Paramount Theatre’s fall 2021 production of Kinky Boots emerged victorious as the most honored production of Chicago’s 2021-22 theater season at last night’s Equity Jeff Awards, winning six golden statues at the annual celebration of excellence in Chicago theater.
Paramount’s Kinky Boots earned the final and most coveted award of the night, Production – Musical – Large, along with five more Jeff Awards for:
• Director – Musical – Large for Trent Stork, Paramount’s artistic associate and casting director
• Performer in a Principal Role - Musical for Michael Wordly as Lola
• Performer in a Supporting Role - Musical for Sara Reinecke as Lauren
• Costume Design - Musical - Large for Ryan Park
• Music Direction for Kory Danielson
?In his acceptance speech, Jeff Award-winning lead actor Michael Wordly recalled “During our production, there was a man in his 60s who came to see the show. He told the box office after that he didn’t understand gay people. That he wasn’t a fan of queer people. At all. But he said, after seeing our production, he changed his view. Trent, you did that. Kory, you did that. My ‘Angels,’ we all did that.”
With six wins, Paramount also tied Chicago’s Goodman Theatre for the most 2021-22 Jeff Awards given to a single theater. Visit jeffawards.org for the full list of winners.
Up next in Paramount’s Broadway Series is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, November 9, 2022-January 15, 2023.
Meanwhile, the world premiere of Nancy García Loza’s BULL: a love story is the finale of Paramount’s inaugural BOLD Series, now through November 20 at Paramount’s Copley Theatre.
For tickets and information, visit paramountaurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.