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PicksInSix Review: Come From Away - Paramount Theatre

 
 

Paramount’s Heartwarming Hit Channels Friendship, Hospitality.
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Regina Belt-Daniels


A quandary—at least that must have been what the residents of the Newfoundland town of Gander were dealing with as 38 airplanes carrying 6,579 passengers from 100 countries landed at the Gander airport on September 11, 2001. “Come From Away” marks both Paramount Theatre’s season opener for the 25-26 Broadway Bold Series as well as the Chicago Regional premiere of the show based on hundreds of hours of interviews with the Gander townspeople and the “come from away”(a.k.a. stranded) passengers. The award-winning show, the work of playwrights Irene Sankoff and David Hein who are also responsible for the music and lyrics, originated at the Jolla Playhouse in San Diego on its way to earning three Drama Desk awards (including Best Musical) and seven 2017 Tony Award nominations, winning for Best Direction.

The 90-minute musical (no intermission) is masterfully directed by the multiple Jeff Award-winning Trent Stork, and joins a prestigious string of hits—27 in all—of outstanding Paramount productions including “Cats,” “Frozen,” “Kinky Boots,” and “School of Rock” among others. Stork has assembled a clever and creative production team including choreographer Kasey Alfonso, scenic designer Milo Bue, costume designer Izumi Inaba, lighting designer Greg Hoffman, sound designer Adam Rosenthal, projections Mike Tutaj, wigs hair and makeup designer Katie Cordts and dialect coach Susan Gosdick. Stage manager Amber R. Dettmers keeps the well-paced show running smoothly.

This production is in the capable hands of Music Director Kory Danielson with the very talented Associate Musical Director Kailey Rockwell conducting the performance on Sunday evening. The songs are heart-tugging, lively, energetic, determined and performed flawlessly by Danielson’s eight-piece band, some who are seated on stage and are included in the story. Most notable of the 14 songs are the company sung “Welcome to the Rock,” “Screech In,” “Something is Missing,” and the standout performances of “I Am Here” by Soara-Joye Ross (Hannah) and “Me and the Sky” by Andrea Prestinario (Captain Beverley), both of whom have amazing vocal ranges.

Each member of the ensemble of 18 create multiple endearing and vibrant characters celebrating friendship, compassion, and extraordinary hospitality. The themes of kindness, global community and resilience resonate in everyone, however, I did favor Russell Konstans’s Mayor; Nick Druzbanski’s Constable Oz; Abby C. Smith’s Gander citizen Beulah, and the already mentioned Soara-Joyce Ross’s worried mom Hannah and Beverley Bass, the first female American Airline captain played by Andrea Prestinario.

There is plenty of charming humor in both the songs and dialogue surprisingly in such a historically tragic event. In “Welcome to the Rock,” which introduced both the plot and setting, we hear “small place on a rock in the ocean, and you won’t understand half of what we say,” comments about the infamous Tim Horton’s where everything starts and ends, the six cardiologists dance and the reason why the planes were sent to Gander.

“Come From Away” is entertaining, educational and sings of miracles. There is something for everyone, even as we recognize and remember the tragedy of 911. You will be crying and dancing through the finale with the superb cast. You don’t have to ‘come from away’ to enjoy this heartwarming story and you have until October 12 to experience it yourself.

Postscript: There is another existing quandary in Aurora. The City Council of Aurora has cut Paramount’s budget impacting future shows at the Copley—which closed a critically acclaimed production of “True West” last weekend—and has already canceled upcoming productions of “Covenant” and “Ride the Cyclone.” Paramount Theatre is among the largest subscription series in the country and yet the theater now is facing an inevitable reduction to its overall programming from 900 to 700 performances annually. “Million Dollar Quartet” is thriving at the year-old Stolp Island Theatre even as additional reductions to the Riveredge Park and Paramount School of the Arts are on the table. Hopefully, the City Council will reconsider this key investment in the arts for the citizens of Aurora and the surrounding region.

Guest Contributor|Regina Belt-Daniels is a retired special education teacher who has acted, directed, and staged managed throughout Illinois and has reviewed theater for numerous publications for over a decade.

PHOTO|Brett Beiner 

Paramount Theatre
presents
Chicago Regional Premiere
Come From Away
23 E Galena Blvd
Aurora
through October 12, 2025


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PicksInSix Review: CATS - Paramount Theatre

 
 

Spectacular Revival Under The Big Top!
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Kaitlyn Linsner

I must admit something. Despite being a big musical theater and even bigger cat fan, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” never appealed to me. I more so enjoyed the pop culture references that poked fun of cats singing and dancing on stage. Even one of my favorite cartoons as a kid, Hey Arnold, had an episode where one of the characters attends, and laughs through, a musical called Rats—an obvious parody of “Cats.” I found that quite funny, and so, as one might expect, I arrived at Paramount Theatre’s revival of “Cats” with some hesitancy.

It did not take me long to change my tune. This circus-themed production of “Cats,” directed by Trent Stork, transforms the Jellicle Ball into a larger-than-life event. As one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, clearly the glitz, glam and weirdness of “Cats” has mesmerized audiences for over 40 years. Paramount Theatre takes the dazzling dance musical to literal new heights with aerial arts, acrobatics, contortion and juggling. The audience “ooo’d” and “ahh’d” from start to finish.

The scenic design by Jeffrey D. Kmiec and projections design by Paul Deziel are remarkable. From the big top tent to the oversized props and big glowing moon, a magical world was created where cats displayed their vast array of talents and embraced fanciful oddities. It took me some time to realize “Cats” is basically a talent show for cats. By making the production a circus, leaning into the spectacle of it all felt both natural and quite fun. Plus, the addition of circus props, like red balloons, made for visually stunning moments throughout.

The impressive choreography by Kasey Alfonso did well to capture the essence of feline behavior and tell the story of each cat with energetic and stylish flair. Stand out dance performances include Bombalurina (Tiffany Topol), Demeter (Alexandra Palkovic) and Company during “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” and Mistoffelees’ (Christopher Kelley) dance solo. Kelley was a real showman and executed his dance solo with ease. The costumes by Izumi Inaba also added such personality by featuring a unique mixture of lush colors and textures. Old Deuteronomy’s (Lorenzo Rush Jr.) coat stood out in particular with its fuzzy opulence.

The sheer talent of this ensemble also makes “Cats” a must-see. The production features a whimsical combination of breathtaking circus artistry, stunning vocals and movement. Emily Rohm delivers an enchanting performance as Grizabella which earns her the ascent to the Heavyside Layer via a high-flying trapeze up and over the audience and into the balcony. Old Deuteronomy’s (Rush) sweet-sounding and smooth vocals enhanced each scene he entered, and Rum Tum Tugger (Donovan Hoffer) packs a ferociously controlled punch throughout the show.

Die hard “Cats” fans, newbies and even skeptics like me will find this revival truly entertaining. With such wide appeal, and in true circus fashion, seems only fitting to say “come one, come all” You don’t want to miss this.

GUEST CONTRIBUTROR | Kaitlyn Linsner serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Public Utilities Bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.

PHOTO|Brett Beiner Photography

Paramount Theatre
presents
CATS
23 East Galena Boulevard
Aurora, IL
through June 15, 2025


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PicksInSix Review: Billy Elliot The Musical - Paramount Theatre

 
 

Billy Elliot: “It’s Showtime Baby!”
PicksInSix® Gold Review | Ed Tracy

What’s happening right now at Paramount Theatre in Aurora will not soon come this way again. “It’s showtime, baby!” Bring it on!

“Billy Elliot The Musical,” the Elton John/Lee Hall ten-time Tony Award winner with a long, rich love affair with Chicago, opened Friday in what can only be described as a phenomenal, electrifying production. As directed by Trent Stork and choreographed by Isaiah Silva-Chandley, this quintessential “Billy Elliot” features an enormously talented cast led by Ron E. Rains as Dad, Michelle Aravena as Mrs. Wilkinson and, on opening night, the arresting performance of Neo Del Corral as Billy Elliot, the young boy discovering his life’s passion in the midst of a tumultuous period of unrest as his small hometown north of London is embroiled in the 1984 coal miner’s strike.

The story unfolds amid a visual feast—adorned with Izumi Inaba’s costumes on scenic designer Michelle Lilly’s colossal sixty-foot-high steel-themed coal mine set with two-story moving stairway systems that are reconfigured to frame the evolving scenes moving effortlessly in sync with Greg Hoffman’s dynamic lighting design, Mike Tutaj projections and a crisp sound design by Adam Rosenthal.

The lovely and talented Aravena commands the stage in a fierce performance as the dance instructor who first discovers Billy’s true potential in ballet and fights for his opportunity to pursue a dream. Del Corral—who alternates the role of Billy with Sam Duncan—plays the 1,900 seat Paramount Theatre with extraordinary poise, presence and a strength of character that belies his years. And when Billy and his gay friend Michael (Gabriel Lafazan) get together, it’s showtime, baby! — a dynamic duo of pint-sized firebrands tap dancing and singing up a storm with a streak of sassy larceny a mile long in the show-stopping hit “Expressing Yourself.”

One of the most impressive ensembles ever assembled at Paramount includes many of Chicago’s most accomplished actors who cover the citizenry of life-worn miners opposed by an army of police along with a bevy of early career prima ballerinas all under the brilliant musical direction of Kory Danielson who conducts the Paramount Orchestra. Rains returns to a role he has played previously with a seasoned, passionate and superb multi-layered performance as Billy’s Dad. Barbara Robertson is exquisite as Billy’s endearing Grandma and Jennie Sophia is a beacon of purity as Billy’s Mum in the tender, emotionally charged ballad “The Letter” with Aravena and Del Corral.  Dakota Hughes (Mr. Braithwaite), Joe Foust (George), and Spencer Davis Milford (Tony) are all stellar, as is the stunning Swan Lake ballet with Billy and Older Billy (Christopher Kelley)— a work of art that utilizes the full range of the Paramount’s expansive stage.

The sheer grandeur of the closing moments of this production left me in awe and ranks as the most beautiful visual tapestry I have ever—repeat, ever—seen in a theatre. I am still thinking about it and how Paramount's stunning production of "Billy Elliot" will now occupy a permanent place in my memory box of this show.

PHOTO|Liz Lauren

PARAMOUNT THEATRE
presents
Billy Elliot The Musical
through March 24, 2024


23 East Galena Boulevard
Aurora, IL 60506


(630) 896–6666

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