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Band Together for the Georgia Theatre

by Alana Carithers

The date June 19, 2009 will always stick out in the minds of most Athenians as a sad day in its history. It was on that day when a fire gutted the historic Georgia Theatre. The downtown concert venue that housed such acts as The Police and the B-52s was not only a local landmark, but also a symbol of music close to the hearts of many nationwide. According to owner Wilmot Greene, the 13 months after the fire were a huge challenge.

Recently Bulldawg Illustrated Athens caught up with Greene for an update on the rebuilding efforts at The Theatre. Greene explained that the first week after the burning was a sad time for everyone involved, but after that, the planning to rebuild a bigger and better Georgia Theatre began. These months presented many challenges. Having to get building permits and attending to many of the bureaucratic hurdles involved in rebuilding a historic building was difficult at times. However, along with challenges, the rebuilding of the theatre presented Mr. Greene with a unique opportunity to bring updates and improvements to a much loved venue. He explains that the goal behind the rebuilding was to create a Georgia Theatre that is “historic and brand new at the same time.” This sentiment is apparent in the new design and plans for the music hall.

While the general layout will be the same for the newly renovated theatre, there will be some significant updates and additions. When you first walk into the building, there are two bar areas on both sides, very similar to the old layout. A new and exciting feature is a huge wraparound staircase in place of the old smaller staircase in the previous design. In addition, the bathrooms will be much larger and located below the entry level. Preservation of the old Georgia Theatre’s stage was a top priority to Greene in order to keep the familiar concert experience of the past venue. The stage will be complete with a new set of the iconic red curtains resembling the ones that hung for years before the fire.

Perhaps the most exciting new addition is the rooftop bar. This addition will add more space to the venue, and give patrons a one-of-a-kind view of downtown Athens.

If all goes according to schedule, the Georgia Theatre will reopen sometime this summer, and will begin to house acts as soon as it is completed. The official grand opening is currently planned for mid August. When asked about who will be the first act to play after the official re-opening, Greene would only reveal that the act will be, “Someone who has played here before, it will be historic!” Until August, we can only speculate as to which acts the reopening will bring!

There are many ways to contribute to the rebuilding of the Georgia Theatre. The easiest way is to make an online donation at www.GeorgiaTheatre.com to help achieve the dream of the new, re-vamped Georgia Theatre. Every little bit makes a difference. Also, there are several upcoming benefit concerts at other local Athens music venues that will also profit the Theatre rebuilding efforts. Follow The Georgia Theatre on Facebook or check their website for frequent updates about events. Though the burning of the Georgia Theatre was a tragedy, its rebirth will certainly only make its return that much more thrilling.

www.GeorgiaTheatre.com

Tagged: georgia theatre, wil greene, band together