A Christmas Carol & Rat Pack NYE Show Play Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre is bringing the holiday spirit to downtown Aurora with a variety of seasonal shows, from time-honored theatre traditions like A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker to family-friendly shows like the Flying Karamazov Brothers, Ballet Folklorico and the von Trapp Singers – and even two rocking New Year's Eve performances of Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show.

These holiday season acts will appear at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. For tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com, call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666, or visit the box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours prior to evening performances.

The Flying Karamazov Brothers

Saturday, November 26, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Tickets: $28.50-$38.50

They're not Russian, they don't fly, and they aren't brothers! What they are is amazing! For more than 35 years, The Flying Karamazov Brothers have brought their signature brand of physical humor and entertainment to theaters around the globe. Direct from Broadway, their latest show 4-Play is 100 minutes of cleverness and comedy with endless juggling (including items from the audience), a zany ballet, and banter that's part Marx Brothers, part Monty Python - 100% pure glee!

Salt Creek Ballet's The Nutcracker

Saturday, Dec. 3, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets: $35/adult, $25/child

Salt Creek Ballet presents The Nutcracker, an enchanting holiday tradition for the young and young at heart. Join Clara as she encounters magical toys, gigantic mice and a winter wonderland, all on her journey to the Kingdom of Sweets. A cast of over 90 local dancers is complemented by world class guest artists.

von Trapp Children

Sunday, December 4, 3 p.m.

Tickets: $32.50-$38.50

The Sound of Music captured the hearts of millions when the film debuted in 1965. Now, 40 years later, the von Trapp's family legacy is born anew. Sofia (22), Melanie (20), Amanda (19), and Justin (16). They are the great-grandchildren of Captain von Trapp, father of the famous singing family whose story captivated the world in the musical The Sound of Music.

The siblings will be singing cherished holiday songs as they continue the tradition of the family's exceptional musical gift and love of singing and sharing heart-warming family stories of life before and after coming to America. The von Trapp Children are sponsored by Hotel Arista.

A Christmas Carol

Thursday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m.; Friday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Daytime tickets: $20 adult/$14 child

Evening tickets: $37 adult/$26 child

It just isn't Christmas without A Christmas Carol! Experience this favorite holiday story as Ebenezer Scrooge takes us on a life-changing journey filled with beautiful costumes, exquisite music, perfectly crafted sets and special effects second to none – perfect for the whole family! This lavish musical theatre production of A Christmas Carol is bursting with pageantry, laughter and gorgeous costumes. Never has a theatrical performance embodied the warmth and joy of the season more brilliantly than this spellbinding fable of a man who is given the rarest of gifts – the chance to change his life and to find his heart. This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from Illinois Arts Council, General Mills Foundation and Land O'Lakes Foundation.

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl

Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.

Ticket: $25 adult/$18 child

This nationally recognized dance troupe from Aurora brings amazing choreography and showmanship to the Paramount 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.

Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show

Saturday, Dec. 31, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Tickets: $45 – includes champagne toast and party favors

Celebrate New Year's Eve and the golden era of Las Vegas with Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show! Take a journey back to the days of highballs, hi-jinks and happy hour with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Dean Martin. They were style, substance, swing, swagger and a non-stop party that everyone wanted to be a part of. We invite you to join the guys for an evening of classic songs and lounge banter. Tickets include a Champagne toast and party favors, and the 10 p.m. show will include a midnight countdown. Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show is sponsored by WRMN News-Talk Radio – AM 1410.

About The Paramount Theatre

In addition to these holiday shows, Aurora's historic Paramount Theatre also will present a long list of family-friendly entertainment, comedians and incredible tribute bands along with amazing Broadway musicals during its 80th anniversary season in 2011-2012.

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, attracts an annual audience of more than 150,000, and is nationally renowned for the quality and caliber of its presentations, superb acoustics and historic beauty.

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 2011-12 Paramount Theatre season is sponsored by the Paramount Arts Centre Endowment, American Airlines and The Beacon News/Sun Publications. 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.