Become a Friend of the Paradise Theatre: your monthly support helps us move towards a more sustainable seasonal model, embrace the work of local artists, sponsor dynamic films, live music, and theatrical events, and create an equitable space where all are welcome. Join us!
"A theater is one of those touchstones of local culture. Like a public library or a town park. If you lose it, you've lost a chunk of small town soul." - T. Wills, Local Business Owner
"This is a place where everyone in the community can gather for shared joy. This is a piece of beautiful history, central to our downtown, that has provided entertainment for our community for years - getting people out of their insular world to have a unique shared experience." - A. Lecos, Artist + Designer
The Paradise Theatre is a historic, non-profit performing arts venue that builds community through educational events, film, theatre, and live music.
The Paradise Theatre has a rich, 92-year history as the artistic heartbeat of downtown Paonia and the North Fork Valley of Delta County. The Paradise is a vibrant home for film, live music, theater, community meetings, non-profit fundraisers, and educational events.
In 1928, the original Paonia Theatre, in Paonia, Colorado, was built to provide a movie and entertainment venue for the burgeoning Western town of about 1500 people. Throughout its history, the theater not only played movies, it also served this agricultural community by offering children's programs, fundraising events and community meetings.
By 2013 the rebranded Paradise Theatre was at risk of going dark for the second time in its history. A group of concerned citizens organized in early 2014, forming the "Friends of the Paradise Theatre," a nonprofit organization, to raise the funds necessary to purchase the building and buy the essential digital projector. In 90 days, the "Friends" raised over $90,000 to purchase the building and by June 2014, the theater was re-opened with a comprehensive renovation, first-run movies, and live entertainment. The Paradise Theatre continues to be an invaluable community building organization for the North Fork Valley and Delta County. Our diverse programming brings people together from all over Colorado and the Western United States.
This continues to be a very challenging time for the Paradise as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. We need your support now, more than ever. Please consider making a donation - no matter how small - in order to keep our jewel of a theatre alive for another 90 years.
Organization name
Friends of the Paradise Theatre
other names
FOPT
2014
Tax id (EIN)
46-4780502
Category
Community Improvement & Capacity Building
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
215 Grand AvenueMailing
P.O. Box 886Delta County, CO, US