – Large
Director – Musical – Large – Jim Corti
Performer in a Principal Role – Musical – Blake Hammond (Max Bialystock)
Performer in a Principal Role – Musical – Jake Morrissy (Leo Bloom)
Scenic Design – William Boles
Costume Design – Jordan Ross
Lighting Design – Jesse Klug
Choreography – Brenda Didier
Music Direction – Tom Vendafreddo
The Wizard of Oz – 7 nominations
Production – Musical – Large
Director – Musical – Large – Amber Mak
Scenic Design – Kevin Depinet and Christopher Rhoton
Costume Design – Theresa Ham
Sound Design – Adam Rosenthal
Lighting Design – Greg Hofmann
Projection Design – Kevan Loney
Earlier today on his Tuesdays with Corti weekly blog, Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti posted, "this year's Jeff Award nominations were just announced with Paramount tallying an impressive list of nods to production, direction, choreography, design and performance! It's so great to have so many of our supremely talented contributors, artists and technicians acknowledged for our collaborations onstage last season. Our audience shares in the excitement every year and indeed we have much to take pride in and be thankful for; thank you, Jeff Committee, and to our patrons for your support!”
“The Jeff Committee, the critics and more than 41,000 Paramount subscribers agree - Paramount is producing the very best large-scale musicals in the entire Chicago area,” said Paramount President and CEO Tim Rater. “This is our fifth consecutive year for multiple nominations, which we see as strong recognition for the work being produced on our beautiful stage by our incredible theater artists both on stage and behind the scenes.”
The Curtain Opens on Paramount's 2019/2020 Broadway Series
Looking ahead to more award-winning, Broadway-caliber productions, Paramount 2019-20 Broadway Series opens tomorrow with Disney’s Newsies, the rousing, David versus Goliath, Disney family musical about newsboys who take on a greedy news tycoon, directed by Jim Corti, September 4-October 20, 2019.
Also on tap:
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the family-friendly, enchanting Disney classic storybook musical fantasy that proves beauty isn’t always what it appears, directed by Paramount’s Amber Mak, November 13, 2019-January 19, 2020.
The Secret of My Success, a world premiere musical based on the hit Universal Pictures film starring Michael J. Fox, book by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, score by Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler, directed by Gordon Greenberg, February 12-March 29, 2020.
Kinky Boots, the regional premiere of the high kicking musical, book by Harvey Fierstein, lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, directed by Paramount’s Trent Stork, April 29-June 14, 2020.
Four-play subscription packages are on sale now starting as low as $72. For subscriptions and single tickets, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, is the center for performing arts, entertainment and arts education in the second largest city in Illinois. Paramount Theatre is surrounded by affordable parking and a growing list of restaurants for pre- or post-show dining. Paramount’s Broadway Series is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Dunham Fund, ComEd and City of Aurora.