“TEAMWORK!” The “word” from Audra Odzana, Paramount’s Audience Services Director, announcing that our box office staff has officially taken in over 29,000 subscribers as of yesterday! Audra goes on to report that we are averaging 34 subscriptions being purchased each day and that we’ve got the momentum to reach President & CEO Tim Rater’s goal to reach 30,000 subscribers this year! It looks like it was a pretty good idea for the Aurora Civic Center Authority to hire Tim five years ago. At that time, Paramount attracted 52,000 patrons through its doors in an entire season, where last season brought 300,000! With Paramount’s Broadway Series becoming Joseph Jefferson Award eligible last year (honoring excellence in Chicago Theatre), we entered the game with a sweeping 16 nominations and just a week ago at the October 5 ceremony, took home five trophies to Aurora!  

This is a big deal! Without the Jeff Awards, our artists, actors, designers, musicians, technicians and production teams would not get this well-deserved and widespread acknowledgement. Add to that the pride our citizens of Aurora take in this recognition and the gratitude for all that is happening here is simply off the charts! 

Audra is right! Working together, we have the momentum that is fueled by everyone’s support and enthusiasm for the nurturing and growth of the arts and culture in Downtown Aurora. I just wish something could be done to get people who haven’t been here yet to come in and see one of our Broadway Series productions. If it’s not “your thing,” well, how bad a risk could it be? As a subscriber, it costs twenty bucks and change for each of the four shows. So, I mean, it’s affordable. And you can’t beat the quality of actors and design! Listen to these crowds! Join the community! Tomorrow begins our final week of performances for our one-of-a-kind Oklahoma!. It’s a Chicago Tribune Four Stars, Chicago Sun-times ​Highly Recommended and Jeff Award Committee Recommended production that will close this Sunday! I hope I see you there! Be sure to say, Hello!

Love & thanks,

Jim

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President & CEO Tim Rater and Artistic Director Jim Corti celebrate the wins for Best Musical and Best Director at the Jeff Awards on October 5, 2015
President & CEO Tim Rater and Artistic Director Jim Corti celebrate the wins for Best Musical and Best Director at the Jeff Awards on October 5, 2015