ASHLAND — Paramount Arts Center has begun a new opportunity for individuals in the community to take the spotlight.

The Paramount Players, a community theater group that makes its home at the Paramount, has announced its first season.

In fact, the group has already cast and is preparing to present “Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe.”

“It’s a neat little spooky show,” Director Melanie Sweeney said. Sweeney has been director of education at the theater for two years. Before that, she was artistic director of the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mount Airy, N.C.

She said the show is a scripted version of four of Poe's short stories. The proximity of the Halloween season isn't the only reason for choosing a Poe-based production for the first one of the season.

“We’re doing it because of the Big Read grant,” she said. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Paramount was one of 75 organizations selected to participate in The Big Read this season.

“We're putting a lot of effort into Poe’s work.”

Sweeney will direct shows for the Paramount Players.  For musicals, there also will be a casting committee, a choreographer and a musical director.

For the Poe show, the group is working with the Ashland Youth Ballet. Maria Whaley, director of the ballet, is choreographing an original dance piece for a portion of the section based on the short story “The Raven.”

“This isn’t a musical, but there is choreographed movement in ‘The Raven,’” Sweeney said.

The Paramount Players is the result of an experiment last year which yielded some small-scale in-house productions through the youth education program.

Sweeney said the shows were a success so the concept was expanded into a community theater group presenting shows on a larger scale and funded through the Paramount and grants.

“I think there’s always many community members who can use a creative outlet and want to go out and perform and get on stage,” Sweeney said.

So far, the idea has been well received, she said. There were seven parts to cast for “Poe” and 25 showed up for auditions early this month.

Auditions will be open to the public and will be announced on the Paramount’s Web site.

She said experience isn’t necessary to participate in the group and not only actors but those interested in lighting and set design will have plenty to contribute.

“We want to maintain and grow these shows,” Sweeney said. “We will have a variety of shows, from shows with many children’s parts to holiday shows, dramas, musicals and dinner theaters. Experience is not required.”

The Paramount Players are seeking volunteers interested in set building and lighting design. For more information, call Director Melanie Sweeney at (606) 324-3175.

Paramount

Players present

‰“Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe”

Opening night: 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Paramount Arts Center. There will be three showings at the theater, plus several school performances and a dinner theater showing at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park on Oct. 21.

‰“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

Auditions: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Paramount Arts Center. Show dates: Dec. 16 through 18 at the Paramount.

‰“Clue the Musical”

Based on the board game Clue, this show will be an audience participation dinner theater.

Auditions: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Paramount. Show dates: Jan. 20 through 29.

‰“Hairspray”

The Paramount Players is one of the first community theater groups to get the rights to this show. Auditions: Jan. 3 and 4. Show dates: March 24 through 27.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.