Kane Achievers: Meet The Dynamic Duo That Brought a Renaissance to the Paramount Theatre
When the city of Aurora celebrates Independence Day this year, some of the fireworks will be for the two men who have brought a renaissance of the arts to the historic Paramount Theatre.
City officials announced Thursday (June 9, 2016) that the awarding-winning duo Tim Rater, president and CEO of the Aurora Civic Center Authority, and Artistic Director Jim Corti, have been selected as the grand marshals of the 2016 Fourth of July Parade.
The celebrated visionaries and creators of the hugely popular Broadway Series at Aurora’s historic Paramount Theatre have led a resurgence of the arts in Aurora, drawing hundreds of thousands of patrons to the City of Lights each year.
“As we celebrate the birth of our country, we also recognize the pride that we have in Aurora. The rebirth of arts here is allowing residents and visitors alike to see Aurora in a whole new light,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner. “Tim Rater and Jim Corti are leaders of the vanguard who are making this all possible. They have both made Aurora their home and, without question, they have made their home shine brighter than ever.”
Rater and Corti will lead the annual parade that steps off at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 4, in downtown Aurora.
Prior to the parade, Weisner and the City Council will recognize their accomplishments at the Aurora City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.
Rater Makes Theater Greater
Rater was hired as president and CEO in 2010 and brought with him a vision of producing high-quality Broadway shows at a great value to patrons. Just six years later, Paramount has more than 30,000 subscribers to the Broadway Series recently recognized by the Chicago theater community with a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Musical for Les Misérables.
Rater, along with the Board of Directors and staff, is committed to the stability and growth of Aurora’s downtown, and he oversees the RiverEdge Park John C. Dunham concert venue for the city of Aurora. The Broadway Series, along with concerts, comedians, Vegas headliners and Classic Movie Mondays, brought in over 300,000 people in 2015.
Corti Came, Saw and Conquered
Artistic Director Jim Corti, a Jeff Award-winning actor, director and choreographer, received the 2015 Jeff for Best Director of a Musical for Les Misérables, which also won Best Production and Scenic Design. Season Four received 16 Jeff nominations and brought home to Aurora five trophies, including two for The Who’s Tommy, which he directed.
Corti began Paramount’s Broadway Series in 2011 helming My Fair Lady, and in following seasons, Fiddler on the Roof, Miss Saigon, Rent and this season’s opener: Oklahoma! A Broadway veteran, he appeared in the original casts of Ragtime and Candide, joined the long-running A Chorus Line and toured nationally in Urinetown, Cabaret, and Bob Fosse’s Dancin‘.
The Paramount Today
The Paramount Theatre’s bold Broadway Series has wowed critics, audiences and skeptics alike. To date, more than 30,000 subscribers have signed up to take advantage of Paramount’s Broadway Series subscription offer, making it the second largest subscriber base in the state of Illinois. The theater also hosts world-class entertainment from dance, comedy, music, classical, children’s programming and free community events.
The Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Rater and Corti, a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.
About the City of Aurora
Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois, with a population of 200,456. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights. Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. Aurora is home to six public school districts and seven townships. For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org.
