January 26–March 13, 2022
Bring Your Group

Based on the classic Bill Murray comedy and nominated for 7 Tony Awards, Groundhog Day: The Musical is uproariously funny, surprisingly touching and simply inspirational.

Directed by Jim Corti. Book by Danny Rubin, Music & Lyrics by Tim Minchin. Based on the Columbia Pictures Motion Picture and the story by Danny Rubin. Orchestrations & Arrangements by Christopher Nightingale. Originally produced on Broadway, at the August Wilson Theatre, New York on April 17th, 2017 by Whistle Pig, Columbia Live Stage, The Dodgers and Michael WATT.
Imagine being stuck in a time loop – waking up and realizing you’re living the same day over-and-over-and-over-and-over again?

If you’re cynical weatherman Phil Connors, it’s a never-ending nightmare to be stuck in a small town whose biggest claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. What sounds like an outlandish fantasy becomes an insightful look at discovering what you’re capable of when you finally find the selfless person within, when you lower your defenses and make the most of each day. Imagine being stuck in a time loop – wait, did we already say this?

Based on the classic Bill Murray comedy, Groundhog Day: The Musical is full of “fertile and feverish theatrical imagination,” The New York Times raved. Nominated for 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, Paramount Theatre is beyond proud to present the Midwest regional premiere of this uproariously funny, surprisingly touching and simply inspirational musical comedy. 

Will the groundhog see his shadow? Will you want to see this marvelously manic musical again-and-again? We think so!

Suggested for Ages 14+ (includes adult language, sexual content and depiction of suicide)

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

“It’s been like Groundhog Day.”

Just a year ago in February, Tim Rater (Paramount’s President & CEO) said these very words describing our Broadway Series’ emergence out of the shutdown. With summer came returning crowds and live theatre, ever so carefully and all the more joyfully. It intrigues how the 1993 romantic comedy starring Bill Murray has been assimilated into our collective consciousness as a referential descriptor of the rut in which we can find ourselves. After seeing the 2017 Tony nominated Broadway production, Murray said with a lump in his throat, “The idea we just have to try again. We just have to try again. It’s such a beautiful, powerful idea.” How culpable are we for the treadmill we’re running daily “like a hamster on one of those little wheely things”? In our story here, cynical Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors, is inexplicably stuck in quite the sci-fi time trap shootin’ the breeze with a couple of locals at a Punxsutawney watering hole. One of them asks: “How would you like it if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same and nothing that you did made any difference?” Precisely Phil’s dilemma. At first, he freaks, then exploits it, abuses it, death spirals into despair and ultimately, rises to embrace being the change for bettering the lives of the townspeople around him. Time stops in this realm only for self-revelation. Self-realization. Redemption? While we laugh and listen and follow the tale you are about to see, there’s much to reflect on how every day is a chance to choose or not to choose love. We can emerge together from the repeats and replays of our own Groundhog Days – Happy Winter everybody!

Alex Syiek (right) plays TV weatherman Phil Connors and Phoebe González plays Phil’s producer, Rita, in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Phoebe González plays TV news producer Rita Hanson in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

(from left) Aaron Conklin plays Gus, Michael E. Martin is Ralph, and Alex Syiek plays TV weatherman Phil Connors in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Alex Syiek (right) plays TV weatherman Phil Connors and Phoebe González plays Phil’s producer, Rita, in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. Also pictured, behind the counter: Matthew Bettencourt (left) as Jeff and Teressa Rose LaGamba as Doris. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Alex Syiek (left) plays TV weatherman Phil Connors and Phoebe González (right) plays Phil’s producer, Rita, in Paramount Theatre’s regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Vasily Deris plays Buster the groundhog wrangler in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, is the story of Phil Connors (Alex Syiek, center), a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Set your alarm to see Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy. Alex Syiek plays Phil Connors, a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Performances runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

(from left) Kyle Adams plays insurance salesman Ned Ryerson and Alex Syiek plays TV weatherman Phil Connors in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, is the story of cynical TV weatherman Phil Connors, who is stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, is the story of Phil Connors (Alex Syiek, center), a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, is the story of Phil Connors (Alex Syiek, center), a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Alex Syiek (right) plays TV weatherman Phil Connors and Phoebe González plays Rita Hanson in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. Also pictured, behind the counter: Matthew Bettencourt (left) as Jeff and Teressa Rose LaGamba as Doris. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, is the story of Phil Connors (Alex Syiek, center), a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy, is the story of Phil Connors (Alex Syiek, center), a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare in a small town whose claim to fame is meteorologist groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Alex Syiek (right) plays TV weatherman Phil Connors and Phoebe González plays Phil’s producer, Rita, in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Set your alarm to see Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the classic Bill Murray film comedy. Alex Syiek plays Phil Connors, a cynical TV weatherman stuck in a never-ending nightmare. Performances runs through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical is playing now through March 13, 2022. Will Punxsutawney Phil (Jake Morrissy) see his shadow? Will you want to see this marvelously manic musical again and again? Paramount thinks so! For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

Vasily Deris plays Buster the groundhog wrangler in Paramount Theatre’s Midwest regional premiere of Groundhog Day: The Musical, playing now through March 13, 2022. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, or call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666. Credit: Liz Lauren

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Meet the Team

Artistic Team

Jim Corti ‡

Director

Paramount Theatre’s Artistic Director and 8-time Jeff Award winner

Kory Danielson

Music Director & Conductor

Megan E. Farley *

Choreographer

Courtney O’Neill †

Scenic Designer

Jordan Ross

Costume Designer

Greg Hofmann †

Lighting Designer

Adam Rosenthal

Sound Designer

Mike Tutaj †

Projection Designer

Katie Cordts

Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer

Ethan Deppe

Electronic Music Designer

Jon Beal

Fight Director

Jyreika Guest

Intimacy Director

Susan Gosdick

Dialect Coach

Maegan Burnell *

Stage Manager

Kathleen Barrett *

Assistant Stage Manager

Harmony France

Associate Director

Ariel Etana Triunfo

Assistant Choreographer

Celia Villacres

Associate Music Director & Associate Conductor

Cast

Alex Syiek *

Phil Connors

previously in Groundhog Day: The Musical

Phoebe González *

Rita Hanson

making Paramount Theatre debut

Kyle Adams *

Ned Ryerson

previously in Elf and The Wizard of Oz

Adia Bell

Townsperson

previously in Cinderella

Matthew Bettencourt *

Jeff

previously in Kinky Boots and Cinderella

Christian Denzel Bufford *

AA Person

making Paramount Theatre debut

Max J. Cervantes

Mr. Cleveland, Healer

previously in Groundhog Day and Cinderella

Aaron Conklin *

Billy, Gus

previously in Annie, Oklahoma, Miss Saigon & Rent

Andres J. DeLeon

Townsperson

previously in Rock of Ages and Groundhog Day

Vasily Deris *

Buster

previously in Kinky Boots, The Secret of My Success, Newsies and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Nick Druzbanski *

Fred

previously in School of Rock, Rock of Ages, Groundhog Day, Kinky Boots, and Beauty and the Beast

Veronica Garza *

Deputy, Pharmacologist

previously in Groundhog Day and The Secret of My Success

Carisa Gonzalez

Debbie, Scientologist, Townsperson

previously in Kinky Boots, Rock of Ages, Groundhog Day and The Secret of My Success

Sophie Grimm *

Mrs. Cleveland, Piano Teacher

previously in The Sound of Music, Groundhog Day, Legally Blonde, and Les Misèrables

Karl Hamilton *

Sheriff

previously in Groundhog Day

Ciara Hickey

Townsperson

making Paramount Theatre debut

Ron King *

Larry

previously in Mamma Mia!

Michael Kingston

Jenson, Townsperson

previously in Cinderella, Hairspray, and Groundhog Day

Teressa LaGamba *

Doris, Naturopath

previously in Groundhog Day, Legally Blonde and Sweeney Todd

Andrew MacNaughton

Townsperson

making Paramount Theatre debut

Michael E. Martin

Ralph, Townsperson

making Paramount Theatre debut

Jake Morrissy *

Groundhog, Priest

previously in The Secret of My Success, The Producers, Elf, The Little Mermaid and Mamma Mia!

Emily Rohm *

Mrs. Lancaster

previously in Groundhog Day, Sweeney Todd, Mary Poppins, The Music Man and Annie

Haley Jane Schafer *

Nancy Taylor

previously in The Secret of My Success, Newsies, The Producers, Elf, The Little Mermaid and Mamma Mia!

* indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA)
† indicates member of United Scenic Artists (USA)
‡ indicates member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)

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Behind the Scenes

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