Off-Stage with Diana Martinez Executive Director

Paramount Theatre and Johnny Depp Public Enemies Movie

Many people have suggested, "Why don't you do a screening of the movie "Public Enemies", since the last scene is shot in The Paramount. Well, we begged, we pleaded, we tried, we talked to 3 different people at the film company and many  people in distribution and marketing. But alas, we are DENIED! It's because first run movie theaters like Cantera and Randall have priority and exclusivity agreements with the movie houses. BUT the good news is, we are planning to have a screening in October sometime when the movie is released to second run theaters. We have movie posters to give away, and plan to uunveil a new  plaque on the seat whereJohnny Depp sat during filming. It will also now be a part of the Paramount tour. Please stay tuned! As soon as we can we will announce the time and date!

How the State of Illinois Arts Budget is looking... not good

Dear friends, I think this letter says it all, funding to the arts is getting slashed. This affects school programs, community arts programs and hundreds of theatre's across the state. To give you an idea of the cuts, when I started here 8 years ago we used to get $19,000 from funding by the Illinois Arts Council. This year we were granted $9,000. If the 75% reduction happens, it looks like next year our grant will be reduced to total of $2500. I know the economy is bad but I think we need to keep reminding our legistors about the positive impacts the arts have in communities.Chicago is arguably the first or second theatre capital of the US. We have so much to be proud of we create jobs, ancillary revenue, and so much more. If you are interested in the arts, I urge you to WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN it does make a difference. Below is a letter we received regarding the situation.

Dear Grant Applicant:

This is an update on the Illinois Arts Council’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY10). The situation is dire.

The FY10 GRF budget was introduced at approximately $15.3 million, sustaining the 33% reduction incurred in FY08.

Monday, June 1^st, the budget was further reduced by 50% in the program funds. This decreased the agency’s total GRF to approximately $8.5 million – of which $6.6 million would go toward programs, down from $13.2 million. The unfortunate news from the legislature was conveyed to the field by our agency’s Executive Director Terry A. Scrogum on Tuesday, June 2^nd, at the One State: Together in the Arts conference in

Peoria

.

Wednesday, June 3^rd, all state agencies were notified by the Governor’s office to expect another 25% reduction across the board. If nothing changes, this latest round of cuts puts the Illinois Arts Council GRF at $6.4 million in total.

The staff and I appreciate your patience and understanding as we are currently in the process of developing a plan, with guidance from the Governor’s office, to make the best use of FY10 funds.

It pains me deeply to share this news with you today, but we feel strongly in times like this it is absolutely vital for everyone to remain informed and positive. Likewise, I encourage everyone to find the opportunity in this crisis to update all leaders as to how critical the arts are to the health and vitality of

Illinois

. Please take a few minutes now to let them know what impact these impending cuts will have on people and communities throughout the state.

Budget negotiations are still going on with the Governor and legislature, so we hold out hope that this critical situation will change for the better.

Sincerely,

Shirley R. Madigan

Chairman

End of the Season

Well we are winding down another season, and gearing up for next season. I just want to thank everyone who has attended a show, made a donation, and supported the

Paramount

through such a difficult time. We didn’t make our budget, but we didn’t lose any money either.We managed to raise enough money due to the generosity of our friends and have a new stage floor installed over the summer. We are blessed, and all in all it’s been a tough but very successful year.

All current subscribers have been mailed their order forms with a black and white version of the new brochure so they can get their orders in now. If you haven’t received it please call the box office at 630-896-6666. Tickets will go on sale to anyone who wants to be a new subscriber (Order tickets to 3 or more shows, and you can be a subscriber) starting June 15^th. All tickets will go on sale to the general public on July 28^th. We also have added the incomparably funny, and celebrity apprentice, Joan Rivers to the roster, she will be performing at the theatre on March 5, 2010 at 8pm.

Well, I hope you had a great long weekend, back to work!

Had a Ball at Paramount's Hollywood Ball this weekend

I just want to thank everyone who attended the Hollywood Ball this last weekend.We are so blessed to have such great support. The attendees all seemed to have a great time and helped to raise over $40,000.00 that will help to bring hundreds of underprivileged children to shows at the Paramount, and it will help the Paramount to run free movies, and other great programs. The elegant evening included a live auction, live entertainment, silent auction and lots of dancing and wonderful food provided by Colonial Catering of Naperville. A BIG thank you to the committee for all their dedication, time and work. And a HUGE thank ou to all who attended I am so grateful! (I was especially happy that my mom got to come this year!) I Hope that more of you are able to join us next year, and if any of you out there would like to get involved in helping us to plan next years event, please call the Paramount Offices at 630-896-7676.

Teens can be a part of Footloose National Tour!

  We just had a really great marketing meeting with the Footloose company that is coming to the Paramount Theatre on March 21 & 22. We thought it would be fun to get teens involved and have come up with some great ideas. First, a couple of cast members have agreed to give a dance workshop with dance students before the show on Saturday March 21 (time TBA). Any dance students who has bought a ticket to the show, are welcome to attend this free  masters class taught by cast members  of the national tour Footloose. To sign up for the class just call the Paramount Offices at 630-896-7676.

Second, we want to give 3 very talented high school teens their "Paramount Stage Debut", by giving them a chance to be a part of the show, with a walk on role! Here's how you can audition, to have a walk on role in Footloose appearing at the Paramount Theatre on March 21 & 22. Send in your :30 sec video clip of you dancing to a song from the show Footloose. We are looking for a   student to give a great opportunity to!

Here are the rules:
1.Only electronic submissions will be considered and should be :15 seconds to :30 seconds in length and sent to us at contest@paramountarts.com 
2.Contestants must be high school students aged 13-18.
3. Parents must consent to the audition and will be asked to sign a waiver if chosen
4. Please include a short statement describing why you should be chosen and include any performance experience.
5. All Submissions are due by March 1, 2009 at 12:00 noon.

Teens can be a part of Footloose National Tour!

  We just had a really great marketing meeting with the Footloose company that is coming to the Paramount Theatre on March 21 & 22. We thought it would be fun to get teens involved and have come up with some great ideas. First, a couple of cast members have agreed to give a dance workshop with dance students before the show on Saturday March 21 (time TBA). Any dance students who has bought a ticket to the show, are welcome to attend this free  masters class taught by cast members  of the national tour Footloose. To sign up for the class just call the Paramount Offices at 630-896-7676.

Second, we want to give 3 very talented high school teens their "Paramount Stage Debut", by giving them a chance to be a part of the show, with a walk on role! Here's how you can audition, to have a walk on role in Footloose appearing at the Paramount Theatre on March 21 & 22. Send in your :30 sec video clip of you dancing to a song from the show Footloose. We are looking for a   student to give a great opportunity to!

Here are the rules:
1.Only electronic submissions will be considered and should be :15 seconds to :30 seconds in length and sent to us at contest@paramountarts.com 
2.Contestants must be high school students aged 13-18.
3. Parents must consent to the audition and will be asked to sign a waiver if chosen
4. Please include a short statement describing why you should be chosen and include any performance experience.
5. All Submissions are due by March 1, 2009 at 12:00 noon.

Working on the 2009-2010 Season

We are working on booking the 2009-2010 season. We have compiled a master list of acts that are available to us and will be working on a survey to send out to those on our e-mail list to get feedback on what shows you want to see. Some of the acts we already sent offers out on are:

Brian Setzer's Christmas Show

Kenny Rogers for Valentines Day Weekend

Paul Rodriguez has confirmed for the Fall and Glenn Miller Orchestra will be back in the Spring.

The Broadway picks are:

The Drowsy Chaperone, Mamma Mia, Wizard of Oz, Wedding SInger, Smokey Joes Cafe, Jesus Christ Superstar,  Tap Dogs and Legally Blond.

If you have suggestions I'd love to hear them write me at Dianam@paramountarts.com

What do we do all summer?

So many people say to me, "I imagine you love having all this time off in the summer when the season is over." I usually smile and say a simple "yes". But I thought I'd tell you what is really going on in the Paramount offices, once the official Paramount Theater Season winds down. All during April in May we are finalizing contracts for the upcoming season, trying to nail down every date, time, and negotiating every price, discount, and on sale date with each artist.

May through July is the time that all the marketing gets planned and created. This time is heavily dedicated to producing the season brochure, collecting, photos, writing show descriptions, conference call with marketing directors and agents, trying to find out as much as we can about each show.This is also the time that we produce and put together the season video. In mid-June and July we have a mass marketing campaign with complete season press kits which announce the new season. Marketing also lines up any radio promotions and sponsorships at this time. Our media partners want recognition in our season brochure and all artwork so all of the negotiations take place over the summer, as well as negotiations for next seasons rates. Each show has a separate marketing plan and the summer is when it gets done . Over 80% of the shows we produce are in partnership with the national tour and they must approve each every ad we place  down to the newspaper or in terms of radio advertising the station and time that it plays.

Sponsorship and development works on selling sponsorships and negotiating contracts for each show, and starts planning the fund-raising plans for next season and planning the season kick off party as well as a throwing "thank you party" for last year's Premier Society Donors.

In June,while planning for next season the timing is right for budgeting, as it is the end of our phiscal season, so production works on the budgets and estimates for each show estimating costs on getting bids on catering, hotel rooms, flights, accommodations, and ground transportation as well as sound, lighting, and equipment rental estimates. Hotel rooms are booked, and airline reservations made.

In the meanwhile the theater is rented out almost every single weekend to national dance competitions, so the tech crew and production people, while advancing contracts for next season and estimating budgets, are simultaneously working on these rentals with 1000's of children coming in every Friday through Sunday throughout the summer. We also have event rentals so the theater is busy with wedding season, parties, meetings, and events.

The Box Office is setting up shows and seat map configurations on -line through ticketmaster, putting seats with sight-line problems on hold based on the drawings we get, and sound plots, Then in June they start selling subscritpion tickets and working on seating subscribers. Come July and August the box office kicks in, and we are busy with the season being "On Sale" to the public and new subscribersThe rest of staffis busy finalizing budgets, covering the phones, and planning the season kick-off party in August.

So in answer to the question... Actually... the summer isn't so "slow."

Once August comes, we can breath a sigh of relief... because we can get to doing what we do best, and present great theater!  Don't miss Blues on the Fox, this weekend, it is a free event produced by the city of Aurora with Free Blues artists playing outside in front of the theatre all weekend!

Hoping you all have a great summer!

Paramount School of Performing Arts

We have been working on a business plan for a Paramount School of Performing Arts that will be housed at the North Island Center across the street from the Paramount Theatre. I have been thinking about it for quite a while and we are working on funding and partners, but here's the plan for it.

I want to create a school that is performance based and has a show at the end of every semester. Not all students have to perform there will be technique classes in dance, voice and music, and then an optional performance class for each grade level. The idea is to promote synergy and have the students work together from different focused disciplines to collaborate and create a show.

The other "Different" component to our school is we will leverage our shows at the Paramount and try to schedule "master classes" with certain shows. We hope performers will come and work with our students and talk to them about what it's like to perform professionally. We have already scheduled a masters class with the company of Barrage, and are working on STOMP, Forever Tango, Glenn Miller orchestra and others for our first year. We hope to open our school and are thinking about offering classes in private voice, music, pop  music, orchestra and pop band. If you have any thoughts on our school or ideas, we are open to hearing them. We are really interested in hearing from potential students on what you want to learn and experience. So, please feel free to send your feedback! or email me at dianam@TheParamountTheatre.com.

The New Season

We are avidly working on finalizing the new season and waiting to get a response from Sara Evans, Engelbert Humperdink, Howie Mandel and Frankie Avalon, Who we do have confirmed is very nice, about 30 -35 shows including "Movin Out" the Billy Joel Musical, Cirque Jungle Dreams, Joy Behar, Frank Caliendo, Paris Can Can, Forever Tango, Shanghai Circus, Sally Struthers starring in the 25th anniversary tour of Nunsense, and many more.

We are going to do something different this year, we are going to have an existing subscriber sale first, a week later we are going to have a NEW subscriber campaign. The "Tickets on Sale Party" will be only for NEW SUBSCRIBERS who purchase tickets to 3 or more shows, then tickets will go on sale to the public after that. Many of you buy tickets to three shows, but are not on the subscriber list, and missing out on preferred seating, so this year we hope to get you in the right seats and signed up early! Existing subscribers will be notified of the new season by letter within 30 days, so watch your mailbox!