Executive Director of the Historic Paramount Theatre in Abilene, TX Will Join Tampa’s Historic Movie Palace Team in June
Tampa Theatre is proud to announce that George Levesque has been selected as its next President & Chief Executive Officer following a national search. Levesque, an award-winning cultural leader and Executive Director of the Historic Paramount Theatre in Abilene, Texas, will assume the role in June. Levesque succeeds John Bell, who announced his retirement in November after more than four decades of transformative leadership. “We are thrilled to welcome George to Tampa Theatre,” said Ann Shaler, Chair of the Theatre’s Board of Directors. “After a rigorous national search, George emerged as the selection committee’s unanimous choice. We were impressed with his background in storytelling, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership, making him a natural fit to build on Tampa Theatre’s success and guide it into its second century.” Levesque has served as Executive Director of the Historic Paramount Theatre since June 2018, leading one of West Texas’s most beloved cultural landmarks. Like Tampa Theatre, the 1,131-seat Paramount offers a wide range of programming, including classic films, touring artists and stand-up comedians. Its active production wing brings live performance to the stage through musicals, plays, and cabarets, and it also serves the wider community as the performance home to many regional non-profit arts organizations.
Before transitioning into nonprofit arts leadership, Levesque enjoyed a two-decade career in broadcast journalism, serving as the main anchor and news director at the ABC affiliate in Abilene. He credits these deep roots in the community and ability to connect with audiences as having informed his approach to leading cultural organizations as dynamic, inclusive gathering spaces. Under his leadership, the Paramount has expanded its reach and strengthened its reputation both locally and nationally. In 2023, Levesque received the Individual Contribution Award from the League of Historic American Theatres, recognizing his dedication to the preservation and advancement of historic theatres. Levesque and his wife, Sidney, have been married for 23 years and are the parents of their 15-year-old son, Peter. “I could not be more proud to join the Tampa Theatre family,” said Levesque. “The people who live here know how special it is, but this theatre holds meaning beyond this city. Before I knew John Bell was retiring, I had flown to Tampa just to see this theatre for myself! What an incredibly special place Tampa saved.” More details about opportunities to welcome Levesque to the Tampa community will be shared in the coming weeks.
