Charlottesville's Largest Classroom for the Arts
The Paramount Theater Arts Education Program
Thank you for a very successful 2008-2009 season! Approximately 10,000 students and teachers from all over central Virginia attended Arts Education performances.
2009-10 Arts Education Performances go on sale Monday, August 24, 2009 at 9 am. Brochures will be sent to schools in early August.
Believing that a passion for the performing begins at an early age, The Paramount is committed to presenting the finest arts education programming through ArtsReach performances for area school children. As a result of the generosity of our Education Partners, The Paramount is able to make these programs accessible to ALL children in Central Virginia by offering performances at a reduced cost.
CLICK HERE for The Paramount Theater Arts Education Program Mission Statement, Values and Goals.
CLICK HERE for information on becoming an Education Partner.
ArtsReach school time shows give our youngest audience members opportunities to experience the performing arts in our historic Paramount Theater. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults. Reservations are required. Grade level designations are meant as guidelines.
Enchantment Theatre Company
The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon
Thursday, October 8, 2009
10:30 AM and 12:30 PM
(Grades Pre-K – 3)
"One evening, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight."
So begins Harold and the Purple Crayon, the first of seven delightful picture books by Crockett Johnson, following the zany adventures of an inventive young boy. As it turned out, there wasn't any moon that night nor was there a path to walk on, so Harold simply drew them. And thus his journey began. Resourceful and brave, Harold creates the world he wants to explore, using nothing more than a big purple crayon and his sky's-the-limit imagination. Enchantment Theatre Company's production will take you on a wild ride as Harold jets to Mars (shooting stars, spaceships!), joins a circus (he walks a tightrope!), and meets a king in an enchanted garden (of course, there's a dragon). Â Using life-size puppets, masks, magic and music, Enchantment's production will delight and amaze!
http://www.enchantmenttheatre.org/shows/harold.html
Tall Stories Theater Company
Room on the Broom
Friday, October 16, 2009
10:30 AM and 12:30 PM
(Grades Pre-K – 3)
Room on the Broom tells the story of
a witch and her cat who set out to fight a witch-hunting dragon. Along the way, Witch loses her hat, bow and wand, and each time she recovers an item she makes a friend. But her broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK – the broom snaps in two! When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Room on the Broom is a musical adaptation of the best selling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.Â
http://tallstories.org.uk/shows/room-on-the-broom
Barter Theatre
Of Mice and Men
Thursday, November 12, 2009
10:30 AM
(Grades 7-12)
John Steinbeck's captivating tale of the unique friendship between two traveling workers, George and
Lennie, and their quest for the American dream is brought to life by one of the nation's oldest professional regional theatres. This timeless American masterpiece illuminates the power of a dream
and its ability to connect people and provide hope for a brighter future. But as all too often happens, "the best laid schemes o' mice and men" go awry in this powerful production.
Mad Science Productions 
CSI: LIVE!
Friday, November 13, 2009
10:30 AM and 12:30 PM
(Grades 3-6)
Mad Science presents CSI: LIVE!, an exciting, interactive journey through the fascinating world of crime scene investigations. When a crime is committed at the premiere of a Las Vegas Magic Show, Sydney Mathis and David Hart play the roles of CSI investigators and spring into action. With the help of supervisor Gil Grissom and a room full of audience recruits, they will use their superior logic and forensic know-how to investigate the evidence and test their theories. Whether it’s analyzing mysterious gasses, launching experimental projectiles or firing lasers across the scene of the crime, the CSI team will work together to solve the crime. It’s CSI: LIVE!—join the adventure!
Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour
Chasing George Washington:A White House Adventure
Friday, February 26, 2010
10:30 AM
(Grades 3-7)
Field trips are fun, especially when your destination is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! In this charming and exciting new musical, Dee, José, and Annie accidentally knock George Washington out of his portrait and into real life — turning their White House tour into an unexpected adventure. As they try to get the nation’s First President back into his painting, the threesome encounters Jacqueline Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd, Dolley Madison, and other famous White House residents. Together, they learn that the White House isn't just a historic building… it’s also a home.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/family/ontour/season.cfm
STREB - RAW
Thursday, March 4, 2010
10:30 AM
(
Grades K-12)
The STREB Extreme Action Company show, STREB: RAW, combines the disciplines of dance, gymnastics, and circus arts with the outcome of exquisite and amazing human flight and a wild action sport which captures the hearts, minds, and bodies of all ages.  MacArthur 'Genius' Award-winning choreographer, Elizabeth Streb, brings an original and iconoclastic vision to every aspect of her work.  Streb’s creative process draws from the sciences and mathematics, requires the design and construction of beautifully engineered equipment, and demands that her dancers be athletic, fearless, and precise.
Dallas Children’s Theater
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: The Jackie Robinson Story
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
10:30 AM and 12:30 PM
(Grades 4-8)
The triumphant story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play professional major league baseball, chronicles the young athlete’s nonviolent struggle to integrate what was once considered a “white man’s game”. Robinson overcomes threats, taunts and other forms of racism, putting aside his own pride and anger for the good of all African American players. Through it all, Jackie’s courage and dignity under enormous pressure opened the gates of the ballpark for other African Americans and changed the entire nation.
Underground Railway Theater 
How Do You Spell Hope?
Monday, April 19, 2010
10:30 AM
(Grades 3-12)
Celebrating the power of literacy, three inspiring stories of courage and compassion are woven together and performed on a giant theatrical pop-up book. Â Written by Kennedy Center award-winning playwright Melinda Lopez, How Do You Spell Hope? inspires young readers through the story of Frederick Douglass. Douglass, a former slave, taught himself to read, and became a brilliant writer and one of our nation’s great orators. As Douglass himself proclaimed, “On the day I learned to read, I became free”. In addition to the central story of Douglass, the play weaves two other true and inspiring narratives of individuals who overcame great obstacles to learn to read: the stories of Peter Hams (a teenage star athlete who overcomes dyslexia) and Marta Gonzales (an immigrant woman who learns to read as an adult in English, her second language). The combination of live actors, music, and puppets is sophisticated, surprising, and delightful. Hope dovetails with any curriculum about African American history, as well as any programs in literacy English, and community building.
http://www.centralsquaretheater.org/touring_urt.html
Evening performances for the public are available for many of this season’s education programs. Dates, times, and ticket information will be available online.
GETTING READY FOR YOUR VISIT
Below are two documents to help you get ready for your visit to the theater:
Things to Know for Your Day at The Paramount Theater
This document provides directions to The Paramount, as well as bus stop information and places to eat.
Bus Parking Map for Paramount Theater Educational Performances
This map shows available bus parking at Burley Middle School.
If you have further questions, please contact Cathy von Storch at The Paramount at 434-979-1922, ext 100, or e-mail catherinevonstorch@theparamount.net.
All education programs are subject to change.
Site Design and Development By Dominion Digital