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Gala at the Paramount roars
By Cathy Kropp
Published:
Monday, September 22, 2003
Several hundred people were transported back to the Roaring '20s Saturday night at the Second Annual Opening Night Gala at the Paramount Theater.
Women in flapper dresses and men in suits and top hats filled the theater, ready to enjoy an evening of browsing the Main Street Art Festival, taking in live demonstrations of pottery and painting (among others) and catching a performance by the Second City improvisational comedy group.
According to Gala chairperson Mimi Bitzan, this event is put together to celebrate a new season of the arts and also to draw attention to the theater's many upcoming events.
These events include a performance by musical group "The Cowboy Junkies" Oct. 8 and the play "Dial M for Murder" Nov. 1.
The Gala is also held as a celebration of the renovation and rebirth of the Paramount as a cultural art center in St. Cloud.
The Sherman Theatre, as it was called until its first major renovation in 1930, first opened its doors Christmas Eve 1921.
For over forty years, the theater was the site of numerous acts ranging from vaudeville shows to concerts to movies. But by the 1960s, the building was in poor condition and used less and less. A fire ravaged the Paramount in January of 1985, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Public interest in the building was renewed and renovations began in the early 1990s.
Volunteer Renee Trushenski, who was born and raised in St. Cloud, remembers spending many Saturday afternoons at the theater seeing movies and shows when she was younger.
"(The remodeling) is true to the old style," Trushenski said. "It had to be hard to replace some of these things...but it's just the way I remember it."
The Roaring '20s theme for this year's event was chosen as a way to recreate the Paramount's opening days.
According to gala attendee Mary Rethmeier, the Paramount's staff and volunteer force were successful.
"They did a good job of carrying out the theme," Rethmeier said. "It's really a night of fantasy."
Topping off the evening was a show by the Second City Touring Company.
An eager crowd packed into the theater when the comedy group, composed of three women and two men, took the stage.
The audience roared at the politically incorrect musings of the group.
A sample skit began with two group members sitting on the stage. They wait impatiently until a voice comes over the intercom.
"Those wanting to attend tonight's adult illiteracy class (the two people nod furiously), please report to room B." The two look at each other in mock confusion as the lights dim.
No topic was off limits as the comedians (tongues firmly planted in cheek), covered everything from sexual fantasies to the seemingly overzealous need of the U.S. government to wage war on other countries.
Assistant Paramount Art Director Ellen Nelson saw this year's Gala as a rousing success.
"We have sold three times as many tickets as we did at last year's (Gala)."
Attendee Mark Suess sees the gala as an opportunity to support the arts of St. Cloud.
"Time is a precious commodity, and it's hard to get to the cities (to see shows)," Suess said. "Now is the time to support the arts right here, and the lineup (of events) this year is really nice."
Bitzan agrees that the local arts need to gather more support from area residents.
"St. Cloud should be proud of this theatre," Bitzan said. "It is a gift to our community."
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