Director
Jim Corti
Artistic Director

Jim Corti (Paramount Artistic Director) inaugurated Paramount’s Broadway Series in the fall of 2011 with the critically acclaimed My Fair Lady. In 2015, Paramount’s Broadway Series became Jeff Award eligible. In the time since, Paramount has garnered 45 nominations with 16 wins, including three consecutive Best Large Musical awards for Les Misérables, West Side Story and Sweeney Todd. Corti helmed all three, and won Best Director for two of them, Les Misérables and Sweeney Todd. Corti also directed Paramount’s Fiddler on the Roof, Miss Saigon, Rent, The Who’s Tommy, Oklahoma!, Mamma Mia! and Million Dollar Quartet. A Broadway veteran, he appeared in the original New York casts of Ragtime and Candide, joined the long running A Chorus Line and toured nationally in Urinetown, Cabaret and Bob Fosse’s Dancin’. Other career highlights include being the only director to have two productions in the same year in the Chicago Tribune’s list of 10 Best Shows for Drury Lane’s Cabaret and Writers Theatre’s Oh, Coward! in 2009. He remains the sole honoree to have won Jeff Awards as an actor (Marriott’s Grand Hotel), choreographer (Drury Lane’s Singin’ in the Rain) and director (Paramount’s The Producers, Sweeney Todd and Les Misérables, Drury Lane’s Sweet Charity and Northlight’s Blues in the Night).
Productions with Jim Corti
February 1, 2023-March 19, 2023
Co-Director
August 3–September 18, 2022
Co-Director
January 26–March 13, 2022
Director
September 4–October 20, 2019
Director
Feb 6 – Mar 17
Director
Apr 25, 2018 – Jun 3, 2018
Director
Sep 13, 2017 – Oct 29, 2017
Director
Articles by Jim Corti
Tuesdays with Corti: 2020 Jeff Award Nominations
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: A Time for Change
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: We’re Here With You and For You
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Our Virtual Doors Are Open
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Giving Tuesday
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Celebrating Our Wonderful Ushers
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Making the Best of It
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Isolation and Reflection
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Concert Series Debut
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Stay Connected
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Hunkered Down and Looking Up
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: We’re All in This Together
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Celebrating the Women of Paramount
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Teaching the Teacher
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Opening Night of The Secret of My Success
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Previews of The Secret of My Success
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Audiences Are Going to Lose Their Minds!
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Season 10!
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: A Sneak Peek at the Rest of the Season
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Goodbye Beauty and the Beast, Hello Secret of My Success
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Secret of My Success First Day of Rehearsal
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: The Cast of The Secret of My Success
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Celebrating the New Year with Theater
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Getting Ready for The Secret of My Success
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Party Time at Paramount
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Giving Tuesday
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Happy Thanksgiving
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Beauty and the Beast First Reactions
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Surgery and Wandelprobe
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Beauty and the Beast Run Through
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Enjoying the Fall Colors
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Newsies Closing and Jeff Awards
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. …
2019 Jeff Award Wins
“THE PRODUCERS” TAKES HOME 2 JEFF AWARDS Paramount Theatre’s production of The Producers earned two Jeff Awards at the 2019 award ceremony on October 21, 2019. And the winners …
Tuesdays with Corti: Beauty and the Beast First Rehearsal
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: A Look at The Secret of My Success
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 …
Video: What’s the Headline of Your Life | Newsies
What headline would best describe your life so far? Our cast of Newsies gives us the scoop. Don’t miss it. Get tickets now: https://bit.ly/2Kb6f3v GET TICKETS SUBSCRIBE & SAVE 50%
Video: Why is Dance Important? | Newsies
There is a ton of dance in Newsies. We asked our cast what makes the art of dancing such an integral part of telling this story. See all the moves …
Tuesdays with Corti: Preparing for Opening Night
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Putting It All Together
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Bernadette Peters
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Seizing the Day
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Newsies First Rehearsal
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 …
Newsies Director’s Notes
Written by Paramount Artistic Director and Newsies Director Jim Corti Presenting the story of the newsboys strike of 1899 is quite the balancing act. The show’s unique expectations have a certain weight to bear. …
Tuesdays with Corti: Newsies Rehearsals
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Newsies Cast
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Going Into the Woods
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Casting the Kids
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Happy Fourth of July
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Child Actor Day
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Take It From the Top Performance
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Paramount Proud
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! …
Newsies | Director Jim Corti
Director Jim Corti gives us an inside look at his production of Newsies, and how it will be different from what you’ve seen before! GET TICKETS SUBSCRIBE & SAVE 50%
Tuesdays with Corti: Paramount School Grand Opening
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Kinky Boots, Pride & More!
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Auditions in the Big Apple
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Newsies Choreography
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Newsies at Metea Valley High School
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: August Rush Tech Rehearsal
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: August Rush Cast
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: New Musicals
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, …
Tuesdays with Corti: A Look at Season 9
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: John C. Dunham Aurora Arts Center Tour
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Goodbye, Producers
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Extra! Extra! Read All About Newsies!
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Auditions!
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Beauty and the Beast Auditions
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Aurora Strong
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Opening Night of The Producers
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: A New Broadway Season!
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 …
Tuesdays With Corti: Escape With The Producers
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, …
Jim Corti | Why is The Producers Still So Relevant & Funny
The original film version of The Producers came out in the ’60s. The stage musical hit Broadway in 2001 with the film following a few years later. Now, in 2019, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Team Producers
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 …
Jim Corti | Monday Motivation | The Producers
MONDAY MOTIVATION: Everyone has received criticism at some point in their life, but it’s how we deal with it that allows us to get better and improve. As a director, …
Tuesdays with Corti: Saying Goodbye
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: Goodbye Oz, Hello Producers
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 …
The Producers Director’s Notes
Written by Jim Corti, Artistic Director and Director of The Producers The Producers opened on Broadway in 2001 making box office history, and it holds the record for winning the …
Tuesdays with Corti: Celebrating the Season
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: The Producers Cast
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), …
Tuesdays with Corti: So Much Happening!
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 …
Tuesdays with Corti: John Doyle
Celebrate the Autumn Equinox, the time of the harvest! As our days and nights are equal lengths for a little while, therein lies a symbolic balance and tradition of gratitude this time of year. The dozen …
Tuesdays with Corti: Broadway Intensives
Feeling the energy today, even through the rain clouds this morning! Give a like and follow to the Paramount School of the Arts Facebook page and check out the video for the Legally …
Tuesdays with Corti: Legally Blonde Rehearsals
Rehearsals for Legally Blonde are in full swing! Found myself biting my lips, stifling laughs, as to not draw too much attention to my sitting in to watch (but of course, I’m …
Tuesdays with Corti: Clickables Day
There’s so much to cover today that I’m gonna proclaim it “Clickables Day!” Click on these links below, dear friends! Casting for Paramount’s upcoming Broadway Series, Season Eight, is in …