Paramount Announces Second Season

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director for Community Relations and Education
434·979·1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

July 26, 2005

Paramount Receives Record Response to First Day of Ticket Sales
Yo-Yo Ma Benefit Sold Out of Regularly-Priced Seats

Less than a year after reopening its doors for the first time in three decades, Charlottesville's Paramount Theater received record response to the first day of ticket sales for the 2005-2006 Season. The theater estimates that over $500,000 in ticket requests for the season, the theater's second such series, were submitted.

Internet requests account for nearly half the total requests on July 25, with 470 orders valued at over $243,000 being sent. At the peak of activity, four to ten internet orders were being submitted per minute.

With tickets currently offered only to Paramount Members as a donor benefit, the turnout for the start of the on-sale period exceeded the theater's projections and expectations. Contributing to the high traffic is the fact that patrons may become Members when they buy tickets, allowing the general public the option to buy early as well.

"Our first season generated huge public interest and resulted in 18 sold-out shows," said Chad Hershner, The Paramount's executive director. "We feel that this second season is bigger and better, and the response from the public is confirming that. We are thrilled about the excitement coming back to us from the community over this series."

One performance -- Yo-Yo Ma with the Silk Road Ensemble on February 24, 2006 -- has sold out of all its regularly-priced tickets. Seats for the performance with Ma, a benefit for The Paramount Theater Foundation, are still available at the $500 and $250 Patron levels. Hershner says that a waiting list for the show is being taken.

"While we're glad so many people are contacting us, unfortunately some customers may not receive all the shows they requested," commented Matthew Simon, Box Office Manager for The Paramount. "We’re finding that some people are submitting the same order multiple ways -- online, by mail or fax -- and then coming to the box office window as well. All the requests are date- and time-stamped, and we are processing them in order as quickly as possible. We ask for the public's patience and understanding as we catch up with everything that was submitted to us yesterday."

To better process the extraordinary volume of requests, The Paramount's Box Office has established temporary weekday hours of 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For the convenience of the working public, the Box Office will reopen each day from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. Saturday hours of 10:00 am to 2:00 pm remain unchanged.

Ticket sales for the 2005-2006 Season will open to the general public on Monday, August 15. The season includes 46 events from September 2005 to May 2006. More information about The Paramount is available at www.theparamount.net, or by calling the Administrative Offices at 434.979.1922. Orders and ticketing questions should be directed to 434.979.1333.