Press contacts: Jay Kelly, LCWA, jkelly@lcwa.com or (312) 565-4623, (312) 315-3935 cellSamantha Frost, LCWA, sfrost@lcwa.com or (312) 565-4624Jim Jarvis, jimj@paramountaurora.com or (630) 723-2474

CALENDAR LISTINGS 2012-2013 Children and Family-Friendly Presentationsat the Paramount Theatre23 E. Galena Blvd.Aurora, Illinois

Tickets and information: Call (630) 896-6666

Purchase online at ParamountAurora.com

Or in person at the box office:Mon – Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.and 2 hours prior to evening performances

Doktor KaboomTuesday, October 2, 2012, 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.Tickets: $8.50

Don’t let the wild hair, colorful lab coat and goggles fool you. It’s all a part of Doktor Kaboom’s mission to get kids interested in science. This 60-minute show is packed with wild experiments, student

participation and fun lessons that will have your child or student begging for more. The show is appropriate for all ages.

Skippyjon JonesTuesday, November 27, 2012, 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.Tickets: $8.50

Skippyjon Jones is a little kitten with big ears and an even bigger imagination. Convinced he is a chihuahua, he dons a mask, a cape and an accent, and transforms into Skippito Friskito, the greatest canine sword fighter in old Mexico! But when the local pack of chihuahuas is terrorized by the gigantic bee, Alfredo Buzzito El Blimpo Bumblebeeto Bandito, will Skippyjon be a ‘fraidy-cat or the top dog?

Based on the book by Judy Schachner, Skippyjon Jones is an enchanting musical about unleashing your powerful imagination and following your dreams. The show is appropriate for grades K-3. Run time is 60 minutes. Presented by Theatreworks.

AnnieBook by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin CharninDirected by Rachel RockwellWednesday, November 21 – Sunday, December 30, 2012 Tickets: $34.90/$39.90/$46.90

Don’t let the red curls, freckles and dress fool you. This adorable little girl is a true adventurer. She was abandoned as a baby, raised in an orphanage, ran away and lived with the homeless, befriended a United States’ President and found a new home with one of the wealthiest people in the country. And that’s all in just 11 years.

Bring the entire family and join Annie and her pint-sized cohorts on the musical adventure of a lifetime. No wonder the story of Little Orphan Annie was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and winner of seven,

including Best Musical. From “Hard Knock Life” to “Tomorrow,” the music, dancing and heartwarming story make Annie the perfect way to spend the holiday season and is suitable for all ages.

Following her smash hit production of Hair last season, acclaimed Chicago director Rachel Rockwell (Best Director, 2010, Chicago Magazine) returns to Paramount to direct Annie, the first of two consecutive musicals she will stage for Paramount in 2012-13. Up next for Rockwell at the Paramount – Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, January 16-February 3, 2013.

Annie is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank and the Daily Herald.

Ballet Folklorico QuetzalcoatlFriday, October 19, 8 p.m.Tickets: $18/child, $25/adult

This nationally recognized dance troupe from Aurora brings amazing choreography and showmanship to the stage. Authentic wardrobes, made in Mexico, make this ballet one of the best examples of Mexican tradition and art in the U.S. Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl features over 50 dancers, ages 8-40, in this entertaining dance spectacle that appeals to all age groups and crosses cultural barriers.

Meredith Willson’s The Music ManBook, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson; Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey Directed by Rachel RockwellWednesday, Jan. 16 – Sunday, February 3, 2012Tickets: $34.90/$39.90/$46.90

It’s going to be a busy week for traveling salesman Harold Hill. He has to convince the residents of River City he’s a well-accomplished musician; convince the Mayor of River City to put him in charge of starting

a children’s band; convince the parents of River City to buy their young musicians uniforms and instruments from him; then get out of town with everyone’s money before there’s trouble in River City. However, even Harold’s best laid plans encounter a few hurdles, including the warmth of a woman, the needs of a painfully shy boy and a community that wants to believe in him. Before Harold knows it, he’s leading the big parade and changing everyone’s lives.

Nominated for 17 Tony Awards, taking home six including Best Musical, The Music Man is one of the most iconic musicals in American theater history, and here it comes to suburban Chicago’s own River City, downtown Aurora. The scenery is spectacular, the costumes are colorfully lavish, the choreography is lock-step, and the music (played live, of course, by the acclaimed Paramount orchestra) will all combine to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and march like a head majorette. The show is suitable for all ages.

The Music Man is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank and the Daily Herald.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.Tickets: $8.50

Laura Ingalls and her pioneering family travel across America in search of a place they can call home. While the adventure and exploration of this cross-country trip is exciting for this young tomboy, she also experiences first-hand the obstacles she and her family have to face to survive. It’s an uplifting musical production by one of America’s most beloved authors. The show is appropriate for grades 2-6. Run time is 60 minutes. Presented by ArtsPower National Touring Theatre.

Muntu Dance Theatre of ChicagoThursday, February 7, 2013, 9:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.Tickets: $8.50 (daytime); $8.50 (evening for children 12 and under), $12 (evening for adults)

In Bantu language, muntu means “the essence of humanity.” That is what this talented Chicago-based dance collective seeks to impress in their work and touch in its audiences. This exhilarating and inspiring

show features authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music and folklore. The show is appropriate for all ages.

The Civil War Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.Tickets: $8.50

The country’s most tumultuous era is brought to the stage by exploring the lives of a few of the soldiers who are caught up in it, including: Zak, a runaway slave who stands up and fights his own fight; Will, his former best friend and “master;” Johnny, an Irish immigrant who volunteers to defend his new home; and Jackie, a girl who becomes a drummer boy. This stirring production features traditional songs of the era while illuminating the humanity and sacrifices of those who fought, and the many who died. The show is appropriate for grades 3-9. Run time is 60 minutes. Presented by Theatreworks.

The Little Engine That Could Earns Her WhistleThursday, April 4, 2013, 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.Tickets: $8.50

Based on the book The Little Engine That Could, this song-filled production is the timeless tale of the Little Blue Engine that dreamed of one day getting to pull the big cars on the Pine Valley train line. Dreams do come true, and now it’s her chance to show everyone that heart and determination are a powerful combination. This show is appropriate for grades pre-K-2 and is an ArtsPower National Touring Theatre production.

STOMPSaturday, April 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, April 14 at 4 p.m.Tickets: $39.50/$49.50

Not a word has ever been spoken in the 21 years of performances – but words are not why millions around the world have seen STOMP.

This high-voltage spectacle combines jaw-dropping precision dance moves with playing every-day household items – brooms, plungers, lighters. The end result will blow your mind. Experience the phenomenon that is STOMP. The show is recommended for all ages.

STOMP is sponsored by The Barry Family and Sikich.

About The Paramount Theatre The Paramount Theatre is the center for performing arts, entertainment and arts education in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. Named "One of Chicago's Top 10 Attended Theatres" by the League of Chicago Theatres, the 1,888-seat Paramount Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Aurora at 23 E. Galena Boulevard, is nationally renowned for the quality and caliber of its presentations, superb acoustics and historic beauty.  Last spring, the Paramount Theatre turned heads by appointing Chicago stage veteran Jim Corti as the company's first artistic director in 80 years, then announcing it would self-produce its first-ever Broadway Series at the Paramount in 2011-12, presenting three-week runs of the popular musicals My Fair Lady, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat, A Chorus Line and Hair, each featuring Chicago's top professional directors, actors and designers. In less than a year, this new series attracted nearly 13,000 subscribers, with each production playing to rave reviews and wildly enthusiastic audiences. This season the Broadway Series includes Grease (September 12 to October 7), Annie (November 21 to December 30), The Music Man (January 16 to February 3) and Fiddler on the Roof (March 6 to 24). The Paramount Theatre opened on September 3, 1931. Designed by nationally renowned theater architects C.W. and George L. Rapp, the theater captures a unique Venetian setting portrayed in the art deco influence of the 1930s. The first air-conditioned building outside of Chicago, the Paramount offered the public a variety of entertainment, including "talking pictures", vaudeville, concerts and circus performances for more than 40 years.   In 1976, Aurora Civic Center Authority purchased the Paramount and closed the theater for restoration. The $1.5 million project restored the Paramount to its original grandeur. On April 29, 1978, the Paramount Arts Center opened, offering a variety of theatrical, musical, comedy, dance and family programming. In 2006, a 12,000-square-foot, two-story Grand Gallery lobby was added, with a new, state-of-the-art box office, cafe and art gallery. Today, the Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Executive Director Tim Rater, Artistic Director Jim Corti, a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater professionals.  The 2012-13 Paramount Theatre season is sponsored by the Beacon News and Naperville Sun. The 2012-13 Paramount Broadway Season is sponsored by BMO Harris. This season is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. For more information, visit the Paramount Theatre online at ParamountAurora.com.

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