Theater News

Paramount Theatre to Present Once in Chicago

The Tony-winning musical will close out the theater’s 2017-18 Broadway Series.

Barry DeBois and Tiffany Topol costar as Guy and Girl in the Paramount Theatre production of Once.
Barry DeBois and Tiffany Topol costar as Guy and Girl in the Paramount Theatre production of Once.
(photos provided by Jay Kelly PR)

Aurora’s Paramount Theatre will present the first Chicago-area regional staging of the Tony Award-winning musical Once to close its 2017-18 Broadway Series. Performances will run April 25-June 3 with direction by Paramount artistic director Jim Corti and music direction by Tom Vendafreddo.

Based on the Oscar-winning movie, Once won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical, Best Actor, and Best Book. Enda Walsh penned the book, with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who also originated the roles of Guy and Girl in the 2007 film written and directed by John Carney.

Barry DeBois and Tiffany Topol will costar as Guy and Girl, a pair that share a fateful meeting on the bustling streets of Dublin spurred by their mutual love for music. The principal cast also includes Jeanne T. Arrigo (Baruska), Jenn Chandler (Ex-Girlfriend), Alex E. Hardaway (Bank Manager), Nik Kmiecik (Andrej), Angel Lin (Eamon), Everleigh Murphy (Ivonka), Jon Patrick Penick (Billy), Cassidy Stirtz (Reza), Charlie Strater (MC), Larry Tobias (Da), and Grant Alan Watkins (Svec). The ensemble includes Elisa Carlson, Cory Goodrich, Matt Kahler, Michael Kurowski, Doug Pawlik, and Matthew C. Yee.

Paramount’s production team for Once includes William Carlos Angulo (choreography),
Jeff Kmiec (scenic design), Theresa Ham (costume design), Nick Belley (lighting design), Mike Tutaj (projection design), Adam Rosenthal (sound design), Katie Cordts (wig, hair, and makeup design), Amanda Relaford (properties design), Susan Gosdick (dialect coach), Klára Moldová (Czech cultural consultant), Trent Stork (associate director), Kory Danielson (assistant music director), Jinni Pike (stage manager), and Kelly Montgomery (assistant stage manager).

For tickets and more information, click here.