Neither Martinez nor the administrative staff at Paramount responded to requests for comment from Performink, and Martinez didn’t give a reason to Jones beyond the usual “moving in a different direction,” though she did point out some highlights of her nearly eight-year tenure, including a lobby addition, a “Dreams Do Come True” program to provide theatre outings for underprivileged kids, an expanded donor base, and a capital grant from the state of Illinois.

Before joining the Paramount, Martinez had been in charge of live theatre events at Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles for 13 years. ( Noble Fool Theatricals , formerly located in downtown Chicago, has been in residence at Pheasant Run since 2004.) Richard G. Hawks, chairman of the Aurora Civic Center Authority Board, which oversees the Paramount, will fill in as the unpaid interim executive director, and told Jones that Paramount’s future plans include expanded training opportunities for young artists and an increased role as a producer, and not just a presenter of work.

The venue, which originally opened as an Art Deco movie palace in 1931, underwent a $1.5 million makeover in the late 1970s that transformed it into its current incarnation. The venue has since presented an eclectic mix of touring theatre, dance, music, and comedy acts in downtown Aurora. Upcoming appearances include concerts by country superstar Randy Travis, indie-music icon Ani DiFranco, comedian Paul Rodriguez, and Aurora’s own Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl.