Blast From the Past: Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live was a roaring good time! Dinosaurs roamed the stage for one public show, which allowed ten families to participate in a pre-show meet & greet to get up close and personal with the dinosaurs, along with two Arts Education shows, which saw nearly 1,800 students and teachers in attendance. Following the school shows, the Dinosaur Zoo cast and their puppets visited UVA Children’s Hospital for interactive engagement and fun, bringing many smiles to many children!

Fun fact: The life-sized puppets were all designed and constructed in consultation with paleontologists, the latest science, and fossil evidence!

“Our time with the dinosaurs was a blast and one we will always remember, and all of this was in large part thanks to support from UVA Children’s Hospital!” said Cathy von Storch, The Paramount’s Education & Outreach Manager. “Students, teachers, and families were on the edge of their seats, as these amazing puppeteers and their life-sized puppets led the audience on an interactive tour through prehistoric Australia, introducing them to some of the insects, mammals, and dinosaurs that once roamed the planet millions of years ago. The decibel level in our auditorium surely broke a record between the dinosaurs roaring and the hundreds of children bellowing back!”

This was certainly a show the students will never forget. One student wrote in a thank you letter to The Paramount, “We had such an amazing time. It was so cool to see the dinosaurs up close and touch them. It is the best to learn while having fun.” Several teachers agreed it was their favorite Paramount Arts Education performance to date.

We are diligently working to reschedule many of our events that have been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These events contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, and we know that we will suffer a devastating loss of revenue as a local nonprofit theater. Please consider making a donation to The Paramount.

Photos by Rob Garland Photographers