Jim Corti

Busy morning – the Jeff Awards for excellence in Chicago Theatre were announced this morning – lots of messaging, texts and emails flying through the ether – Paramount’s Broadway Series …

Today has begun with conversations – listening, learning – from many voices as befit the purpose of social media’s Blackout Tuesday yesterday observed by silent reflection and person to person …

Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer yesterday, took on a reverence for me. Within valuing the cost of our freedom, the service and sacrifice of our military, there lies …

At Paramount, “Virtual Doors” are open! Enter! Master Class Mondays at 5 p.m. offer insights to inform your curiosity about the chosen subject for the class. Last evening, Shannon Cameron, …

Today is Giving Tuesday! Went to: now.givingtuesday.org and got the low-down – “#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 …

Paramount School of the Arts was live at 5 p.m. on Facebook last evening for Master Class Mondays! With Director of Education and Community Engagement Shannon Cameron, yours truly got …

Making the best of these Quarantine Times! The weather’s been perfect the last few days and now today’s another beauty as geese honk and splash around the riverside drenched in …

Bright sunshine, a bracing nip in the air, we are into the fifth week since we closed up shop having received the stay-at-home order from our governor. The great momentum …

On Saturday night, “Connection: A Social Media Concert Series” released its premiere episode on Paramount Theatre’s Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter, too – what a great show! The theme that …

Keep moving! You’re wearing sweats – so do some stretching, simple, careful – but move it or lose it! And while the dire situation we’re in implies all things coming …

Hunkered down! What’s up? Lots more phone chats and FaceTime and Zoom – taking time to listen and talk more (don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time on the …

Tough one, this St. Paddy’s Day. Lots of uncertainty. But lots of genuine altruism abounds toward the well-being of our community. Paramount’s leaders are learning, engaging, assessing. At the office, …

Sunday’s celebration of International Women’s Day brings me to express my daily and deep appreciation for Paramount’s women making things work here every day, all day long! Wanting to see …

March is off to a great start and it’s not just the weather! Our class at Paramount School of the Arts (I’ve been teaching Monday evenings since January) sticks with …

Cassidy Stirtz played “Reza,” the fiery Czech violinist in Paramount’s production of Once two years ago and I just emailed my congratulations on her original show Departures coming up March …

The first week of previews, the first seven audiences to ever see the world premiere of The Secret of My Success, rocked the house last week! Paramount welcomed folks undeterred …

This morning’s sun is bright and a match for all the excitement ahead for us! I sat in on part of Paramount’s day-long The Secret of My Success orchestra rehearsal …

Reactions to the big reveal yesterday of next season’s shows are flooding Paramount’s website, phone lines, email and social media with comments, messages and subscription purchases! It seems we’ve reached …

The emotional ebb and flow of the past few days sits heavy in the heart. Wintry riverview pale and gray, all is still. Then pow! I’m smacked realizing I gotta …

With the curtain coming down on a glorious, gorgeous Beauty and the Beast over the weekend, this morning’s brightly shining dawn marks the beginning of our second half of Season …

Yesterday’s start of rehearsals for Paramount’s The Secret of My Success has proven to be quite the moment illuminating how far we’ve come and where we’re headed. The Art Center …

Alright! Due to various and sundry logistics of the business, previous casting announcements for Paramount’s world premiere new work The Secret of My Success, were incomplete at press time last …

The last day of the year begins with inspiration and fulfillment! Paramount’s Beauty and the Beast is taking a meaningful place in the traditions of celebrating these holidays for so …

Turned my comfy, beat-up, old man leather recliner away from the noise of that sad 30″ TV and faced it toward the rising morning sun. Just sat there in the …

Celebrate! It’s party time! So many good people and their beautiful work have brought us to this very merry holiday season! We’ve got our “office party” today and let me …

I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday weekend! It’s been a time for me to reflect on the goodness of the many individuals who love and work hard around …

A deep breath, a sigh at the sight of Aurora’s sky predawn. Gathering thoughts, seeing bare branches of treetops and rooftops in silhouette on our town’s skyline. High above to …

Just left the theater having checked in with Director Amber Mak sitting by the tech boards. Refinements continue to be coordinated into Paramount’s Beauty and the Beast this week although …

5 a.m. the alarm wakes. Predawn light electrifies the horizon. Slide open the balcony door and breathe in the frosty crisp air as the sun blinds bright and welcome. Fast-forward, …

Yesterday was quite the “personal day” that left me “indisposed” away from the keyboard. This morning, all’s well and happy to be with you! Knowing I would miss Paramount’s Beauty …

Fall in the Fox River Valley! What a gift the autumn colors are! We can easily forget to see the beauty of this season, how nature gives us a boost …

The last 48 hours played out with a whirlwind intensity! Sunday evening, Paramount’s Newsies performed a final, colossal leap, a cosmic gran jete into a legacy never to be forgotten. …

With the place filled with sunlight and the aroma of fresh coffee brewing, I’m excited for everything happening here at Paramount! Rehearsals began yesterday for our holiday spectacular, Beauty and …

Last night Michele Bergeron, Paramount’s Development Manager and Amber Mak, our New Works Development Director, put together an evening of entertainment in appreciation to our donors participation in growing with …

Paramount’s Newsies Press Opening is Friday night! During 7 previews last week, day-long rehearsals continued and will pick up again this afternoon and tonight for two shows tomorrow. Rehearsals Thursday …

It’s Monday night. I just don’t want to mess up like I did last week. But it kind of feels a bit inauthentic. Maybe only once I think I’ve written …

A “sizzling and sweet” feast of songs and music were exquisitely served up by the incomparable Bernadette Peters (and orchestra!) to a capacity house at Paramount Saturday night! With her …

Good morning, Dear Reader! A few good words about the state of the art in Paramount’s Newsies rehearsals: astounding, astonishing, awe-inspiring! Away from the tough, troubling times we live in, …

Artistic Director and Director of Newsies Jim Corti welcomed the cast of Paramount’s Season 9 opener to their first rehearsal yesterday. The creative team showed off their designs; the administrative …

Predawn’s crazy beauty fills the sky over Aurora with high hopes and anticipation. It lights the faces I see in my head of our multi-talented actors who will assemble on …

I’m so happy to announce the cast of Paramount’s Newsies beginning previews on September 4, press opening on September 13 and running through October 20. Here’s the scoop on the complete cast. Casting DIrector …

I headed west from Aurora on Sunday, 100 miles to the northwest corner of Illinois, beautiful Mt. Carroll. The drive is a smooth couple of hours over magnificent countryside; our …

Here we are two weeks into midsummer, a summer that feels like it’s passing too quickly! Rehearsals for Newsies begin in three weeks! I’m not freaking out. I’m feeling ecstatic …

The Fourth of July is Thursday! Happy Independence Day! Your Paramount Family wishes you a fun and safe holiday of celebrating all the goodness in your life! With family and friends, we …

Happy Summer! Today promises to be finally, a real summer’s day! These cool morning temps will rise as the Fox River’s birds’ songs crescendo! Mother Nature is in concert with Paramount’s Season 9 …

Today’s rising sun beamed through and dispersed the heaviest fog this morning; thickly white, grounded clouds up against the windows, the river nowhere in sight. In my head humming “A …

It’s a beautiful sunny day on The Fox! Still stoked over Paramount Proud in Aurora’s Pride Parade on Sunday and the huge, enthusiastic crowds, like a week of full houses at our theater! …

Hi, everybody! My gosh, it’s June! “You can see it in the trees, You can smell it in the breeze, Look around! Look around! Look around! June is bustin’ out all …

On site for EPA auditions at the Equity Office Downtown Chicago for Paramount’s Kinky Boots directed by Trent Stork.  I’m typing between appointments this morning and right from the start …

Here I am in NYC, a Starbucks in Midtown, all thumbs on my iPhone about to run to auditions for Paramount’s Newsies. How are you, dear reader? Short and sweet, …

Paramount’s World Premiere of August Rush:The Musical drew an enthusiastic crowd Friday night, on their feet in a cheering ovation for the final chord of Mark Mancina’s symphonic pop score. This new music, …

Hi all! Had a terrific day yesterday with the students of Metea Valley High School. They were in their first day of Tech for the students’ production of Newsies, and …

Sunday night’s first run of August Rush: The Musical was the culmination of a week of Tech Rehearsal crowning countless hours of meticulous work including overnight shifts. The pay-off for …

As the riverbanks of The Fox thaw from Sunday’s snowstorm, (holy cow!) things sure are warming up at Paramount for the arrival of the cast of August Rush: The Musical, …

Forging ahead into this season’s Grand Finale, August Rush, all hands are on deck on Paramount’s stage installing the set of the 3x Tony-winning Broadway Scenic Designer, Scott Pask (The Pillowman, …

With all the madness going on in the world, it’s enough to make your head spin incredulous with “breaking news” locally, nationally; sad, crazy-funny, infuriating. It’s not lost on me to have focus on …

Good morning! I just got to take a tour yesterday afternoon of the John C. Dunham Aurora Arts Center’s Paramount School of the Arts, our Artist Housing and the top …

With the First Day of Spring tomorrow, (can you believe it!) comes the Spring Equinox as our planet spins in equal parts, 12 hours of day and 12 hours of …

Right now it’s is all about Newsies all the time! Auditions and pre-production are in full swing! Chicago talent has been making a fine showing with more to come in …

What a morning! I’m sitting at the audition table for Beauty and the Beast watching the men’s dance call back. Familiar and new faces, all of them processing Choreographer Megan …

What: Paramount’s Auditions for Beauty and the Beast When: Today at 10 a.m. Where: Actors’ Equity Office, Chicago Who: Director Amber Mak, Choreographer Megan Farley, Music Director Kory Danielson, Casting …

Dear friends, I’m at the Actors’ Equity Office in Chicago. Today we begin casting for next season’s Newsies, Paramount’s opening production for Season 9 of the Broadway Series. We’re on …

With every reason to be loud and proud, there’s a quiet stillness this morning. It’s the winter white haze hanging frigid in the sky over the Fox, the gem-like icicles on …

Big day ahead! A favorite of mine! Enjoying the cast of The Producers reaction to the 21 musicians playing this big, brassy Broadway score; jazzy, lush and sweet! It’s always …

Brrrrrrrrrr!!!! It’s 2 below in Aurora! Grateful for the sun shining this morning! We’ve got our Designer Run-thru this afternoon for The Producers and I’m so looking forward to our staff, …

Good morning, dear reader. This is going to have to be short and sweet! I’m running to rehearsal at the Copley to begin our final week of rehearsals for The Producers before we move our work onto the …

Woke up this morning with a tune in my head. Not unusual for me. This time it was from yesterday’s opening performance at Mayor Tom Weisner’s Memorial Celebration at Paramount. I got up and …

After two weeks of holidays between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with both days falling on a Tuesday and a closed office, WE’RE BACK! I hope there has been the …

Next Tuesday is Christmas Day! Right now, the sun is peeking over the leafless tree tops silhouetted above the Fox; another spectacular dawn’s fiery glow streaks across the sky! Watching with Shorty by my side …

FOUR WEEKS FROM TODAY, PEOPLE! Rehearsals for The Producers begin! And here is your cast! Working with Choreographer Brenda Didier (winner of a dozen Jeff Awards making her Paramount debut), …

It’s December! And the joint is jumpin’ around here! Just returned from a week in NYC for meetings discussing plans for this spring’s August Rush world premiere with VP of Productions, Rose Quealy and …