Tag: blastfromthepast

“Son of a nutcracker!” While The Paramount’s Annual Brew & Buddy Run is still a somewhat new tradition, it’s quickly become a Charlottesville favorite! The Brew & Buddy Run was derived from the 2003 hit movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human who grew up with elves in Santa’s workshop.

The Run begins at The Paramount, and our runners – dressed properly for the occasion – travel in a loop around the downtown area, with one stop at Three Notch’d Brewing Co. and another at Champion Brewery. At each location, they receive a free pour before continuing on their run! Upon their return to the Theater, each participant receives a souvenir pint, and then everyone settles in for a costume contest, followed by a screening of Elf. It’s always a fun event, and one we definitely look forward to when the holiday season comes around each year!

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

The “little orchestra” Pink Martini is no stranger to The Paramount’s stage! Featuring a dozen musicians and songs in 25 languages, their unique sound combines jazz, classical, and old-fashioned pop. A Paramount favorite, Pink Martini performed for a nearly full house at their most recent performance in 2018.

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

When The Paramount Theater opened originally in 1931, it was as a grand movie palace. While today we bring many arts performances to our stage and screen, we proudly carry on the original legacy when we broadcast classics, family favorites, and more. Last summer, we screened Disney’s original Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews, and would you believe it, Mary Poppins herself flew down to The Paramount with her magic umbrella! The Paramount’s Events Coordinator, Emily Jackson, recounts her experience of dressing up as the beloved Disney character:

“Becoming Mary Poppins and welcoming folks to The Paramount to watch this classic film is, by far, my favorite memory during my time at the Theater (so far!). It was a perfect warm day on the Downtown Mall (something I really miss right now), where I received so many waves, smiles, and hugs from complete strangers, young and old. I can’t wait to welcome our community back so we can all continue to experience the magic of movies at The Paramount!”

The Paramount is dedicated to providing a 5-star experience for our patrons, and our Mary Poppins meet-and-greet was what we like to call a “5-star add-on.” Whenever we show a movie, we try to do a little something “extra,” just to show you how much we appreciate your patronage. If you attended Casablanca, you likely received a Valentine and chocolate, and if you attended The Muppet Movie, you might’ve gotten a temporary tattoo or a coloring page. Did you vote for the Oscars at our screening of Green Book? These are just a few examples of our 5-star add-ons. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy coming up with them!

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know we will suffer a devastating loss of revenue as a local nonprofit theater. Please consider making a donation to The Paramount.

Photos by Mary Margaret Holden

The National Geographic Live! series is a Paramount favorite! Underwater photographer Brian Skerry was one of the first Nat Geo photographers to take to The Paramount’s stage in this riveting series. Mr. Skerry’s talk, Ocean Soul, centered on our world’s oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. He enraptured the audience with his stunning photos of sharks, seals, dolphins, and other amazing creatures of the deep!

Have you been to a National Geographic Live! event at The Paramount? Which has been your favorite so far, and who would you like to see on stage in the future?

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

Classically trained hip hop duo Black Violin performed at The Paramount while on their Classical Boom Tour in the fall of 2018. Before they brought the house down at their evening performance, the duo performed for a student-filled auditorium as part of the Arts Education Program. Kev Marcus and Will B. shared their inspiring stories and encouraged the students to break stereotypes and pursue their dreams.

Visit our Facebook or Instagram pages to check out a 30-second time lapse of the concert, courtesy of The Paramount’s Systems Specialist, Rylie Peacher. (If you are sensitive to flashing lights, please view with caution.)

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo performed for an ecstatic audience at The Paramount last spring. Delightfully eccentric and spectacular, this all-male ballet troupe graced our stage en travesti, displaying not only their incredible skills, but also their humor as they poked fun at the conventions of classical ballet.

We had the opportunity to interview the Trocks last spring, and not only did they share a bit about themselves, they also gave some insight into their danseur personas. Alberto Pretto, for example, performs as Nina Immobliashvili, “the Great Terror of the international ballet word,” and Stanislas Kokitch, “The Forgotten Man of ballet.” Another Trock, Giovanni Ravelo, performs as Irina Kolesterolikova who “was discovered…adrift in a basket on the River Neva by kindly peasants,” and Boris Mudko, “a drunken but talented Russian.” To read more about the Trocks and their personas, scroll back through our Instagram page to April 2019.

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

Did you spend the holidays at The Paramount? This holiday season, we held our inaugural Holiday Evening Candlelight Tours of the Historic Theater. Not only were these tours a wonderful opportunity to see the Theater in all its festive splendor, they also gave families the chance to pass their love for The Paramount down to the next generation.

One Candlelight Tour patron, who brought her grandsons along to experience the magic, was particularly pleased with the tour and left us the following review: “Our tour was fabulous through the entire candlelit halls, up and down, ALL around. From every thoughtfully decorated tree to each very special staff member and very sharp docent, Board members, volunteers – oh my! They fed our minds as each station leader educated us. In the quiet and beauty and knowledge, these men and women flawlessly created true Holiday Spirit for our hearts. And the unexpected dessert bar and [specialty drinks] truly set the stage for gratitude to all who labor at our beloved Paramount on Virginians’ behalf. No wonder authors, entertainers, scientists, and school children say they want to come back again and again! Thank you. Thank you.”

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

Superstar soprano Renée Fleming is no stranger to The Paramount’s stage! Today’s “Blast From the Past” features the renowned opera singer both in her first Paramount performance in 2015, and in her most recent one earlier this month. Both times, her incredible voice enraptured the audience. After receiving a standing ovation at her most recent performance, she stunned the audience yet again with an encore aria.

You can see Ms. Fleming during tonight’s free Met broadcast of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at 7:30PM EST. Visit the Met’s website to learn how you can watch!

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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

On Friday, September 23, 2016 we were honored to welcome country music legend Kenny Rogers to our stage. It was a special evening at The Paramount for more than 1,000 friends of the Theater. From “Islands in the Stream” to “Coward of the County”, “The Gambler” and “Lucille” he performed hit after hit to an enthusiastic and thankful crowd.

Avid Paramount Star Circle Member, Volunteer, and patron-extraordinaire Heather Walker shared in a tribute to Mr. Rogers earlier today about her memory from the performance. “We were so lucky to see Kenny Rogers perform live at The Paramount. He was so kind during our meet and greet! He gave me an autographed tambourine at the end of the night!”

Today’s news that he passed away brought a flood of memories from this night, along with extreme thankfulness for the music he shared with us so many for decades. If you were in attendance, we would LOVE to hear YOUR special moments and memories of the evening, too. Please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages to leave a comment as we remember together this legendary performer.

Photos by Rob Garland Photographers

Patti LaBelle had the audience on their feet when she took to The Paramount’s stage in 2017. Her contagious energy filled the auditorium – it was impossible not to dance!

The Paramount’s Front of House Operations Manager, Malcolm Dyson, was a relatively new employee at the time. “It was the first big show I worked, and the Founders Lounge was as lively as I’ve ever seen it,” he shared. “I only caught the last couple of songs, but it was great to see a true Philly legend performing on stage in Charlottesville.”

While we are diligently working to reschedule many of our spring events, which contribute significantly toward our yearly operating budget, we know 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