If you're looking for live theater, there are lots of options in and around Paramount. The Burnight Center Theatre in neighboring Norwalk is located on the Cerritos Community College campus and hosts numerous musical and stage productions put on by college students throughout the year. Tickets are generally between $10 and $25. Just a little further south in Cerritos is the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. The center's annual August - May season generally puts on 150 performances from dance and musicals to plays and internationally known music acts. The Berubian Theatre near Lakewood offers standup comedy and improvisation shows as well as comedic puppet shows for children. This theater also offers classes and workshops for the public to hone their comedic and improvisational skills.
Nearby Long Beach has several theaters and playhouses to enjoy, including the Long Beach Playhouse which features two separate theaters. This small and intimate playhouse is a great place to see local productions of musicals and plays at affordable prices. Tickets generally range between $12 and $27.
The nearby Long Beach Opera has been in operation for over 30 years and has completed 28 seasons. Previous productions have included King Roger, Powder Her Face, Lucio Silla and Death in Venice.
The Long Beach Shakespeare Company puts on several free Shakespearean festivals and events throughout the year in Long Beach so be sure to check the city's calendar for dates.
Taking the 25 minute drive north to LA will bring you to an incredible selection of different playhouses, musical venues and dinner theaters. LA has long been a mecca for aspiring actors, so one of the actors you see in a local production may go on to become a huge movie star. Also many well-known actors also participate in various local productions, so you never know you might get a chance to see perform live.
There are just as many options in and around Paramount when it comes to the visual arts. Just a few minutes east of Paramount in Bellflower is De Ru's Fine Art Gallery. Here you will find a beautiful selection of Early California and American Impressionist art, all of which can be purchased if you find something you like. The Getty Center in the Brentwood neighborhood in LA features an impressive collection of Western art that dates back to the Middle Ages as well as more contemporary art. There are also beautiful, serene gardens set against a picturesque view of the mountainside. South of Paramount is Long Beach Arts, which offers an eclectic collection of art from local artists. This gallery is only open Wednesday through Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m, but is well worth fitting it into your trip. While in Long Beach, another worthwhile art stop is the Museum of Latin American Art. The unique architecture of this building makes it hard to miss, and the art inside offers a glimpse into the Latin American culture that is prevalent in this area of the country.
When visiting Paramount it is definitely worthwhile to take the trip up to the Los Angeles area to take tours of the many TV and film studios. The best place to see the most tours is Burbank. Here you can see the Warner Brothers lot and NBC Studios. You never know when you'll spot a big celebrity. While here you can also purchase tickets for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
There are several movie theaters in the Paramount area including the Bianchi Paramount Stadium 8 in Paramount, the South Gate Stadium 20 & IMAX in Downey, the Big Cinema 8 in Norwalk, the Pacific Theaters in Lakewood, the Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26 & IMAX and the Garden View Cinema in Long Beach. The Art Theatre in Long Beach provides a more historical experience as it was originally built in the 1920s and has maintained its Golden Age look and ambiance.