Go Behind The Scenes of The Opulence of Integrity with Christal Brown

January 3, 2018

We were thrilled to talk with Christal Brown, creator and choreographer of The Opulence of Integrity, coming live to The Paramount’s stage on Thursday, January 18. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the production, which is a theatrical, multimedia ensemble work influenced by the public life and inner searching of boxing’s outspoken superstar, Muhammad Ali.  Inspired by Ali’s career as a boxer and life as a social activist, public martyr, and human being, Brown deploys her eclectic movement vernacular that includes elements of boxing, hip-hop, martial arts, modern dance, and theater to illuminate the turmoil of a life infused by divinity, yet misinterpreted by humanity.

What inspired you to fuse Muhammad Ali’s story with the medium of dance?

I was originally introduced to the idea of creating an artistic presentation of Ali’s life by Fred Ho, an iconic jazz musician. Ho was a huge fan of Ali and was drawing strength from Ali’s legacy to fight his own battle against cancer. Ho approached me and asked me to choreograph the last piece of music he wrote before his passing called “The Sweet Science Suite,” an homage to Ali. Ho envisioned the piece as a dance, music, and martial arts collaboration. Having seen my work in 2004, Ho remembered my background as an eclectic mover. We collaborated on the early iteration of the project that premiered at The Guggenheim’s Works & Process series in 2012. After that collaboration, Ho and I went on to pursue the work from different vantage points.

During the research phase of creating the movement language for “The Sweet Science Suite,” I became enamored with the different facets of Ali’s life: his public persona, his humble beginnings, his roles as husband and father, his commitment to his faith, his martyrdom, his masculinity, his activism, and most of all, his humanity. I began to see a complex and beautiful man who reminded me of my father, brother, uncle, and son. I began to see that Ali’s life was a life striving for freedom. He lived out his purpose and passion in front of the world. When those two things aligned, he was a hero, but when they didn’t, he was simply negro.

I am the daughter of a man who lost both his legs in Vietnam because he couldn’t say no. A man whose dreams of playing football and his identity as an athlete changed because of his lack of power. A man who thought going to war was the only way to do better by his family; subsequently his children never knew the man who made that choice, only the man who lived out the consequences.

 

What does the title of the show, “The Opulence of Integrity,” mean to you?

For me Ali is not one man, he is the archetype of every man and woman who dares to live out their greatness and endure the riches, ridicule, and regret that come along with being human. This is how the title of The Opulence of Integrity came to be. I was looking for a title, a statement, that gave context to the grandiose process of living a life of authenticity and truth. A life that requires one to be divinely inspired to meet every challenge with perseverance, courage, hope, and honesty.

Who can learn from The Opulence of Integrity, and why is Ali’s life and legacy so important to young people today?

Everyone can learn from The Opulence of Integrity. It is built to speak to the masses, not the elite. The work incorporates spoken text from Ali’s life, movements from various dance and martial arts, a historical sound score of the time in which Ali lived, and visual images of The Champ and his contemporaries in their prime.

What is your favorite element of The Opulence of Integrity?

My favorite element of the performance is the journey the dancers take. In each performance I marvel at their willingness to give themselves over to this work in a way that transforms them along with the audience. Watching them take on the physical and mental challenge of being present within the arc of this work for over 55 minutes is a remarkable task that leaves me grateful and humble at the end of each performance.

You use a musical score by a Zimbabwean/American composer. How did you first come across his work, and what made you decide to use it in the show?

Farai Malianga and I are long time collaborators. When Fred and I disbanded and I began to open up the parameters of the work to expose the heart of Ali, I knew I needed a composer who understood struggle, the black male experience in America, and most of all what it means to aspire to become yourself without knowing who that is. Farai is a wanderer whose creativity thrives in process; where most of us find too uncomfortable to dwell. Farai’s ability to create soundscapes out of emotional intelligence is rare. We began collaborating in 2005 and I admire his work and our ability to create meaning together.

How is The Opulence of Integrity different from other dance, theater, or musical acts we may have seen?

I believe The Opulence of Integrity is different than other dance, theater, or musical acts you may have seen in that it blends the historical with the personal. Young people may leave the theater with new found knowledge of Ali, older viewers may become nostalgic, but it is our hope that every viewer will be inspired to perform an opulent act of integrity in their own lives.

CLICK HERE to learn more about The Opulence of Integrity and purchase your tickets today!

Give the Gift of The Paramount

December 1, 2017

No matter what’s on their wishlist this holiday season, The Paramount has the perfect event for everyone in your life! Check out our holiday gift guide and share the magic of The Paramount with your loved ones.

FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG-AT-HEART

PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: MERMAID THEATRE OF NOVA SCOTIA’S GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU & I LOVE MY LITTLE STORYBOOK
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 6:00PM
$10.75 YOUTH, $15.75 ADULT

The beloved childrens’ stories Guess How Much I Love You by author Sam McBratney and illustrator Anita Jeram & I Love My Little Storybook by Anita Jeram come to life on The Paramount’s stage in Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s delightful adaptation for our youngest audience members and those young at heart. This whimsical menagerie showcases the imaginative blend of evocative music, stunning visual effects and innovative puppetry that have earned Mermaid Theatre international acclaim.

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PARAMOUNT AT THE MOVIES PRESENTS: FROZEN SING-A-LONG [PG]
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 AT 2:00PM
$5.00 YOUTH, $7.00 ADULT

Don’t hold it in – Let It Go and belt it out with an interactive Frozen Sing-A-Long on the Big Screen!

Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen, the film tells the story of a fearless princess, Anna (Kristen Bell) who sets off on an epic journey alongside a rugged iceman (Jonathan Groff), his loyal pet reindeer and a naive snowman (Josh Gad) to find her estranged sister, Elsa (Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: GO, DOG. GO!
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 6:00PM
$10.75 YOUTH, $15.75 ADULT

Go, Dog. Go! brings the adventures of P.D. Eastman’s classic book  to life in a frolicking musical dog party. The cast of this beloved children’s favorite has gone to the dogs-with cars, hats, audience participation, and even a wild game of ball. Celebrating and exploring the words and pictures within the book, Go, Dog. Go! is a musical romp full of surprises, color, clowning, vaudeville, singing/barking, and of course, six lovable dogs!

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: ‘ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE™
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 AT 4:00PM
$14.75 YOUTH, $24.75 ADULT,
$49.75 GOLD CIRCLE (INCLUDES ADMISSION AND PRE-SHOW MEET & GREET)

Erth’s DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE guides your family on a breathtaking tour that begins in pre-historic Australia. You’ll observe, meet, and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance that will thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that will forever connect them to their world. Brought to life by a team of skilled performers and puppeteers, and designed with the help of professional paleontologists, Erth’s DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE’s puppets are so extraordinarily realistic you may feel the urge to run and hide – but don’t!

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: THE GRUFFALO LIVE ON STAGE!
SUNDAY, MAY 13 AT 4:00PM
$10.75 YOUTH, $15.75 ADULT,
$24.75 GOLD CIRCLE (INCLUDES ADMISSION AND POST-SHOW TEA PARTY)

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Tea Party after the show featuring a special guest – the Gruffalo himself!

Join Mouse on an adventure through the deep dark wood in Tall Stories’ musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. It’s a magical story that highlights values of courage and self-esteem, and illustrates the classic idea that the littlest and smartest can triumph over the big and brawny. Showcasing Tall Stories’ distinctive physical, visual performance style, The Gruffalo is full of songs, laughs, and hair-raising fun!

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FOR THE MOVIE BUFF

LOVE ACTUALLY [R]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3
8:00PM
$7.00 ADULT

With a star-studded cast featuring Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightly, and more, Richard Curtis’s Love Actually weaves the stories of eight couples together during the frantic month before Christmas. Love waxes and wanes; it changes and rearranges. These characters lives intertwine, and they’re all searching for the best Christmas gift of all – a little bit of love, actually.

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ELF [PG]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 AT 11:30AM SENSORY-FRIENDLY, 2:00PM STANDARD WITH VISIT FROM SANTA
$5.00 YOUTH, $7.00 ADULT

Elf is a Christmas comedy perfect for all ages! The story follows Buddy (Will Ferrell), a man raised as an elf in the North Pole. Buddy, after inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community, sets out on a quest to meet his father (James Caan), spreading Christmas cheer in a world of cynics all along his way. The movie also stars Bob Newhart (Papa Elf), Ed Asner (Santa), Zooey Deschanel (Jovie), Peter Dinklage (Miles Finch), and Mary Steenburg (Emily).

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: 1ST ANNUAL BREW & BUDDY RUN FOLLOWED BY ELF [PG]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
5:00PM BREW & BUDDY RUN, 7:00PM MOVIE
$25.00 ADMISSION INCLUDES BREW & BUDDY RUN + ADMISSION TO 7:00PM MOVIE AND STAINLESS STEEL SOUVENIR CUP

Starting at the Theater at 5:00PM and making a three mile loop around the Downtown area, the Brew Run includes stops at Champion and Three Notch’d for a beer at each brewery before returning to The Paramount for Elf on the Big Screen at 7:00PM. Registration fees for the run include a 2017 Brew & Buddy Run souvenir cup, one free pour at each participating brewery, $1.00 off beer purchase at The Paramount’s concessions, and admission to the 7:00PM presentation of Elf. The Brew & Buddy Run will take place snow, rain, or shine!

Please note, there are a limited number of registration spots and we do expect to sell out.

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WHITE CHRISTMAS [UNRATED]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 AT 2:00PM & 7:00PM
$5.00 YOUTH, $7.00 ADULT

Two World War II buddies, Bob (Bing Crosby) and Phil (Danny Kaye) create a top song-and-dance routine that really wows the crowds. They cross paths with two beautiful sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) who also perform a song-and-dance act. Smitten with the sister act, Bob and Phil follow the duo to an inn in Vermont, which they find is owned by their former commanding officer (Dean Jagger). Realizing the inn is failing, the foursome perform a musical extravaganza to save the business.

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THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT [PG-13]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 AT 2:00PM
$5.00 YOUTH, $7.00 ADULT

President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), widowed and nearing the end of his first term, is all but guaranteed re-election. But Shepherd’s approval ratings drop when he falls in love with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), and a rival candidate uses the relationship to his advantage.  Soon Shepherd finds himself choosing between his career and his newfound love.

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THE BIG LEBOWSKI [R]
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT 9:00PM
$7.00 ADULT

Starring Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, The Big Lebowski is an American classic written and directed by the Coen brothers. When The Dude is mistaken for a millionaire, he is commissioned to deliver a ransom for the real Lebowski’s kidnapped wife – but his plans are disrupted by when scheming friend Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) plots to keep the ransom money. Also featuring Julianne Moore and Steve Buscemi, the star-studded film includes supporting roles by John Turturro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and David Huddleston.

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FOR THE DANCE LOVER

MOSCOW BALLET PRESENTS: THE GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 AND TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
7:00PM
$30.50, $40.00, $50.50, $70.50, $104.50 GOLD CIRCLE, $177.50 PLATINUM

Celebrate this Christmas with the experience taking North America by storm! Marking the 25th North American Anniversary Tour in 2017, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker features over-the-top production values and world class Russian artists. Larger than life puppets and nesting dolls, and gloriously hand-crafted costumes bring the Christmas spirit to life.

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ROYAL OPERA BALLET LIVE IN HD: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
LIVE BROADCAST PERFORMANCE
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 1:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in Christopher Wheeldon’s exuberant ballet, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s much-loved book, live on The Paramount’s Big Screen! At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole events become curiouser and curiouser…

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AND PLAN FOR THE WHOLE 2017-18 ROYAL BALLET IN HD SEASON!
THE WINTER’S TALE
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
7:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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BERNSTEIN CENTENARY
THURSDAY, MAY 17
7:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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MANON
SATURDAY, JUNE 23
1:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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CHARLOTTESVILLE BALLET PRESENTS: A DECADE OF DANCE
SATURDAY, MAY 5 AT 7:00PM
$12.50, $35.50, $65.00

Join Charlottesville Ballet for a special 10th Anniversary Production: A Decade of Dance. Charlottesville Ballet presents its most treasured works from the repertory alongside newly commissioned pieces that showcase the Ballet’s vision for the future of dance. The program will include highlights from the Ballet Le Corsaire including the Grand Pas de Deux and the Odalisques Pas de Trois.

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FOR THE LIVE MUSIC JUNKIE

STARR HILL PRESENTS: ROBERT EARL KEEN’S FAM-O-LEE BACK TO THE COUNTRY JAMBOREE SHOW
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 AT 8:00PM
$28.50, $33.50, $43.50

Starr Hill Presents welcomes Robert Earl Keen to The Paramount Theater for a special holiday presentation of Fam-O-Lee Back To The Country Jamboree Show! Keen has blazed a peer, critic, and fan-lauded trail that have earned him living-legend and keeper of the flame status in Americana music. With 19 albums under his belt, Keen’s latest recording, “Live Dinner Reunion”, recorded at Floore’s Country Store celebrating the 20th anniversary of the quintessential No. 2 Live Dinner is the stuff of honky-tonk legend. A night that reminded us why we love live music!

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: PHIL VASSAR & KELLIE PICKLER, A CHRISTMAS TOUR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 AT 8:00PM
$29.75, $39.75, $54.75, $99.75

Lynchburg, Virginia native Phil Vassar returns to The Paramount with American Idol alum Kellie Pickler on their first joint tour! Don’t miss this live holiday event in support of their new original holiday single, “The Naughty List”!

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STARR HILL PRESENTS: SCOTT BRADLEE’S POSTMODERN JUKEBOX
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AT 8:00PM
$40.00, $45.00, $60.00, $110.00 SILVER VIP PACKAGE, $160.00 GOLD VIP PACKAGE

Imagine wandering into a nightclub somewhere on the outskirts of time. A classic jukebox in the corner plays timeless music with oddly familiar modern lyrics, incongruously marrying the 21st-century party vibe of Miley Cyrus or the minimalist angst of Radiohead with the crackly warmth of a vintage 78 or the plunger-muted barrelhouse howl of a forgotten Kansas City jazzman. The dance floor is full of revelers twerking in poodle skirts, while at the bar, well-heeled hipsters balance a martini in one hand with a smartphone in the other.

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STARR HILL PRESENTS: AN INTIMATE EVENING OF SONGS AND STORIES WITH GRAHAM NASH
FRIDAY, MARCH 9 AT 8:00PM
$36.00, $51.00, $71.00, $175.00 PREMIUM PACKAGE, $250.00 M.U.S.E./GUACAMOLE FUND, $295.00 SOUNDCHECK PACKAGE, $395.00 MEET & GREET VIP PACKAGE

Towering above virtually everything that Graham Nash has accomplished in his first seventy-five years on this planet stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of the past half-century. His remarkable body of work, beginning with his contributions to the Hollies opus from 1964 to ’68, including “Stop Stop Stop,” “Pay You Back With Interest,” “On A Carousel,” “Carrie Anne,” “King Midas In Reverse,” and “Jennifer Eccles,” continues all the way to This Path Tonight (2016), his most recent solo album.

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FOR THE COMEDY LOVER

BOB NOCEK AND T-PRESENTS: A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 8:00PM
$32.50, $42.50, $52.50, $117.50 MEET & GREET

For mature audiences.

John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, A Dirty Shame) will perform an unforgettable night of holiday mischief with his critically acclaimed one man show, A John Waters Christmas. Waters pokes fun at the holiday season with adult-appropriate humor, effectively “putting the X in Xmas,” developing a show for the open minded and slightly left-of-center audience.

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FOR THE CLASSICAL ENTHUSIAST

THE ORATORIO SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA: CHRISTMAS AT THE PARAMOUNT
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 2:30PM & 7:30PM
$10.00 CHILDREN & STUDENTS,
$25.00 REGULAR ADMISSION, $49.00 GOLD CIRCLE

Join The Oratorio Society of Virginia for this beloved Charlottesville tradition and family favorite. Music Director Michael Slon conducts a 90-person chorus composed of some of the community’s finest singers.

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MET LIVE IN HD: THE OPERA HOUSE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 12:55PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

The Opera House, a new film by award-winning documentary filmmaker Susan Froemke surveys a remarkable period of the Metropolitan Opera’s rich history and a time of great change for New York. Featuring rarely seen archival footage, stills, recent interviews, and a soundtrack of extraordinary Met performances, the film chronicles the creation of the Met’s storied home of the last 50 years.

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MET 2017-18 SEASON

HANSEL AND GRETEL
SPECIAL MET HOLIDAY PRESENTATION!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30
2:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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TOSCA
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
12:55PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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L’ELISIR D’AMORE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
12:00PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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LA BOHÈME
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24
12:30PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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SEMIRAMIDE
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
12:55PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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COSÌ FAN TUTTE
SATURDAY, MARCH 31
12:55PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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CENDRILLON
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
12:55PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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LUISA MILLER
SATURDAY, MAY 12
12:30PM
$18.00 STUDENT, $23.00 SENIOR, $25.00 ADULT

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FOR THE THEATER FAN

PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: THE OPULENCE OF INTEGRITY
A MOVEMENT ODYSSEY CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MUHAMMAD ALI
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18 AT 7:30PM
$14.75 STUDENT, $24.75 ADULT

The Opulence of Integrity is a theatrical, multimedia ensemble work influenced by the public life and inner searching of boxing’s outspoken superstar, Muhammad Ali. Inspired by Ali’s career as a boxer and life as a social activist, public martyr, and human being, choreographer Christal Brown deploys her eclectic movement vernacular that includes elements of boxing, hip-hop, martial arts, modern dance, and theater to illuminate the turmoil of a life infused by divinity yet misinterpreted by humanity.

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NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE IN HD 2017-18 SEASON

FOLLIES
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 AND SUNDAY, JANUARY 7
7:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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YOUNG MARX
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28
7:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
STARRING SIENNA MILLER!
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25
7:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

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FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTER

VIRGINIA ORGANIZING PRESENTS: A NIGHT OF COMEDY AND STORYTELLING FOR RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 7:00PM
$28.00, $48.00, $68.00
DONATION ONLY TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE. VISIT VIRGINIA-ORGANIZING.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Speakers include:

SUSAN BRO
Mother of Heather Heyer and founder of Heather Heyer Foundation.

TOM PERRIELLO
Former congressman and special envoy.

Music: Sons of Ichibei

Main Act: Ann Randolph
Award-winning playwright performing her piece Inappropriate in All the Right Ways

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BELOVED COMMUNITY CVILLE PRESENTS: I’M NOT RACIST…AM I?
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 AT 7:00PM
FREE!

I’m Not Racist…Am I? is a 90-minute feature documentary about twelve New York City teenagers who spend a year talking about racism (2014). The teens attend five intense workshops and have conversations over the course of the year. The year challenges their relationships with their friends, within their own families, and most of all, within themselves.

Join us after the screening for a discussion led by filmmakers Catherine Wigginton Greene and André Robert Lee.

MORE INFORMATION

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Returns to The Paramount

November 30, 2017

The creative minds behind The Paramount’s presentations of Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories by Eric Carle (April 2017), Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny (February 2016), The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites (January 2015), and more, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is always a welcome friend at the Theater! We are excited to work with them again in 2017 for the family-friendly stage adaptation of Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook on December 6. Learn more about the award-winning touring theatre and join us for the next enchanting live event this December.

ABOUT MERMAID THEATRE

Goodnight Moon & Runaway Bunny, 2016.
Photo by Rob Garland Photographers.

Mermaid Theatre is best known for unique stage adaptations of children’s beloved literary classics such as Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, I Love My Little Storybook, and Guess How Much I Love You. Their innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, evocative original music, and gentle storytelling have earned them an international reputation. Since their founding in 1972, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia has been making their own puppets and working with gifted artists from around the continent to bring their enchanting shows to life.

Mermaid Theatre performances are great first theater experiences for children. Their productions always welcome the audience with a preview of what they will see and invite them to speak along if they know the words, creating a positive learning environment that is encouraging of participation!

From its humble beginnings into a children’s touring theatre with a truly global audience, they have performed for nearly five million spectators on four continents. In the last decade, the theatre has averaged over 400 shows per year, playing to family audiences, young students and teachers in professional theatres, community auditoriums, and performing arts centers around Canada, U.S., and more. Mermaid Theatre has been recognized by CAPACOA with an award for Best Performing Group, and received the Crystal Tourism Ambassador Award from Nova Scotia’s tourism industry leaders in 2008. Several of their productions have earned coveted Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA.

Learn more about Mermaid Theater of Nova Scotia

ABOUT GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU & I LOVE MY LITTLE STORYBOOK

The beloved childrens’ stories Guess How Much I Love You by author Sam McBratney and illustrator Anita Jeram & I Love My Little Storybook by Anita Jeram come to life on The Paramount’s stage in Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s delightful adaptation for our youngest audience members and those young at heart. This whimsical menagerie showcases the imaginative blend of evocative music, stunning visual effects and innovative puppetry that have earned Mermaid Theatre international acclaim.

Sam McBratney’s touching bedtime account of Little Nutbrown Hare, Guess How Much I Love You, has appeared in 53 languages, with more than 28 million copies in print worldwide since its publication in 1995. A second adored story, I Love My Little Storybook by writer/illustrator Anita Jeram, features a whimsical menagerie of THE NUTBROWN HARES HEAD FOR IRELAND animals and imaginary creatures whose gentle adventures celebrate the joy of reading. Mermaid’s creative team has ably captured the enchantment of the storybook characters and their fanciful settings. Jim Morrow served as both director and production designer while Steven Naylor’s lively music score reflects the Celtic traditions shared by Nova Scotia, Ireland and Northern Ireland. The recorded narration showcases the storytelling skills of Beau Bridges.

This show employs a variety of puppetry styles to tell the two stories. The puppeteers are visible to the audience throughout the performance, but they are so skilled at bringing the puppets to life, however, that you will forget they are even there!  One scene in the show uses the visual magic of black light, where anything black becomes invisible, so you won’t see the puppeteers as they move the puppets. Along with visual storytelling, the show employs pre-recorded narration of the text for the stories, as well as pre-recorded musical score created especially for this production.

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WIN TICKETS!

Join New Dominion Bookshop on Saturday, December 2 from 1:00PM-2:00PM for story hour, which will include a ticket drawing for Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook! New Dominion will also be stationed in the Theater the evening of the show selling copies of both book titles.

There will also be a ticket drawing at the Jefferson Madison Regional Library–Central Branch on Monday, December 4 at 6:00PM. Visit the library before the drawing to enter for your chance to win a family four pack of tickets to the show!

Read our Fall 2017 Newsletter!

November 29, 2017

Our Fall 2017 Newsletter is now available online!

Stay up-to-date on all things Paramount, including recent and upcoming events, interesting by-the-numbers facts about the Theater, and our new Amazon wishlist!

Spend the Holidays at The Paramount!

November 27, 2017

Get in the holiday spirit with live holiday performances, classic seasonal films, and more at The Paramount Theater! The holiday season will open on December 1 with the Grand Illumination, followed by a free viewing of A Christmas Story [PG] at 8:30PM, presented by The Paramount in partnership with with the City of Charlottesville and the UVA Community Credit Union.

Other season highlights include a sensory-friendly screening of Elf [PG] and, The Paramount’s 1st Annual Brew & Buddy Run on December 10; a live stage adaptation of Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook on December 6; holiday films such as Love Actually [R] on December 3 and White Christmas [Unrated] on December 17; and Phil Vassar & Kellie Pickler live on stage on December 23.

Read more below and purchase your tickets today!

THE PARAMOUNT THEATER, THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, AND THE UVA COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION PRESENT: THE GRAND ILLUMINATION AND   A CHRISTMAS STORY [PG]
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 AT 8:30PM
FREE!
The Paramount Theater, the City of Charlottesville, and the UVA Community Credit Union present the Grand Illumination! Join us on the Downtown Mall as we welcome the holiday season with a community event for all, including the lighting of the community tree and a FREE screening of A Christmas Story on the Big Screen at The Paramount!

MORE INFORMATION

CHARLOTTESVILLE OPERA PRESENTS: BROADWAY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 AT 7:30PM
$50.00 GENERAL ADMISSION, $125.00 PATRON (INCLUDES RESERVED SEATING AND COMPLIMENTARY WINE)
SPONSOR TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE. CONTACT CHARLOTTESVILLE OPERA AT 434-293-4500 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Charlottesville Opera Presents: Broadway in Charlottesville, a magical evening of all-star entertainment, featuring Broadway’s brightest stars in a dazzling affair, in the Grand Lobby of The Paramount Theater. Executive Director Kevin O’Halloran and Interim Artistic Director Steve Jarvi have teamed up with New York Actor/Producer, Deborah Grausman (Sesame Street, National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof, Producer of the critically-acclaimed Broadway in the Berkshires), to assemble an illustrious cast for this one-night-only benefit. This magical event marks the first time a live ticketed performance will take place in the Grand Lobby; don’t miss this spectacular experience!

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ROYAL OPERA BALLET LIVE IN HD: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
LIVE BROADCAST PERFORMANCE 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 1:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in Christopher Wheeldon’s exuberant ballet, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s much-loved book, live on The Paramount’s Big Screen! At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole events become curiouser and curiouser… As Alice journeys through Wonderland, she encounters countless strange creatures. She’s swept off her feet by the charming Knave of Hearts, who’s on the run for stealing the tarts. Confusion piles upon confusion. Then Alice wakes with a start. Was it all a daydream?

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PARAMOUNT AT THE MOVIES PRESENTS: LOVE ACTUALLY [R]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT 8:00PM
$7.00 ADULT

With a star-studded cast featuring Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightly, and more, Richard Curtis’s Love Actually weaves the stories of eight couples together during the frantic month before Christmas. Love waxes and wanes; it changes and rearranges. These characters lives intertwine, and they’re all searching for the best Christmas gift of all – a little bit of love, actually.

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STARR HILL PRESENTS: ROBERT EARL KEEN’S FAM-O-LEE BACK TO THE COUNTRY JAMBOREE 
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 AT 8:00PM
$28.50, $33.50, $43.50

Starr Hill Presents welcomes Robert Earl Keen to The Paramount Theater for a special holiday presentation Fam-O-Lee Back To The Country Jamboree Show! Keen has blazed a peer, critic, and fan-lauded trail that have earned him living-legend and keeper of the flame status in Americana music. With 19 albums under his belt, Keen’s latest recording, “Live Dinner Reunion”, recorded at Floore’s Country Store celebrating the 20th anniversary of the quintessential No. 2 Live Dinner is the stuff of honky-tonk legend. A night that reminded us why we love live music!

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: MERMAID THEATRE OF NOVA SCOTIA’S GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU &  
I LOVE MY LITTLE STORYBOOK
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 6:00PM
$10.75 YOUTH, $15.75 ADULT

The beloved childrens’ stories Guess How Much I Love You by author Sam McBratney and illustrator Anita Jeram & I Love My Little Storybook by Anita Jeram come to life on The Paramount’s stage in Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s delightful adaptation for our youngest audience members and those young at heart. This whimsical menagerie showcases the imaginative blend of evocative music, stunning visual effects and innovative puppetry that have earned Mermaid Theatre international acclaim.

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: ELF [PG] 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
11:30AM SENSORY-FRIENDLY, 2:00PM STANDARD  
AND VISIT FROM SANTA
$5.00 YOUTH, $7.00 ADULT

Elf is a Christmas comedy perfect for all ages! The story follows Buddy (Will Ferrell), a man raised as an elf in the North Pole. Buddy, after inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community, sets out on a quest to meet his father (James Caan), spreading Christmas cheer in a world of cynics all along his way. The movie also stars Bob Newhart (Papa Elf), Ed Asner (Santa), Zooey Deschanel (Jovie), Peter Dinklage (Miles Finch), and Mary Steenburg (Emily).

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: ELF [PG] AND 1ST ANNUAL BREW & BUDDY RUN 
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
5:00PM BREW & BUDDY RUN, 7:00PM MOVIE 
$25.00 ADMISSION INCLUDES BREW & BUDDY RUN + ADMISSION TO 7:00PM MOVIE AND STAINLESS STEEL SOUVENIR CUP 

The Paramount’s 1st Annual Brew & Buddy Run, presented in partnership with Champion Brewing Company and Three Notch’d Brewing Company, is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Starting at the Theater at 5:00PM and making a three mile loop around the Downtown area, the Brew Run includes stops at Champion and Three Notch’d for a beer at each brewery before returning to The Paramount for Elf on the Big Screen at 7:00PM. Registration fees for the run include a 2017 Brew & Buddy Run souvenir cup, one free pour at each participating brewery, $1.00 off beer purchase at The Paramount’s concessions, and admission to the 7:00PM presentation of Elf. The Brew & Buddy Run will take place snow, rain, or shine!

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MOSCOW BALLET PRESENTS: THE GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 AND TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
7:00PM
$30.50, $40.00, $50.50, $70.50, $104.50 GOLD CIRCLE, $177.50 PLATINUM

Celebrate this Christmas with the experience taking North America by storm! Marking the 25th North American Anniversary Tour in 2017, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker features over-the-top production values and world class Russian artists. Larger than life puppets and nesting dolls, and gloriously hand-crafted costumes bring the Christmas spirit to life. Gather the family and see why the press raves “Knock Out!” – New York Times, “Christmas Cheer!” – LA Times. Get the best seats today and make memories of a lifetime at Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker.

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BOB NOCEK AND T-PRESENTS: A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS 
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 8:00PM
$32.50, $42.50, $52.50, $117.50 MEET & GREET
For mature audiences.

John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, A Dirty Shame) will perform a live, unforgettable night of holiday mischief with his critically acclaimed one man show, A John Waters Christmas.  Waters pokes fun at the holiday season with adult-appropriate humor, effectively “putting the X in Xmas,” developing a show for the open minded and slightly left-of-center audience.

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THE ORATORIO SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA PRESENTS: CHRISTMAS AT THE PARAMOUNT
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 AT 2:30PM & 7:30PM
$10.00 CHILDREN & STUDENTS, $25.00 REGULAR ADMISSION,  $49.00 GOLD CIRCLE

Join The Oratorio Society of Virginia for this beloved Charlottesville tradition and family favorite. Music Director Michael Slon conducts a 90-person chorus composed of some of the community’s finest singers.
In what’s become an anticipated and delightful Oratorio custom, two guest youth choruses will perform during the concerts.  Moreover, there will be an opportunity for the audience to join in the singing with the chorus, so that everyone can “sing in” the holidays together!  An accompaniment of brass, organ, and percussion rounds out what is sure to be a vibrant and heart-lifting performance.

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PARAMOUNT AT THE MOVIES PRESENTS: WHITE CHRISTMAS [UNRATED]
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 AT 2:00PM & 7:00PM
$5.00 YOUTH, $7.00 ADULT

Two World War II buddies, Bob (Bing Crosby) and Phil (Danny Kaye) create a top song-and-dance routine that really wows the crowds. They cross paths with two beautiful sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) who also perform a song-and-dance act. Smitten with the sister act, Bob and Phil follow the duo to an inn in Vermont, which they find is owned by their former commanding officer (Dean Jagger). Realizing the inn is failing, the foursome perform a musical extravaganza to save the business.

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PARAMOUNT PRESENTS: PHIL VASSAR & KELLIE PICKLER, A CHRISTMAS TOUR
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 AT 8:00PM
$29.75, $39.75, $54.75, $99.75

Lynchburg, Virginia native Phil Vassar returns to The Paramount with American Idol alum Kellie Pickler on their first joint tour! Don’t miss this live holiday event in support of their new original holiday single, “The Naughty List”!

Phil Vassar’s incisive, soulful lyrics and infectious melodies captures audiences of all ages.  Phil has a strong social media fan base with followers spanning 45+ countries on 6 continents. His fans love his energetic shows and keep coming back for more as no two shows are ever alike.

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MET LIVE IN HD: HANSEL AND GRETEL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 AT 2:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

A Met English-language holiday presentation, Richard Jones’s clever production of Humperdinck’s fairy-tale opera is based on the Brothers Grimm story. Donald Runnicles conducts the sweeping score and a delightful cast, including the legendary Dolora Zajick as the wayward siblings’ mother. Tara Erraught and Ingeborg Gillebo share the role of Hansel, and Lisette Oropesa and Maureen McKay share the role of Gretel.

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NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE IN HD PRESENTS: FOLLIESSATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 AT 7:00PM
$10.50 STUDENT, $12.50 SENIOR, $14.50 ADULT

Stephen Sondheim‘s legendary musical is staged for the first time at the National Theatre and broadcast live to cinemas.

Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and Imelda Staunton play the magnificent Follies in this dazzling new production. Featuring a cast of 37 and an orchestra of 21, it’s directed by Dominic Cooke (The Comedy of Errors).

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Manhattan Short Film Festival Brings in Record Submissions

September 26, 2017

Pictured: Viola, Franca; 8 Minutes; Just Go!; Hope Dies Last

Paramount Presents: Manhattan Short Film Festival
Friday, September 29, 2017
7:00PM
$11.00 Student, $15.00 Adult

Film-lovers can unite with over 100,000 fellow viewers around the world during the week of September 28 through October 8 when the 20th Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival screens at The Paramount on Friday, September 29!

CLICK HERE for the full film line-up and tickets!

The 10 MANHATTAN SHORT finalists hail from nine countries with films from Syria, Latvia and Georgia representing their respective countries for the first time in this event. Two short films hail from Spain, the only country with multiple Final 10 selections. These Final 10 short films represent the best short films among a record 1615 submissions from 75 countries received by MANHATTAN SHORT for 2017, testimony to the enduring vibrancy and creativity of short films. This year’s Final 10 represent an extraordinary range of film genres with comedy, drama, horror, sci-fi, animation and martial arts short films all part of the MANHATTAN SHORT program.

About Manhattan Short:
MANHATTAN SHORT began in 1998, when Mason screened 16 short films onto a screen mounted to the side of a truck on Mulberry Street, Little Italy New York City. A year later the Festival moved uptown to Union Square Park in New York City. MANHATTAN SHORT transformed into a worldwide phenomenon, becoming the only film festival on the planet that unfolds, simultaneously, in more than 250 cinemas on six continents, bringing over 100,000 film-lovers in all corners of the globe together for one week, via the next generation of filmmakers. Click here to read how it all began.

Charlottesville Downtown Street Fair

September 19, 2017

YOUR CHANCE TO OWN POSTERS FROM PAST EVENTS!

FRIDAY 9/22 & SATURDAY 9/23

12PM-6PM | Charlottesville Downtown Mall

Experience the best of Charlottesville on the Downtown Mall at Tomtoberfest from Friday, September 22 through Saturday, September 23! Over 45 participating restaurants and retailers will feature special sales and street food-inspired dishes at pop-up shops, including The Paramount.

Stop by our “Sidewalk Sale” outside the Theater for your chance to purchase posters from past events such as live performances, movies, broadcasts, and more! Also available for purchase is Paramount gear including heat activated mugs, water bottles, and ornaments.

We’ll see you there!

Celebrating National Arts in Education Week

September 14, 2017

September 11-15 is National Arts in Education Week!

Passed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275 designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week. During this week, the field of arts education and its supporters join together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education. The Paramount is celebrating this week, and with the upcoming season of ten world class productions for young audiences, we will be celebrating all year. We hope you will join us!

Has The Paramount’s Arts Education program shaped you? Share on social media using the tag #BecauseOfArtsEd (and be sure to also tag The Paramount!).

Don’t miss our upcoming Arts Education season!

 

Join Us for a Sensory-Friendly Screening of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians!

September 13, 2017

 

On Sunday, September 17, The Paramount Theater presents two special screenings of Disney’s animated classic 101 Dalmatians [G] including a sensory-friendly presentation at 11:30AM!

The sensory-friendly screening will provide a positive viewing experience that is welcoming to all individuals, including those with sensory sensitivities. A few special accommodations patrons may notice during the screening include:

  • Sound levels reduced
  • House lights will remain on at a low level
  • Ear plugs will be available upon request
  • Audience members will be welcome to enter and exit the theater as needed. There will also be a space to walk and move around easily in the lobby.
  • When possible, there will be a quiet room on located on the fourth floor for those who need to take a break from the film.

For more information, please call the Box Office at 434.979.1333.

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MORE FAMILY EVENTS COMING SOON TO THE PARAMOUNT THEATER:

Paramount Presents: Scotty McCreery

Saturday, September 23 at 8:00PM

$29.75, $39.75, $49.75, $79.75

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Paramount Presents: Pilobolus

Appropriate for ages 12 and older.

Thursday, October 12 at 8:00PM

$39.75, $44.75, $54.75

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Paramount Presents: Hocus Pocus [PG]

Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 2:00PM

$5.00 Youth, $7.00 Adult

Featuring a special Halloween costume contest!

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Paramount Presents: Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas

Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 11:30AM and 6:00PM

$14.75, $24.50

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A Tribute To Heather Heyer

August 17, 2017

Memorial Service 

Heather Heyer

Wednesday, August 16

A Day of Healing

The family of Heather Heyer welcomed family and friends to The Paramount Theater for a memorial service on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 11:00AM. The Paramount Theater was honored to be a part of this day of healing for both Heather’s family and for the Charlottesville community.

The family was honored with a full house at both The Paramount and The Jefferson Theater. Amongst the attendees were politicians, dignitaries, and civic and community leaders. Cathy Brinkley welcomed the community to the memorial service. Eulogies were given by the following: Elwood Shrader, Grandfather; Mark Heyer, Father; Rev. Harold Bare; Denise Ratcliff-Kennedy, Cousin; Diana Ratcliff, Cousin; Feda Khateeb-Wilson, Friend; Alfred Wilson, Friend; and Susan Bro, Mother. Final remarks were given by Rev. Alvin Edwards and  Barbara Edwards sang a beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace”.

Thank you to the many community members who made today’s event at The Paramount possible including the City of Charlottesville Police, The Jefferson Theater, and Joe Rice, the City of Charlottesville Communications Coordinator with many more thanks you to come.

Photos courtesy of Rob Garland Photographers

Heather Danielle Heyer, 32, of Charlottesville, Virginia was suddenly taken away from this life on Saturday, August 12, 2017.  She was born in Charlottesville Virginia on May 29, 1985, the daughter of Susan Diane Bro and Mark Heyer.

Heather spent her formative years in Ruckersville, Virginia and was a graduate of William Monroe High School. She was a valued employee of the Miller Law Group and especially loved her work in the bankruptcy department. She was an outspoken, outgoing, determined and passionate individual and had a special regard for social injustices and especially those concerning race relations.  Her favorite pastime was hanging out with friends and family.

She leaves to carry on her memory her beloved mother, Susan Diane Bro of Ruckersville, Virginia; her beloved father, Mark Heyer of Florida; beloved step-father, Kim Bro; a brother, Nickolas Heyer of North Carolina; maternal grandparents, Barbra and Elwood Shrader of Ruckersville, Virginia; paternal grandparents, Donald and Eunice Heyer of Florida; an aunt, Linda Holcomb of Florida; and a host of other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, at the Paramount Theater, 215 E. Main St., Charlottesville, Virginia.

Please wear something purple.

J. F. Bell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.jfbellfuneralservices.com