BEHIND THE SCENES OF ‘INTO THE WOODS’

&QA Behind the scenes of ‘Into the Woods’

A Q&A with Jim Corti about the upcoming stage production at the Paramount Theatre

By Chris Walker Photos by Sandy Bressner and provided by Paramount Theatre

Jim Corti has seemingly done it all and done it extremely well over the course of his illustrious career. He is the sole honoree to have won Jeff Awards as an actor, choreographer and director. As Paramount’s artistic director, he launched Paramount’s Broadway Series in 2011 and is now co-directing Into the Woods with Trent Co-director Trent Stork Stork, who also has seen his talents acknowledged, winning a Jeff Award for his direction of Kinky Boots in 2021. Recently, Kane County Magazine had the opportunity to sneak some time away from Corti’s busy schedule to ask him questions about his latest production and working in tandem with Stork, who has previously worked on the directing team for 14 productions with Corti, but now will co-direct with him for the first time.

n PARAMOUNT THEATRE 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora (630) 896-6666 www.paramountaurora.com

n KC MAGAZINE: How did co-directing Into the Woods come about?

JIM CORTI: Instead of one person taking all the credit for a particularly collaborative process, it’s clear the recognition could be equally acknowledged very simply like this. While the workload is being shared, the piece itself gets the benefit of “two heads are better than one.” Trent and I have been working together since they joined our directing staff in 2013 as assistant director for Miss Saigon, so it’s been a very natural progression over the years that we co-direct.

n KC: What’s it been like working in tandem on this? JC: We work together quite like-mindedly and then can sharply contrast each other as well. I welcome and am excited by both perspectives and it brings to the work significant gains neither one of us would have thought of without the other. n KC: Why should folks come out and see your production of Into the Woods? JC: We both love this Sondheim masterpiece and see so much within it to deliver on – everything audiences want to experience from it! On the page, Sondheim’s lyrics are so rich and dense with narrative and wit. As we take it to the stage, we think we can surprise folks with discoveries they perhaps never realized have always been there. And of course, the lavish, eye-popping sets and costumes accompanied by a 17-piece orchestra, Broadway-caliber talent and a world-class production made right here in Aurora. n KC: What can you say about working at the Paramount? JC: In every aspect, on every level, Paramount is about working together with those who are passionate about what they do. How can we do more? How can we do better? Good people make all the difference. Everyone is heard and valued and taken care of. And that goes for our audience too!

Into the Woodswill reimagine fairytales on the stage from February 1 to March 19. The production will be followed by School of Rock, the musical based on the ever-popular Jack Black movie of the same name and from the genius mind of Andrew Lloyd Weber. Performances are April 12-May 28.