I had been here a few years ago to see The Producers with my husband, since I knew he'd love it (and he did). This theatre consistently provides excellent experiences with top-tier quality shows, often drawing from local and Broadway talent alike. However crowded theatres get in downtown Chicago, and however surly their employees can be at times, the Paramount is the opposite on both counts. What a breath of fresh air! Better yet, the sightlines are terrific. Even in the very back, you have a great view of the stage, and the seats' heights are staggered enough where short people's views aren't easily blocked. Although the Paramount is quite far from where I live, so it's not a super frequent visit for me, that is not due to any lack of quality in terms of the experience or shows! read more

I had an amazing experience at the Paramount Theater! I went to see The Full Monty, and it exceeded all my expectations. The venue itself is beautiful, with great acoustics and a classic atmosphere that really adds to the overall experience. The performance was fantastic, funny, energetic, and surprisingly heartfelt. The cast did an incredible job, and the production quality was top-notch. You could tell a lot of effort went into every detail. Staff were friendly and helpful, and everything from entry to seating was smooth and well-organized. I can't wait to come back for another show! read more

Paramount Aurora - The Full Monty - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I was here for the first time in a looong time--I think the last time I was here, my daughter was in kindergarten, I believe, and now she is a Sophomore in high school. The venue and the surrounding area was much nicer than I recall! The building is beautiful and reminiscent of the same Neo-Baroque French Revival style as the theatre district in Chicago proper. We ate dinner before our long drive so we didn't purchase anything from the bar, but the prices looked reasonable and the people who were purchasing items were commenting out loud that the snacks were delicious! The merch was very reasonable and I was happy they allowed me to pay in cash for a $5 Dear Evan Hansen magnet. We were in the double letter rows through a Chicago League of Theatre purchase, but the seats were still wonderful, especially at that price point! They do have the stadium seating where the rows are not flat, but I wish with the renovation that they would have configured the seats to be in between one another as well. We happened to have an extra seat because my daughter's Speech tournament was waaay over time due to judge difficulties, so we were able to scootch over when a tall man sat in front of my mom at the last second before the show started. The seats were comfortable (Dear Evan Hansen is not a short musical!), and I appreciated how they have cup holders, even if I did not purchase a drink this visit. I never know where to stick my soda cup, lid or not, if there is no cupholder. The set was very technologically advanced, but not so much that it took away from the show. The sound and lighting quality was good as well! Affordable parking not too far away was also a giant plus. $2 for the first hour, $1 for every subsequent hour, with a cap of paying no more than $5 for your visit. I was afraid to offer my 79 year old grandmother the extra ticket because the parking garage is a couple of blocks away from the theater and I didn't see immediate handicapped parking near the theater. They do offer valet for, like, $35?, but I don't see why because my grandmother has a handicapped placard that I would need to pay 7x more for parking. The area around the theater is also very "artsy"--we saw a cake decorating class, numerous small theaters, and a performing arts school on our short jaunt. I definitely would make the trip again, especially if they are offering shows that are not in the regular rotation! I think I saw "Sunday in the Park with George" for their next season? read more

Paramount Aurora - Marquee - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

For sure this is the highlight of Aurora. If you like musicals or plays it makes it even better but you should still be interested because it's a part of history. The Paramount Theater is the best place in the city to be entertained and there's always a series of high quality. A lot of other events go on that are good for families or anyone else. You can even have private events like weddings and other things. An interesting history about it. It's one of the theaters constructed by Paramount Pictures to run their latest movies. This trend started in the 1920s as talkies began to take over theaters. Pretty soon the trend came here. This was commissioned in 1931, and designed by the well regarded architects C.W. and George Leslie Rapp. It was in the Art Deco style and had Venetian elements. This was also the first air conditioned building outside of Chicago, so they were pretty ahead of times. In the 1970s it was renovated. This reopened a couple years later, and in 1986 it was recognized as a Historic Place by the U.S. National Park Service. Great amount of history in this building. It's had a few upgrades including a lobby. They have tons of rotating Broadway plays great for children or whoever. read more

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I love this place!!! 4 stars for location (nestled in historic downtown Aurora district, across the river from Hollywood Casino), got an amazing valued tickets from Broadway week, good service, and absolutely beautiful architecture inside and out. The production for Waitress was also very smooth and proper. What a great show! The seating is ample with orchestra and balcony seating. The legroom is also something to be appreciated. I shall return! Enjoy the show! read more

Paramount Aurora - Outside - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

The venue is architecturally beautiful and the facility is very well maintained with good seating and clean restrooms. We saw Come from Away and the production was, in my opinion, equivalent in quality to a Broadway production. The cast was amazingly talented with incredible voices and strikingly believable acting. The band was fantastic and the set was beautiful. Parking is easy access, and I love this venue for the convenience and quality of exceptional productions. read more

Paramount Aurora - Theatre architecture - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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Paramount always puts on a great show. Live orchestra is top notch and almost every member of the Paramount family is a wonderful artist. Tonight it is South Pacific and it was a great show (minus Devin Archer who ruined most of what he sang; it is a musical not an opera). Rest of the cast carried the production. read more

An absolutely gorgeous theatre! Very easy to navigate and we had fabulous seats. Acoustics are fantastic. read more

Paramount Aurora - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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We like this place! Last time we were here was for Bernadette Peters; and yesterday we enjoyed the Waitress production! Only reason for 4 out of 5 is due to the crazy women's restroom lines no matter what time. We need our creative minds to think outside the box and find a solution, please! 15-20 women deep is crazy. read more

Paramount Aurora - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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The Paramount Theatre in Aurora casts spells. Walking in with my date for Come from Away, I felt as though we'd stepped into a cathedral of light and memory. Gold flourishes curved overhead, chandeliers dripped brilliance, and the velvet air hummed with expectation. When the orchestra struck the first note, the Paramount itself seemed to breathe, as if the building had been waiting ninety years for this very story. Come from Away was devastating and uplifting in the same breath. To sit beside someone you love while strangers onstage sing about generosity in the face of terror is to feel the ache of history softened by the balm of human kindness. My date and I clutched each other's hands as the characters sang of welcome, loss, and belonging -- and in that moment, the Paramount became not just a theater but a vessel for the world's grief and its stubborn hope. This house has always known how to hold emotion. Since 1931, when architects Rapp & Rapp gave Aurora its Venetian Art Deco jewel, the Paramount has carried the laughter of Jack Benny, the slapstick of the Marx Brothers, and the whispers of generations who've sat hushed in its glow. Saved from ruin in the 1970s and now firmly on the National Register of Historic Places, it stands today as a beacon of what art can preserve and restore. Nicole A, a volunteer, told me she still marvels every night she ushers, that the Paramount feels alive -- a friend, a confidant, a keeper of secrets. Watching Come from Away here, I understood. The Paramount doesn't just stage performances; it amplifies them, turns them into something transcendent. We walked out dazed, as though the night had rearranged our hearts. read more

Paramount Aurora - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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Been here multiple times for various shows. Have not had any problems with the place. The seating is well organized, and the staff is friendly. Little bit of a walk for parking but that's understandable. The bathrooms are clean, and concession prices are a little on the high side, but not outrageous. Sound and lighting are excellent in this facility. read more

This theater is so nice! I never knew it existed. We came to see Frozen (just wish kids under 3 were allowed). It sits along the lake, and the downtown area is adorable. I can see it being an enjoyable walk in the warmer months. The theater is so clean and small enough that it feels like there are no bad seats. It does sound a bit louder because of that maybe. Either way, I really enjoyed our experience--we were offered a booster for our child so she would be able to see over heads, which was so considerate! Loved the show. Enjoyed the theater. Would come again! read more

Paramount Aurora - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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This theater is cozy & clean, with helpful cup holders on the seats, which are rare in most other venues. The box office staff was incredibly friendly! For students with valid school IDs, tickets are just $10! How's that for a real treat?! The restrooms are in great shape & the stage for "Frozen" was impressive. The actors delivered a phenomenal performance! I highly recommend checking it out! Just a heads up, free street parking or lots nearby. Avoid cruising around the theater entrance an hour prior the show, traffic gets crazy & parking spots are all blocked off. read more

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I think the Paramount Theatre in Aurora is gorgeous ! The Physical perfection of the restored Theatre is amazing.Even better is the wonderful variety of entertainment available. I am a subscriber and get four plays a year. Subscription rates are very affordable! I just went to White Christmas and loved it.The staging was perfect and the actors voices were rich and vintage authentic! Beautiful Costumes!Such a fun experience. Ample clean restrooms.Free parking or valet parking readily available .Lots of fun restaurants nearby.Hurry and get your tickets! read more

Paramount always does amazing productions - even if you don't like the show, it's hard to find fault with the quality of performers, costumes and sets. The new production of Cats fits this summary perfectly. I'm not a huge fan of the show, and I'm not sure the introduction of the circus theme for this production necessarily carries, the production was outstanding. Truly a spectacle. You can't go wrong with shows here read more

Paramount Aurora - Cats May 2025 - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

First time at the Paramount to see Come From Away and I have limited mobility so I was anxious. First off they have valet parking reasonably priced. Just note the line up for it is around the corner. They had a full bar so make sure to stop for a beverage to take into the theatre. The temp in the theatre was good. As for most theaters, seats are a little narrow but still comfortable. Overall the theatre was comparable to anything you'd find in the city. Check it out. read more

Lovely theater with excellent shows. Still very high quality casts for the shows but much more affordable than Chicago. read more

Paramount Aurora - Lobby - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I had never been to a show here until recently. I'm not sure there's a bad seat in the place. I had no idea where my seats were, I looked them up on view from my seat. It ended up being perfect. We took our 4 and 6 year old to see Frozen. Such a great show. I look forward to coming back to see more shows in the future. It was below zero temps so we didn't walk around before or after. Just a mad dash to get inside and then get to the car. read more

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Beautiful theatre!!! Classic lobby, great stage, perfect amount of seating. Great experience. Excellent philanthropy program, they are doing everything they can to take care of their actors. Super variety of shows! I would recommend using their valet as the downtown Aurora parking can be difficult to manage. read more

Had a fun time seeing Riverdance here. Comfortable seats. Pretty inside. Been here a couple of times and enjoyed our meals having a venue close to home read more

We just love this theater! My group of 5 have had the premiere package for several years and I have to say there have been big faves over that time. I think Beautiful and Kinky Boots were my favorites but the cast and crew here are really top notch. Seats are comfortable, plenty of bathrooms and a couple bars to grab a drink if you want one. Frozen just opened and I would recommend taking your kids to see the weekend matinee - so many of the little girls were in their sparkling blue dresses. Most are adult plays but this one was family friendly I thought. There are plenty of good restaurants in the area too. read more

Paramount Aurora - 4 of the 5 in our group. - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I admit, I don't come out to Aurora a lot, especially at night. The town has had its issues, and the downtown rolls up the streets for the most part. But I've been back here a couple times recently, and have been impressed. Seems they have worked hard to bring business, dining, neighborhood back. The Paramount Theatre has obviously been here a long time. This is a classic gem of a theatre. Old school. Well maintained. Beautifully adorned for Christmas for this Black Friday showing of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. I was also surprised that the cookies, candy, hot chocolate (it's a sweets themed show booked for the holidays) were all very reasonably priced for a theater experience. read more

Paramount Aurora - Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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Great theater! Very clean and beautiful. I've seen two plays here August Rush and Into the Woods. Both were a good experience and the seats were more spacious then the Chicago theaters I've been to. Concessions are a reasonable price! $6 for a show themed cocktail served in a cup with a lid and straw. Fountain drinks are $3 and $1 for refills. Candy is $2. Into the woods had a beautiful set. It was very well done. The performers were great and overall I liked the story. It was 3 hours that made it a little miserable. 8-11pm on a Friday night is too exhausting. They could have easily made it 2 or 2.5 hours by cutting out portions in the second half. The first part of the play has a nice ending that you could just leave. I'd recommend going for the first half and leaving after. Street parking is free for 90 minutes or after 8pm. So if you get there anytime after 6:30 you are good to park on the street. I found plenty of spots 4 minutes away. Otherwise there is a $5 parking garage that's also 4 min away. read more

It's been a long time since I was last here. I was surprised when I came here last night to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the whole building looks very modern on the inside. Theater was very clean. Staff was friendly and helpful. At the concessions, they had Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed drinks and they were moderately priced. I had H 22 and 24, I didn't realize how close we were to the stage. The seats are kind of tight, not a lot of legroom. The musical had very talented actors, theatrical production was high quality, just looking at all of those set pieces, and musical performances were well coordinated. Parking, you can either do valet for like $13-20 or go to a nearby parking garage and pay like $3-4 read more

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We highly recommend the Paramount's Meyer Ballroom for any event! We held our wedding there in April 2024. The venue is absolutely immaculate and offers a beautiful setting for a wedding. The Fox River makes a lovely backdrop and the lights of the Paramount's marquee add a sparkly accent. But the service that the staff provided is absolutely the star of the show. At every step of the process they were responsive, friendly, helpful and accommodating to our special requests. The price is right, too - a very affordable venue with lots of complimentary add-ons, such as the centerpieces, which saved us money. And the icing on the cake is the free theater ticket for each guest which we used as the wedding favor. The complimentary valet service made it easy for our guests to attend. Also, because there is a smoking patio outside the ballroom, we were able to offer our guests a Cigar Bar, which was a unique touch. We chose a round head table for a smaller wedding party because we wanted to be able to talk to everyone, and it worked great! 5 stars for sure, we hope everyone considers this venue!! read more

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Paramount Theatre, you are the Jewel of Downtown Aurora! The first time we were there was when the Theatre was first remodeled and restored and enjoyed the celebration with Bernadette Peters who most kindly spoke and took photographs with all in attendance. Yesterday we attended the performance of Groundhog Day the Musical and was blown away by, the performances, staging, orchestration, and so much more. In a previous life my theatre experiences were limited to being a member of an orchestra and hidden in the pit. The Aurora Paramount Theatre is one of the most wonderful theaters I have had the pleasure of seeing a live performance in (previous experiences include Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End). The Paramount offered a rich (beautifully restored) and intimate experience in comparison. We were so impressed that we are purchasing a subscription. read more

Beautiful space. Saw Little Shop of Horrors here, which was a fantastic production. The theater was wonderfully appointed, clean, and well kept! read more

Paramount Aurora - Little Shop! - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

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This historic theatre is in the heart of Downtown Aurora. I've been a few times and have always enjoyed the ease of entering the theatre, acoustics, and friendly staff. Parking is a few blocks away in a parking garage but it's pretty cheap ($5 for 4 hours). If you're close and looking to check out a cheaper theatre experience than Chicago, Paramount is a great option! read more

Visited this past weekend to see 'Into the Woods' and I was impressed with the production but just as much with the venue! The theatre is a beautiful throwback to yesteryear theaters. Its been well maintained, the acoustics were great and the decor is gorgeous! I look forward to future visits. read more

I attended a wedding here and it was spectacular! They thought of everything! A coat check, multiple bars, and a grand staircase! The staff were attentive and ready to help when asked. I live out of state, so I haven't been to a show, but the staff indicate that this is a venue worth visiting! read more

Paramount Aurora - Lobby of the theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

This is an absolutely beautiful theatre with incredible productions; Definitely worth the drive from Chicago. I rarely leave reviews, but the thing that is making me leave one is the fact that they serve non-alcoholic beer that *actually does not have alcohol in it*. I have been sober for 5 years, and every "non-alcoholic" beer I've ever seen has "less than 0.5% alcohol" in it, which is still alcohol, so I cannot have it. I did not even realize they made NA beer that was truly non-alcoholic until last night. Ten out of five stars for that. My only complaint is that they close off the gender neutral restrooms early so that you cannot use them after the show; I realize it's probably just because they want to go ahead and shut down that area of the building, but they should really keep them open for the people who need them. read more

My wife and my girlfriend and I came here for Groundhog Day the Musical. The play was awesome, but that's not really the point. This review is about the venue. First off, the area around the venue is full of great bars, restaurants and shops. So, if you are a little early for the show (or get out when things are open) go walk around and see what else is in the area. The theatre itself is great. Like really great. The staff is crazy helpful and friendly. It's all too easy for staff of big theaters in Chicago to be jaded and more than a little standoffish. Not so at the Paramount. Every single person we interacted with was crazy nice. And getting in, even in COVID-world, was quick and easy - just have you ID and vaccination card ready and you'll be inside in like 2 minutes at most. And is it winter? Well, they have a FREE coat check for you to use (don't be an ass, tip the people there a solid $5 or more since they are doing a great job for you). There are 3 or so bars here, and they do a great job. They seem to have custom show-specific drinks, which is really fun (for Groundhog Day they had two). Yeah, they can be a bit sweet but whatever. Other than that, you can get full bar service in the form of mixed drinks and beer. And surprisingly at an actually reasonable price! You don't have to sneak your own booze into the theater anymore. As for the seats, we were in the balcony in the front row. But honestly, it really doesn't matter. Every seat we saw was quite good. Yeah, there are a few with partially obscured views. But you can avoid those. Anything down on the main floor or in the balcony is gonna be good. Trust me on this. Parking was actually really easy too. Yeah, there are street spots around. But the best thing is to follow the instructions they will send you and park in the parking garage they recommend. Don't just park in a random garage!! Seriously, they will gouge you. Park where the theatre says to park and you'll pay a handful of dollars and be in and out in like 10 minutes at most. Is your favorite show only here at the Paramount? Don't freak out. Just go. You'll thank me later. read more

They are back! We saw Kinky Boots last night. I'm reminded how fortunate we are to have this great theater and such incredibly talented players in our community. The staff and volunteers are incredible. The valet staff is always so friendly. Solid 5 experience!!! read more

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Not really a bad seat in the house - such a beautiful venue with world-class talent coming in and performing in the burbs! No hassle of going into the city - just an easy drive, easy parking garage nearby with cheap parking - easily competes with the downtown theatres! read more

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Went to see a friend perform in a production of Cinderella. Very nice local venue. Great sight lines. Nice adult soda pop options at the bar, all at reasonable prices. Very happy to have a venue like this so close to our new home. I'm certain we will be back several times for other performances. read more

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For groups of 10+ planning to attend Wednesday matinees at the Paramount Theatre, a lunch option is available in the Meyer Ballroom, located directly across the street. At least in theory, it's a convenient and practical way to feed busloads of people, be they seniors or school groups. Though unadorned, the banquet hall is spacious and bright with a window wall overlooking the Fox River. Lunch is catered by Enticing Cuisine of nearby Batavia. Meyer Ballroom, Enticing Cuisine, and Paramount are separate entities, each with its own page on Yelp and-I might add-deservedly positive reviews. But the Paramount Theatre (specifically their Group Sales office) advertises the lunch option on Paramount's Website, hosts the lunches, and is responsible for all of the arrangements including menu selection and reservations. So, I truly regret having to park this negative review on Paramount's page. Rest assured that I love everything else about this splendid theatre. On the day of our visit, the lines for the two identical buffet stations were insanely long because no one had the gumption to organize or call up one group at a time. The meager menu consisted of Caesar salad, rolls, lasagna, steamed broccoli, and mini cannoli. I resent having to pile these items together onto one flimsy paper plate, and I surely wasn't the only one. The lasagna, overcooked to a mushy consistency, its soupy ricotta meandering across the plate into the cannoli and salad, was absolutely loathsome. This was the only entrée on the buffet and much of it went uneaten. Even worse, the Group Sales Manager neglected to inquire whether anyone in our group had dietary restrictions. As it turns out, two at our table could not consume dairy products. The chef happened to have only one surplus substitute entrée portion - a green pepper stuffed with a white rice/quinoa blend. This was also inedible because the stuffing was as bland and dry as a sawdust soufflé. So, my hungry table mates feasted on broccoli and dinner rolls. Completely unacceptable. The salad and cannoli, which happened to be very good, were depleted before everyone had a turn at the buffet. The head server had the audacity to grumble out loud that guests "were supposed to take only one or two (of the bite-size) cannoli, but they were taking three or four." Well, it should've been painfully obvious that there wasn't much else to eat. The same server brought out a tray of cookies hastily purchased at a nearby store (egad!). This, too, was quickly gobbled up by the still-hungry crowd. By definition, a "buffet" should offer a variety of self-serve dishes from which diners may choose. Lest other groups be discouraged, Paramount needs to revamp this lunch "deal." read more

Paramount Aurora - Lasagna served at a Wednesday matinee lunch buffet: Ewww, yuck! - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Talk about a Theatre with an amazing restoration and character! This space reminds you that some people appreciate the architecture and art of the Theatre space itself! Fantastic views inside and in the lobby. As far as the shows, you receive top level quality outside of the Chicago city limits. The value offered for the price and quality of performances is soooo worth it. If you have not been to this Theatre...go visit at least once! read more

Paramount Aurora - Let the show begin...opening night. - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I want to say the staff here is absolutely amazing. We came to see Charlie and the Chocolate factory and the performance was great, but the staff blew us away. We brought our dad who is in a wheelchair and from will call to valet to the ushers, everyone went above and beyond to assist us and make our night perfect. I'd come back for any show! read more

Gorgeous theAtre ! Had the best time at the rock of ages musical highly recommended it was so fun! Love the music and costumes ! And delicious drinks from the bar def 10/10 recommend read more

Paramount Aurora - Performing Arts Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Hands down 5/5 for the overall experience here. I chaperoned a large group of 30 to see a matinee performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and we loved every minute of our time at the Paramount. Melissa, Group Sales Manager, is #1 to work with. She very clearly gives each of her groups personal care and attention, which I certainly appreciate. I never had any questions for her because she's that organized and efficient. She sent PR materials for me to use, reminders, helpful tips and more. We dined at the Paramount before the show as well. I know this add-on service is offered to groups attending matinee shows, but I can't speak to whether or not they offer this convenience at any other time. If you're employed in the field of recreation like I am, meal on site is a huge deal. The less shuffling the better! Theater itself is super clean and well maintained. All staff we encountered were super friendly (even the restroom attendants) and everyone seemed to really enjoy their jobs. Bathrooms 5/5, by the way. I didn't feel like I needed to squat here. :P This superb rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar was moving, to say the least. The vocal talent in this production was worth every penny. This was my first time visiting the Paramount. It was well worth the 1 hr. drive from the Northern suburbs of Chicago. I'm excited to bring my group back when the new 2017-18 season starts. Cabaret? Yes, please. read more

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