The Music Man

Paramount Theater
Aurora, IL

Everything the Paramount offers is shockingly good, especially in light of the location.

You know a theater's location is strange when they have to recommend Jimmy John's as a serious restaurant offering on their website.

You basically need two strong leads to pull off The Music Man. This production didn't stop there. It had the whole package and for what it was, an off-Broadway production, I was incredibly satisfied. The productions at the Paramount are just half an inch under the traveling Broadway productions. The talent pool is deep. I don't know how they do it or where they find it, but they do - especially given the need for so many children in the productions I've seen. But, they always find the kids who have the whole package at the ripe old age of eight or so. It's really fairly impressive.

Seeing it on stage again after more recently seeing the movie was a good reminder that what plays well in the recording and on video translates so differently to the stage. Marian the Librarian is a bit of a drag of a song off the stage, but on stage it's a highlight of the show. This happens so often. What you go into the theater singing is often not what you come out thinking was the highlight. And, that's a bit exciting.

Stef Tovar and Emily Rohm delivered so well as the two leads. Not only were they nice on their own, but they played well off one another. It's convincing when two actors who are supposed to be in love lean in towards one another. The movements were well executed, the body language convincing - full body acting, which is what you don't get in an amateur production from all actors was present here.

If you don't like to drive into Chicago, and you are in the area - I'd recommend almost anything I've seen at the Paramount. I think it's a great suburban offering and you won't be disappointed. It's ambitious, feel-good theater done well.