The Paramount Theatre

I and a bunch of Boston area playwrights were invited to the Paramount Theatre the other night by my Alma mater, Emerson College, to discuss plans for an evening of commissioned short plays to celebrate the re-opening of the historic theatre.

We were given a quick tour of the space, and all I can say is: Wow.

The lobby and main stage are stunning. There's also a huge black box and a small screening room that could double as a performance space. 10, yes, 10 rehearsal rooms. It was just mouth-watering and totally exciting.

Afterwards, Rob Orchard described what he intends to program into those spaces: a veritable dream list of every important theatre company in the country (and in some cases, the world).

This is a real, total, exciting event for the Boston Theatre Scene. It will really change everything, I think.

So proud of my school. I graduated in 1990, and still remember Brimmer St., and the leaking ceiling and the sort of funky, fun atmosphere of the theatre department. and now Emerson is a true leader in the theatre. I don't think there's another school or University that even has half the performance spaces that Emerson has acquired and renovated in the last 20 years.

It's a very exciting time to be in Boston.