Venue Works tells Ashland commissioners Paramount bookings are strong as staff and COO arrive

Venue Works representatives briefed the Ashland Board of City Commissioners on Feb. 26, saying the company has hired local staff for the Paramount Theater and already placed dozens of bookings.

H.R. Cook, identified in the meeting as a Venue Works representative, told the commission Ashland is a "cornerstone" market for the company and introduced Mike Silva, Venue Works’s chief operating officer, who said the operator aims to hire locally and make the theater sustainable. "We see this as one of our cornerstones," Cook said, adding that the operator hopes to "be here for a long time and create a lot of success for you." Silva said the company "loves and prospers in communities this size" and praised the local staff.

Matt, who identified himself only by first name and described his role as education director for the theater’s programming, said Venue Works has 47 dates on hold and 45 already committed, including recurring events such as Festival of Trees and Trains and Paramount Players productions. He described a focus on "sustainability and creativity" to ensure the venue remains viable long-term.

The mayor invited the public to attend a Paramount reopening event later that afternoon and noted the commission’s appreciation for the operator’s local-hiring approach. Venue Works also said it plans a mix of performances and community events, and that company staff will continue coordinating with local partners including the Paramount Players and PAC Inc.

The commission did not take formal action on the presentation; the update served as an informational briefing ahead of a public reopening event slated for later the day.