title: Paronyan Musical Comedy Theatre
text: # Paronyan Musical Comedy Theatre
  
  The Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theatre, founded in 1941, is one of the prominent theatres of the Armenian capital Yerevan. It is located on Vazgen Sargsyan Street in the central Kentron district of the city, near the Republic Square. It is named after the renowned Armenian satirist Hagop Baronian.
  
  ## History
  
  The Theatre was opened on June 22, 1942. The first artistic director was Shara Talyan. Many well-known persons worked in theatre, including Artemi Ayvazyan, Vardan Ajemian, Mikael Arutchian, Karp Khachvankyan, Svetlana Grigoryan, Armen Elbakyan, Yervand Ghazanchyan and others.
  
  The Paronyan Theatre has participated in international theatre festivals in Armenia, Georgia, Iran, England, and the United States.
  
  In February 2009, the Best Presentation Award of the Artavazd-2009 festival was given to Yervand Ghazanchyan, who has been the artistic director of the theatre since 1993.
  
  