March 28--The historic Paramount Theatre in Aurora, now boasting more than 30,000 subscribers, announced its 2016-17 season of Broadway musicals Monday. The four-production series will feature expanded runs, totaling 220 performances.
Opening the season is the jukebox musical "Mamma Mia!" (Sept. 7-Oct. 30), with songs by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson, and a book by Catherine Johnson. Artistic director Jim Corti will helm the Abba-fueled rom-com about a bride-to-be and her three potential dads, all of whom are ready to share a father/daughter dance (set to disco pop). The production will feature music direction by Tom Vendafreddo (who will conduct the entire season) and choreography by William Carlos Angulo.
Next, Disney's "The Little Mermaid" (Nov. 23-Jan. 8) will make a splash on the Paramount stage in a production directed by Amber Mak. Featuring music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a book by Doug Wright, the musical adaptation of the animated film follows a young mermaid who wants nothing more than to be a part of the human world.
Stephen Sondheim's bloody musical "Sweeney Todd -- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (Feb. 8-March 19) follows. Corti will direct the 19th century London-set thriller in which the body count, and the meat pie sales, multiply.
Closing out the season is Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's "Jesus Christ Superstar" (April 19-May 28), for which Paramount plans to employ an all African-American cast. Ron Kellum will direct and choreograph the '70s rock opera about the fall of the idolized biblical leader and the disciple that betrayed him.
The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora.
