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Paramount Theatre will get new seats, event lounge in historic restoration
By Stephanie Federico
November 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM CST
The Paramount Theatre launched a campaign Wednesday to raise money for the restoration of the 110-year-old building and a reimagining of the State Theatre next door.
"We want to preserve and protect and build both of these theaters — the State Theatre and the Paramount Theatre — for the next 100 years," Jim Ritts, CEO of the Austin Theatre Alliance, said during a news conference announcing the Shine On campaign. "And how are we going to do that? Very simply: We're going to restore the Paramount Theatre to its gorgeosity — it's a perfect word — of the early 1930s."
The plans for the Paramount include:
A rendering of the third-floor lounge at the Paramount. It will be called JP’s Peace, Love, and Happiness Lounge after donors John Paul & Eloise DeJoria. (2560x1442, AR: 1.7753120665742026)
The plans for the State Theatre include:
A cross-sectional rendering of the State Theatre with rooftop deck and speakeasy in the basement. The seats in the theater can be retracted to have more of a "club look" with high-top tables. (2560x1276, AR: 2.006269592476489)
The Austin Theatre Alliance, the nonprofit that operates the venues, set a fundraising goal of $65 million — $55 million for construction and another $10 million for an endowment. Community members can donate here.
Ritts said patrons will have the opportunity to buy the old seats.
"We are a nonprofit and we will raise funds however we can," he said.
Davon Barbour, CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance, called the Paramount an "economic catalyst" for the area.
"It's helping to drive foot traffic. It's creating jobs in our community," he said. "And so, we're so thrilled about the continued renovations to this building and everything that it's going to do, again, to ensure the cultural relevance of this theater."
Award-winning director Robert Rodriguez, who has premiered films at the Paramount, spoke about the magic in the theater's walls.
"These walls remember every laugh, every cheer, every musical note. This is historic," he said.
Singer Carrie Rodriguez, a member of the Austin Theatre Alliance board, said she felt that magic the first time she stepped onto the Paramount stage for a Halloween concert when she was 9. She hopes future generations get to see the theaters standing tall.
"I want them to feel that magic," she said, "because I really believe that the Paramount and the State are our cultural heartbeat of Austin."
The Paramount, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of only 20 theaters in the U.S. that is more than 100 years old and still operating. It hosts over 500 events each year, including the Moontower Comedy Festival each spring, a Summer Classic Film Series, and premieres during the Austin Film Festival and South by Southwest. It also hosted a handful of ATXplained Live shows.
The theater opened on Congress Avenue as a vaudeville venue in October 1915. The State Theatre, Austin's first movie house, opened next door 20 years later. The two venues merged in 2000.
The Paramount will close in June for at least eight months while the renovations take place, the alliance said. Work on the State Theatre is expected to follow and will take 13-16 months to complete.
"We want to preserve and protect and build both of these theaters — the State Theatre and the Paramount Theatre — for the next 100 years," Jim Ritts, CEO of the Austin Theatre Alliance, said during a news conference announcing the Shine On campaign. "And how are we going to do that? Very simply: We're going to restore the Paramount Theatre to its gorgeosity — it's a perfect word — of the early 1930s."
The plans for the Paramount include:
- Restoration of the interior paint work, plaster molding and chandeliers
- Updated and more energy-efficient infrastructure and technology
- Replacement of all 1,200 seats
- Expansion of restrooms and concession stands
- The creation of a lounge for events envisioned in the original blueprints
A rendering of the third-floor lounge at the Paramount. It will be called JP’s Peace, Love, and Happiness Lounge after donors John Paul & Eloise DeJoria. (2560x1442, AR: 1.7753120665742026)
The plans for the State Theatre include:
- A transformation of the interior inspired by the building's art deco facade
- Restoration of the facade and marquee
- Installation of an elevator
- Updated seating to increase capacity
- The creation of a basement speakeasy and rooftop deck
- Expanded restrooms
- Updated technology
A cross-sectional rendering of the State Theatre with rooftop deck and speakeasy in the basement. The seats in the theater can be retracted to have more of a "club look" with high-top tables. (2560x1276, AR: 2.006269592476489)
The Austin Theatre Alliance, the nonprofit that operates the venues, set a fundraising goal of $65 million — $55 million for construction and another $10 million for an endowment. Community members can donate here.
Ritts said patrons will have the opportunity to buy the old seats.
"We are a nonprofit and we will raise funds however we can," he said.
Davon Barbour, CEO of the Downtown Austin Alliance, called the Paramount an "economic catalyst" for the area.
"It's helping to drive foot traffic. It's creating jobs in our community," he said. "And so, we're so thrilled about the continued renovations to this building and everything that it's going to do, again, to ensure the cultural relevance of this theater."
Award-winning director Robert Rodriguez, who has premiered films at the Paramount, spoke about the magic in the theater's walls.
"These walls remember every laugh, every cheer, every musical note. This is historic," he said.
Singer Carrie Rodriguez, a member of the Austin Theatre Alliance board, said she felt that magic the first time she stepped onto the Paramount stage for a Halloween concert when she was 9. She hopes future generations get to see the theaters standing tall.
"I want them to feel that magic," she said, "because I really believe that the Paramount and the State are our cultural heartbeat of Austin."
The Paramount, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of only 20 theaters in the U.S. that is more than 100 years old and still operating. It hosts over 500 events each year, including the Moontower Comedy Festival each spring, a Summer Classic Film Series, and premieres during the Austin Film Festival and South by Southwest. It also hosted a handful of ATXplained Live shows.
The theater opened on Congress Avenue as a vaudeville venue in October 1915. The State Theatre, Austin's first movie house, opened next door 20 years later. The two venues merged in 2000.
The Paramount will close in June for at least eight months while the renovations take place, the alliance said. Work on the State Theatre is expected to follow and will take 13-16 months to complete.