By Jennie Germain

Paramount Theatre Executive Director

The holidays are an important time of year for friends, family, and community to get together.

Austin fully embraces this concept through its Christmas in the City celebration that begins in the downtown area on Friday, Nov. 25.

It is a wonderful opportunity to share in the Holiday spirit. The Austin Area Commission for the Arts will be offering a plethora of performances to entertain Austin and the surrounding area throughout the season at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

To get you in a joyful mood before the stress of the holidays sets in, the Mower County Humane Society is hosting a Comedy Night fundraiser at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24. It will be hosted by Scott Oelkers and feature local comedians Jeff Polis, Jeff Larson, Lindsay Hensel, Simon Zais and Karolis Dzeja.

We will officially kick off the holidays with our free Christmas in the City event at 7:30 p.m. Friday. It will feature Jane Taylor Academy of Dance students performing The Nutcracker Suite.

Then we will have Katie McMahon back by popular demand with her Celtic Christmas performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. The original soloist of Riverdance, Katie will sing and play the harp. Her music will be backed by a Celtic band and Irish style dancers. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door, and all student tickets will be $5. Order them online at paramounttheatre.org or call 434-0934. Also, don’t forget to submit your logos for our competition by Tuesday, November 22. Email submissions to info@paramount theatre.org.

McMahon, a born and bred Dubliner, is probably best known for her exquisite soaring soprano solo in the original Riverdance single, which topped the charts in Ireland for three months. Her voice was described by the Irish Times as “poetry, perfection and purity.” Katie toured the world with Riverdance as their lead vocalist. While touring in America, she met her husband and has made her home in Minnesota.

During this time she has formed her own band and troupe of Irish dancers. They are in great demand all over the States and play Irish traditional music with a Classical edge.

The Historic Paramount Theatre is offering student tickets for only $5 with student ID for all the productions in their 2011-12 season. The prices have been lowered in an effort to reach younger audiences and to encourage our patrons to see new artists.