Paramount announces
Fall 2008 Series

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

July 14, 2008

View the Fall 2008 Series schedule

Charlottesville’s Paramount Theater proudly announces its latest schedule of performances for Fall 2008. The 22-act series, which runs through January 2009, continues The Paramount’s commitment to offering a diverse selection of world-class musical concerts, comedians, theatrical performances, dance companies, and family programming.

The series features Grammy Award-winning artists who will grace The Paramount’s stage for the first time:

• genre-bending pianist and singer/songwriter Bruce Hornsby (jointly appearing with Paramount bluegrass favorite Ricky Skaggs);
• acclaimed R&B/pop vocalist Natalie Cole performing contemporary standards and popular favorites in support of her Fall 2008 release Still Unforgettable;
• drummer for The Band, Americana icon, and 2007 Best Folk Recording recipient Levon Helm;
• and three-time CMA winner Travis Tritt performing with his longtime friend, country music renaissance man and Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart in a truly Southern melding of country, R&B, and blues.

Tickets for all performances in The Paramount’s Fall 2008 Series go on sale in July. The series is first offered to Paramount Theater members in a pre-sale period beginning Tuesday, July 15 for top level contributors and Tuesday, July 22 for all members. Anyone not currently a member of the theater may take advantage of early ticket purchasing during the pre-sale period by making a tax-deductible membership contribution when placing an order.

Fall 2008 events will be available to the general public beginning Tuesday, July 29. Tickets may be purchased through the theater’s website, www.theparamount.net, and The Paramount Box Office (434.979.1333).

“The Paramount is dedicated to presenting world-class artists and entertainers and top-level educational opportunities for the benefit of our community and the Central Virginia region,” said Larry Wilson, Acting General Manager for The Paramount and General Manager for John Paul Jones Arena. “The new series advances this charitable mission, while promoting accessibility for local organizations and diverse audiences. We continually endeavor to expand The Paramount’s opportunities for outreach and service.”

Other performances for Fall 2008 include:

• Concerts with folk rock/punk artist and activist Billy Bragg; a second generation of straight-ahead jazz/fusion and traditionally-Brubeck “odd” time signatures with The Brubeck Brothers Quartet; and New Orleans R&B/jazz pianist and singer Allen Toussaint
• Comedic offerings from the five on-air finalists of NBC’s ‘Last Comic Standing’ Live Tour, timeless funny men The Smothers Brothers, and the political satire of The Capitol Steps -- appearing less than two weeks before November’s presidential election
• Diverse dance evenings featuring authentic flamenco to live music as performed by Compañía Flamenco José Porcel, the return of Momix with another mind-bending program, and the all-male, pointe shoe-clad Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
• Holiday-themed events including the hilarious Southern satire A Tuna Christmas, the jazzed-up Home for the Holidays featuring Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s big band celebration In the Christmas Mood, and annual traditions with The Oratorio Society of Virginia’s Christmas at The Paramount and Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s yearly performance of A Christmas Carol
• Beats of world music and cultures as presented by the Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa and sung by the uniquely inspirational Soweto Gospel Choir
• Family programs for young patrons with Tall Stories Theatre Company’s musical adaptation of the award-winning book The Gruffalo and TheatreworksUSA’s presentation of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Paramount also continues to serve as “Charlottesville’s Largest Classroom for the Performing Arts” through The Paramount Theater Arts Education Program. In 2008-09, eight ArtsReach education performances geared for elementary, middle, and high school students will offer school time opportunities for young people to experience the performing arts.

More information about the new Fall 2008 Series is available online or by calling the box office at 434.979.1333.