Donny & Marie, John Lithgow, Penn & Teller and More Set for Paramount Theatre in 2014-15

Last March, the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora, announced another blockbuster line-up for its 2014-15 Broadway Subscription Series: Cats (Sept. 10-Oct. 12, 2014); Mary Poppins (Nov. 26, 2014-Jan. 4, 2015); The Who's Tommy (Jan. 14-Feb. 15, 2015); and Les Miserables (Mar. 18-Apr. 26, 2015).

More than 20,000 music theater fans have rushed to sign up, already surpassing Paramount's top tally of nearly 19,000 subscribers last season, with four months still to go to take advantage of Paramount's Broadway-quality productions and Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows free offer for as little as $82.

Today, Paramount President and CEO Tim Rater announced an additional, and in short, very hot line-up of major stars, live music acts, top comedy stars, and family performances guaranteed to keep the Paramount packed year-round in 2014-15.

And we're talking big names here, including Donny & Marie, Jerry Lewis, David Sedaris, Penn & Teller, John Lithgow, Jim Brickman, Vicki Lawrence, Under the Streetlamp and Pilobolus, just to name a few, all performing live on the beautiful Paramount stage in the heart of downtown Aurora.

The Paramount's 83nd season launches Friday, August 22 with the annual Season Kick Off Party in the Paramount's Grand Gallery. For just $10, Kick Off Party guests will enjoy pre-show cuisine prepared by area restaurants, a cash bar and chances to win amazing prizes from 5 to 7 p.m.

Following the party is the return of the Happy Together Tour at 8 p.m., with a 30th anniversary line-up boasting some of the great pop and rock stars of the 1960s: The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Gary Lewis & The Playboys and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels.

Paramount's 2014-15 season continues (in chronological order) with 11-year-old rap phenom Matty B (Aug. 23), Donny & Marie (7 shows, Aug. 27-31), Cats (Sept. 10-Oct. 12), Penn & Teller (Oct. 17), Jim Brickman: Celebrating 20 Years (Oct. 18), Home Free, winners of NBC-TV's The Sing-Off (Oct. 19), Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody (Oct. 24), Jerry Lewis (Oct. 26), Recycled Percussion (Nov. 1), Brooks & Wine featuring country star Kix Brooks paired with a private wine tasting (Nov. 8), Under the Streetlamp, Chicago's favorite former Jersey Boys (Nov. 9), Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl (Nov. 14), the Chicago Comedy Tour with WGN Morning News' Ana Belaval, Pat Tomasulo and Mike Toomey (Nov. 22, in the Copley Theatre), Mary Poppins (Nov. 26, 2014-Jan. 4), The Second City Dysfunctional Holiday Revue (Dec. 5-21, in the Copley Theatre), The Who's Tommy (Jan. 14-Feb. 15), Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two Woman Show (Feb. 22), Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe winner John Lithgow in his one-man show Stories by Heart (Mar. 7), Defending the Caveman (Mar. 13-29, in the Copley Theatre), Les Miserables (Mar. 18-Apr. 26), An Evening with David Sedaris, one of the top humorists of our time (Apr. 28), the internationally acclaimed, shape-shifting dance troupe Pilobolus (Apr. 30), and gal pal favorite Menopause the Musical (May 6-Jun. 28, in the Copley).

Also back in 2014-15, Paramount's popular $1 Classic Movie Mondays series, presenting everyone's favorite flicks in one of Chicago's top former movie palaces for just $1, and a line-up of children's shows designed to entertain while they educate.

"Between the presented shows and our Broadway series, next season we'll have nearly 300 performances. We anticipate more than 300,000 patrons to pass through our doors," said Tim Rater, President and CEO of Paramount Theatre. "That's the largest annual attendance in Paramount's 83-year history. We're bringing in the biggest stars, best comedians, top music acts and fantastic family shows, all at an affordable price, right in our audience's back yard. As a bonus, our patrons don't have any of the expense or hassle of traveling downtown. I don't think there's anything quite like enjoying live entertainment in the stunning, Art Deco, acoustically-perfect setting of our beautiful and historic theater."

Current Paramount subscribers get first dibs on tickets and the best seats today through Wednesday, June 4.

Paramount's General Season goes on sale to the general public Monday, June 9 at 10 a.m. If you are not already a subscriber, you can still become one on June 9 by purchasing a minimum of four shows (General Season and/or Broadway) and receive at least five percent off additional single tickets and the best remaining seats.

To become a subscriber or to purchase single tickets to individual shows, please call the box office at 630-896-6666, stop by in person at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora, or go online at ParamountAurora.com.

In addition to the lowest major theater subscription prices anywhere in Illinois, subscriber benefits at the Paramount have never been better. Purchase four or more shows and you automatically reap many benefits as a season subscriber, including the best seats in the house, easy ticket exchange privileges, and first notice of added shows and special subscriber events. Subscriber discounts range from 5% to 15% off single ticket prices, depending on how many shows you buy.