Registration is almost open for the 2013-2014 Student Matinee Season, but for now we are thrilled to announce the shows being offered to our school audiences for 13-14 school year!

Check back at: http://www.austintheare.org/studentmatinees  - Registration will be open very soon!

The Science of Magic
Mon, October 21st at 10 AM & Noon
Tues, October 22nd at 10 AM & Noon

The great Harry Houdini played the Paramount in 1916 and now the Paramount Theatre is bringing magic (AND SCIENCE!) back to the stage!

For centuries magicians have used scientific principles to make people levitate in mid-air and vanish in the blink of an eye. Illusionist Bill Blagg’s one-of-a-kind educational experience, The Science of Magic takes students on a rare, never-before-seen journey “behind the scenes” of the magic world. Students will discover firsthand how magicians use the Scientific Method to create the impossible!

Premiering at the Paramount in 2012, Bill Blagg returns with even more thrilling examples of how all magic can be explained by science!

Best for 1st Grade and Up!

Tomás and the Library Lady
A bi-lingual play celebrating diversity and literacy!
Based on the book of the same name by Pat Mora.
Mon, November 18th at 10 AM & Noon
Tues, November 19th at 10 AM & Noon

Tomás loves stories. As the young son of migrant farm workers, he spends the summer with his family following the crops north from Texas to Iowa, passing long days in the fields listening to his grandfather tell stories and practicing English translations. A chance encounter brings him to the local Carnegie Library. Once there, he meets a “library lady” who recognizes his thirst for knowledge and encourages him to read. His delight in books is equaled by his pride in teaching the librarian Spanish, trading knowledge and respect between generations and cultures.

Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who became the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what reading—and self-respect—can make possible.

Best for Kinder and Up!

Sleeping Beauty Dreams
A US premiere and co-commission between the Kennedy Center and Marionetas de la Esquina from Mexico City.
Mon,December 2nd at 10 AM & Noon
Tues, December 3rd at 10 AM (Spanish Language Performance)
Tues, December 3rd at Noon

Join us for this incredible puppet adaptation of one of our most beloved fairytales! And for the first time – one school performance will be completely in Spanish!

Marionetas de la Esquina, a puppet theater company from Mexico, has been entertaining children and adults alike since 1975. Its Sleeping Beauty Dreams, written by award-winning playwright Amaranta Leyva, reimagines the famous princess as an overprotected daughter looking for a way to break free of her castle walls in order to search for true love…and her true self. A contemporary look at this classic tale, Marionetas de la Esquina’s humorous storytelling and whimsical puppetry awake this sleeping princess as never before.

Best for Pre-K and Up!

PAIGE IN FULL
A hip-hop theatre production exploring issues surrounding bullying, identity, self-esteem, healthy relationships and of course…hip hop!
One day only! – Wednesday, January 15th 10 AM & Noon

Paige in Full is a visual mix-tape that blends poetry, dance, visual arts and live music to tell the tale of a multicultural girl growing up in the 80’s. The production explores how a young woman’s identity is shaped by her ethnicity and popular culture, telling a personal, yet universal, story through the lens of hip-hop. Part comedy, part pain, and part retrospective on growing up, we experience Paige trying desperately to fit in, before finding her voice, accepting herself and becoming one of the most fascinating artists to watch of this generation.

Middle & High School Only!

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – The Musical
Coming to us direct from the UK!
Based on the award winning book by Michael Rosen
Mon, February 10th at 10 AM & Noon

Michael Rosen’s award-winning book We’re Going On A Bear Hunt is brought vividly and noisily to the stage in director Sally Cookson’s fun-filled adaptation set to Benji Bower’s versatile lively score. Join our intrepid adventurers on their quest to find a bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud! Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty of hands-on adventure – plus a few special surprises!

Best for Pre-K and Up!

Corbian Visual Arts & Dance, in collaboration with Lightwire Theater Presents:
DiNO-LIGHT!
Monday, March 31st at 10 AM & Noon
Lightwire & Corbian return to the Paramount Theatre with their incredible glow in the dark adventure: DiNO-LIGHT!

Where electroluminescent creatures light up the darkness in a heart-rending original tale. Truly unique and visually dazzling, DiNO has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance audiences all over the world.

“An eye-popping display of storytelling that’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen. Corbian Visual Arts and Dance is a force to be reckoned with” – broadwayworld.com

Best 2nd Grade and up!

Stacey Volland and I have had an amazing time working at Pickle Elementary School this year.  Through the T5 program (Teaching the TEKS Through Theatre) we spent 8 months with a group of 4th graders working to understand various concepts in science.  We worked on everything from mixtures and solutions, to the water cycle, to different forms of energy.   Today, at our last session, we were presented with some cards to thank us for coming, they also demonstrated lots of the learning that happened in class.  

We sat down with local artists Katie Kohler, who is a Paramount Story Wrangler, and asked her about her experiences with the Wranglers.

What is a Paramount Story Wrangler?

A creative collaborator who brings children’s written stories to the stage before their very eyes.  They share a passion for the arts and for extending artistic opportunities to others.

What makes the Paramount Story Wranglers special?

The people who come together to put up the shows, the kids who write the stories and their reactions when they see their story performed, the teachers and parents that also see and hear about the kids’ excitement and creativity.

What’s your favorite memory of being a Paramount Story Wrangler?

The song at Blackshear Elementary “Rock Out”…Just Awesome…It was my first Paramount Story Wrangler show.  So Happy.

Many times the Story Wranglers gives back to us adults too.  The Paramount Story Wranglers helps me get over my fear of singing in front of others to better my acting career.

Keep up to date with all things Story Wranglers by liking us on Facebook.

We are REALLY excited to announce Maggie May will be the instructor for our Stand Up Comedy Intensive.  Maggie Maye has always had a knack for making people laugh. From her first time on stage, she knew she loved stand up more than she loved candy. Well, it’s actually a tie, but still, that’s a lot. Maggie has been called one of the funniest comics in Austin, has been a finalist in the Funniest Person in Austin contest, and was featured in Austin Monthly magazine. I’ll bet you can probably guess where this broad lives. She’s also been a featured performer at FunFunFun Fest, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and the Women in Comedy Festival. She has had the opportunity to share the stage with such awesome performers as Todd Berry, Earth Wind and Fire, Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garofalo and the legendary Paul Mooney. Also, this 6-year-old once told her she was the funniest person ever, so she’s got that going for her. Maggie likes to use her charm, wit and backhanded form of observational humor to make people laugh and think. Please give her candy and tell her it’s working.

To sign up for the Stand Up Comedy Intensive click here.

To see Maggie May Perform during Moontower click here.

Boats is visiting the Stateside Theatre from Tasmania! Students have been participating in pre-show workshops for the past three weeks to prepare for the performance. You can check out our public Playtime Series performances on April 13^th and 14^th! Pre-show crafts will begin an hour before the curtain. Here is a sneak peak of the study guide that all kids in attendance will receive!  Boats_StudyGuide

Also Do512 has a family 4 pack to give away for both 4:30 shows this weekend.  Check out our great write up here.

After a winter of slumber, teaching, and lots of oatmeal cream pies The Paramount Story Wranglers are bringing to life stories from Allison, Hart, Brentwood and Highland Park Elementary this semester.

The Paramount Story Wranglers wrote with over 200 students this semester and have collected all of their journals to create 4 awesome musical-sketch-silly-hungry shows that showcase all of these talented young artists and authors.

Tomáš Kubínek is an interesting fellow and if you were the kind who analyzes such things you would say his act is pretty simple.  He merely partners short works of physical comedy, with magical slights of hand, contortionism, and audience participation, but the result is an absolutely delightful evening of classic vaudevillian entertainment. Billed as a Certified Lunatic and Master of the Impossible, the one and only Dr. Professor Tomáš Kubínek is a comic genius, virtuoso vaudevillian, and all-round charmer who gives audiences an utterly joyous experience they’ll remember for a lifetime. Something super unique and different!

Tomáš Kubínek was born in Prague.  At the age of 3, he was smuggled out of the country by his parents to escape the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.  After two months in a refugee camp in Austria, the Kubínek family was granted asylum in Canada.   It was there that Tomáš witnessed his first circus.  He became passionately interested in clowns, circus, theater, and magic. He has appeared in over 30 countries in theaters, opera houses, international festivals of theatre and humor, in television specials, and on Broadway.

But on Wednesday, March 28^th – one day before he played the Paramount Theatre for the first time – Tomáš proved himself to be much more than just a clown when he offered to give an intimate, private performance for the girls and residents of the Settlement Home in North Central Austin. The Settlement Home for Children works with youth who are in the foster care system. It is a treatment center for girls and they also have their own Foster & Adoption program. Their on-site treatment center works with girls age 12-20 and their foster family program works with boys and girls 0-18.  On Wednesday night Tomáš performed for over 30 teenaged girls, on site, and gave them an experience that many of them rarely ever have.

While the Settlement Home is part of the Paramount’s Access to the Arts program, a program that invites young members of Austin Non-profits to the theatre free of charge, the home isn’t always able to take the theatre up on offers for free tickets because of the logistics of getting so many girls downtown in the evenings or a myriad of other reasons. Pippa Peart, the Program Support Coordinator at the Settlement Home, told us that having time to be together, laughing and being silly is such a special opportunity for their girls. She was incredibly grateful that the Paramount was able to bring Tomáš on site so that a good number of their girls would have the opportunity to see the performance; and quite frankly, so that they could have a laugh.   With so many of their residents in the foster care system, sometimes a simple laugh can go a long way.

Tomáš did a portion of his full length show at the Settlement Home, but also treated the girls to some special moments that weren’t in the evening performance.  What made the experience really special was Tomáš taking almost 20-30 minutes after his performance to field questions from the girls that raged anywhere from: What famous people have you met and where have you traveled to?  To specifics about his “tricks” and how he maintains his body so it is flexible enough to do some of the physical bits he does in his show.  (Apparently, he fills his bathtub with vinegar every night and gives himself a good soak.  Or maybe he just stretches, eats well and was born skinny.  You guess which one is the real answer!) Frankly, he would have continued to answer questions all night long if the girls’ curfew hadn’t come upon us.

While the touring schedules of many Paramount acts keeps them from being able to offer such amazing gestures of community engagement and outreach, the theatre is always trying to find ways of bringing young people closer to the artists, especially those young people who would never have these opportunities if the Paramount wasn’t able to create them. It is our goal to facilitate more of these moments every season, and hopefully in turn, creating lasting memories for some of the amazing young people in our community.

Jennifer Luck, Education & Outreach Director with the Paramount Theatre gives a huge thank you to Tomáš Kubínek for his special performance at the Settlement Home.

For more info about Tomáš Kubínek check out: www.kubinek.com

For more info about The Settlement Home check out: www.settlementhome.org

Each summer the Paramount Theatre partners with the City of Austin/Travis County’s Work Based Learning Summer Youth Employment program to hire 20-25 high school students for our Youth Theatre Company.   The Paramount Youth Theatre Company brings together high school students to create an original piece of theatre about issues important to the community.  This original play captures the students’ unique voices through a variety of activities such as personal journaling, dramatic improvisation, dance, and songwriting.  The students work together to develop this new play that is ultimately performed on the historic Paramount stage.   The program has been in existence since 2009 and continues to inspire and challenge both the student artists and the audiences who have the privilege of seeing their great work on stage.

Every student is required to attend a job readiness training in order to qualify for the program through the city/county and we held ours on March 2^nd & 3^rd here at the Paramount.   We spent 10 hours with our potential ensemble members and could not be more thrilled with the students who will be joining us in the summer.  If they qualify, they will each be paid minimum wage, 20 hour a week, for 5 week – TO MAKE ART!!!  We love this program and love that the city/county sees that making theatre as a summer job is a valuable one!

The rehearsal process will be June 10^th – July 12^th from 1-5 pm every Monday – Friday and the final performance will be at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 2 pm.   This performance is open to the public and you don’t want to miss it!

Check out the video of the full length, 2012 Paramount Youth Theatre Company production: WORKING

For more info about the program: Check out the link to the City of Austin/Travis County Work Based Learning Summer Youth Employment program website: http://www.co.travis.tx.us/health_human_services/youth_employment_program.asp

The Paramount Academy for the Arts Summer Camps are back and things are kicking into high gear!  It is my pleasure to introduce you to the Directors for Summer 2013!  We are very excited about their amazing work.  If you want your camper to work with these amazing people you can register at www.austintheatre.org/camps.

Lindsay Hearn
Director (Camp Paramount Sessions 2 and 3)
Lindsay Hearn is an MFA Candidate in the Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities program at The University of Texas. She received her B.A. in Theatre and Psychology from Northwestern, where she restructured a summer arts program for her honors thesis. After graduation, she ran the Summer Arts for Youth Program with Young Audiences Indiana and spent a year apprenticing in the education department at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland, working as a teaching artist in youth theatre, drama classes, and arts integration programming. At UT, Lindsay’s work centers on teaching and directing middle school and high school students to promote positive youth development.

Pierce Purselley
Director (Camp Paramount Session 1, Camp Story Wranglers)
Pierce Purselley is a graduate of The University of Texas and is currently the Literacy to Life Manager and the Director of The Story Wranglers at The Paramount Theatre.  The Literacy to Life is a seven week creative writing program that inspires confidence and self efficacy in AISD students’s writing.  Pierce uses stories written by students to direct a over the top sketch comedy style show for the school.  Pierce is a proud member of Coldtowne Theatre Troupe of the year, Miller and Purselley, with fellow improviser Nat Miller.  He is also the producer of Mortified: Angst Written. 

Ammon Taylor
Musical Director (Camp Paramount, Camp Story Wranglers)
Ammon Taylor is a classically trained pianist from Logan, Utah. He has travelled to Mozambique and Brazil where he volunteered and taught English and music theory. He moved to Austin in 2010 and is currently pursuing a degree in Music Composition at the University of Texas. Outside of school, he accompanies various jazz ensembles and singers. He is actively involved in Austin’s improvised theatre community, and frequently accompanies musical improvisation classes at Merlin Works. He has accompanied many improv troupes, and plays regularly for the improvised musical troupe Girls Girls Girls. He works with the Story Wranglers as part of the Paramount Theatre’s Literacy to Life program, where he converts stories written by Austin schoolchildren into songs. Ammon was the musical director for several 2012 summer camps at the Paramount Theatre and Salvage Vanguard Theatre, as well as the 2012 and 2013 winter break camps at ZACH Theatre. www.ammontaylor.com

Hope to see you this summer!