Austin Theatre Alliance Auction Aids Paramount, Stateside
AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Theatre Alliance, the nonprofit organization that manages the Paramount and Stateside Theatres, on Friday announced the launch of its socially distanced Fall Auction Series.
Up for grabs are a Commodore Perry Estate staycation, a three-night stay at Hotel Magdalena, a private movie at the Salt Lick and much more, organizers wrote in an emailed advisory. The bidding began Friday ends next Friday (Oct. 2) at 4 p.m. CT. Bidders can vie for fantastic offerings while helping support and protect the historic theaters via austintheatre.org/auction.
A previous iteration of the auction over the summer yielded "tremendous" success raising funds, organizers noted. But continued support is needed given a dearth of revenue stream from shows and events given an ongoing need for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials added. While the Paramount has safely reopened for films with strong health initiatives in place, the theatre remains at only 25 percent capacity for the foreseeable future, officials noted. In the absence of federal support and the uncertainty around the return of live shows, officials added, these fundraising efforts are vital.
To that end, a new round of auction items will be unveiled once a month through the end of the year. This first fall round features a special Commodore Perry Estate Staycation, where the winning bidder can be among the first to discover this reenvisioned urban retreat set on a private 10-acre estate in Central Texas for three nights. The package includes two meals, a happy hour package and Sunday Picnic. Plus: There will be Garrison Brothers bourbon in the winning bidder's room waiting for a classy toast to the occasion, officials said.
But wait, there's more: "Escape the city and your everyday quarantine routine with a two-night stay at Blue Skies Retro Resort, a Palm Springs-inspired resort nestled between the Texas Wine Trail and Enchanted Rock west of Austin," officials wrote. "You’ll have the entire property to yourself, which sleeps up to 13 people! You can also bid on a three-night stay at Hotel Magdalena, Bunkhouse's newest hotel in the heart of South Congress."
Another coveted item up for bid is a Private Movie at the Salt Lick with friends and family. "Experience an evening under the stars watching your favorite movie on the beautiful Pecan Grove lawn in Driftwood in this package for up to 50 guests with delicious dinners from the Salt Lick," officials wrote. "For a truly epic romantic evening, the Paramount is offering a catered dinner for two on their chandelier-lit historic stage, complete with a film screening of your choice. Patrons can also bid on a beautiful Epiphone guitar autographed by Chris Isaak from his unforgettable performance at the Paramount’s 2016 Anniversary Gala where he jumped off the stage and visited the audience row by row."
To place bids and see the full list of Austin Theatre Alliance Fall Auction items — more staycation opportunities, refreshing beverage kits, stunning jewelry, original artwork, and relics from legendary Paramount performances — visit austintheatre.org/auction. Prospective bidders also can visit austintheatre.org to find out more about the theatres as well as additional ways to support them during these difficult times.
Follow the Paramount Theatre on Facebook at www.facebook.com/paramounttheatre and on Twitter/Instagram @ParamountAustin.
ABOUT PARAMOUNT THEATRE
Originally opened as a vaudeville house in 1915, the historic Paramount Theatre has been a second home for generations upon generations of Austinites to gather, connect, and get inspired. The Paramount currently operates alongside the Stateside Theatre next door under the Austin Theatre Alliance (ATA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
While they present hundreds of shows annually, the Paramount and Stateside Theatres are so much more than venues. The ATA reaches over 22,000 Central Texas students every year through award-winning Paramount Education programs both in classrooms and in the theatres; produces Moontower Comedy Festival, one of the largest comedy festivals in the nation; hosts the star-studded world premieres of SXSW, Austin Film Festival, and beyond; programs the beloved Summer Classic Film Series, now in its 45th year; and works with experts to ensure the careful preservation of Austin history. The Paramount is one of only 20 theatres left in the entire country that is over 100 years old and still in use as a venue.
This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch
