The Campus Theatre shines in downtown Milledgeville

The Campus Theatre shines in downtown Milledgeville By Rick Nolte
The Campus Theatre is now really living up to its name.

The renovated historic downtown Milledgeville movie house officially became an active part of the Georgia College & State University campus during a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening on April 20. The addition of the theatre to Georgia College's roster of working facilities is another step in the university's efforts to strengthen its ties with the community.

"Today marks the next step in the rebirth of this beautiful building with its addition to the campus of Georgia College & State University," said Georgia College President Dorothy Leland. "Our goals were to bring the historic Campus Theatre to life again and reutilize its space in a way that plays a significant role in the continued redevelopment of downtown Milledgeville.

"I think we can safely say we've accomplished both in impressive fashion."

Dr. Leland presided over the grand opening events that included a reception for VIP guests complete with theatre concessions, a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the facility for interested members of the community.

In February 2008, Georgia College acquired the building, which originally opened to great fanfare in 1935 and closed in 1983.

The university's $6.9 million renovation expanded the building's useable space from 17,000 to 25,000 square feet. The facade, marquee, doorways, ticket booth and other distinctive features have been restored to their original art deco splendor.

The theatre's interior has been reconfigured to serve the needs of the university's theatre program and to provide downtown with two new retail outlets - Box Office Books and Jittery Joe's Coffee shop.

Much of the structure's brick has been exposed on the interior and its original hardwood flooring refurbished to add character to the facility.

Included in the space dedicated to the theatre department are make-up and costume areas, per formance studios, staff offices and a "black box" performance section designed to accommodate a variety of configurations depending on the type of performance.

"The theatre department is thrilled to have its first dedicated space in which students can explore theatre at its most personal and real," said Karen Berman, theatre chair and artistic director of theatre programs.

For the grand opening, the department had its offices and the practice lab areas decorated with costumes and posters from shows of the recent past.

"Audiences will delight in coming face to face with actors in this intimate space," Berman said of the "black box" area. Steel Magnolias will be the department's debut production next fall.

Box Office Books features a retail bookstore set-up on the main floor to serve the entire community. It features a section with a movie motif consistent with the theatre's history, as well as Georgia College merchandise. Downstairs the bookstore houses university textbooks and student supplies. The bookstore is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m.

The Campus Theatre opened March 18, 1935, with an estimated 5,000 people attending ceremonies heralding its place as a "jewel" of downtown Milledgeville. Of those attending, only 1,328 were fortunate enough to get seats in the auditorium when the projectors clicked on a little after 9 p.m. to cap the event with the showing of Broadway Bill.

Built at a cost of $135,000, Martin Theatres Inc. owner, Roy Martin, billed the movie house as "one of the finest theatres in the South."

Now, 85 years after it first lit up downtown Milledgeville, the Campus Theatre is shining again.

"We have returned the Campus Theatre to its place as a centerpiece of the downtown area," Leland said.