“The Inception Project” at Paramount Theatre in Aurora

The Paramount Theatre in Aurora has been a leading regional theater since its inception. The venue is beautiful and the productions amazing. In their short years they have proven to be a leader. I always enjoy taking the drive out to Aurora to attend an opener. I miss live theater very much.
As we have worked through the era of Covid-19, many of us have had to make major adjustments in our lives. This is also true for the artists that are also thinking of creative ways to bring art to their public. The Paramount, besides being a quality theater is also a learning center for the rising stars of tomorrow.
Thank God for ZOOM! The internet, while it has downers, does have a bright side, zoom. With this great program classes can take place for school and for after school programs. Paramount has a program called “The Inception Project”. This program is a new works initiative to support and amplify BIPOC and marginalized voices.

This is part of a bold new statewide initiative to address and heal the harms caused by racism. Thanks to $40,000 Healing Illinois Grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Chicago Community Trust.
The Paramount has presented two new works. In early January, “Pretended” by Lanise Antoine Shelley a story about adoption and adjustments from the adoptee’s prospective. I did not watch that one, but last night I did watch “Bull: A Love Story” written by Nancy Garcia Loza.
“Bull: A Love Story” takes place in Lakeview as Bull is released from prison and heads home to his daughter and woman. The area has changed from what it was years earlier and the attitudes likewise. How does one live with change? In particular if these changes did not include you or your thoughts.
The actors doing this reading were superb and one can tell that they did work on it enough that they were into the characters. I could feel that this easily might be a production in the future. Being a non-musical, not on the Paramount stage, but they are preparing to add a smaller venue when we can return to theater. This also could be a play for Teatro Vista to take on.
Paramount intends to make the Inception Project an annual event and launch pad for future production of new works developed through the program in their new Copley Theatre ( 165 seats).
Healing Illinois is a racial healing initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust, designed to distribute $4.5 million in grants to organizations across the state to begin, or continue, the work of racial healing.

For more information, visit www.ParamountAurora.com/Inception-Project

Due to mature content, including depictions of (or references to): alcohol use/abuse, drug use/abuse, death and grieving, profanity, toxic masculinity, familial trauma, gang/drug related violence, systemic racism and police harassment, this play is recommended for ages 17 and up.