“The Fabulous Paramounts: the Oldies and Beach Music Musical” that will premiere this weekend at the Paramount Theater in downtown Burlington has important Elon connections.
One of the male leads, Alex, is played by Elon religious studies professor Tripp York. Playing opposite York as his muse and love interest is Ginny Vellani, a rising second year student at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, and the sister of Elon senior, Ben Vellani, and the daughter of Peggy Boswell, curator of the Scott Collection at the Alamance Community College, and Larry Vellani, Elon’s director of corporate and foundation relations. In addition to York and Vellani, Ashton Guza ’09, of Richmond, Virginia, fills in as a music-loving extra in several scenes.
David Wright, a long-time friend of the university, and Gary Cole co-authored the play’s original book and score.
“The Fabulous Paramounts” chronicles the rise of a fictitious piedmont Carolina beach band and the outside influences that threaten to break it apart. Cole and Wright used input from as many as 40 former and current beach music musicians. Burlington, N.C., was an important musical incubator in the 1960s for some of the region’s most successful “beach bands.” For a basic primer on Beach Music, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_music
Opened in 1929 as the Grand Theatre, Burlington’s Paramount Theater has provided entertainment and cultural opportunities for the people of Burlington and Alamance County for almost 80 years. Following a major renovation and restoration by the City of Burlington with assistance from the Alamance County Arts Council and corporate supporters, the Paramount reopened on February 18, 1998.
“The Fabulous Paramounts” runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 3, 4 and 5, and August 10, 11 and 12. The curtain for the Friday and Saturday shows is 8:00 p.m. Sunday shows are matinees with a 3:00 p.m. curtain.
The Paramount box office is open weekdays from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and one hour prior to curtain. Credit card reservations may be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 336-222-TIXS.