The Brooklyn Paramount, a historic theater in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, re-opened as a live music venue on Wednesday, March 27 after years of restoration. The same venue that used to host musical legends such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles will now bring modern talent to the stage.
Officials commemorated the grand re-opening at a ribbon-cutting ceremony hours before the first performers — Damian and Stephen Marley, sons of Reggae mastermind Bob Marley — took the stage.
“This will also be a space that serves as a home to amazing upcoming artists and creators, longtime artists and creators and people that we love to see perform,” Council Member Crystal Hudson, who represents the district, said at the ribbon cutting. “I know that this is an institution rooted in the community. When it comes jobs, when it comes to internships [and] opportunities for our young people.”
Live Nation already has a slate of artists scheduled, including Pinkpantheress, Sting, Mariah the Scientist, and others. Brooklynites can create their own VIP experiences granting them access to exclusive seating and visits to Ella’s Lounge, a speakeasy named after the queen of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald.
Stepping into the theatre is like stepping back into time as checkered flooring, marble pillars and ornament plaster ceiling designs surround guests at every turn.
According to Live Nation, the entertainment company running the space, the Paramount’s multi-million-dollar restoration project took years to perfect. The new 2,700-capacity venue was built around artist performance and fan experience — all while preserving the building’s nearly 100-year history at the corner of Dekalb and Flatbush Avenue Extension.
(Update 3/28/2024 at 5:08 p.m.): This story has been updated to provide more accurate details on the opening date.
