Built in 1912 and 1913 by George T. Chaffee and opened on January 16, 1914 as The Playhouse, The Paramount was considered one of the finest theaters in New England at the time — and the building still supports that claim. It was renamed The Paramount in 1931 when talking pictures arrived, ran continuously until the theater industry’s decline closed it in 1975, and was brought back through a full restoration completed in February 2000. The reopening gave Rutland an 838-seat anchor for its downtown that the city had been missing for a quarter century.
For concert-goers in the North Country — Plattsburgh, the Adirondacks, Glens Falls, Whitehall — The Paramount is a legitimate regional destination. The drive is reasonable, the room is beautiful, and the venue books a steady mix of national touring acts, comedy, film, and community events year-round. It is now on the Upstate Concerts press list and we cover shows here.
The Room
838 seats in a proscenium theater with orchestra level and balcony. The acoustics that the 1914 architects built into the structure hold up — the room is warm and sounds better than its age suggests. Ticketing runs through AXS and Ticketmaster depending on the show. The most reliable source for the full season calendar is paramountvt.org, which is planned well in advance.
Getting There
The Paramount is in downtown Rutland at the corner of Center Street and Merchants Row. US-4 arrives from the east (including the Killington corridor and the Adirondack gateway at Whitehall) and US-7 runs north-south through the city. Municipal parking lots are scattered through downtown Rutland; none of them are far. From Glens Falls, allow about 45 minutes on US-4. From Plattsburgh, plan for roughly an hour via I-87 South to NY-22 or US-4.
The Rutland Scene
Merchants Row — Rutland’s historic commercial street — runs directly past The Paramount. The downtown has seen real improvement in recent years, and a pre-show dinner on or near Merchants Row is worth building into your plan.
Insider Tips
- The Paramount programs well in advance. Check paramountvt.org at the start of each season — you’ll find the full calendar, not just the next few weeks.
- The Killington ski corridor is 15 minutes east on US-4. If you’re combining a weekend trip with a show, the timing works naturally.
- Downtown Rutland is calm and easy on show nights. Parking is rarely a problem; arrive 20 minutes early and you’ll be fine.
- AXS and Ticketmaster both carry shows here depending on the promoter. If you don’t see a show on one platform, check the other.
Nearby
- Roots (55 Washington Street) — Rutland’s best restaurant. New American with locally sourced Vermont ingredients. Book ahead for a pre-show dinner; it’s worth it.
- Hop’n Moose Brewing Co (41 Center Street) — Directly across the street from The Paramount. Wood-fired pizza, house-brewed beer, no reservation needed.
- Brix Wine Bar (118 Merchants Row) — Across from the theater on Merchants Row. Straightforward wine bar, good for a glass before the show.