culture
Aurora's Theater Scene Thrives: 47 Years From Riverfront Productions to New Venues
Local stages reflect decades of activity with Riverfront Playhouse operating since 1978 and recent additions including the Stolp Island Theatre that opened in summer 2025.
How we reported this
The Riverfront Playhouse has produced live theater in Aurora since 1978 at 11-13 S. Water St. This longstanding operation forms one anchor of the local scene alongside other community groups.
Early Foundations
Riverfront Playhouse has maintained continuous productions at its downtown address for nearly five decades. City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret presents community shows such as Pippin at Aurora University's Perry Theater. These groups established patterns of regular local performances that continue today.
Venue Expansions
Paramount operates three live theater venues in downtown Aurora including the main 1,843-seat Paramount Theatre, the newly renovated Copley Theatre for its BOLD Series, and the intimate 98-seat Stolp Island Theatre featuring Million Dollar Quartet. Bit Theater specializes in long-form improv at 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive. Stolp Island Theatre opened in summer 2025 at 5 E. Downer Place with Million Dollar Quartet performing Wednesday through Sunday in an immersive 9,000-square-foot venue.
City Support
The City of Aurora provided $2 million in 2026 operating support to the Aurora Civic Center Authority to sustain its four downtown performance spaces and Paramount School of the Arts without programming cuts. Paramount Theatre serves 350,000 annual patrons from 250+ communities and hosts Chicago's largest Broadway Series with over 37,000 subscribers. This funding helps maintain operations across the established and newer spaces.
Residents and visitors can review current schedules directly through the venues' listings for performances at these specific locations.