Award-winning Broadway in Aurora, Illinois

Aurora's Paramount Theatre is home to Chicago's Best Broadway Series and the new Stolp Island Theatre, where you can experience Million Dollar Quartet every Wednesday through Sunday in a unique, intimate venue. 

Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931.

Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 37,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S. 

For over 50 years, the Joseph Jefferson Awards has recognized excellence in Chicago area theater. Paramount has been honored to earn 115 Jeff nominations and 29 wins over the last eight years of eligibility, including six Jeff Awards in 2022 for Kinky Boots, including Best Musical-Large, Paramount’s fourth win in that category following Sweeney Todd (2017), West Side Story (2016) and Les Misérables (2015). 

Paramount Theatre is one of four live performance venues programmed and managed by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA). Paramount’s newly renovated “sister stage," the 165-seat Copley Theatre, is home to Paramount’s BOLD Series, across the street in North Island Center. ACCA also programs and manages RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora's 6,000-seat outdoor summer concert venue, Stolp Island Theatre, an immersive theater experience opening on the Fox River in July 2024, and the Paramount School of the Arts.

Paramount Theatre announced a blockbuster, four-show line-up for its 13th Broadway Series, including two highly anticipated Regional Premieres – Disney’s Frozen (October 30, 2024-January 19, 2025) and Waitress (February 12-March 30, 2025) – bookended by The Full Monty in the fall (August 21-October 6, 2024), and a revival of Cats next spring (April 30-June 15, 2025).

Paramount’s third BOLD Series will present three fresh, exciting works in 2024-25 – Peter and the Starcatcher (July 24-September 1, 2024), An Act of God (October 2-November 10, 2024) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (March 12-April 27, 2025) – right across the street in Paramount’s intimate Copley Theatre. 

And Stolp Island Theatre, Paramount’s third live theater venue, will open this summer with a new production of Million Dollar Quartet. Stolp Island Theatre is a 9,000-square-foot development that includes an intimate 98-seat, 4,600-square-foot theater designed for immersive theater experiences, now under construction at 5 E. Downer Place on the Fox River in downtown Aurora.

“Along with the dazzling production values you’ve come to expect from every Paramount show, there’s again, something for everyone in our 13th season of our Broadway Series including the two Regional Premieres of Disney’s Frozen and Grammy Award-winner Sarah Bareilles’ Waitress,” said Paramount Theatre Artistic Director Jim Corti.

“As well, audiences’ raves for our BOLD Series launch us into its third season of smart, funny, musical, and ultimately intimate productions along with a new 98-seat venue planned to open this summer: the Stolp Island Theatre presenting an immersive Million Dollar Quartet experience on the banks of the Fox River! That’s eight shows playing on three different stages coming to you with all the heart and skill Paramount instills in every show!”

Tim Rater, President and CEO, Paramount Theatre, added “downtown Aurora is a national destination for Broadway-caliber musicals in our beautiful Paramount Theatre, thought-provoking productions in our intimate Copley Theatre, live music at our outdoor summer concert venue, RiverEdge Park, and now, an all-new immersive theater experience, right on the Fox River. With Paramount’s commitment to doing more and better, and the City of Aurora’s commitment to the arts and downtown, we are becoming the model that others can look to as to how the performing arts can revitalize a community.” 

As always, Paramount’s 37,000+ subscribers are given the first chance to secure their seats for next season. And just as it has since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount still offers the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer. Broadway packages start as low as $56. Actually, subscribers pay no more than $42.50 per show, and that’s the most expensive ticket. Fees not included.

For subscriptions, tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days.

For updates, follow @ParamountAurora on Facebook, Instagram and @paramountarts on LinkedIn.