By Jennie Germain

Paramount Theatre Executive Director

After a decade of fundraising, the Paramount Theatre celebrated their Grand Re-opening in 2002.

The season of performances that followed brought well-known artists to the Paramount stage, including Monroe Crossing, The Irish Minstrels, Tonic Sol-Fa, Bobby Vee, and Prudence Johnson.

Nine years later, the Paramount continues to bring emerging and established artists to the Austin community and surrounding area. Program Committee Chair Dick McIntosh has felt that over the years the Program Committee, which consists of board and community members, has gotten even better at knowing what people in the Austin area want to see.

In fact, he urges community members to step outside the box during the 2011-12 Season and try something new — you just might like it. This year’s season will kick into high gear on Friday, Sept. 16, with Davina and the Vagabonds, an energetic Blues band from the Twin Cities who are back by popular demand.

The rest of the season will prove to be equally exciting. It features Flameco dancer Deborah Elias, electric violinist Tracy Silverman, a holiday concert by Celtic singer and harpist Katie McMahon, 5 By Design presenting “Radio Holly Days,” a country music themed New Year’s Eve Extravaganza, Hawaiian slack key guitarist George Kahumoku, Jr., Celtic and American folk artists Lehto & Wright, “Take It to the Limit” An Eagles Tribute, and My Sweet Patootie, a new band formed by two musicians from Tanglefoot.

I welcome everyone to join me in experiencing the artists that are local favorites, as well as taking a chance on something new.

Tickets to all our events are available by calling 434-0934 or ordering online at paramounttheatre.org. This season we will also be offering $5 student tickets with a student ID to make it even easier to sample all our events.