Pull Up to the Paramount for PRIDE

“Let’s have a ball.” The Legendary Mother Natalie Lepore of House of Lepore said it best. She’s helping us kick off national PRIDE month next week at The Majestic Cabaret Ball, which includes Fat Bottom Cabaret, Diamond Dior Davenport, and categories where all can compete for cash prizes. Find out more below and check out other incredible events coming up in June.

The Paramount Summer Classic Film Series presented by CapMetro

PARIS IS BURNING

Fri, 6/10 | 7:30pm
The Paramount Theatre

This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s Black and Latinx Harlem drag ball scene. The film offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies, to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia and transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty.

Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women—including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza—PARIS brings it, celebrating the joy of movement, the force of eloquence, and the draw of community.

Thanks to our event partner:

allgo nurtures and celebrates queer people of color by building, educating, and mobilizing communities toward a just and equitable society. More from allgo.

The Paramount Theatre presents

The Majestic Cabaret Ball

Featuring Diamond Dior Davenport, Fat Bottom Cabaret, and The Legendary Mother Natalie Lepore

Sat, 6/11 | 8pm
The Paramount Theatre

The Majestic Cabaret Ball takes a cue from PARIS IS BURNING and sees the Paramount Theatre transformed into your favorite cabaret lounge, bringing lights-flashing, music-blasting ballroom to the big stage. Costumes in cabaret or old Hollywood theme highly encouraged!

💃 Attendees are invited to compete in various categories where they will be scored on outfits, attitudes, dance skills, runway walk and more with cash prizes for category winners. See categories for inspiration.

Thanks to our event partner:

Murray & Peter Present

Alyssa Edwards

Life, Love & Lashes Tour

Tue, 6/7 | 8pm
The Paramount Theatre

From Mesquite Texas to the global stage, Alyssa Edwards is unstoppable. Her life is a spectacle: from Season 5 of the Emmy-Award winning television show RuPaul's Drag Race to her web series Alyssa's Secret, her own Netflix series Dancing Queen and America's Got Talent. Now the smash hit show direct from London's West End comes to America, a must-see, tell-all story about her life, drag and finding love. 

😎 Sun’s Out, Fun’s Out 😎

We’re kicking off the month with a sold out Neko Case show tonight with special guest M. Ward before a weekend of binge watching star-studded cast reunions with ATX TV Festival. Plus, our 2nd Summer Classic Film Series lineup reveal is on the horizon…🤫👀

WestBeth Entertainment presents

Professor Brian Cox

Horizons

Fri, 6/24 & Sat, 6/25 | 8pm
The Paramount Theatre

“If I had a torch, I would hand it to Brian Cox.” — David Attenborough

Professor Brian Cox's new show “Horizons” offers a dazzling cinematic tour of quantum theory, black holes, and planetary science — for everyone.

Journey through space and time with spectacular LED screen technology, film, and animations. With a touch of humor, “Horizons” unwraps concepts across cosmology including the origins of life and the universe itself. Interact with the show through live Q&A facilitated by award-winning comedian and Brian's co-host of the Infinite Monkey Cage, Robin Ince.

How to Steal

Thieves and con artists and heists, oh my!

Celebrating Stephen Jannise: 10 Years Programming the Classics

Our 48^th Annual Summer Classic Film Series kicked off last week with a weekend of record attendance that also marked Paramount Film Programmer Stephen Jannise’s 10^th summer curating the beloved series. Over the past decade, Stephen has expanded the series to screen more films than ever before; introducing classics to new audiences, sharing history and behind-the-scenes stories of films, and reminding moviegoers why they love seeing their favorite films in our 107-year-old movie palace. It’s a dream job for him.

Stephen’s interest in film began as a child watching Turner Classic Movies (TCM) with his mom. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in film, and it was during his time as a Film Studies graduate student at the University of Texas that he saw his first film at the Paramount in 2009: AN AMERICAN IN PARIS. “It was love at first sight,” Stephen says. Three years later, he would become our Film Programmer with a goal to make the Austin community fall in love with film just as he did growing up.

Stephen’s expert curation often starts with milestone anniversaries, recent restorations, and just personal excitement. He thoughtfully organizes groups of films under interesting themes, blending well known titles with potential new discoveries.

“It means so much to people to see some of their favorite films on the big screen, but I get particularly excited when moviegoers come up to me to say they took a chance on something new.”

The Paramount added Digital Cinema Package technology in 2016, which increased the number of films Stephen could program, including many films he wanted to show since his first day. He believes the restoration and broader distribution of film is a testament to the support of audiences wanting to see films in theatres, as well as the preservation of 35mm and 70mm prints.

“Thankfully, the practice of re-releasing films gave studios a reason to maintain them, so generations can discover classics for themselves. It also gives many films that were ahead of their time or failed to find an audience on first release a second chance.”

Stephen originally found inspiration on introducing films to new audiences from one of his childhood influences, film historian and legendary TCM host Robert Osborne. Hosting Osborne twice at the Paramount (in 2013 and 2014) were full circle moments for Stephen. “I wouldn’t be doing this job without the major role he played in introducing me to the classics and to what a life spent watching and studying film could be.”

Osborne’s last visit to the Paramount before his death in 2017 and his choice screening of DODSWORTH made an impact on Stephen. “As he did so many times in my life, he sold me on a film that I may never have taken a chance on, and it became a favorite of mine as well (as I’m sure it did for many in attendance that night).” 

Stephen strives to give that experience to Paramount moviegoers, especially the Film Fans (dedicated supporters of classic film at the Paramount and State Theatres). Several of the Paramount’s Film Fans have become like family to Stephen with each summer a joyous reunion when he gets to visit with them and talk about movies. “Many of them are already well-versed in film history, so whenever I’m able to introduce them to something new, I really see it as a badge of honor.” 

Paramount CEO/Executive Director Jim Ritts recognizes this passion: “Stephen is deeply immersed in the history of film and only wants to share the joy and wonderment of viewing a film.”

A personal message from Stephen: “It goes without saying that none of what we do would be possible without you. Your love of the Paramount and other cinemas in our town is the driving force behind ongoing preservation and restoration - truly, together we are keeping the grand history of the movies alive and well. Filmmaking is a collaborative art, and I think film-watching is equally at its best with a large group doing it together. The laughs are funnier, the tears flow more freely, the thrills are more palpable. Great movies can still be great on your TV. But seeing them in the Paramount is like falling in love with them all over again.”

You can see Stephen and learn more film history throughout the summer during pre-film introductions from the stage and through video. Stay tuned for the July schedule reveal in the coming weeks that will feature some old favorites and hopefully introduce you to some new favorites.

See you at the movies!