Paramount Theatre Easing Back to Full Capacity for Live Performances This Summer

(KNSI) – Live, in-person performances are back at the Paramount Center for the Arts this summer. Performing arts director Gretchen Boulka told KNSI’s Bob Hughes that the Paramount is easing into the idea of having the theatre’s seats completely full again.

“In June, we’re going to go to half capacity, which is up to 400 people,” Boulka said. “Then, in July and moving forward, 75 percent for sure. If things are looking really good with COVID numbers, we may even go up to that 100 percent by then.”

Boulka said during lockdowns last year, an ionization system was installed in the Paramount.

“That basically runs through our HVAC [system], so it cleans the air every 30 minutes, and this just happens all the time, every day in the theatre, in the offices,” she said. “It’s just a really nice thing to sort of clean the air.”

The Paramount also has a decontamination unit, which Boulka says is similar to units used in hospitals to help disinfect rooms after surgeries. After a performance, staff bring the unit into the theatre, which runs for half an hour and sanitizes surfaces and the air.

Though the venue is transitioning back to in-person entertainment, Boulka says many of the upcoming shows will also have a live stream viewing option, too.

“If there are people that maybe aren’t ready to come back or maybe … they have certain health conditions and they’re just not ready, we have that live stream option.”

One upcoming show is brand new, Boulka says: The Ground Sound, performed by tap dance group Radiant Rhythm Initiative.

“These are dancers from around the United States that are going to come together and perform on our stage, and we’re really happy to be involved in this,” she said. “They’re actually doing a few day events over at the Park Event Center where they’re having workshops and different things like that.”

The group takes the Paramount stage on June 12th at 7:30 p.m.

In July, the Paramount will also reveal a new sculpture that will be installed outside the Paramount that commemorates the theatre’s 100th anniversary.

“It is going to be unveiled right in front of the Paramount on July 15th, and that’s free — we just invite people, if you’re interested, to come on down and see that with us,” Boulka said. “It’s a gift that the Paramount is sort of giving to the city of St. Cloud as a thank you for the 100 years that we have been around.”

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