“My philosophy is that a theater is a reflection of the community where it exists; and if you have something as beautiful and wonderful as the Paramount and you are not using it to promote the community then you are doing a disservice to your community,” said Lisa Reiss, the Executive Director of the Paramount Center for the Arts.
Sitting in the Paramount’s red velvet chairs on a winter afternoon, Reiss spoke ardently about the theater she has been running since November, 2011 and her plans make the community “Paramount Proud.” Brand name programming, connecting with the community, website redesign and marketing “events” are among Reiss’ ideas to revamp the Paramount’s image.
Reiss was hired by the Paramount’s Board of Directors in October to take over for former Executive Directore Pat Braja, who now works for the Westchester Library System. With 30 years of industry experience and 11 years of experience as the Paramount’s programming consultant, the Connecticut mother has clear ideas for what she will do with “her lady.” (Read full biography here.)
“I think of her as a lady,” Reiss said, complimenting the theater’s history, architecture and presence. “I walk in the morning and I say ‘good morning Paramount.’ They call me corny all the time, but you can’t sell something you don’t believe in.”
Reiss plans to evaluate the Paramount’s past successes and failures and is “inclined” to go towards brand name programming, “to help people rediscover the theater again.” Howie Mandell, Judy Collins and Duncan Sheik & Suzanne Vega are three brand name acts that Reiss was excited to book for the theater.
The new director says her industry experience and relationship with influential managers and industry-folks will be a boon for the theater and the community. And while she can talk about baby boomer populars like Judy Collins, Reiss knows what draws the 20-30s crowds as well. The director mentioned that she has calls in to get the Trey Anastasio Band (the side project of Phish’s lead singer) and Band of Horses - bands you might not hear on the Top Ten radio, but you’ll hear in college dorm rooms or cubicles across the country- to play the Paramount.
While the director and her team, which consists of new manager Jay LaPierre, focus on brand name programming, they will also remain dedicated to continuing the broad range of other series and programs that the Paramount has been offering. Seth Soloway, who had been hired in the spring of 2011 as a general manager, will now work for the Center in a consultant capacity.
“The Paramount Center for the Arts by definition is diverse,” Reiss said. She explained that the theater serves as an art gallery and presents several series including the opera, cinema, film and educational programming.
“We are far more than a Rock N’ Roll house,” she said.
Her plans for educational events are to work with schools to provide shows that correspond with schoolwork. “We want to provide more than just a field trip and make it an experience.”
Having heard complaints from the business community that the Paramount runs too independently of the rest of the community, Reiss spoke enthusiastically about her plans to change that. She said she will start sending weekly e-blasts to businesses that list that week’s shows and ticket sales so places can plan accordingly.
“I want to make sure they have a heads up,” she said of weekends when the Paramount sells out.
Reiss was careful to mention that she wants to coordinate her summer schedule around the many outdoor festivals and make a point not to compete with other events, but to compliment them.
Another idea Reiss gushed about was creating “marketing events” rather than just offering traditional advertising opportunities. She explained an elaborate marketing event for a magic show that was successful elsewhere that provided publicity for a local paper, a hardware store, a locksmith, the magician and the theater.
While Reiss works to make the community “Paramount Proud,” and help people from around the region rediscover the theater, she hopes to do so without cost increases.
Tickets range from about $20 to $50 for most shows and Reiss hopes to keep it that way. The next live performance is Ricky Nelson remembered on Saturday, Feb. 4. Several films will be showing over the next week. Check paramountcenter.org for the schedule.
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Frank Cimino
7:22 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Its refreshing to hear about new plans for the Paramount and wishing Lisa the best. I know she will succeed. Looking forward to an exciting year of entertainment, and for us starting with the Howie Mandel concert next month. Cant wait!
Marianne Oros
7:29 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
We are "Proud" to have Lisa as the new ED at the Paramoun!
Patty Villanova
7:56 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I have met Lisa and am impressed with her enthusiasm, intelligence and experience; I certainly wish her all the best and hope with all my heart that she can achieve even half of what she's trying to do. That being said, the problem has never been the exec director (sorry Ms. Oros, but ED has another connotation altogether & it would be nice if a board member could spell Paramount correctly) but POLITICS. The theater is owned by the City and run by top GOP honcho Vinnie Vesce who chairs the dysfunctional board of directors. Because of POLITICS the Paramount has not been allowed to be a true community center and an anchor for the Downtown; it's never about success, it's all about someone's political agenda. There's no place for Big Government in the entertainment business-- what do they know? The politicians & bureaucrats can't even run the City, let alone a theater, yet they feel they can dictate to the professionals who KNOW what needs to be done. Just look at what happened to past directors who tried to do their jobs. As I said, I wish Lisa godspeed and hope she can accomplish even half of her goals. But like everything else, that represents the triumph of hope over experience. It's time to privatize the Paramount- no more $1 a year rent and political pandering-lease it to a production company that needs to make a profit and we'll see great things happen. Ms. Reiss has her work cut out for her & I wish her the best.
Ann Klein
10:50 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I have worked with Lisa for the past 10 years as she booked acts that were perfect for the audience that the Paramount targets. Many sold out shows have been a direct result of Lisa knowing what works! So very happy to have her with us full time and as our Executive Director. Wishing you much success Lisa!
Vincent Vesce
11:58 am on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thanks for introducing the Paramount’s (PCA) new Executive Director, Lisa Reiss, to your readers. The PCA Board is confident that Lisa has the ability to lead the institution well and be successful in helping us to meet our mission. The By–Laws of the PCA states that the purpose of the organization “shall be to provide and support the cultural arts in Peekskill and the surrounding areas.” That is what we continually strive to do to and for the past 30 + years have accomplished with varying degrees of success. The comments written by Ms. Villanova about the Board of the PCA being driven by “politics” could not be more baseless and incorrect. The Board is currently comprised of 19 people who bring an array of outstanding professional expertise, passion and talent to our deliberations. Fourteen of the Board members live in communities other than Peekskill. Of those who live and/or have businesses in our City, there are board members from both sides of the political aisle who work harmoniously together. Board members of the PCA serve because they care about the theatre & the arts and how each positively impacts on Peekskill and the area that surrounds us. The PCA has been enthusiastically supported by Cortlandt and Peekskill Administrations past and present without regard to political partisanship. In short, any comments which suggest that there are personal or political agendas associated with the governance and operation of the Paramount are simply inaccurate.
Wes Pomeroy
12:53 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
I hate to soil these nice comments with negativity, but having grown up in Northern Westchester, two words come to mind when I think of the Paramount: lame acts. It's always seemed that the theatre either couldn't afford any good acts, or was somehow hostile towards popular tastes in the name of "culture". There are hundreds of Tier 1 or Tier 2 performers (and old movies) out there which could draw huge crowds (and revenue). And they wouldn't be mutually exclusive to more cultured programming. Forget internal politics, or the quality of the web site, or even who's managing the theatre - it's all about content. In my lifetime, it's been severely lacking.
Patty Villanova
1:03 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Responding to VV: perhaps I'm being charitable in attributing the Paramount's many deficiencies to what's euphemistically called "politics." Since you and the other board members seem blissfully unaware of what the problems are, here are some things I've observed while watching from across the street during the last 7 years:
1. The Paramount is dark most of the time. Little or no activity and many of the programming is so unappealing that very often hardly anyone shows up to the movies and shows that are featured. Hopefully LR will do something about this.
2. There is constant turnover in directors and the ones who are qualified and try to make changes & improvements usually end up leaving sooner than later. Now why would that be?
3. The beautiful display windows are almost always empty and shuttered, making this beautiful theater look like a social club from the Sopranos. I've suggested that the windows could be decorated by one of our many local artists, perhaps have a contest. Been told it will never happen-- why is that? Also lacking are any holiday decorations during the year. No planters out front. Nothing to improve the appearance which shows a lack of care. Garbage cans and debris in clear view in the alleys as well. There should be some kind of camoflage.
4. No signs of life from the staff most of the time. Signage not kept up to date. Box office never open. People trying to get in.
5. Little or no marketing or promotion.
Flem Snopes Jr.
3:38 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Is the Paramount planning to uproot Vinnie Leibell's engraved star in front of the building? They should, considering he's a convicted felon. They should auction it off to somebody who is not a convicted felon. Whenever I'm in the neighborhood, I kick debris on his star.
Monk E. Lopez
5:20 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Everyone should check out the Pink Floyd Experience on Feb. 4. They are amazing. There's a slight chance you might have to sit next to a smelly hippy but it's worth it. The ghost of Syd Barrett will ride in on the pig.
Monk E. Lopez
5:27 pm on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Correction: The PFE will be there on Feb. 23, not Feb. 4. The Nelson boys will be there on the 4th. As far as I know, there will be no pig for that show. I must have inhaled too much interstellar dust.
Shine On You Crazy Heathens